Welcome, new (and existing) hockey fans! As the Seattle Kraken enter their fourth season in the NHL, we at Sound Of Hockey wanted to create a primer to help fans get up to speed on the team and the game of hockey.
Team history
Seattle was awarded the NHL’s 32nd franchise on Dec. 4, 2018, and began play in the 2021-22 season. The Kraken have competed in three seasons, experiencing a mix of successes and challenges. The Vegas Golden Knights’ expansion success set unrealistic expectations, but the Kraken’s journey has been marked by ups and downs.
Season 1
After high preseason expectations, the Kraken fell well short of the playoffs in their inaugural campaign, finishing 30th out of 32 teams. In the NHL, 16 teams, the top eight from the Eastern and Western Conferences, qualify for the playoffs.
Season 2
The Kraken’s fortunes turned in their second season. General manager Ron Francis acquired Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Columbus Blue Jackets in the offseason and signed free agent Andre Burakovsky. Matty Beniers won the Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie, scoring 57 points. With a balanced approach and four offensive lines, the Kraken achieved a 100-point season, clinching their first playoff berth.
Seattle fans experienced the thrill of NHL playoff hockey for the first time, including the excitement of sudden-death overtime. In their inaugural playoff series, the Kraken pulled off a stunning upset, defeating the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Colorado Avalanche, in seven games. Facing the Dallas Stars in the second round, they pushed the series to a decisive Game 7, but ultimately fell short. The hunger for Seattle to return to the playoffs is now deeply ingrained in Kraken fans.
Season 3
This time, the Kraken’s fortunes took a turn for the worse in their third season. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, including a franchise-best nine-game winning streak, inconsistent scoring ultimately hindered Seattle’s playoff aspirations. Although they were occasionally on the cusp of a playoff spot at different times during the season, they were unable to maintain the momentum and ultimately finished out of the postseason.
Overall, the Kraken underperformed in their inaugural season, exceeded expectations in season two, and were competitive in season three but fell short of their goals.
Key players
While the Kraken have seen roster turnover, several key players from their inaugural season remain with the team. Here are some of the top performers.
Forwards
Jordan Eberle (“Ebs”)
A veteran right winger, Eberle re-signed with the Kraken prior to last season’s trade deadline for two more years. His playing experience, leadership qualities, and popularity among fans make him a leading candidate to be named captain for the upcoming season. While the Kraken have been captain-less for the last two seasons, they are the only team in the NHL without a player wearing a “C” on his jersey. “Ebs'” leadership could provide a unifying force and further solidify the team’s identity.
Jared McCann (“Canner”)
The Kraken’s franchise leader in points with 182 is renowned for his scoring ability. With his lethal shot, you want “Canner” with the puck on his stick in high-pressure situations. His offensive prowess makes him a crucial asset to the team’s success. He scored 40 goals during the 2022-23 season, a career best and Seattle franchise record.
Matty Beniers (“Matty B”)
Beniers burst onto the NHL scene with a remarkable rookie campaign, scoring 57 points and winning the Calder Trophy. However, he faced challenges in his sophomore season, struggling to replicate his early success and finishing with 37 points. Despite this setback, “Matty B” is a promising two-way center with a balanced approach to both offensive and defensive play. His recent signing of a $50 million, seven-year contract demonstrates the team’s commitment to his development and future with the Kraken. He could be the face of the franchise one day.
Defense
Adam Larsson (“Big Cat”)
Larsson, an ironman defenseman, leads the Kraken in games played in franchise history. Known for his physicality and calming presence on defense, “Big Cat” is a reliable cornerstone of the team’s blue line.
Vince Dunn (“Dunner”)
Dunn, a puck-moving defenseman and power play quarterback, has led the Kraken’s defense in points each season. Known for his two-way play and willingness to drop the gloves for his teammates, Dunn is a valuable asset on both ends of the ice.
Jamie Oleksiak (“Big Rig”)
A towering defenseman at 6-foot-7, 257 pounds, Oleksiak is the largest player in the NHL. While known primarily for his defensive prowess, “Big Rig” also likes to jump up into the offensive zone. Despite his size, he moves surprisingly quickly thanks to his long legs and can catch opponents off guard with his stickhandling. His physical presence makes him a formidable opponent, and he’s a valuable asset on the penalty kill.
Goaltenders
Philipp Grubauer (“Gru” and “The German Gentleman”)
The veteran netminder who loves horses and spends time taking care of them when he is away from the rink often elicits a resounding “Gruuuuuuu!” from the crowd for his saves. “The German Gentleman’s” stellar performance was instrumental in the Kraken’s first playoff series win against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche. The Kraken need him to be excellent this season.
Joey Daccord (“Dac”, “Joey”, “The Mayor”)
The younger of the two Kraken netminders has impressed fans with his solid performances, often earning a “Joey, Joey, Joey” chant from the crowd after making a good save. Daccord is known for his ability to handle the puck and help the Kraken exit the defensive zone. Daccord had a breakout season last year, finishing sixth in the NHL in save percentage and goals-against average. He recorded a shutout in the Winter Classic and contributed to the Kraken’s franchise-best nine-game winning streak with eight wins.
Mascot – Buoy
Although Buoy, a fun-loving troll, is not a player on the team, he is the Seattle Kraken’s mascot. While Buoy’s initial reception was divided, Buoy has since won over fans with his flowing locks, removable tooth, slight belly, and playful antics. The Sound Of Hockey crew are strong advocates for Buoy, and his endearing presence has become an integral part of the Kraken’s identity.
Nicknames
Hockey players often adopt nicknames, which are typically derived from their first or last names with an “-er” or “-y” suffix. Fans quickly adopt these nicknames, making them a common part of hockey lingo when referring to players.
Excitement for the upcoming season (2024-25)
The Seattle Kraken are buzzing with anticipation as they prepare for the upcoming season. Here are some key reasons for the optimism.
Promising young talent
Shane Wright, the highly touted 2022 fourth-overall draft pick, is poised to play his first season as a full-time NHLer. While expectations should be managed, Wright’s talent is undeniable. Combined with promising young center Beniers, these two will form a dynamic one-two punch for years to come.
Veteran acquisitions
Center Chandler Stephenson and defenseman Brandon Montour, both signed to seven-year deals, add experience and stability to the lineup. During preseason, Montour was on display showing how he can help the Kraken at both ends of the ice.
Coaching changes
New head coach Dan Bylsma, nicknamed “Disco Dan,” brings a fresh perspective and a focus on boosting offensive production while maintaining the Kraken’s strong defensive foundation. His coaching staff includes Bob Woods, Jessica Campbell, and Dave Lowry. Curtis Isacke, described what Woods brings to the Kraken, who will run the defense and the power play.
The Kraken have demonstrated a strong track record in drafting promising young players in their early years as a franchise. NHL-eligible players can be drafted when they turn 18 years old. While over 200 players are selected during the NHL Entry Draft over seven rounds, only a small handful will make the NHL the following year. Most drafted players require further development in the junior (CHL) or minor (AHL) leagues for three to four years before cracking an NHL lineup.
With just three seasons under their belt, the Kraken’s prospects are beginning to mature. To date, Matty Beniers, a first-round pick from the inaugural draft, is the only drafted player to make the team full-time. For the upcoming season, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans are expected to join the roster. Ryan Winterton, a second-round pick from 2021, is also pushing for a spot and remains a strong possibility to play in some Kraken games this year but will start the season in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Many other Kraken prospects are developing with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. This team boasts 12 players under the age of 23, providing a valuable training ground for future NHL talent. Fans can follow the progress of Kraken prospects by streaming games from both the Firebirds and their ECHL affiliate, the Kansas City Mavericks, via subscription on FloHockey.tv. Players such as Jagger Firkus and Lleyton Roed will look to take the next step in Coachella Valley this season.
Ice Hockey: Rules and play
If you are truly new to ice hockey, this section is for you. Hockey is a fast-paced sport with constant player changes on the fly. It can be a bit daunting at first, but here are some excellent resources to help you understand the rules, the play, and the role of the referees.
KING 5 Seattle’s “Hockey 101” video is an excellent starting point for understanding the basics of hockey. It covers the key rules and the flow of the game.
Key rules and concepts
Offsides: A player is offside if they cross the opposing team’s blue line before the puck.
Icing: Occurs when a player shoots the puck past the center red line and far goal line without another player touching the puck. This results in a stoppage of play, and the team that iced the puck is penalized by not being allowed to change players. Play restarts in the defensive zone of the team that committed the icing.
Penalties: Penalties are assessed for various infractions, such as tripping, hooking, slashing, and interference. Penalties result in a player being sent to the penalty box, and the opposing team plays with a numerical advantage, called a power play. Most power plays last two minutes but can be four or five minutes depending on the severity of the infraction.
The Rink: The hockey rink is divided into three zones, separated by the blue lines: the offensive zone, neutral zone, and defensive zone. The goal is located at the back of the defensive zone.
Players: Each team consists of six players on the ice at a time, five skaters and a goalie. If a team gets a penalty, they skate down a player until the penalty expires.
The NHL partnered with Snoop Dogg to create a series of entertaining videos explaining the rules of hockey. These nine videos, which take about 25 minutes to watch in total, are a fun and engaging way to learn the basics of the game.
Referees and linesmen
There are four officials on the ice during an NHL game: two referees and two linesmen. Referees, identifiable by orange bands on their arms, primarily focus on penalties and determining if goals are scored. Linesmen monitor for offsides and icing and help break up extracurricular activities. While it’s common for crowds to boo officials as they enter the ice, it’s important to remember that referees have a very hard job. The game moves incredibly fast, and they need to make split-second decisions on whether or not to make a call.
Following the play
The Sound Of Hockey Podcast has discussed strategies for understanding the fast-paced nature of hockey, which involves players regularly exceeding speeds of over 20 mph. To follow the game effectively, it’s helpful to anticipate the puck’s movement and the overall flow of play. John Barr and Curtis Isacke have suggested focusing on a single position during a game to gain a deeper understanding of the various roles on the ice.
There are five skater positions: left wing, center, right wing, left defense, and right defense, usually identifiable based on where they line up for a face-off. Curtis, also known as @deepseahockey on multiple platforms, has created YouTube videos that highlight all shifts for a specific player on the ice. This is a valuable resource for focusing on individual positions and gaining insights into their roles and responsibilities.
The videos linked above feature players who are currently part of the Kraken organization, though some of the videos show players prior to their time with Seattle, meaning they are not wearing a Kraken jersey. While watching the videos, focus on the player’s jersey number to help learn each position. Note that due to TV angles, sometimes the player of focus is not always visible.
When first learning about positional play, it’s recommended to focus on even-strength situations (5-on-5 play). You can explore power play and penalty kill strategies later. If a team is on the power play, you will see it noted on the TV broadcast’s scorebug.
How to watch the Seattle Kraken
The ultimate Kraken experience is undoubtedly watching them live at Climate Pledge Arena. Witness the energy of the crowd, the electrifying atmosphere, and cheer on your favorite team in person. If you’re unsure where to sit, check out Sound Of Hockey’s helpful Kraken seating guide.
However, we understand that attending games isn’t always an option due to cost or other factors. Thankfully, there are convenient TV and radio options available to catch the action remotely.
Living in Washington, Oregon, or Alaska?
Great news! As a Kraken fan in the Pacific Northwest, you have several ways to catch the games.
Local Broadcast: The Kraken have a new partnership with KING 5 and KONG, which will combine to broadcast 72 of 82 non-nationally televised games, all available for free over the air.
Amazon Prime: For the first time ever, Seattle Kraken games will be streamed on Amazon Prime Video for Prime members in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.
Radio Broadcast: Sports Radio 93.3 KJR FM will broadcast the games in the Seattle area. Check here for affiliates in other areas.
Friend of the pod, Chris Smith (@icethetics) has created these handy info-graphics.
No problem! You can still watch the Kraken play with an ESPN+ subscription. This service allows you to stream most out-of-market NHL games, including the Kraken. For the number of NHL games you get with this service, it is a fantastic deal.
Nationally televised games
There are 10 Kraken games scheduled to be nationally broadcast on ESPN, ESPN+, ABC, Hulu, or TNT. To watch these games, you’ll need a subscription to the appropriate channel or streaming service. The full broadcast schedule can be found here.
How to stay updated on the Kraken
Look no further! Sound Of Hockey has you covered to stay connected with the Kraken and the NHL.
Weekly Podcasts: Dive deeper with insightful discussions and commentary from the Sound Of Hockey crew. Also available on Apple podcasts.
Social Media: Follow Sound Of Hockey on various platforms (Discord, X.com(@sound_hockey) for updates and engagement.
Patreon: Support Sound Of Hockey and gain access to exclusive bonus content.
Wrapping up
Congratulations on becoming a Kraken fan! You’ve now joined a passionate community that shares your love for the team.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have about hockey, the Kraken, or anything related to the team. We tend to gear most of our content on Sound Of Hockey toward more seasoned fans, but this is a safe space to discuss and learn together, so please comment below with any questions you might have. We’re excited to have you join the Sound Of Hockey family!
Seattle’s defense got a significant upgrade this offseason. Brandon Montour, fresh off a Stanley Cup win with the Florida Panthers, signed a hefty seven-year, $50 million contract with the Kraken on the opening day of free agency. This commitment is underscored by a no-trade clause for the first three years, which then transitions to a modified NTC for the remainder of the deal. Let’s delve into Montour’s playing style and what Kraken fans can expect from their newest defenseman.
Montour’s offensive prowess
Montour’s offensive prowess is a cornerstone of his game. Over the past two seasons, he’s amassed an impressive 106 points in 146 games, with a career-best 73-point campaign in 2022-23. His ability to move the puck and generate offense from the back end is a significant upgrade for the Kraken.
Seattle’s previous reliance on a dump-and-chase style can be improved with Montour’s puck-moving ability, which will allow for more controlled entries and smooth transitions. His right-handed shot will complement the team’s existing defensive corps, and his ability to jump into the rush while maintaining situational awareness will add a new dimension to their offensive attack. The smooth-skating defenseman excels at starting the breakout with quick passes to get the puck moving up the ice. Here are a few clips of Montour making the first pass.
Shot selection
Adam Larsson has led Kraken defensemen in shots since the team’s inception with 392. Montour easily eclipses that mark, with 563 shots during the same time frame. This penchant for shooting will be welcomed by the Kraken.
As illustrated in the provided heatmaps (source: MoneyPuck), Montour’s shots are primarily concentrated at the point, but he’s not afraid to move around the ice and take shots from various angles. His ability to generate a high volume of shots, especially from long range, will be instrumental in creating scoring opportunities by generating rebounds and deflections.
Montour’s familiarity with the 1-3-1 power play strategy, a system also utilized by the Seattle Kraken, played a role in his shooting habits. This formation often anchors the power play quarterback at the point, which aligns with Montour’s primary shooting location.
Overall, Montour’s shooting style and offensive instincts make him a valuable addition to the Kraken’s blue line. His ability to generate shots and create scoring chances will be a key asset for the team as they strive for success.
Defensive abilities
While Montour is primarily known for his offensive contributions, he also possesses solid defensive skills. He’s positionally sound, adept at breaking up plays with his poke check, and effective at clogging passing lanes. Contrary to what his offensive reputation might suggest, Montour plays a more conservative defensive style, prioritizing his positional responsibilities over unnecessary offensive ventures.
Montour’s defensive play is heavily influenced by the systems implemented by the Florida Panthers. Through careful observation, it’s evident that Montour adheres to specific assignments in various zones, minimizing risky plays and prioritizing defensive responsibility.
Offense zone defense
Whilst playing defense in the offensive zone, Montour primarily occupies the point position. He’s quick to exit the zone once the puck is controlled by the opposing team, demonstrating his conservative approach to defense.
When the opponent contests but does not control puck along the boards, Montour does not hesitate to pinch and apply pressure to the opposing winger, aiming to regain possession. However, he’s always mindful of maintaining proper coverage, ensuring that a forward is in position to cover defense and limit odd-man rushes.
Here are a few clips of Montour pinching to maintain puck possession.
Given the Kraken’s similar defensive strategies, Montour’s familiarity with these tactics should allow him to seamlessly integrate into the team’s system.
Defensive zone
In the defensive zone, his home is in front of the net and in the corners. He is constantly scanning the ice for potential threats. Communication is key, and the right-shot defenseman can be seen during play talking to his teammates and pointing to opponents to ensure defensive coverage.
While Montour isn’t known for delivering heavy hits, he’s adept at using his body to separate the puck carrier from the puck and subsequently retrieving it. Once he gains possession, his puck-handling skills come into play, allowing him to quickly move the puck to a teammate and ensure his team keeps control.
The fast-paced nature of hockey often leads to odd-man rushes, and Montour’s poke check is a valuable asset in these situations. His ability to anticipate passes, combined with his willingness to sacrifice his body to block shots, makes him a formidable defender. Here are some clips of Montour’s poke checks.
The power play quarterback
Montour’s contributions extend beyond even-strength play, as evidenced by his league-leading average of 4:05 of average power play time per game over the past two seasons. While his goal production on the man advantage has been modest (four goals in two years), he’s established himself as a top distributor, ranking fifth in the NHL among defensemen with 46 power play assists during the same timeframe.
His role as a power play quarterback revolves around facilitating puck movement and creating scoring opportunities. The addition of Montour provides the Kraken with a formidable one-two punch alongside Vince Dunn, who will surely quarterback the other unit. Sharing the workload could potentially lead to a decrease in Montour’s power play time, as both he and Dunn will command plenty of opportunities.
It’s worth acknowledging the dip in Montour’s power play production during the 2023-24 season, coinciding with the emergence of Sam Reinhart and his 57 goals. Reinhart playing the bumper position, coupled with the Panthers’ strategy of cycling the puck low, limited Montour’s direct opportunities for assists. Check out this clip of a textbook Panthers power-play goal.
If the NHL counted third assists, Montour’s season totals would have definitely been higher. Regardless, Montour remained a valuable contributor to one of the league’s best power plays. The Florida Panthers power play was the fourth best in the NHL over the last two years, scoring 126 goals.
Montour’s experience and puck-moving abilities will be a significant asset for the Kraken’s special teams unit.
Coming back from injury
Following a tough Stanley Cup Final defeat to end the 2022-23 season and subsequent surgery to repair a torn labrum, Montour missed the first 16 games to start 2023-24. Despite returning to action and averaging 23:13 of ice time, Montour struggled to regain his pre-injury scoring touch during the early stages of the season. He was limited to 11 points in the first 36 games.
However, as the season progressed, his play began to show signs of improvement. Over the final 30 games, he demonstrated a significant uptick in production, averaging .73 points per game. This is equivalent to a 60-point pace for a full season. This surge suggests that Montour has fully regained his strength and confidence, and it bodes well for his potential in Seattle.
There is a lot going on in the following visualization (source: HockeyViz). What these graphics show is when Montour is on the ice, how do all the Panthers perform as a team? The image on the left is the 2022-23 season, and the right image is the 2023-24 season.
Here are my three takeaways from this data.
The top left heatmap for the 2023-24 season shows when Montour is on the ice, the even-strength offense heavily favored to Montour’s side of the ice.
The bottom left heatmap for the 2023-24 season shows very few shots are coming from the right side, indicating strong defense.
The top right heatmap shows Florida’s power-play shots. In the 2022-23 season, a bigger portion of the team’s shots were from the point than in 2023-24. That could be due to team strategy and Sam Reinhart’s team-leading 27 power-play goals.
Montour will boost the Kraken
Brandon Montour’s addition to the Seattle Kraken is a significant boost to their already strong defensive corps. The Kraken were already a top-10 team in goals against (232) prior to Montour’s arrival, and his presence will only further solidify their defensive foundation.
Beyond his defensive contributions, Montour’s offensive abilities offer the potential to enhance the Kraken’s scoring capabilities. His skillset aligns well with the team’s strategy, and his presence on the blue line will undoubtedly make them a better team.
Kraken fans can eagerly anticipate seeing Montour in a Kraken jersey when training camp begins on Sept 19. If you have any comments or questions, please leave them below. You can find me on the X at @blaizg.
A few weeks ago, on the Sound Of Hockey Podcast, we discussed whether the 2024-25 Seattle Kraken are a playoff team. The conclusion was that we don’t know yet. Talent-wise, they are better than last season’s roster, and their goal scoring should improve enough to give them a shot at reaching the postseason.
However, for every new team entering the playoff picture in a season, another playoff team from the previous year must drop out. To get a better idea of which teams might miss the playoffs to make room, I decided to forecast the goal scoring of all Pacific Division teams using the same methodology I used when forecasting the Kraken. This way, we can identify some of the potential teams that might drop out of the playoffs next spring.
Forecasting from the bottom up
Let me say this up front: forecasting is inherently flawed. You are making predictions and assumptions about things with many uncontrollable variables. Nobody knows who might suffer a serious injury or have a breakout year in goal scoring. We simply use the information we have and try to apply it to future outcomes. It’s not perfect, and running it through a more complex statistical model doesn’t guarantee it is “less wrong.”
I will keep it very simple by using a bottom-up approach to forecast the goals scored by every notable player on a roster. For NHL players, I will examine the last three seasons of games played, adjusted goals scored, and average goals scored per game. Then, I will estimate the number of games each team will play and multiply that by their average goals per game to get a forecasted adjusted-goals total for each player. For rookies expected to play in the league, I had to take a more subjective approach by looking at how similar rookies have performed in their first season.
Additionally, the number of games forecasted for a player is 75 games. I am well aware that there will be plenty of players that will play over 75, but injuries are part of the game, and on average I expect the top guys to play 75 games in the season.
The individual player goals forecast will be the least accurate because performance can vary as circumstances change. However, on the aggregate, the totals should be more accurate. That’s my way of saying: please don’t contact me in April to tell me how my forecast for Yegor Sharangovich was way off. It probably will be—I know it.
(**Editor’s note: But if John nails it on Sharangovich’s projection, please do contact him to tell him how brilliant he is.)
Anaheim Ducks
I forecast the Anaheim Ducks to score 231 adjusted goals in 2024-25, which is 35 more than last season. The increase is driven by rookie additions and full seasons from Trevor Zegras and Leo Carlsson. I’m assuming rookies Sam Colangelo (eight goals) and Cutter Gauthier (10 goals) will play 55 games, which might be optimistic in terms of both games played and goal scoring. Zegras only played in 31 games last season after suffering a broken leg, so that might be a bit high as well. He did play 75 and 81 games in the seasons prior to 2023-24, so he’s certainly capable of playing a full season without injury.
Defensively, it’s hard to forecast Anaheim’s deployments next season. The Ducks have shown a cautious approach to integrating players into the NHL, often scratching rookies to avoid overwhelming them in the first season. I assume Olen Zellweger will get more NHL playing time, but at whose expense? Jackson LaCombe and Urho Vaakanainen appear to be the most likely candidates to see a reduction in games, but neither contributes significantly to goal scoring.
Sniff test: I don’t think anyone is expecting much from the Ducks this coming season, so this goal forecast seems a little high. I can’t objectively find a reason to lower the forecast, so for now, I’ll keep it as is.
Calgary Flames
The Flames’ scoring projections are in line with their numbers from last year. They lost several pending free agents at the trade deadline and traded Andrew Mangiapane this offseason. Some of the lost goal scoring will be offset by a full season of Andrei Kuzmenko, who they acquired at the trade deadline, and the signing of Anthony Mantha in free agency. Additionally, Connor Zary looks to build upon his solid rookie season last year. The Flames’ first-round pick from 2021, Matthew Coronato, should also stick with the team this season.
Sniff test: This feels about right, but you wonder how much the losses of defensemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev will impact the rest of the team’s goal scoring. The Flames averaged 3.13 goals per game before Hanifin was traded on March 6 and scored 2.95 goals per game after the trade. Perhaps more telling about the state of the Flames is that they allowed 3.07 goals against per game before the Hanifin trade and 3.81 goals against per game after.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers didn’t have a problem scoring goals last season, with 280 adjusted goals—the most in the Pacific Division. This offseason, they added even more scoring with the acquisitions of Jeff Skinner, Adam Henrique, and Victor Arvidsson. These additions contributed 70 goals to their forecast. The losses of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg will have minimal impact on overall goal production next season.
Sniff test: This team is going to score a ton next season, but I think this forecast might be a bit too optimistic. A forecast of 315 adjusted goals is 18 more than the top team in the league (Toronto) had last season.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings lost a few goal-scoring pieces this offseason through free agency, including Viktor Arvidsson, Blake Lizotte, and Matt Roy. They also traded Carl Grundstrom to San Jose and sent the much-maligned Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitals for Darcy Kuemper. None of those players are irreplaceable, but the sum of those departures amounts to 40 non-empty-net goals. They backfilled those losses with Tanner Jeannot and Warren Foegele, who collectively forecast at 26 adjusted goals next season. For the Kings to make up the difference, they’ll need young players like Quinton Byfield and Alexis Laferriere to take another step.
Sniff test: This forecast feels about right, but some of the young guys could break out with the additional opportunities provided by the departures. Additionally, Byfield is probably at least a 20-goal scorer next season, but Phillip Danault might be slowing down a bit. Either way, the Kings could be one of the vulnerable teams to lose their playoff spot from last season.
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks scored the second-fewest adjusted goals in the league with 176 last season. Two of their top goal scorers, Tomas Hertl and Anthony Duclair, were traded at the deadline. In the offseason, they added Tyler Toffoli, Barclay Goodrow, and former Kraken Alex Wennberg, but they need more than that if they want to compete for a playoff spot. The future looks bright for the Sharks with the drafting and signing of Macklin Celebrini and the signing of fourth overall forward Will Smith this offseason. They also appear to have a good young forward in William Eklund, and Thomas Bordeleau might have a chance to establish himself as an everyday NHLer. Oh, and they just traded for stud goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov.
They’re on the right path, but I only expect them to be slightly more competitive than last year, which wasn’t very competitive at all.
Sniff test: This seems accurate. The Sharks have a lot of youth on the roster but are very thin on experience, which should be a challenge for them this season.
Seattle Kraken
My Seattle Kraken forecast was posted separately a few weeks ago—check it out here. The increase in adjusted goal scoring is attributable to the free-agent signings of Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson, as well as the expected positive regression to the mean in goal scoring after a disappointing 2023-24 season in that category.
Sniff test: As I mentioned before, on paper, the team is better this season, but we don’t expect them to reach the same level of goal scoring as in the 2022-23 season. This feels about right.
Vancouver Canucks
The forecast for the Canucks is a drop of 16 adjusted goals from last season. The decline is primarily driven by a projected decrease in goal production from J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser, who both had career highs in goals last season. The Canucks did add Jake DeBrusk in the offseason, which will help replace the goals lost with Andrei Kuzmenko (trade deadline) and Sam Lafferty (free agency). Assuming their goaltending remains stable, the Canucks look formidable again.
Sniff test: Last season, the Canucks had one of the highest shooting percentages in the league, so even Canucks fans might expect a bit of a regression. Even with a 16-goal drop next season, the Canucks are still a playoff team, and that seems accurate.
Vegas Golden Knights
Forecasting Vegas is challenging. They saw several departures this offseason, including 42-goal scorer Jonathan Marchessault, who signed in Nashville, and 16-goal scorer Chandler Stephenson, who signed with Seattle. Offsetting those departures, they acquired Alexander Holtz from New Jersey and signed Victor Olofsson in free agency. Holtz is an up-and-comer who could thrive with more opportunities in Vegas, while Olofsson is just two seasons removed from a 28-goal season in Buffalo. Additionally, if they stay healthy, the Golden Knights should have full seasons from Tomas Hertl and Mark Stone. My forecast estimates 60 and 50 games, respectively, for those two players given their injury history.
Sniff test: It seems like every season we expect the Golden Knights to drop in the standings, but they continue to prove us wrong. They seem like the most likely team to drop out of the playoffs, but there is still a lot of high-end talent on this team.
Summary
This is what it looks like when we put all the Pacific Division teams together.
I know what you’re thinking—how convenient that a writer (and unabashed fan) covering the Seattle Kraken predicts the Kraken will see the biggest increase in goals next season. It’s more than fair to be skeptical—I’m a bit skeptical myself. I did use the same methodology for all teams, but my intimate knowledge of the Kraken could have inadvertently impacted my approach. If nothing else, this was a good primer for the upcoming season, highlighting the roster changes in the Pacific Division and how those changes might play out.
What are your thoughts? Are there any blatant errors in the assumptions?
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This will be a first pass at predicting the lines for the 2024-25 season. The picture will become a little clearer after training camp and preseason games, as we will see who is practicing together and if there is any chemistry between individual players. Obviously, to come up with line combinations, we have to make some assumptions on who will make the roster.
For purposes of this exercise, we will assume the following:
Ryker Evans and Shane Wright will be full-time Kraken players throughout the season.
This article was inspired by one of our Patreon Mailbags, where subscriber Katie had a question on what the special teams lines might be for the 2024-25 season. Thank you, Katie, for the question. (**Editor’s note: If you aren’t already a Patreon subscriber, you can become one today!) While we will mainly focus on special teams, we will also expand a bit on the original question and preview what Seattle could do for even-strength lines.
Remember, there was a handful of additions and departures that will alter the look of the upcoming season’s roster.
Departures
Alex Wennberg – Traded
Kailer Yamamoto – Free Agent
Tomas Tatar – Free Agent
Brian Dumoulin – Traded
Justin Schultz – Free Agent
Additions
Chandler Stephenson – Free Agent Signing
Brandon Montour – Free Agent Signing
Shane Wright – promoted from AHL
Ryker Evans – promoted from AHL
Josh Mahura – Free Agent Signing
All of the departures contributed to special teams at some point during the 2023-24 season, so there are open positions to fill. Factor in changes to the coaching staff as well, with Dan Bylsma, Bob Woods, and Jessica Campbell being brought in, we would expect special teams to change a lot from last season.
Power play lines
The power play looked different before and after the 2024 trade deadline, with the trade of Alex Wennberg and injuries to Andre Burakovsky and Vince Dunn. Here is how the Seattle Kraken power play lines looked at the end of the 2023-24 season:
Ryker Evans is expected to be on the roster full time and has had success on the power play in the AHL, but with the addition of Montour, he is at the bottom of the depth chart and will not be on the power play to start the year.
First power play line
Seattle’s two big free agent signings, Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson, will make an immediate impact on the top power play unit. Stephenson won 52.6 percent of his face-offs last season, which is better than all Seattle Kraken centermen. In fact, no Kraken center was above 48 percent in the face-off dot.
Montour played on the top power play line for the Florida Panthers, who were sixth in the NHL with 63 goals. Montour averaged 3:54 of power play time per game, over a minute more than the Kraken’s top power play quarterback, Vince Dunn, who averaged 2:49 per game.
Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jared McCann were the top-scoring power play players with 25 and 23 points respectively. They have earned their spots on the top unit and will likely continue playing there into next season. Andre Burakovsky had the worst season of his career and is poised for a bounce back. He also has skills as a puck carrier and will be called upon to carry the puck into the offensive zone. If Burakovsky does not produce quickly, he could be dropped to the second unit.
Oliver Bjorkstrand (Photo/Brian Liesse)
Jared McCann (Photo/Brian Liesse)
Second power play unit
We would expect Seattle’s second unit to feature Beniers, who struggled to score consistently during a sophomore slump. Jordan Eberle will be the puck carrier into the offensive zone. Dunn will start out as the quarterback on the second unit and figures to again be productive. Even though Montour had more time on his team’s power play, he only had one more point than Dunn at 17. Montour is only a year removed, though, from getting 33 points on the power play, which is why we think Dunn will start the year on the second unit. Dunn could certainly jump back to the first unit if Montour’s doesn’t click with the top group.
Vince Dunn
Shane Wright and Ryker Evans will likely not make the power play to start the season but will be ready to step in if an injury arises or if a player is not meeting expectations. With head coach Dan Bylsma and assistant coach Jessica Campbell both coming from the Coachella Valley Firebirds, they have seen firsthand both Wright and Evans succeeding on the power play and will be ready to insert them onto one of the units as the opportunity arises. Wright will definitely increase the competition for a power play role, which will only make the Kraken better.
Patreon member Katie also asked about the possibility of seeing two defensemen on a power play unit. With the depth the Kraken have at the forward position, I see them using four forwards on most nights. They do have Evans, though, so a game situation could come up where they would deploy him, but typically you will see one defenseman on the power play.
Penalty kill lines
Here’s how the penalty kill units looked at the end of last season.
As with the power play, the penalty kill unit had some departures. Wennberg and Brian Dumoulin were traded, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was not re-signed. Stephenson is used to playing in all situations and will replace Wennberg. The Montour signing and expectations that Evans will make the team led to Dumoulin getting traded. McCann filled the the vacancy created by Wennberg’s departure after the deadline and could stay on the penalty killing unit. That leaves two vacancies to fill in the PK units.
With penalty killing, teams want to make sure someone is on the ice that can win a face-off. Of the forwards, only Brandon Tanev lacks in that department. We think Yanni Gourde and Tanev will be on the top penalty killing line, as they will often be more rested due to limited playing time in other situations. Their high energy approach was effective last year and should disrupt opposing power play units. Adam Larsson and Jamie Oleksiak formed the top penalty kill defense pairing last year, and that will remain going into 2024-25.
The second unit will feature the two Kraken forwards that will play in all situations, Stephenson and McCann. Will Borgen has experience on the penalty kill and will take Evans under his wing. Do not expect there to be a true first and second line in terms of ice time, as they will most likely be deployed equally.
Even strength lines
Forward lines
There will be a few changes this year that might raise some eyebrows, but change is part of hockey, and it’s part of the Kraken striving to get better. Forward lines will change a lot during the course of the season, but here’s a combination we could see Bylsma trying at some point.
Beniers on the second line? The truth is Beniers scored only 37 points last year, which is not great for a first-line center. At the moment, Stephenson is the best center on the roster, and until Beniers or Wright develops past him, he will be on the first line.
With Wright making the team this year, he needs to play some sheltered minutes and be put in a position to score with wingers that can help contribute. A third-line role is perfect for this, and Jaden Schwartz and Eeli Tolvanen have good shots and solid forechecking skills that can contribute to Wright succeeding. Tye Kartye, Brandon Tanev, and Yanni Gourde are players people love to watch because of their hustle and grinding style of play. They will do well as a change-of-pace line that can put the other team on its heels.
Defensive pairings
The defense pairs are easier to work out as there are fewer lines and players. Larsson and Dunn have played well together during the first three years of Kraken hockey, and there is little reason to break them up. We foresee Montour sliding into a second pairing with Oleksiak. Will Borgen, who led the Kraken defense in hits last year will play a stay-at-home defensive role and allow Evans to continue to develop his puck moving skills.
Wrap up
Line combinations will be fluid as chemistries are found and the new Kraken coaching staff experiments with what works and what doesn’t. Without a doubt, the forward lines are all improved for the upcoming season. The question is if the Kraken as a whole have improved enough to sneak into a playoff spot.
If you have any thoughts on the Kraken lines, please share them below in the comments. You can follow me on the X at @blaizg.
As the smoke clears from an active opening to free agency, we at Sound Of Hockey, wanted to highlight some of the movements around the NHL. There were 190 signings on the first day of free agency and 252 signings and counting so far with more than $1 billion committed across the league. We will focus on the impacts to the Pacific Division teams, what the new additions to the Seattle Kraken mean for their chances, and touch on a few other teams that made significant moves around the NHL.
Seattle Kraken
General manager Ron Francis was not his usual conservative self and made a big splash, signing two big free-agent targets:
Brandon Montour (RD) – Seven years at $7.14M AAV ($50M total)
Chandler Stephenson (C) – Seven years at $6.25M AAV ($43.75M total)
"#SeaKraken reportedly signing defenseman Brandon Montour to a monster seven-year contract"@DarrenFunBrown gives quick analysis on the surprising seven-year signing and considers how Montour could fit with the Kraken.
"#SeaKraken make another splash, signing Chandler Stephenson for seven years" @DarrenFunBrown gives his reaction to the signing and an update on where Seattle sits after grabbing Stephenson and Brandon Montour.
The initial feedback has not been all positive. Both players are 30 years old and signed seven-year deals. If either player actually plays out the entirety of his contract, he will be in a small minority of players in the league at that point. Only 15 NHL players were 37 at the start of the 2023-24 season. The cost of each contract has been described as an overpay, but that is the cost of doing business in free agency, especially if you want to attract talented players.
There are some positives from these signings. Let’s start with a simple question, are the Seattle Kraken better with Montour and Stephenson? On paper, this is a resounding yes, they have strengthened the defense and improved at the center position. Montour will most likely play on the second defensive pairing, but is capable of a first-pairing role and led all Florida Panthers in ice time last season. Stephenson is an improvement over former Kraken center Alex Wennberg and provides a bit more offensive punch. Stephenson will also be able to fill the second-line center role, hopefully reducing some pressure on Shane Wright, who looks to make the Kraken roster full-time this upcoming season.
Contract length
Seven years is the longest contract the Kraken could award to these players. Offering this term was likely a driving factor in Stephenson and Montour choosing to play for Seattle, which does not have the allure of being a true Stanley Cup contender.
I’m not terribly worried about the contract length, though I know this is a big part of the discourse about these signings. The reason I’m not worried about it is because a lot can happen during seven years. Players can be traded, bought out, get injured, or retire. While I don’t hope for the last two, the reality is injuries happen in hockey, and it is possible these contracts get moved to long-term injured reserve after a number of years.
Average annual value (AAV)
The AAV also seems high, but remember, seven years ago the NHL salary cap was at $75 million. It has increased 17.33 percent to $88 million. If the cap continues to grow at this rate, these deals may not seem as rich in a few years. If they produce, $6 million and $7 million contracts could seem cheap a couple years from now.
Players tend to decline in performance as they age, but these are the only two contracts currently on the books from 2027-28 onward.
Acquired through free agency
There are four ways to acquire a player, drafting, signing as a free agent, trading, or claiming off waivers. It’s generally believed that the best way to build a team is to build from the draft, but that takes time. Trading or signing free agents can speed up the timeline, but both have positives and negatives.
The positive for signing a free agent is the prospect pool remains intact, whereas trading often costs draft picks and/or prospects. The Kraken have a promising prospect pool, so to be able to add two solid players to their current roster without giving up any futures is a positive. To me, keeping that pool intact is worth a few extra million in overpay.
Stanley Cup pedigree
Ron Francis has a penchant for signing players that have won the Stanley Cup. Both Montour and Stephenson have hoisted Lord Stanley’s Cup, and Francis believes that experience is valuable when it comes to the grind of the season and the playoffs. Other Stanley Cup winners that have been signed by Ron Francis include Jaden Schwartz, Andre Burakovsky, Philipp Grubauer, Justin Schultz, and Brian Dumoulin (and, of course, head coach Dan Bylsma).
Signings overall
The Seattle Kraken have improved their roster with these signings, and, at least for the next two-three years, fans will get to enjoy this benefit. Hopefully by the time the contracts start to age, we will see a boost in performance from Seattle’s prospects.
Other Signings
The Kraken also made the following signings, mainly to backfill for departures from the Coachella Valley Firebirds, although Ben Meyers and Josh Mahura will certainly be looking to secure spots on the NHL roster. Their one-way contracts give them each an inside track to these spots, but we will see how training camp shakes out.
Signed Ben Meyers (LW, C) – One year, 775K AAV one-way contract
Signed Mitchell Stephens (C) – Two year, 775K AAV, two-way contract
Signed Brandon Biro (LW) – One year, 775K AAV, two-way contract
Signed Nikolas Brouillard (D) – One year, 775K AAV, two-way contract
Signed Maxime Lajoie (LD) – One year, 775K AAV, two-way contract
Signed Josh Mahura (LD) – One year, 775K AAV, one-way contract
Kraken moves overall
The Kraken have improved on both the offensive and defensive sides of puck. But have they done enough to secure a playoff spot? Time will tell, but it is reasonable to expect growth from Matty Beniers, Eeli Tolvanen, and Ryker Evans, and Andre Burakovsky should have a rebound year as well. With the additions of two legit players, the Kraken have a deeper roster than before, and all four lines should produce offense closer to what they did two seasons ago. Seattle also has a new coach in Bylsma who hopefully can bring an uptick in production.
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks
Added
Lost
Same/Better/Worse
Brian Dumoulin
Jakob Silfverberg
Same – Anaheim was bad last year and will continue to build this year.
Calgary Flames
Added
Lost
Same/Better/Worse
Anthony Mantha Ryan Lomberg
Jacob Markstrom Andrew Mangiapane
Worse – They still have some work to do to get a starting goaltender to replace Markstrom.
I would love to see Dustin Wolf get a crack at the starting job, but that seems farfetched. The Flames will need to find a starting goalie. Some Seattle Kraken fans will dream of Grubauer getting traded, but Seattle needs him, especially without Chris Driedger stashed in the AHL. Grubauer also has a 10-team no-trade list and a huge contract, so we don’t see him getting traded.
Edmonton Oilers
Added
Lost
Same/Better/Worse
Viktor Arvidsson Jeff Skinner
Warren Foegele
Better – Resigned many of their current team and added, if you can believe it, more offense.
Jeff Skinner is an excellent signing and should easily replace the offensive output of Warren Foegele. This should be the year Skinner finally gets to play in a playoff game.
Los Angeles Kings
Added
Lost
Same/Better/Worse
Warren Foegele Tanner Jeannot Joel Edmundson Darcy Kuemper
Pierre-Luc Dubois Cam Talbot Matt Roy Viktor Arvidsson Blake Lizotte
Worse – Dubois never panned out in LA, but Warren Foegele’s offensive ceiling is close to Dubois’ floor. Both had about 40 points this last season. It was Foegele’s best season and Dubois’ worst season.
San Jose Sharks
Added
Lost
Same/Better/Worse
Tyler Toffoli Alex Wennberg Macklin Celebrini (Draft) Barclay Goodrow (waivers)
Devin Cooley
Better – They definitely have an improved forward group, but their defense and goaltenders still need some help. They probably are not the favorite to land another first overall draft pick, but making the playoffs would still be a huge stretch.
Back in January, we at Sound Of Hockey predicted it would take between $4.5-$5.5M to re-sign Wennberg, and that is exactly what San Jose paid, coming in at $5M AAV for two seasons.
Alex Wennberg
Vancouver Canucks
Added
Lost
Same/Better/Worse
Jake DeBrusk
Ian Cole Elias Lindholm Nikita Zadorov Casey DeSmith
Same – Lindholm did not work out, but prior to him coming, Vancouver was good. DeBrusk brings some more offense, and Arturs Silovs proved he is worthy of a backup role in the NHL.
Jake DeBrusk has averaged a 24-goal pace for his NHL career.
Jake DeBrusk, signed 7x$5.5M by VAN, is a top six scoring winger with a well-rounded offensive game and good defensive metrics who plays in all situations. Lots of goal-scoring upside even if it's not the most consistent. #Canuckspic.twitter.com/ZAyIBKjxVe
Chandler Stephenson Jonathan Marchessault Anthony Mantha Logan Thompson
Slightly Worse – The Golden Knights lost a lot of offense, but they did add Hertl last year at the trade deadline. The goalie and defense situation should be similar to what it was before, even after trading Thompson.
Hertl can replace Stephenson’s offensive production. Olofsson is a proven 20-goal scorer and did it on only 14 minutes of ice time with the Sabres. However, he will not match Marchessault’s production, which has now moved on to Nashville. Samsonov might thrive in a 1B role after shedding the pressure of playing in Toronto.
Overall Pacific Division
After a few days of free agency, it is way too early to predict standings for next season, but I’ll give it a try…
The Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks look poised to hold onto the top two spots in the Pacific Division. The Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights, and Calgary Flames appear ready to slide in the standings and open the door for the Kraken to slip into a playoff spot. The Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks are content in the cellar for another year.
There is a lot of offseason left, and these teams will continue to make moves. But if the season started today, here is my (way too early) prediction for the Pacific Division standings:
Edmonton Oilers
Vancouver Canucks
Seattle Kraken
Vegas Golden Knights
Los Angeles Kings
Calgary Flames
San Jose Sharks
Anaheim Ducks
Around the NHL
A handful of teams set off some fireworks in the early goings of free agency. We will not review every free agency move, but we will highlight some teams that made a big boom or lit a dud. Moves include trades and draft picks that happened around free agency as well. With it being a long 4th of July weekend, we will provide ratings using fireworks.
Boston Bruins
Players added: Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, and Joonas Korpisalo (trade)
Players that left: Jake DeBrusk and Linus Ullmark (trade)
Firework rating: Firecracker thrown from your hand. Definitely made a bang with their signings, but there is risk in signing Lindholm at $7.75M AAV after his struggles in Vancouver. I like the Kraken’s signing of Stephenson better.
Carolina Hurricanes
Player added: Shayne Gostisbehere
Players that left: Jake Guenztel (traded rights away), Brady Skjei, Teuvo Teravainen
Firework rating: Bottle rocket dud. Carolina was not able to capitalize on Guenztel, who seemed to fit into their system, scoring 34 points in his 28 games after being acquired at the deadline.
Nashville Predators
Players added: Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei
Players that left: Anthony Beauvillier and Jason Zucker
Firework rating: Mortars with report. Nashville was not happy with its first-round exit and brought in some big names on offense and defense. This improved team might be able to exceed its 18-game point streak from last season.
Breaking: The Predators are adding star forward Steven Stamkos, former Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei. pic.twitter.com/a7CRkcLkcJ
Firework rating: Ground Snake. Lou Lamoriello was able to keep this signing quiet, but Duclair is a solid pick-up.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Player added: Jake Guentzel
Players that left: Steven Stamkos, Tanner Jeannot (trade), and Matt Dumba
Firework rating: Ground Fountain. Tampa is out with the old and in with the new. It will be a new era in Tampa Bay with long-time captain Stamkos moving to Nashville. Guentzel was a nice piece of work, though.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Players added: Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Players that left: Tyler Bertuzzi, T.J. Brodie, and Ilya Samsonov
Firework rating: Saturn missile. You never know which way the missiles are going to fire. This year, Toronto is adding veteran defense and a new coach in Craig Berube. The team should be playoff bound again, but it will be interesting to see how this roster responds to the offseason changes.
Washington Capitals
Players added: Jakob Chychrun, Logan Thompson, Andrew Mangiapane, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Matt Roy
Players that left: Nick Jenson and Darcy Kuemper
Firework rating: 500-gram firework cake. The Capitals did most of their moves through trades, but they have brought in a good group of players. These players should be able to improve Washington’s record, but the Caps are currently projected to be ~$13M over the cap. So, some work still needs to be done.
Wrapping up
It has been a busy start to the summer with all the free-agent signings, the trades, the NHL Draft, and Kraken Development Camp all hitting at about the same time. We are only a couple weeks into the official offseason, and I am already looking forward to the start of next season.
Please let me know your thoughts on the players acquired or traded and how you think this impacts the Kraken and/or league. You can follow @blaizg on x.com
It’s no secret that the Seattle Kraken need to score more goals next season. Goal-scoring issues plagued the team from the start of last season, with only three goals in their first four games to start. The Kraken finished the 2023-24 regular season 28th in the league with an average of 2.61 goals per game, down 25 percent from the 2022-23 season. Clearly, targeting goal scorers in the offseason is crucial. One way they can do that is in free agency that opens July 1. To help us all prepare, I put together a list of potential targets for the Kraken in free agency.
Assumptions
Roster spots: Assuming no trades happen before free agency, the Kraken will have four or five forward spots to fill from last season. Shane Wright is likely to take one of these spots, and two more spots will be depth pieces that are not expected to produce a lot of goals but can fill in down the lineup and help in case of injuries. For the purposes of this exercise, we will focus on the two remaining roster spots that will be expected to contribute offensively.
Budget: I estimate the Kraken will have less than $10 million in AAV to sign these two players. This may be a conservative estimate, but without knowing the pending RFA contracts of Matty Beniers and Eeli Tolvanen, we’ll use this constraint. Additionally, targeting a center would allow Jared McCann to move back to wing.
Contract estimates: I will mostly use contract estimates from AFPAnalytics NHL projections for 2024-25, published in May. This ensures reasonable contract projections. While I typically reference Evolving Hockey contract projections, sharing their work does not feel right since their work is behind a subscription paywall (I will use one of their contract projections for this exercise).
Target free agents
Viktor Arvidsson – RW – $4.7M AAV Arvidsson, 31, had an injury-plagued season last year, playing just 18 games for the Los Angeles Kings. He’s a proven shooter, and if healthy, can score 20-plus goals. His age and recent injuries might provide a discount for the signing team.
Anthony Duclair – LW/RW – $4.3M AAV Duclair, 29 this summer, is a speedy goal scorer who missed most of the 2022-23 season due to an Achilles injury. He returned in 2023-24 and managed 24 goals across two teams, and despite some defensive flaws, his goal-scoring ability is worth considering.
Jake DeBrusk – LW – $5.8M AAV DeBrusk has been a potential Kraken target since February. Reliable for close to 20 goals a season, his $5.8M AAV might seem high compared to Arvidsson or Duclair, but his health and consistency make him a safer bet.
Chandler Stephenson – C – $5.6M AAV Stephenson could replace Alexander Wennberg but with more goal scoring. A second- or third-line center who can play on special teams, Stephenson has scored 15-plus goals in each of the last four seasons. Although pricey at $5.6M AAV, his experience and two Stanley Cups add value.
Great right pad save by Hill on Burakovsky at one end.
Chandler Stephenson scores on Vegas's first shot of the game at the other end.
Sean Monahan – C – $2.9M AAV Monahan is a cost-effective option that allows for spending elsewhere. As a solid third-line center with some defensive weaknesses, he logged 26 goals last season. Despite a history of injuries, he played 83 games in 2023-24. His face-off skills are notable, though we all know face-offs don’t matter. Evolving-Hockey has Monahan north of $5 million AAV so this might not be as affordable as we thought.
The reality of landing a target
There’s a common misconception that teams can acquire specific players in free agency by simply outbidding others. In reality, most free agents have a shortlist of preferred teams, and agents gauge interest from those teams. This means teams have less than a 15 percent chance of even engaging in discussions with their desired players. Even with a match in interests from both parties, competition remains fierce.
Addressing the Kraken’s goal-scoring issues in free agency requires realistic expectations and working within the constraints of the situation. It is conceivable that most of the goal scoring forwards might not want to play in Seattle given a perceived unlikelihood the Kraken could contend for a Stanley Cup in the next several years.
What are your thoughts? Who do you think the Kraken should target in free agency?
