As expected, Brandon Tanev has been traded to the Winnipeg Jets for a second-round pick in 2027, as reported by Darren Dreger. Tanev was held out of Thursday night’s game in Nashville for trade-related purposes while this deal was finalized. It’s a homecoming, in a way, for Tanev, who spent parts of the first four seasons of his NHL career in Winnipeg.
The second-round pick is a solid return for Tanev. The Kraken will have to wait until 2027 to use it, but like the picks acquired in the Yanni Gourde/Oliver Bjorkstrand trade, it could also serve as a valuable asset in a future trade.
Tanev was the Seattle Kraken’s 2021 Expansion Draft selection from the Pittsburgh Penguins and has been with the team since its inaugural season. He has appeared in 238 games for Seattle, tallying 83 points (41 goals, 42 assists) and also played in all 14 Kraken playoff games, contributing four points (one goal, three assists). One of his most memorable goals for the Kraken was a shorthanded tally in Game 2 of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche. The Kraken won the series but lost that game 3-2, though Tanev’s celebration lives on.
2-0 #SeaKraken
— Alison (@AlisonL) April 21, 2023
Shorty by Tanev. Incredible work in the D Zone by Gourde to get the puck headed north and then to set up the score.
Two helpers for 37 already pic.twitter.com/EJxMIYQxzE
Tanev’s skill set
Tanev was not known for his scoring contributions but rather for his high-energy and physical play, which earned him the nickname “Turbo.” The fast-skating Tanev ranks in the 91st percentile in the NHL for speed bursts over 20 mph, according to NHL Edge data as of March 6.
In addition to his speed, Tanev was a key penalty killer, leading all Kraken forwards in average shorthanded ice time (2:19) since the inaugural season. He was a fixture on the penalty kill and will be missed.
Defensively, Tanev leaves Seattle as the franchise leader among forwards in both blocked shots (243) and hits (558). These stats underscore the heart and effort he brought to the ice, which is why he became a fan favorite in Seattle.
#SeaKraken WIN their last game of the season, 4-3 over the #mnwild.
— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) April 19, 2024
Nice sellout by Beniers and Tanev to block the final shot.
Seattle could have locked up the eighth-best odds in the draft lottery with a loss but now need help from CGY. pic.twitter.com/IteBHvortu
Fourth-line shakeup
This season, Tanev primarily played as a fourth-line winger. With Jordan Eberle easing back into the lineup and rotating between the third and fourth lines, he was bound to return to a top-six role. Oliver Bjorkstrand’s trade to the Tampa Bay Lightning accelerated that transition, as Eberle joined the second line against the Nashville Predators on Thursday night. Jacob Melanson, Ben Meyers, and Mikey Eyssimont formed the fourth line in that game, while Tanev sat out for trade-related reasons. The trio was noticeable as a true fourth line.
Tye Kartye was recalled from his stint in Coachella Valley and will likely slot back in as well, meaning the fourth line will be a rotating mix of players. As the season winds down, expect more call-ups from Coachella Valley to give young prospects valuable NHL experience. Players like Jani Nyman (“Li’l Jani”) and Ryan Winterton could see ice time before the year is up.
The Tanev trade is no surprise
Hockey is a business, and while it’s tough to see original Kraken players leave, there were indications that Tanev was unlikely to re-sign with Seattle after this season. In that context, getting a valuable asset in return is a positive. The Kraken continue their push to improve and get younger, and this move aligns with that objective.
Blaiz Grubic
Blaiz Grubic is a contributor at Sound Of Hockey. A passionate hockey fan and player for over 30 years, Blaiz grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an alumni of Washington State University (Go Cougs!). When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about hockey, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter or getting out on a golf course for a quick round. Follow @blaizg on BlueSky or X.
He did a call-in interview to sports net about 5 minutes after it was announced and you could hear in his tone how excited he is. And when they asked him if he was excited to be traded, there was a long pause and then his tone went flat and he went into the PR patter about Seattle.
I thought he was calling it in at the end of last season – where you could really see it was at the road games and the times and places the cameras weren’t in him and when there weren’t 15k Seattle fans observing. I wondered if he was injured and gave him the benefit of the doubt, but then he went to Worlds and lit it up, so I’ve been disillusioned about him for most of the past year.
Thanks for the breaking news and analysis. Tanev and Gourde have been the consistent energy and effort and will be missed as OG Kraken favs.
A 2R is good but 2027 is not. Might have taken a 2025 3R pick instead. The further out the picks, the less value they have presently.
Now that Francis is done (assuming there is no last minute Oleksiak trade), you have to look at the 2025-26 roster and wonder what kind of record that will produce. It does not look at all promising at the moment, as no one from CV likely makes the starting roster.
Hopefully they play Gru the rest of the season so we can move into a top-3 draft pick role. Even then, if Catton is not in the NHL next season, this pick likely is not either. So next season looks like a washout before it even begins.
Anyone have any ideas on where optimism for next season should come from?
P.S. It says a lot about the state of the franchise when players are happy to be moving on to better teams.
I still suspect Oleksiak is in play. It seems the only logical reason why they called up Fleury yesterday.
Fleury needs to be on the AHL roster at the deadline to be eligible for the AHL playoffs. So if they want him in the playoffs, they have to send him down at least on paper by noon.
Coachella played a back-to-back in Calgary on Tuesday/Wednesday, so the chances of him actually playing last night were pretty low, so why pull him up yesterday?
So what I am hearing you saying, Chuck…$25 million in cap room next year, 5 x 1st round picks and 5 x 2nd round picks in the next 3 years is not good, because it’s uncertain how good the team will be next season…and obviously players are “happy” (because you of all people would would know how the players are feeling) to be moving on to better teams. BUT…hopefully we can move into a top-3 drack pick…because that will obviously make everything better.
Sounds like you have it all figured out. It’s all very disappointing.
Too bad we signed Montour and Stephenson. Those those contracts are really killing us.
Good thing Ron Francis has more hockey experience in one cell under his pinky fingernail than all the combined brain cells of the amateur Internets analyst community.
Let’s see how you feel about Stephenson and his contract in another two years… 😂 it’s the term Mg G it’s the term.
I’m not sure how I’ll feel about it then, but if I had to guess I’d say I’ll feel pretty good about having Stephenson at the same age as Yanni was this season – on a smaller percentage than he was at – splitting bottom six center duties with newly promoted Berkley Catton… kinda like Shane and Yanni this season.
When I hear how many teams are looking for center help right now… the last thing I worry about is an extra million-and-a-half dollars two years from now.
If they hadn’t signed Stephenson last year, do you think the Kraken would be in a better or worse position this off season? Personally, I feel like they would likely have a slightly higher draft pick this off season and significantly more cap space to work with. Same logic will probably apply for next year.
His specific skill set, his age, the Kraken’s apparent window of opportunity, and the size of the contract all add up to BAD. If he is a great contributing factor when this team turns it around, I will happily say I was wrong.
.
The team desperately lacks high end goal scoring talent, his contract hurts our chances of getting multiple players like that (more than one is needed) for years to come.
Nino – Assumptions?… yeah, it’s all assumptions.
What if they brought in a third line center? Well when Curtis was asked by Darren and John what the alternative was… he didn’t come up with a third line center. He came up either Pierre-Edouard (not an NHLer) or Blake Lizzote (definitely a fourth liner) because there were no “third line” options. Just look around the league at how many teams are looking for a “third line” center. Sure, it was Tampa Bay, but look at the overpay for Yanni.
So that’s how I get there when I assume a fourth line center.
Desperate ownership? That’s reality? That’s all assumption. That entire storyline is based on pure conjecture. You’ve accepted it as reality – and maybe there’s some truth to it – but you’re drawing as many conclusions as I with that one. As I’ve mentioned before, Elliotte Friedman isn’t an analyst, he’s an insider, so when he reports that Stephenson was brought in to take the pressure off of Beniers and Wright… I think that’s coming from somewhere – and it makes sense. I also think there was an expectation that he would help make the team competitive, and given that he’s eating No.1 miniutes and was drawing No.1 assignments, I think he’s been fine… he’s NOT a No.1… they cost a lot more. As for the term, as Francis said at the time, if you want those guys that’s the term you have to sign them to.
Again, all the hand wringing over the cap hit is – in my opinion – misplaced, but I think folks will cling to it nonetheless. Years five, six and seven and $1.25m dollars a season are not what this team has to worry about.
That’s just where I’m coming from.
Brian – Going into the season I did feel like the “cap-crunch” could be a problem if they wanted to add. Unfortunately, it ended up not mattering. I also think, however, like season two, even if they had ended up a bubble team, not adding was probably the right move.
All that said, I agree, it would have been nice to have more cap, but I like Montour and I do believe Wright has benefited… and Beniers.
I agree they need something “elite” at some point, but I don’t think they’re far enough along for that… and in a couple seasons when they are, I don’t think Stephenson’s contract will be a barrier.
I’m optimistic, but I’m also thinking more about two, three, and four years down the road… and that includes Stephenson’s contract.
Go Kraken!!!
Daryl I’m not sure you believe what your saying because I don’t, think about this… we had two, one we let just walk away and another that was traded at the deadline for a second round pick. Yes wennberg and Geekie would have been just as good of options at a fraction of the cap hit and term. That’s just two examples that we let walk away, don’t fool yourself into thinking that Chandler is some mythological creature that came to save the kraken. The type of player that the kraken needed wasn’t that hard to find and it didn’t need to be a 4th line waste of space. Chandler was over valued and we were not in position to attract quality FA’s so we paid a ridiculous price for a so so player…. End of story.
Stephenson’s “headline number” of ~ $6.3mm looks egregious. But we CAN buy him as early as the end of 25/26 season and save ~ $4.3mm in cap savings. Followed by ~ $2.3mm savings for 26/27 and then ~ $4.3mm for the next four seasons ending in 30/31. His cap HIT then becomes $2mm yearly for six seasons beginning in 32/33. It’s never good to waste $$$, and you can’t make too many of these types of “mistakes”, but pretty sure that in 32/33 a $2mm cap hit will fairly insignificant.
TFL – The app won’t let me respond to Brian’s post so I’m replying to you, but this is in response to his post and I assume he’ll see it.
I think if the Kraken hadn’t signed Stephenson in the offseason they would have been stuck with a fourth line center instead and Shane Wright would’ve gotten caved in all season. I also think Matty Beniers would’ve had a lot harder time bouncing back from last season. I believe it would have been a terrible mistake to throw those two guys to the wolves and I think there are plenty of examples to point at… and for what… so you can tank to try and lock down a “maybe” pick at the top of a weak draft without a consensus No.1?
Was there a better place to spend the $5m+ they would have saved this last season by bringing in a fourth line pivot instead? I don’t think so, but I’m open to ideas.
Right now they have $21m in cap available for next season. When they buy Grubauer out it’ll be $25m.
Given their RFA situation and prospects, they should be in good enough shape cap-wise to upgrade a player or two consistent with where they are in the build.
The following season seems – to me – like where things start to really look promising… and again, tons of cap space.
I don’t expect a guy making 5.5% of the cap to be a “great contributing factor”, which is where his number will be when I expect this team to really be in a position to contend… but at that price he’ll be fine sharing the bottom six with Berkly Catton.
There are concerns I have about the Kraken going forward, but Stephenson’s cap hit is not one of them.
Replying to Daryl,
I like the reply Daryl, i’m just not sold. Not saying you don’t have valid points.
What could they have done with the extra cash? They could have held onto it and put it into play during the season. That could have lubricated some moves if the team was doing well at the trade deadline this year, or it could have been put into play to get an even bigger return.
I don’t think the on ice experience would have been all that different for Wright or Beniers this year sans Stephenson. Certainly not a contrast of great scenario or being thrown to the wolves. I could be wrong…
Elite free agents don’t come along often, the team has plenty of needs. I really think that is what this team needs, a few guys that score more than the 20+ goal range. Chandler’s 6.25 million a year might not look huge 3 or 4 years down the line, but this year and next it is a big chunk of what could have been available. This year for example, if they somehow traded for a single elite goal scorer they would have a hard time filling out a solid roster. I think they need more than one elite goal scorer to be a contender.
Maybe down the line Stephenson’s contract won’t be a huge overpay, but I think it will be an overpay. The problem with that is the years where it isn’t an overpay I didn’t see the team benefiting appreciably by his addition. By that I mean going to the playoffs and having a chance. Year one I was unfortunately correct. I certainly would say you know more about NHL Hockey than I, so maybe somehow his addition and the matchups are critical to player development, I’m skeptical.
In the NFL mediocre is the worst place to be. I feel like all the variables in the Stephenson signing point toward mgt. being concerned with the short term fan experience and not trying to win it all down the line. Mediocre keeps butts in seats more than scheming to win it all at the expense of wind today.
It will mostly come down to how they draft, not saying Stephenson is a huge albatross. Just saying it is a net negative towards hoisting a cup.
Daryl there is a huge amount of assumptions in your post, what if we brought in an average third line center and over paid him for two seasons? We could go on and on, you assumption that it was Chandler at an extended contract or nothing makes absolutely no sense.
Let’s return to reality, he was brought in because ownership was desperate and put pressure on RF, this wasn’t about sheltering our developing centers. This was about a desperate attempt to win games now at the expense of our future and it completely backfired. Literally within three years he will be the most expensive 4th line center in the NHL with over half his contract to play out. That is not worth the risk that was taken they should have looked for a stop gap on a shorter contract even if it was an older vet on an overpay.
Nino – the players have to want to sign.
I always see Geekie and Wennberg brought up in these conversations but it’s well documented that both these players wanted to go elsewhere. The Kraken put offers in front of both of them.
I’m not sure they “wanted to go elsewhere” Geekie for example wanted a bigger role which he deserved. He would fit onto this team very well it’s too bad RF wasn’t willing to give him a chance. As those types of centers are apparently impossible to find….
Nino, RF put a contract in front of him. That’s giving him a chance. RF doesn’t set lines or determine playing time.
Turbo what he does do is organize a team that has 4 forward lines, only way Geekie was going to sign was to open up a top three center position. He didn’t do that and offered him 4th dollars. Turned out to be a mistake in the end, let a young promising player walk to save an old vets spot that wasn’t going to stay anyway. Not the best planning….
Nino
Beniers, Wennberg, and Gourde… when Geekie walked…
Was Gourde supposed to be on the fourth line last season to make room for Geekie? I don’t recall anyone clamoring to demote Gourde last season.
Well that’s the thing, was wennberg in our long term plans? Was Geekie in our long term plans? Did we have a plan? It really seems made up along the way. We don’t need Geekie because we have Wennberg holding the spot he’d need… oh wait we don’t want to resign Wennberg or he didn’t want to resign (same difference) wait we need another center let’s go out in the FA market and over pay in term and $$$. RF didn’t plan our roster moves to put ourselves in a position where we didn’t need to go out and overpay. We had these players in our system already but foresight wasn’t used to create a road map that didn’t involve stupid FA signings.
He’s only going to be 32. I think he’s going to be awesome! It’s the player, buddy!
Mikko now off the table!
Another ridiculous reply from a guy who laughed at getting a 1R pick for Gourde. Please keep showing your hockey ignorance. You might want to read a little more widely before you reply to my posts.
All Francis has done is push the competitive window down the road by a few years. Despite every franchise advantage in the world, he has not created a winning culture or a place where top UFAs will come, so having lots of cap space does not do anything. Outside Catton, there is not a single prospect who is a guaranteed top-6 or top pairing player. If they do make the show, the best that is likely middle six or middle pairing roles. For acquired picks, Tampa’s will be at the end of 1R, so not much higher than Kraken 2R picks. The best that will happen is another top 5 draft pick next year. But that pushes the competitive window further into the future. So there is not much to hope for next season, as the same roster minus three roster Fs will be trotted out again. The only possible positive is if Shane Wright takes it up another level or they let Catton make the team instead of wasting another year in the CHL. Everyone else on the roster has plateaued or is declining. As I said, next season looks dismal already and I cannot see what changes it, outside of firing Francis. Keep loving your boy Ronnie though. Maybe after another season of futility, all the Ronnie lovers will wake up, just like all the Grubi lovers have finally agreed that he should be bought out now, which I called for several years ago but no one else saw it until Daryl W got on board, what was it, a year or so ago? If you don’t understand what a top GM is, just look around at the TDL moves, they speak for themselves. Francis did OK but check how he graded out compared to his peers. Doing OK is just not good enough for a franchise that in all other aspects is top notch. It is time for a change in both the GM and future expectations of success.
I think the optimistic view at the moment is to look at the value of the added 2026 1st, 2027 1st, and 2027 2nd as ammunition for some trades rather than future picks. Our front office is relatively conservative in their history, but they can offer up a couple of 1sts and seconds to try and get a player(s) of substance without giving up our own picks (which will realistically be the better picks).
Will there be a good opportunity to do so this off-season and who will they target? I’m not plugged in enough league wide to speculate on anyone, but each off-season we tend to see some good opportunities come up, and we have the draft capital to make some things happen.
Next season is a washout anyway. Better it be a year of growth with 5 ELCs than another dreary vet-filled waste of time. Decent chance they’ll be the worst team in the league either way with a great shot getting McKenna in the 26 draft
The picks have less value presently only if you think they are going to use them to draft players in that year, which RF has already gone on record saying they aren’t. They are going to use them to trade for an impact player or two over the summer. Who and how that pans out remains to be seen.
As for next year I don’t think it’s reasonable at this point to expect them to be a playoff team, but really 2-3 years down the road is where things are looking promising. That’s just the nature of rebuilding.
Considering the dearth of defensemen available, I’m surprised there hasn’t been a peep about Oleksiak all day… with just over half-an-hour to go.
RF is a very secretive GM, I’m sure he’s trying to trade a D roster moves make it look like that.
Minus Gourde, Tanev AND Oleksiak, the PK will be very interesting.
Unlike Mitchell Stephens, Meyers and Eyssimont(?) haven’t been on the NHL PK this season. Beniers played as the second center last night, but they need some physicality. They had Tolvanen in earlier this week. Kartye has had mixed success – he did well when they were using him at the end of last season, but not so much this year. I know they had him on the PP in the 3 games down in Coachella, but I don’t know if they also gave him time on the PK.
Darren nailed the Sprong move on the pod!
John Barr made the call. 🙂
Oops. Nice call John.
Glad to see that chapter closed. Though it’s a bit of a hit for the Firebirds for the playoffs. Those games up in Calgary earlier this week were pretty lopsided against a team that had a similar record to CV.
Grew tired of him saying he’s a 30-goal scorer “if someone would just give me a chance!”. He’s going to a playoff team with injury issues which is a great opportunity. It’s put up or shut up time for him.
Bruins traded Carlo (4.1 AAV) to Leafs for a 1st (2026) and Fraser Minten (top center prospect). Maybe Leafs were desperate for a RHD (enough to trade with a division rival), but I think that would have been a tempting return for Oleksiak.