The Seattle Kraken, for the first time in their young franchise history, are facing a critical challenge—navigating the NHL salary cap with no wiggle room. With fewer than 30 days until the roster is locked, and barring an unfortunate injury that would require the use of long-term injured reserve, the Kraken will need to make a trade to create some roster flexibility.
A tight cap squeeze
Earlier this summer, fans applauded the announcement of Matty Beniers being locked up with a seven-year contract, but the $7.14 million AAV has pushed the Kraken close to the upper limit of the NHL salary cap for the 2024-25 season. Let’s take a closer look at the salaries on the roster.
We are reasonably certain that the 12th forward and 20th overall slot will be filled by Shane Wright, with a salary cap hit of $886,666. That leaves just $780K of cap space to cover the remaining roster spots, which is only enough to add a player on a league-minimum salary, such as defenseman Josh Mahura or forward Ben Meyers.
The maximum roster size in the NHL is 23 players for most of the season, with no size limit after the trade deadline. During the 2023-24 season, the Kraken averaged a roster size of 22.5 players up until the trade deadline last season, and 94 percent of the time, the Kraken had an active roster size of 22 or more. In other words, an active roster size of 21 players is extremely risky and uncommon.
No matter how you look at it, the Kraken do not have the cap space to carry a 22nd player on the roster right now.
Injuries happen
The Kraken dealt with a host of injuries last season. When a player is placed on short-term injured reserve, a roster spot opens up for a call-up, but the salary cap hit of the injured player still counts toward the team’s overall cap calculation. Last season, when you add up the scratches and players on injured reserve, the Kraken averaged 3.8 players per game that weren’t playing but needed to fit under the salary cap.
For example, in their game against the LA Kings on Dec. 20, they had 20 players in the lineup, three scratched players, and four players on injured reserve, for a total of 27 players that needed to fit under last season’s salary cap.
Long-term injured reserve
There are scenarios where a team will place a player on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) when they are expected to miss at least 10 games or 24 days. In those cases, the team is given salary cap relief for the duration of that player’s time on LTIR.
There was some concern about a possible injury to Oliver Bjorkstrand when he was out of the lineup for Denmark’s Olympic qualifying games at the end of August. If Bjorkstrand were expected to miss more than 10 games or 24 days, that could have been a short-term solution to the Kraken’s salary cap issue. Fortunately, we received confirmation from the Kraken organization that Oliver Bjorkstrand is expected to be fully ready for camp.
Lineup competition
Another reason it is important to have additional players on your roster is to maintain competition for roster spots. Extra players create competition for spots in the lineup every game, which helps maintain a high level of performance. When players know their place in the lineup is not guaranteed, it pushes them to continually improve their skills, work harder in practice, and perform at their best during games.
Additionally, it helps develop depth throughout the roster, as players who might otherwise become complacent are driven to stay sharp and ready to contribute whenever called upon. A good example of this level of competition was during the 2022-23 season when Ryan Donato, Daniel Sprong, and Morgan Geekie were often competing for two spots in the lineup. If the Kraken are unable to fit additional players into their lineup, it could lead to complacency among some individuals, even if it’s completely subconscious.
Is a trade coming?
All signs point to a trade not just being likely, but necessary, given the Kraken’s current situation. Ideally, the Kraken would move roughly $3 million off the roster, which would open up space for three additional roster spots for players on league-minimum contracts.
Looking at the current roster, the most likely candidate for a trade would be fan favorite Brandon Tanev. While Tanev still provides significant value in penalty killing and bringing energy to the lineup, Tye Kartye has been able to play a similar role at a third of Tanev’s $3.5 million salary cap hit. Of course, making a trade requires two sides to agree, and other teams might not see the same value in Tanev, which could mean that someone else would need to be traded. As painful as it is to say, Yanni Gourde is another candidate that would need to be considered. Gourde carries a $5.2 million cap hit and might require the Kraken to retain some salary in a trade.
Navigating the tight salary cap while maintaining a competitive roster will require some tough decisions, including the possibility of trading beloved players like Tanev or Gourde. These moves, though challenging, are necessary to create the roster flexibility Seattle will need to compete this season. As the season approaches, all eyes will be on the Kraken’s front office to see how they maneuver through this cap crunch.
What are your thoughts? How would you handle this situation if you were Ron Francis?
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Gourde is 33 and scored 11 goals last year, trending downward, and is being paid a lot of money to be your 4th line center. Unfortunately neither him or Tanev will be taken without somehow sweetening the deal.
I see 1 overpaid GK that could fix the whole issue with a cheaper backup and solve the whole issue. Unfortunately, I doubt there’s any way to move him.
I think whatever they do it may have to involve a third team. I also think Tolvanen may be an option. That would open up a spot to get Yanni off the fourth line and Nyman, Goyette, Sale, Mølgaard, Rehkopf and Catton are all left shot forwards.
Didn’t they recently resign Tolvanen?
Yes… as an RFA. But he only signed for two years taking him right to his UFA eligibility. I would take that as an indication he plans on going to market. I think a contender may be willing to “rent” him for a couple seasons, but I’m not sure if the Kraken should.
I thought about listing Tolvanen since I imagine teams will see him as having more value than Tanev.
I’d personally rather have to sweeten a Tanev deal than trade away a much better and younger Tolvanen. This team has signed/extended enough players in their 30s already, we shouldn’t be jettisoning our younger players who have higher upside.
I attended a lot of games the back half of last season – home and away – and Tanev was dialing it in. I assumed he was possibly injured, or not recovered from previous injury. I was therefore surprised when he was on the Team Canada roster for Worlds. Seeing his play in those games – energetic and aggressive – really emphasized how lackluster he was during the regular season.
I know Burky has a reputation as a goal scorer, but he has not lit up the lamp and has seemed to be cursed with injury problems. He has not lived up to his contract. A team like Chicago or Ottawa would be a better fit.
Regarding this article, my initial thought was “how does a team with such a mediocre roster have salary cap problems?” But it is what it is.
Using Puckpedia, it appears they can create cap space this year (and maybe next depending on player) by buying out any one of Burakovsky, Schwartz and Gourde. Actually, of all the forwards, only Beniers, McCann, Stephenson (FA signing), Wright & Kartye (young players with promise) seem worth of a roster spot to me. If somehow Winterton and Morrison show anything it will make it easier to make any of the other name(s) buyout candidates. But regardless of the math and player movements, it’s hard to see this as being a legit playoff team for several years.
I believe the next buyout window will not open until 48 hours after the season.
Understood – I stand corrected…
Buying out players, even if they could, would be idiotic. You’re worried about the team being mediocre and your solution is saddling the team with dead cap. Genius plan!
This is all on Francis and his generous offerings of high salaries for mediocre players. I understand his thinking. Players may play better and be more loyal. If they don’t, they know no one will want their sorry asses. We have a few including recently signed Eli. Eli stunk in the second half. However, Francis now has a roster of over paid players that cannot be traded due to salaries. This is how he lost his last job. Who ever he moves and he must, we will not get much in return
I can’t think of a single player who was egregiously overpaid. The market dictates prices. GMs don’t just overpay for the hell of it. You have a lot to learn
I think Borgen could be the piece traded away.
He’s UFA next Summer, but with the Larsson and Montour deals he has limited opportunities to play Top4 the next 5 years, so why would he re-sign here? And as a proven RD2 I think he’ll command more than the Kraken will want to pay for a 3rd line D. I understand he’s well liked by GMs and would garner a proper return as opposed to a cap dump pick compensation that Tanev would get, or even cost.
It makes the D weaker for this season, though with Mahura (he’d play LD3 and Evans play RD3 on his off-side) and Fleury we have affordable guys signed who could play 3rd line D already, and Ottavainen may even emerge to compete for the spot too.
Winterton is staying with the team in Seattle rather than going to the prospects tournament.
Hmm…