After a shrewd trade that sent Andre Burakovsky to Chicago for Joe Veleno, followed by a buyout of Veleno’s contract, the Seattle Kraken head into free agency on July 1 with roughly $18 million in cap space. But let’s not get carried away, the Kraken aren’t likely to go on a shopping spree.
Around $8 million of that cap space is earmarked for pending restricted free-agent contracts with Kaapo Kakko, Ryker Evans, and Tye Kartye, which leaves roughly $10 million in realistic spending room. And just because you can spend doesn’t mean you should. With plenty of long-term flexibility and a mostly set roster, the Kraken appear positioned to take a more surgical approach in free agency this summer.
There’s been some speculative chatter about Seattle’s interest in players like Jordan Kyrou, and while I’m not big on rumor-based hypotheticals, it’s worth noting that preserving cap flexibility leaves the door open for trades or bold moves if the right fit emerges. If the Kraken *were* to make a splashier acquisition this summer, the trade route feels most likely. So as far as free agency is concerned, I expect a guarded approach.
A different summer than last
Last summer, the Kraken were among the more aggressive teams in free agency, landing Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson on significant deals. This year feels different.
The top three forward lines and top two defensive pairings are basically set, and the organization is keeping an eye on several prospects who could make the jump to the NHL. Names like Berkly Catton, Ryan Winterton, and Jani Nyman are expected to compete for forward roles, while Jacob Melanson and Nathan Villeneuve could be in the mix for fourth-line roles should the organization look for a more conventional fourth line. On the back end, Ville Ottavainen may push for a full-time spot.
So while there’s optimism about internal growth, it’s risky to assume that prospects will step in and stick. That leaves the Kraken in a bit of a balancing act, in that they don’t want to block young players, but they also can’t leave roster holes if those players aren’t ready.
What they actually need
Assuming no major trades and the team’s intention to sign its RFA’s, the Kraken’s needs look relatively modest:
- One left winger, ideally with some flexibility and penalty-killing upside
- One third-pair defenseman
Of course, we should expect them to add more than two extra bodies for depth or injury insurance, especially players who can start the year in Coachella Valley.
One note before we get into names: No, I won’t be predicting offer sheets. Despite the “summer of offer sheets” hype, they almost never happen. Additionally, while elite names like Mitch Marner or Nikolaj Ehlers would look great in deep sea blue, I am trying to be realistic, and that kind of splash is extremely unlikely this summer.
With all that said, here are a few realistic free agent options the Kraken might consider:
Left wing Kraken targets
Ideal profile: Comfortable in a fourth-line role, can handle elevated minutes if needed, offers some goal-scoring pop and can kill penalties.
Joel Kiviranta – 29 years old
A sneaky good fit. Kiviranta is a solid fourth-line winger with the ability to slide up the lineup in a pinch. He also logged significant penalty kill time in Colorado. As a bonus, he’d become the fourth Finnish forward on the roster, and if my line projections are even close, that would put one Finn on each line.
Whether it’s against them or for them, with the Avs, Joel Kiviranta just hits different. pic.twitter.com/1Om6kqy6rZ
— David Castillo (@DavidCastilloAC) January 23, 2025
Anthony Beauvillier – 28 years old
I’m not sure he’s an ideal fourth-liner, but if the Kraken are trying to rebuild a depth-scoring line like the 2022-23 version, Beauvillier could be a nice fit. He played under new head coach Lane Lambert on Long Island, so there’s some built-in familiarity.
Tanner Jeannot – 28 years old
It’s been a while since Jeannot’s 24-goal breakout with Nashville in 2021-22. Since then, he hasn’t topped seven goals in a season. But that might mean he’s open to a short-term, “prove-it” deal. The physicality and gritty playstyle make him a natural fourth-liner who could still chip in some scoring. He also has a bit of the nasty gene that a lot of people think the team needs. He’s a low-risk, medium-reward option, likely under $3M AAV.
Tanner Jeannot lands a heavy hit on Artem Zub. 😳 pic.twitter.com/OeVtfDJdCn
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 14, 2024
Defensemen Kraken targets
Seattle’s top four on the blue line is locked in, so this is about adding a third-pair option, ideally someone who can play both sides. No need for power-play time or major penalty kill minutes here.
Jon Merrill – 33 years old
A classic stay-at-home vet. No offense to speak of, but he’s steady and won’t cost much. He’s not flashy, but you can trust him to give you safe minutes in a sheltered role.
Nick Perbix – 27 years old
Perbix brings more size (6’4″) than Merrill and is a bit younger, but he still is not going to bring much offense. If Seattle wants a little more term or ceiling in their depth role, Perbix might be the better option—though he’ll likely come at a slightly higher price.
Perbix hit on Tkachuk. pic.twitter.com/W71J2a5two
— Chris Krenn (@Chris_Krenn) October 22, 2022
Final thoughts
There are some good fits in this year’s free agent crop, but signing a player requires interest from both sides. Just because a player looks like a perfect addition doesn’t mean he’s open to joining a team that’s still building its identity and long-term core.
The Kraken’s approach this summer might not generate headlines, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be effective. Whether they spend their cap space or keep some powder dry for a midseason opportunity, the key is adding value without blocking development.
Who would you like to see Seattle go after on July 1? Let us know in the comments.
I’d like to see them sign Michael Eyssimont. He’s a 28 year old UFA with a high motor and some scoring ability who plays with a little edge.
I would have expected him to sign already but the door is likely open.
I’m hoping they have a handshake deal that adds a few more dollars if they have them available and that’s why there’s been no word.
I mean..here we are talking about 4th line this and 3rd d-pair that. We need a high end guy. Build around that. I understand the cap situation but the most accurate description I’ve heard from a comment section about the Kraken was ‘guy-guy passes to guy’. We’ll never make the playoffs trending in our current direction and this all feels like we’re the Seattle Mariners of the NHL.
I think John talked about the guy you’re talking about coming through a trade. This was just an exploration of free agency, which starts tomorrow.
No you’re right! I get we’re talking about free agents here and not trade stuff but I feel like if we sit on our hands and don’t pull the trigger on someone who can put pucks in the net, then we are years out from the playoff picture. And we may be regardless but shoot..we had a taste of moderate success and I’m worried it’s gonna be a while before we’re even close to contending in the West.
Also trades and FA are inextricably linked. This team won’t be able to afford a Kiviranta if they trade for and extend Robertson (oh, shucks!).
No one seems interested in futures so there would likely be a player with salary going the other way. Not to mention that 4 forwards are coming off the books so the extension, although important, is likely irrelevant to the cap space math problem.
The franchise is years out from being anything more than hoping for a wild card playoff berth. Best thing right now is to maintain flexibility so they can be aggressive if/when the current group of young players is ready to take over in 2-3 years.
I hear ya Matt. I’d love to see Botterill make a move for one of the rumored names like Dickinson or Kyrou. What I’m afraid of though is him rushing into a mistake just to “do something” when I think it’s still just a bit soon.
I’m also worried they’re going to make the same mistake the Kings made when they tried to jump-start their rebuild and traded for Fiala. I get that a GM is going to have to make a big deal at some point if they’re going to truly contend, but I also think that making it too soon can really backfire.
With the money coming off the books at the end of next season and the emergence of a young core still developing, I think unless they can land a player without undercutting their future, they should be focused on the trade deadline and next years off-season.
Kyrou for instance. The talk is the Blues are looking for a center. Personally, I wouldn’t trade any of our young centers for Kyrou, but I’m sure there are a ton of folks who’d love that deal.
Go Kraken!!!
right, but with whats available who is that guy? bennett is already snapped up, marner appears headed to vegas, marchand is linked to cats, leafs or bruins. we dont need ekblad. so then its Ehlers, and? i agree we need a star player big time but i dont know where they are right now on the market. will have to be a trade.
Who would you suggest they go after?
I would personally move heaven and earth for Marner..but my wife says I’m an idiot sometimes so..
I also would have loved to get Rempe in the Wennberg deal. We need toughness..even if he is a scratch sometimes. I also feel like we need to move on from Oleksiak. Guy just takes up space and has zero toughness for a ‘big man’.
If Vegas ends up with marner, we are going to scream bloody hell
It’s a done deal.
Painfully accurate analogy.
Saying it’s accurate shows how little you understand the Mariners and Kraken’s situation but that’s been apparent with every comment you’ve ever made.
I understand mediocrity..am I qualified to speak on the subject?
Everyone know the Sabers are the Mariners of the NHL.
Marner has gone to Vegas before the free agent period even started. There is no “high-end” guy available anymore. Can we talk about something else now? Seriously, this “we need a superstar” narrative has gotten old.
This is a list of realistic targets but there’s no reason for the team go longer than 1 year on any of these deals at this point to maintain financial flexibility. Sign a couple low cost guys with upside and maybe flip them for a return at the deadline.
Unfortunately, they might not sign here unless there is at least a two-year term. Additionally, there are four forwards and one defenseman on the last year of their deal, so it won’t be as consequential as you might think.
Is Brock Boeser realistic? Would he fit? He’d be a better scorer than anyone on the roster, with the possible exception of McCann. There wasn’t much interest in him at the trade deadline, maybe because its rumored he was trying to become an “8 & 8” kinda guy. Or IDK maybe because teams might think that his overall game is declining. Thoughts?
he would fit but I think it will be a longer term with a higher price tag so might not be worth it. Would also make a bigger trade a challenge with that much $.
Sigh good point.
In the “new” NHL with salary cap growth it seems every decent player wants at least $7mm+ out to age 35/36. And given the relatively weak FA market BB will probably get that..
I don’t hate the idea of Jeannot. While he doesn’t add much with his counting stats, he has the ability to help everyone else add to theirs.
Can’t wait to see what Mikael Granlund gets tomorrow.
Right? Isn’t a superstar but dude is better than he gets credit for.
OR…could we take a major swing at Ehlers? It will upset both the Yay Youth Movement and the I Believe the 4th Line BS factions of the Kraken fanbase. With Ehlers, you get a high end player you don’t even have to trade any assets for, and he’s three years younger than Jaden Schwartz. You need veterans on any team, and Ebs, Gru and Oleksiak may not be here for many more seasons ($15.25m coming in cap room). Catton also looks pretty amazing and still has a summer of development to go before the season begins.
Ehlers-Beniers-Kakko
Catton-Wright-Eberle
McCann-Stevie-Mush
Schwartz-Gaudreau-Tolvanen
Some people won’t like Ehlers for the term needed to sign him, and some people will complain that a “4th line” with Schwartz, Gaudreau and Tolvanen is too expensive, because 4th lines should be marginally skilled and cheap…even though you only get to ice 12 forwards.
Or you could just sign a Kiviranta and Eyssimant (whom I am a big fan of) for your “4th line”, play Tolvi with Wright or Stephenson, not make Catton a regular in the lineup and slot Schwartz in with Matty and Kakko, which seemed to work fine last year.
This will probably all go out the window after this week 😄.
I could be willing to go higher AAV on Ehlers for shorter term, like 9.5 x 5. Unfortunately, the trend seems to be for these guys to want term over AAV.
But SEA is also one of the “tax advantage cities”, so maybe 8.5 is like getting 9.5…
I’m looking forward to Seattle being able to take advantage of this eventually. On Morning Cuppa Hockey Montour was asked if he lives in Seattle and he said (paraphrasing), “…with the income tax, yeah, I live in Seattle”. So maybe it’s already working.
No Nyman? Now you see the problem signing these FAs. At this stage, until they clear out the vets, adding more just blocks the kids. Nyman has no business going back to the AHL. Ehlers will be declining by the time the Kraken are ready to compete
I gotta agree with RickyAZ. Unless it’s Marner, I don’t want anyone more “interesting” than an Eyssimont or a Jeannot.
Like this ALLOT, go after him and if not wait out the FA market and add a vet (Granlund or Kane) on a short deal. Bump another vet down a line. Add depth w/Essy (over Tye).
John, since you brought him up… have you heard anything on Kakko and could he be an offer sheet target? I know Seattle has the cap to match and I know many teams will be loath to risk their first from next years draft… but there are 19 teams who have the picks to offer $7m x 5. A couple are contenders with the cap and the need (LAK/WPG) and another is a team with the cap and the need that are under pressure to make the playoffs (BUF).
I know $7m x 5 is an overpay and a risk, but with the rising cap it may not be that out there.
Haven’t heard anything and not really concerned. The quieter the better with these things. Tolvanen’s deal was announced on the final day of dev camp so maybe we will hear more. That said, if anyone offers $7M x 5, they can have him.
I hope you’re right. I’d really like to see him back. That was supposed to be “UP TO $7m x 5″… that’s the first and a third range.
I would echo what GMJB said. I really don’t think the Kraken should spend a dime on this UFA market, after looking through the list of the top 75 UFAs.
The best strategy for the summer is:
1. Work a trade for Isaac Howard.
2. Offer sheet selected RFAs on cap constrained teams.
3. Pick off any signed players that cap constrained teams have to part with.
4. Start the trade of Oleksiak conversations, which may not culminate until the trade deadline.
5. Promote the kids to fill in any NHL roster gaps.
Was just looking at the DFO ranking of the odds for the top 20 landing spots for Marner. Best odds, the 2017 expansion team, who is in every conversation when top line talent comes available. Who was nowhere on the list, the 2021 expansion team. Why is GMJB not taking a shot at this?
Per TB media, Howard is basically picking his team, unwilling to go somewhere that TB wants to trade with. Hopefully he looks at Seattle but seems to be up in the air.
Regarding Offer Sheets, anything not risking the 26 first rd pick is fair game
Seattle’s offer sheet range is limited to $2.4m to $4.7m… unless Botterill gets the third back from Dallas.
That actually doesn’t work either. The picks you give up in compensation have to be your own, not traded for from another team. https://puckpedia.com/salary-cap/offer-sheets
Offer sheets are extremely rare, and this year will be no exception.
The third from Dallas would be Seattle’s third that was sent to them in the Marchment deal.
That would work.
And now that Peterka is gone, there is nobody left that I would want to give an offer sheet to. All the scorers who are even comparable to guys like Schwartz, Tolvanen, or Eberle are gone. Nobody knows how the trade market will shake out this month, but I would not imagine that anyone is looking to move any big-time scorers with only Vegas, Montreal, Florida, and Dallas needing to clear cap space. Dallas is not moving Jason Robertson to clear a measly two-million off the books. I don’t think I would want Patrik Laine at $8.7m given that he has not played close to a full season of hockey so far in this decade. Maybe at half the price and just because he’s Finnish. Alex Pietrangelo’s oh-so-convenient move to IR clears up Vegas’ cap problem for the most part (ick), but those RFAs present an issue if Vegas even wants them. Florida is in an interesting situation, but I do not imagine that any of the guys we would be interested in will be moved, since they all recently signed long-term deals.
If you are hoping to see a guy in a Kraken sweater beyond Jared McCann who is likely to score thirty goals this upcoming season, the only hope is internal. I would say that Matty finding his scoring touch is the team’s best chance. His shooting percentage is already not half bad, so it is really just a question of learning to recognize opportunities. Wright is probably going to have to scale a sophomore wall when Lambert makes him start playing responsible defense again, Catton will be lucky to hang with the club at all, and the chances of Tolvanen or Schwartz improving upon their goal totals from last season are slim. Maybe Jani Nyman is a dark horse, but yet again it is likely to fall to McCann to lead the way on offense.
Sounds like you want Seattle to be a development program for young players. By the way, most kids drafted never get to play in the NHL. They can’t crack lineups…because it’s the highest level hockey league in the world.
Dark Lamp… I don’t think Dallas moving Robertson is about clearing a measly $2m off the cap. I think maybe it’s more about his next contract. They’re going to have to cut Harley a big check next year. Robertson will have only one year of RFA left when his contract expires after this season so Pat Brisson – his agent is going to have a lot of leverage in that negotiation. I do wonder if they’re questioning the utility of having two forwards on $12m+ contracts. I think they’d rather spend on a much needed right side d-man.
Just a thought…
Dallas is trying to keep their competitive window open a bit longer. Would they be playing that long game in a year like this when they are legitimate contenders for the cup? I sure wouldn’t do that, especially with Matt Dumba’s contract expiring, Jamie Benn’s contract expiring, and the dead cap from the Ryan Suter buyout falling off the books next year. Those alone will just about cover the cost of Robertson’s raise, and the following year Tyler Seguin’s contract will be up. Say, what would you all say to buying one expensive year of Tyler Seguin the season after next? It might be tempting depending on how the Kraken look at the end of this season.
I think they’re trying to keep their window open for more that just a bit more. I also think they’re in serious need on the right side of their backend… but more than that, I’m not sure they’re convinced $12m Jason Robertson is the player they can win with in the playoffs. The closest thing to what I’m thinking is Johnathan Huberdeau. How could Florida trade away a 100+ point wing? I know it was for Tkachuk, but they also recognized that he wasn’t the player they needed.
They probably don’t trade him, but if they’re thinking about it, I think it’s more about roster construction than just cap savings. You’re absolutely right, the dollars and cents don’t make sense as a reason to move him.
I’d like to see them do literally everything in their power to bring in a star. Looking like Marner is going to end up in Vegas, but that is the kind of player we should be targeting. Francis completely bungled this team’s beginning, and I’m hoping Botterill isn’t just a Francis acolyte. If we don’t bring in some true talent (our top guys would be third-liners on most teams), this team will be mired in mediocrity for years to come.
In order to get stars, you need to either draft them or be an enticing place to sign. Seattle hasn’t done (1) and isn’t good enough to be (2), so mediocrity it is until one of their lumps of coal turns into a diamond.
I would remind everyone that a team without any real superstars just beat the team with a top six full of superstars in the Stanley Cup Finals for the second season in a row. Give me guys with heart who will buy in all the way over the guys with the big endorsement deals. Who are those guys? I wish I knew.
Signing Joel Kiviranta is an intriguing proposition. He is coming off just a crazy good season, a season that was head and shoulders above any previous season of his career. A man who played on the penalty kill and only got 12:30 per night of ice time has no business being a +15. That is ridiculous. It’s also a wild statistical outlier. Is that who he is, or will he never achieve anything like last season again? If they can get him for short-term it would be well worth it to find out.
Nick Perbix has ceiling that is still conceivably higher than where he is, and currently he is a good bottom-four guy. He is not going to be the next Adam Larsson, but he can likely handle more than the fifteen minutes of ice time he has been getting. I would love to get the guy. He would be a terrific add, but I imagine that teams starving for defensive depth–which is about three-quarters of the league–will throw money at him.
Barkov, Tkachuk, Bobrovsky, and that 50 goal guy… Reinhart.
If you’re trying to tell me those guys aren’t “superstars” but the four guys playing alongside McDavid and Draisaitl are… please.
Bobrovsky was a star five years ago; hell, Joey Daccord put up better numbers than he did this past season. Tkachuk is a thirty-goal guy. Barkov is a defensive center. Reinhart was a fifty-goal scorer exactly once, and it was the same year that Zach Hyman was a fifty-goal scorer. No, they are not superstars, and they don’t have to be.
The point was… Edmonton doesn’t have a top six full of superstars if none of those guys are. Talk about hyperbole.
That’s what your point is? No, their top six isn’t full of superstars! It’s only half of them who are superstars! Dude, whatever.
FFS, it looks like Toronto just traded the rights for Marner and he signed for something like $12m AAV. This begs the following two questions:
1. What was there in the Vegas offer that the Kraken could not match or exceed?
2. If the answer is nothing, it is just that Marner would not want to sign in Seattle, then the question is a totally different one. Why?
Nevada has no financial advantage over Washington (no state income tax). If the Kraken could match or really exceed anything financially, then again, as long was Marner was open to moving west and playing in the Pacific division, why would Marner not want to come to such a wonderful facility and city (far more pleasant than Vegas)?
Oh, you mean the franchise is not a regular playoff contender, has no apparent plan, lurches from one disappointment to another, has no top of the lineup players or prospects, and hires mediocre executives? OK, then I get it. Darn, Seattle should have built a place that top UFAs want to come to. PHORF check his notes from 2019, “Oops, forgot to put that on my franchise startup to-do list.”
Boy, I did see this tidbit coming.
Wow. You really wanted Marner for 8 x 12m? When you have Wright, Beniers, Catton, O’Brien, maybe Kakko? That’s interesting.
At the very least, you might process the Leafs had Marner and didn’t want to sign him for 8 x $12m. They could have.
I wish him the best in Vegas. Go Kraken!
Wait. If I do my math correctly, that makes Marner 36 at the end of this contract making $12m. How do you feel about that, Chuck?
Just so you’re not surprised Chuck, the Kraken probably aren’t getting Ehlers either.
For all those complaining about Mitch Marner at 8 x $12, or paying $12mm for a 36 yo player I can only say this:
This isn’t your daddy’s NHL. I have to admit I thought (at the time) last year’s contracts for both Stepenson and Montour were ridiculous, but with salary cap increasing to $100m+ the next few years welcome to the new normal. And I’m pretty sure LV fans won’t be complaining at 36 yo MM’s salary if they’ve won 2-3 of the last 8 Stanley Cup’s. This is what they paid for. MM probably wouldn’t have made sense for the Kraken as you only pay that much for a special player that assures your team will be a perennial Stanley Cup contender, and the Kraken are probaby 5-10 years away from that status.
The Golden Knight’s front office has consistently been creative and aggressive; as a result they’ve become hockey’s equivalent of a destination resort. That’s the real reason LV is able to acquire MM, Mark Stone and Jack Eichel – players simply WANT TO PLAY there. Seattle has no such advantage. That’s the REAL reason (not cost) they won’t be able to acquire Ehlers, Boeser or Jason Robertson.
Well Jeannot is off the table – Bruins signed him to an insane $17M/5. That is mind boggling.
Over $3m… and over 3 years… pass.
Kraken sign Ryan Lindgren 4 years at 4.5
Cap neutral replacement for Oleksiak?
The positive with the Lindgren signing is he’ll help them get a better chance at drafting McKenna next year
As I’ve said before, if the Kraken sign just one bonafide goal scorer this offseason will be a resounding success. Why not aggressively pursue Brock Boeser? At age 28 a 7 x $7 contract makes sense, and even 8 x $8 is tolerable. Be aggressive, give BB the full court press. Have Samantha Holloway get involved and sell BB on the Kraken’s vision for the future.
And any discussion about not making a signing like this in favor of creating roster spots for younger players is a false dichotomy. First, I think Carson Rehkopf has a chance, but I doubt any other players currently in the farm system would ever come close to replicating Boeser’s NHL production. But in terms of roster spots, both Eberle and Schwartz’s contracts are expiring, and they won’t be back. That’s creates to two roster spots for forwards ~ $10mm in cap space. And $3mm more if they buy out Grubauer next year.
Regarding BB’s hypothetical $8mm AAV – who cares? The salary cap increases from $95mm in 25/26 to $104mm in 26/27, they’ll have plenty of cap room to work with.
One other huge issue going forward is what is Matty Beniers true upside? Is he a 1C, 2C, 3C? Put Brock Boeser on a line with McCann, MB and let them rock out. This is the best way to determine MB’s upside. The 2L would be Wright, Tolvanen and Marchment followed by Stephenson Schwart and Eberle. That’s a pretty solid group.
The Kraken franchise is currently mired in mediocrity and needs to show progress for their fanbase to have any hope going forward. The lines above, combined with their already solid d-pairings would enable the team to legitimately compete for a playoff spot next season and provide that hope – all without sacrificing the future. And just as importantly, demonstrate to their own (Marchment and Tolvanen next year) and outside FAs that this is a team worth committing to going forward.
They’ve got nothing to lose by doing this.
And he’s gone. Amazingly, Vancouver re-signed him. Honestly, I feel like we dodged a bullet with that one. Boeser only scored two more goals while playing five more minutes a night than Eeli Tolvanen did last year, and Tolvanen was not a complete disaster defensively (he was honestly pretty good in that department). Granted, the Canucks’ defensive faults were not even mostly Boeser’s doing, but a -25 is a pretty nasty number to post for a guy who is on Power Play line 1 and doesn’t kill penalties.
Have you been able to watch Rehkopf? I would really like to see him make the jump to the big league, if not this year then the next. Coachella Valley could use some good centermen this year beyond Max McKormick. With Catton out of the running and Wright firmly in Seattle now, they really need a new prospect to step up. Sale’s mid-season drop-off hurts prospective depth at the position, and Nathan Villeneuve seems like more of a third line guy. Although, maybe I should not underestimate Villeneuve after last year’s camp. Center stage is there for Rehkopf’s taking if he can handle it.
Ugh – but I get your point on Boeser, but he CAN score goals, which the Kraken need. But your points are fair and it’s hard to explain away a -25 in any context. Your observations about about Tolvenan are astute. Tolvenan’s defense really isn’t that bad and he’s willing to be physical – he’s somewhat underrated. That’s why I mentioned above about retaining ET and MM next year – good teams NEED to have guys like that; teams sometimes create unnecessary risk by letting “unsung” players like that go; you can’t guarantee you’ll their production can be replaced.
I have watched a fair amount of tape on Rehkopf and IMHO he’s their best forward prospect by a long shot (better than Nyman). He creates scoring chances with his skating, has a nice shot and likes to park in front of the net. His stickhandling is sloppy at times but that can be improved upon. Could easily be a consistent 25-30 goal scorer and best case an All-Star.
What to make of the enigma named Eduard Sale. He looks boom or bust. Has all the skill in the world, but his compete level was non-existent last season. Was only 19 beginning of AHL season maybe we give him a pass. If he becomes more just a bit more aggressive, willing to take (and hand out checks) when needed (he doesn’t have to be the next Tom Wilson) then he could be a very good player. He’s genial and well liked, and sometimes it’s hard for nice guys to become even a little bit nasty. If he can’t do that he’ll be playing hockey Europe in the next year or two. I’m hoping for the best.
Yeah, I’m with you there. I really hope that they re-sign Tolvanen and Marchment. It is probably too early to say that about Marchment. We haven’t even seen him in a Kraken sweater yet, but the team needs to be more tough. He and Tolvanen both deliver toughness. And goals!
It is exciting to hear that about Rehkopf. I hadn’t even considered the possibility that he might make the big club this season. Where would they even play the guy given how stacked they are at left wing and at center? I suppose Lambert having more options to choose from is a good thing, especially after what Botterill said about wanting to give the new coach plenty of guys to mix and match so he can find the chemistry that the previous coaches were never able to find.
Sale is so inconsistent, but I do not want to write him off too early. He seems like he could be one of those late-bloomer guys like Tolvanen who do not live up to their draft pedigree for years before, one year out of the blue, figuring out how to be a productive NHL player. It would suck if that were to happen after the Kraken have already moved on.