The Seattle Kraken made another move to reshape their forward group on Friday, trading winger Andre Burakovsky to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for 25-year-old center Joe Veleno.
The trade closes the book on Burakovsky’s up-and-down tenure in Seattle, which began with plenty of promise. When he signed as a free agent in the summer of 2022, Burakovsky was expected to be a key offensive driver, and early returns were strong. He led the Kraken in scoring with 39 points in 49 games during the 2022-23 season before suffering a groin injury that ended his year prematurely. Unfortunately, he was never quite the same after that.
In the two seasons following the injury, Burakovsky tallied 53 points in 128 games, struggling to recapture the confidence and touch that made him such a dangerous top-six winger at previous junctures in his career. Whether it was lingering effects of the injury or simply an ill-fitting role, a change of scenery feels like the right move for both player and team. He was widely viewed as a buyout candidate this offseason, so getting a useable player in return at a lower cap hit is another nice bit of business for general manager Jason Botterill, after he also snagged Mason Marchment on Thursday.
For the Kraken, the return is Joe Veleno, a speedy, defensively responsible center who played parts of five seasons for the Detroit Red Wings before being moved to Chicago at the trade deadline in this most recent season. Veleno has 81 points in 306 career games, and while he’s unlikely to put up eye-popping numbers, his value lies in his versatility and skating ability.
Veleno gives the Kraken the option of filling the fourth-line center role vacated when they dealt Yanni Gourde at the deadline, but he can also slide up and down the lineup on wing. Veleno brings a more budget-friendly cap hit of $2.375 million average annual value than Burakovsky’s $5.5 million (Burky also has two years left on his deal, compared to Veleno’s one), and is a restricted free agent next summer, giving the team some control if things work out.
Veleno doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas, either. He’s not exactly a bruiser, but he’s got enough grit to hold his own on the forecheck and along the boards. Think of him as a modern fourth-line pivot—fast, defensively sound, and capable of chipping in offense when needed.
As for Burakovsky, the move to Chicago might just give him the reset he needs. He’s still only 29, and if he can stay healthy and find chemistry in a younger, rebuilding Blackhawks lineup, don’t be surprised if he regains some of the offensive flair that made him a two-time Stanley Cup winner.
For Seattle, it’s another small-but-meaningful step in retooling the roster heading into what should be a pivotal 2025-26 season. And for Veleno, it’s a chance to carve out a consistent role on a Kraken team that values depth, speed, and flexibility down the middle.
The Seattle Kraken have named Lane Lambert as the third head coach in franchise history, the team announced Thursday. Lambert, 60, brings a wealth of NHL experience to the franchise, both behind the bench and as a former player.
Lambert most recently served as an associate coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2024-25 season, working under head coach Craig Berube. Before that, he held the head coaching role with the New York Islanders for parts of two seasons from 2022-23 through 2023-24. He was replaced by Patrick Roy on January 20, 2024, after compiling a 61-46-20 record (.559 points percentage) in 127 games as the Islanders’ bench boss. At the time of his departure, the Islanders were 19-15-11 (.557), hovering around the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Born in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Lambert played 283 NHL games across six seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, and Quebec Nordiques. Following his playing career, Lambert built an extensive coaching résumé, including a long tenure as an assistant under Barry Trotz with the Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals, and New York Islanders. His time in Washington culminated in a Stanley Cup championship in 2018, when he served as an assistant coach during the Capitals’ Stanley Cup run.
Although Lambert does not have extensive ties to the current Seattle Kraken roster, he was part of the Islanders’ coaching staff during the tenure of current Kraken captain Jordan Eberle, who played on Long Island from the 2014-15 to 2020-21 seasons. That existing familiarity could help establish early communication and leadership dynamics as Lambert transitions into lead his new team.
“After conducting an extensive search, we’re thrilled to announce Lane as our new head coach,” said Kraken General Manager Jason Botterill in a team statement. “We cast a wide net for suitable candidates. What impressed us throughout the interview process was Lane’s strategy and vision for this team. He was an integral part of the Capitals winning the Cup and the Islanders advancing to two straight Eastern Conference finals. We have full confidence in Lane to lead this team behind the bench.”
Lambert replaces Dan Bylsma, who was relieved of his duties on April 21, 2025, after just one season behind the Kraken bench. Bylsma led the team to a 35-41-6 record, which fell short of expectations, particularly after the team’s two big free agent signings last summer. Bylsma was named head coach last summer, replacing the Kraken’s first head coach, Dave Hakstol, who went 107-112-27. Hakstol coached the Kraken to their first playoff appearance in 2022-23, which included the a first-round playoff series victory over the defending champion Colorado Avalanche.
As the Kraken enter their fifth NHL season, Lambert will be tasked with continuing the development of key young players such as Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, Jani Nyman, and Berkly Catton, while also guiding the team back to playoff contention. With a mix of emerging talent and established veterans, the expectation is not just growth, but meaningful progress toward becoming a consistent postseason threat. Lambert’s ability to balance player development with immediate results will be central to Seattle’s next phase. It is expected Lambert will round out his coaching staff over the next few months.
While watching the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and trying to figure out what went wrong for the Seattle Kraken, I noticed something curious. Alternate captain Adam Larsson led the team in plus/minus this past season with a plus-22 rating. That’s not shocking—he’s a mainstay on the top defensive pairing.
What did raise an eyebrow, though, was that his long-time partner, Vince Dunn, finished at minus-3. That’s a 25-point swing between players who spent most of their minutes on the ice together. Adding to the mystery, Brandon Montour—a player many viewed as one of the Kraken’s top contributors—finished dead last on the team at minus-22.
Let’s take a look at how plus/minus is calculated and dig into why the gap between Larsson and Dunn exists.
What is plus/minus?
The plus/minus stat is simple on the surface. A player gets a plus-one when their team scores at even strength or shorthanded while they’re on the ice. They get a minus-one when the opposing team scores under the same conditions.
But not all game situations are equal. Here’s how plus/minus is applied across different scenarios:
Even strength: Includes 5-on-5, 4-on-4, and 3-on-3 play. Players receive a plus for scoring goals and a minus when scored against.
Power play: Players do not earn a plus for scoring on the power play but will receive a minus if the opposing team scores shorthanded.
Penalty kill: Players do not get a minus when scored on while killing a penalty. However, they do get a plus if their team scores shorthanded.
Empty net: Surprisingly, empty-net situations count toward plus/minus as long as both teams are at equal strength in terms of total players (goalies and skaters), and no one is serving a penalty. A player earns a plus for scoring and a minus for allowing a goal, even if a goal is scored into an empty net.
Although plus/minus adjusts for manpower on the ice, it does not account for game context—such as whether a team is trailing and has pulled its goalie.
Larsson vs Dunn: How did the gap grow?
Larsson was one of four Kraken players to appear in all 82 games, joining Jared McCann, Matty Beniers, and Jamie Oleksiak. Dunn missed 20 games due to injury, so we focused this analysis on the 62 games both Larsson and Dunn played.
According to MoneyPuck, Larsson and Dunn spent 928 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time together—by far the most-used defensive pairing for the Kraken this season. In comparison, Montour and Oleksiak were paired for 809 minutes over 73 games.
So how did Larsson and Dunn end up with a 25-point difference in plus/minus?
Breaking it down: four key categories
We reviewed shift charts and sorted plus/minus differences into four categories:
Goalie pulled
Special teams
Line changes
Overtime and other
Goalie pulled
The end-of-game, goalie-pulled situation was the biggest factor in creating the disparity between the defensemen. In the below table, “score with extra man” means the team with six skaters on the ice scored.
Larsson, a defense-first player, is trusted to hold leads late in games. He was on the ice for seven Kraken empty-net goals for (plus-7) and only once was scored on in this scenario (Jan. 20 vs. Buffalo), finishing plus-6.
Dunn, a more offensive-minded blueliner, was deployed when the Kraken needed to tie a game. He was on the ice for 13 empty-net goals against (minus-13) but helped the Kraken score three extra-attacker goals—all in a six-day stretch against Vancouver. His net rating in this category was minus-10.
Montour’s minus-22 season was also heavily influenced by pulled-goalie scenarios. He was on the ice for 16 empty-net goals against, including 12 in which he was on the ice at the same time as Dunn. He was involved in three goals for: two extra-attacker goals and one empty-netter, finishing minus-13.
Special teams aftermath
Only shorthanded goals affect plus/minus during power plays or penalty kills. However, we also looked at goals scored immediately after special teams ended, when defensive pairings are often mixed.
Larsson, who plays on the penalty kill, was on the ice for two shorthanded goals for and was also on the ice for seven goals during post-special teams situations—three goals for and four against—resulting in a minus-1. When combined, these situations netted him a plus-1 overall in the special teams category.
Dunn, on the power-play unit, finished minus-5 in this category. He was on for two shorthanded goals against and several goals against during line reconfigurations. This category does not reflect Dunn’s offensive contributions on special teams. He is second all-time in Kraken power-play points with 54—only behind McCann’s 72.
Line changes
In this scenario, goals were scored while Larsson or Dunn were in the process of getting off or on the ice, but the team had not completed a full change. This often occurs due to icing calls—when players are not allowed to change—or when they get stuck in their zone on a long shift.
Larsson was plus-2 in these moments (five goals for, three against while Dunn was off). Dunn was even (five goals for, five against while Larsson was off). This category had a minor impact in terms of net plus/minus, but it still involved 18 total goals scored—far from an insignificant number of events.
Overtime and other
There are limited opportunities to impact plus/minus in overtime, as the Kraken only played 10 overtime games this season, totaling just 36 minutes of OT ice time in games where Larsson and Dunn both played.
Dunn was even, with one goal for and one against—both in overtime. Larsson, who typically does not play much in overtime, was even in OT this season. His lone plus in this category came from a 4-on-4 situation earlier in the year, which is included in the ‘other’ category.
Putting it all together
The chart above shows the 25-point difference in plus/minus. If you strip out empty-net scenarios—which are highly role-dependent—Larsson would finish the season at plus-15, Dunn at plus-10. That paints a more balanced picture of each player’s 5-on-5 performance.
Removing empty-net goals from Montour’s plus/minus improves his rating to minus-7. While still in the negative, that number may reflect the performance of his defensive partners more than his own play. He spent most of the season paired with Oleksiak (minus-2) and Ryker Evans (minus-12), both of whom experienced their own struggles in the defensive zone.
Wrapping up
Plus/minus is not a perfect stat, and this analysis reinforces that. Understanding plus/minus requires context—game situations, deployment, and defensive pairings all play a role. Without that, the stat can give a misleading impression.
Dunn and Larsson—and the Kraken defense as a whole—had an up-and-down season marked by inconsistency. While their performance left room for improvement, there were still strengths to build on. Expect the team’s next head coach to place a strong emphasis on improving the defensive side of the puck.
Blaiz Grubic
Blaiz Grubic is a contributor at Sound Of Hockey. A passionate hockey fan and player for over 30 years, Blaiz grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an alumni of Washington State University (Go Cougs!). When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about hockey, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter or getting out on a golf course for a quick round. Follow @blaizg on BlueSky or X.
The Seattle Kraken finished their three-game homestand with two wins and an overtime loss to the best team in the league. The first game of the week, against the Montreal Canadiens, was one of the most memorable of the season. Fans witnessed the Kraken rally from a two-goal deficit, Jani Nyman’s first NHL goal, and an unforgettable overtime winner that will be seared into their memories.
It was probably the loudest I’ve heard Climate Pledge Arena in some time. It was a nice reminder of why I still love going to the games, even if playoff hockey isn’t in the cards this season.
The Jani Nyman experience
We’ve been talking about Jani Nyman all season as one of the Kraken’s most exciting prospects. He’s a ‘big man’ with a wicked shot that could be exactly what the Kraken need. After a relatively slow start to the season in Coachella Valley, Jani has scored goals consistently for the Firebirds. When he got called up early last week, there was a lot of anticipation over whether he could showcase his skill in the NHL.
Often, players take significant time adjusting to the NHL’s speed and size — we’ve seen it before with Ryan Winterton, Logan Morrison, and even Shane Wright. But Nyman wasted no time, scoring a beauty of a power-play goal from a gorgeous feed by Jordan Eberle in his first NHL game. He followed that up with another power-play goal on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets. As mentioned on the Kraken Hockey Network, “Li’l Jani” became the second Kraken player to score a goal in two of his first three games, with Matty Beniers being the other.
Folks. Jani Nyman's First NHL Goal. It's a beauty set up by the captain (his third primary helper of the game) #SeaKraken
Pessimists might point out that both of his goals came on the power play, but it’s more than just the goals that should excite Kraken fans. Nyman looks like he belongs in the NHL, consistently putting himself in good spots to shoot and battling for pucks without hesitation. It’s early, but you have to like what you’ve seen from him in his first three NHL games. And let’s not forget — he’s still just 20 years old.
Checking in on the Swedish Hockey League
The Swedish Hockey League kicked off its postseason over the weekend, with two Kraken prospects still competing. Unsigned sixth-round draft pick from 2023, Zeb Forsfjäll, and Skellefteå AIK are taking on Färjestad BK in a No. 4 versus No. 5 seed matchup. Meanwhile, Oscar Fisker-Mølgaard and HV71 are once again battling in the relegation round against Modo. Unfortunately, HV71 is already down 0-2 in their best-of-5 series and will need to win three in a row if they are going to avoid being relegated.
Mølgaard had a solid regular season in a league where scoring is hard to come by, tallying 19 points in 38 games with a plus/minus of plus-six on a struggling team. At just 20 years old, he’s considered a strong two-way center and is expected to join the Coachella Valley Firebirds for a limited stint this season once his HV71 campaign concludes. The SHL has provided Mølgaard with an excellent development path, playing in a level of hockey that, outside the AHL, is the most similar to the NHL. He’s projected to play in Coachella Valley next season and is likely a season or two away from being NHL-ready.
Other musings
The Kraken have lost all three games against the league-leading Winnipeg Jets by a margin of one goal. Two of those games were overtime losses, while the other ended with Winnipeg scoring the game-winner with just 27 seconds remaining.
Across all three games against the Winnipeg Jets, the Kraken only trailed for 12 percent of the total time — the lowest percentage they’ve trailed against any Western Conference opponent this season.
To put that 12 percent trailing figure into context, the Kraken have trailed in 42 percent of their total game time this season. The only team with a higher trailing percentage is the San Jose Sharks.
After Brandon Montour’s brilliant game-winning goal against the Canadiens on Thursday, I spent the entire drive home talking about it being a set play. For the next 24 hours or so there was a lot of discussion about it on several platforms. I really loved how Troy Smith discussed it on the Sheet the next day. Alison also got some additional context here.
Eeli Tolvanen has stepped up as one of the new penalty killers in the absence of Yanni Gourde and Brandon Tanev. While he was used sparingly on the penalty kill over the past few seasons, it’s not a role he’s been asked to play much throughout his career.
Since two of their top penalty killers (Gourde and Tanev) last played on March 4, the Kraken’s penalty kill has operated at a 92.3 percent success rate, tied for second-best in the league.
No one should be too concerned about Shane Wright’s current deployment as the “fourth-line center.” It’s a strategic move to provide Jani Nyman with experienced players around him. Jared McCann was moved to center for Nyman and Burakovsky, which pushed Wright to the fourth line. This setup could also be an opportunity for Wright to work on his two-way game. He’s still getting power-play time and was on the ice for overtime.
Jani Nyman had just two goals in his first 10 games with Coachella Valley. However, in his last 10 games with the Firebirds before being called up, he scored eight goals.
The Kraken rank second in the league in the percentage of team goals scored by defensemen, with 20.8 percent of their goals coming from the blue line. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is still up for debate.
As mentioned above, HV71 is facing Modo in the relegation series. Former Kraken and Seattle Thunderbird Alexander True is part of that Modo team.
Chart of the week
If there’s one thing I’ve loved about this season’s team, it’s their refusal to quit. I’ve probably mentioned this a couple of times this year, but last Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens, the Kraken once again rallied from a two-goal deficit. They lead the league in wins after being down by two goals.
Goal of the week
There were lots of fun goals to choose from this week, but let’s give it up for Jani’s first NHL goal. For this one, we get the full clip, including Nyman’s parents’ reaction.
Here's a longer cut of Nyman's first goal… what a moment to be able to share! #SEAKraken
Jordan Eberle (SEA) – The Kraken captain has recorded one goal and six assists over his last four games, including a three-assist performance against the Montreal Canadiens last Wednesday.
Eeli Tolvanen (SEA) – Tolvanen scored three goals over the last three games and leads the Kraken in goals this season with 21, which also marks a career high for a single season.
Brandon Montour (SEA) – Montour has tallied three goals and three assists over his last three games. He also set a Seattle Kraken single-season record for goals by a defenseman, with 16 goals on the season, matching his career high. He was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week.
The week ahead
The Kraken have three road games over the next eight days, starting with a back-to-back against the Blackhawks and Wild on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a Saturday matchup at the Edmonton Oilers.
The Blackhawks have struggled all season, holding the second-worst record in the league. However, the Kraken have already lost to the Blackhawks once this season, so it’s unwise to assume they’ll be an easy opponent.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild have been struggling lately, going 3-6-1 over their last 10 games and averaging just 1.6 goals per game during that stretch. The Kraken will be on the second night of a back-to-back, though, and they are currently 0-10-0 in such situations this season.
And Edmonton…let’s just worry about Edmonton later.
At the end of February, we reviewed the unrestricted free agents (UFAs). Now that the dust has settled from the trade deadline, we’ll shift our focus to the Seattle Kraken players set to become restricted free agents (RFAs) after this season.
A critical factor affecting contract negotiations is the NHL salary cap increasing 29 percent over the next three years to $113.5 million by the 2027-28 season. For the 2025-26 season, the cap will increase to $95.5 million. This increase complicates direct dollar-for-dollar contract comparisons. Therefore, I’ll include cap hit percentages to better contextualize contract values.
Kaapo Kakko
Target: Five years at $6 million (approximately six percent of the cap)
Let’s start with the player on everyone’s mind—Kaapo Kakko (whom I’ve playfully nicknamed “Choco Taco” and hope it sticks). This is Kakko’s sixth NHL season, and his current career-best offensive output is 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) during the 2022-23 season. The Finnish native entered the league with significant expectations as the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and has been an NHL regular ever since.
Since arriving in Seattle, Kakko has injected noticeable energy into the top line. He has contributed 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in just 33 games, which projects to roughly 55 points over a full season—which would be a new career high.
Including his earlier time with the New York Rangers this season and with 16 Kraken games remaining, Kakko is on pace for 47 points, which puts him on pace for a new career best.
The big-bodied winger excels at controlling the puck along the boards and driving into the offensive zone and isn’t shy about battling in front of the net. Notably, Kakko’s ice time has increased significantly, rising from 13:17 per game with the Rangers to 17:33 with the Kraken.
This increased ice time has boosted his points per 60 minutes (P/60) from 2.11 in New York to 2.28 in Seattle, ranking him fourth on the team behind Jared McCann (2.37), Jordan Eberle (2.49), and Shane Wright (2.65) as of March 12 for Kraken players with a minimum of 10 games played.
Despite these positives, Kakko remains somewhat unproven given he’s only played 33 games in a Kraken jersey. With only one 82-game season under his belt and being on pace for 79 this season, consistency remain a question. At just 24 years old, Kakko still has plenty of room for growth.
Comparable contracts
Comparable contracts for RFAs who signed through their early UFA years without hitting the 60-point threshold include:
Adrian Kempe: Four years, $5.5 million average annual value (6.7 percent of an $82.5 million cap)
Jared McCann: Five years, $5 million AAV (6.1 percent of an $82.5 million cap)
Pavel Zacha: One-year “prove-it” contract at $3.5 million AAV (4.2 percent of an $83.5 million cap)
Eeli Tolvanen: Two years, $3.475 million AAV (3.9 percent of an $88 million cap)
Martin Necas: Two years, $6.5 million AAV (7.4 percent of an $88 million cap)
Prediction
An eight-year deal remains possible, but given Kakko’s track record, a contract similar to Jared McCann’s five-year term seems more likely. A five-year contract between $5.75 million and $6.25 million annually (about six percent of next year’s projected $95.5 million cap) would be logical.
This length would provide Kakko with financial security, earning roughly $30 million, while still allowing him to sign another NHL contract at age 29. While $6 million might initially feel high, it’s consistent with comparable contracts, largely due to the anticipated salary cap increase. A five-year term would also reflect the Kraken paying for Kakko’s projected performance improvements.
Kakko holds arbitration rights, but his modest production to date likely gives the Kraken leverage, potentially leading to a salary lower than this projection. Alternatively, Kakko could choose to bet on himself with a shorter one- or two-year deal at a lower AAV, recognizing the cap will increase significantly—to $104 million by 2026-27 and $113.5 million by 2027-28. A shorter term would let Kakko hit the open market as a UFA as early as next year.
If he pursues a shorter contract, Pavel Zacha and Eeli Tolvanen contracts represent lower-end comparables, though Kakko would command a higher AAV. Expect a short-term contract to fall between five percent and 5.5 percent of the cap, roughly $4.75 million to $5.25 million annually.
This approach would benefit both sides, allowing Kakko to showcase his growth while enabling Seattle to assess his long-term fit and manage risk.
Ryker Evans
Target: Two years at $2.25-$2.75 million (approximately 2.8 percent of the cap)
Ryker Evans is completing his first full NHL season and has solidified himself as a versatile asset. Primarily a third-pairing defenseman with Josh Mahura, Evans frequently steps into higher roles when injuries arise.
He also shows promise quarterbacking the power play, though his opportunities are limited due to being behind Vince Dunn and Brandon Montour in the depth chart.
Evans averages significant ice time at 19:33 per game, notable for a third-pairing defenseman, highlighting the trust placed in him by the coaching staff.
Drafted as Seattle’s second-ever pick at 35th overall in 2021, Evans has justified the Kraken’s selection as an over-ager. Evans has four years of RFA status remaining and is not arbitration eligible, making a bridge contract of one to three years most likely.
Comparable contracts
Comparable contracts for RFA defensemen signed immediately following their entry-level contracts (ELCs), with similar performance levels and expiring during RFA years include:
Martin Fehervary: Three years, $2.675 million AAV (3.2 percent of an $83.5 million cap)
Nicolas Hague: Three years, $2.294 million AAV (2.8 percent of an $82.5 million cap)
Vince Dunn: One year at $1.875 million (2.3 percent of an $81.5 million cap)
Evans’ offensive skill set is similar to Dunn’s, as both are puck-moving defensemen who can quarterback a power play. Evans also contributes on the penalty kill. With the Kraken’s top-four defensemen seemingly locked in for next year, Evans is set to continue developing as the fifth defenseman. He could be preparing for a larger role once Jamie Oleksiak’s contract expires after the 2025-26 season.
Prediction
It feels likely that Evans will sign a bridge deal in the $2.25-$2.75 million range for one to three years, representing 2.5-2.75 percent of the salary cap. If the term were extended to four years, taking him to UFA status, his AAV would increase accordingly. In this scenario, former Seattle Kraken defenseman Will Borgen’s two-year, $2.7 million AAV contract becomes a more relevant comparison.
Borgen’s deal accounted for 3.2 percent of the cap, and Evans’ AAV would likely rise similarly. A four-year contract would likely push his salary into the $3-$3.5 million range, as the Kraken would be paying for additional control over his prime years.
Tye Kartye
Target: Two years at $1.3-$1.5 million (approximately 1.3 percent of the cap)
Tye Kartye joined the Kraken as an undrafted free agent, signing an ELC before the 2022-23 season. After spending one year with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, he made an immediate impression during Seattle’s 2023 playoff run when he was called up after Jared McCann was injured by Cale Makar (booooo!).
Primarily utilized in a fourth-line role during his first two seasons with Seattle, there was optimism he’d elevate his offensive game this year, but that has yet to fully materialize. After a solid rookie season with 11 goals and 20 points, Kartye’s production slowed this season, with only eight points in 52 games.
To reignite his game, he had a brief, successful conditioning stint in Coachella Valley, tallying four points (two goals, two assists) in three games. The stint appeared beneficial, as Kartye scored his first Kraken goal in over three months in his first game back.
Kartye’s physical style is a significant asset to his game. He ranks second on the Kraken with 154 hits, trailing only Tolvanen (202). However, when normalized by ice time, Kartye leads the team (minimum 10 games played) with an impressive 18.30 hits per 60 minutes, well ahead of Tolvanen’s 13.17. Kartye consistently brings energy and physicality, making him a fan favorite.
Comparable contracts
Alexei Toropchenko: Two years, $1.25 million AAV (1.5 percent of an $83.5 million cap)
Carl Grundstrom: Two years, $1.3 million AAV (1.5 percent of an $82.5 million cap)
Michael Pezzetta: Two years, $812,500 AAV (1 percent of an $83.5 million cap)
As an RFA, Kartye’s qualifying offer from the Kraken must be at least 105 percent of his current base salary ($775k), equating to a minimum offer of $813,750. Given his contributions, Seattle is likely to offer above this threshold.
Prediction
Kartye turns 24 on April 30, meaning he still has three years of RFA eligibility remaining. Expect the Kraken to provide a moderate raise, resulting in a two-year deal worth around $1.3-$1.5 million annually.
This contract would allow Kartye the opportunity to further develop his offensive potential and provide Seattle a cost-effective, reliable fourth-line player. The ultimate hope is that Kartye evolves into a consistent middle-six winger capable of contributing offensively before negotiating his next contract.
Mikey Eyssimont
Target: One-year extension at $850K-$975K
Though it’s a small sample size of just four games, Mikey Eyssimont has made his presence felt on the Kraken’s fourth line, even chipping in a goal. Eyssimont is a fast skater who consistently gets the puck to the net. Initially viewed as a minor piece in the trade with Tampa Bay, Eyssimont could become an affordable depth option for next season.
With 16 games remaining, the Kraken will use this period to further evaluate Eyssimont’s fit within their system. If his solid play continues, general manager Ron Francis could extend Eyssimont for one year with a modest raise, likely between $850K and $975K. It is possible a second year of term would be required to get the deal done.
A solid group of RFAs
With three pending RFAs this offseason, I anticipate the Kraken will make efforts to retain each player. Given the substantial salary cap increase of $25.5 million expected over the next three years, early negotiations may help the Kraken avoid potential offer sheets, which teams can submit starting July 1. While it’s unlikely another team presents an offer sheet that Seattle wouldn’t match, it’s a scenario worth preparing for.
What do you think the Kraken should do with their RFAs? Would you offer more or less money than what I’ve predicted here, or is there anyone you’d let walk?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Blaiz Grubic
Blaiz Grubic is a contributor at Sound Of Hockey. A passionate hockey fan and player for over 30 years, Blaiz grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an alumni of Washington State University (Go Cougs!). When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about hockey, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter or getting out on a golf course for a quick round. Follow @blaizg on BlueSky or X.
The Seattle Kraken wrapped up the week 1-3-0, but the story of the week wasn’t the outcomes on the ice. In case you’ve been in isolation since last Wednesday, the Kraken made three trades, sending three cornerstone players off to greener pastures. Last Wednesday, the Kraken traded Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand to the Tampa Bay Lightning for two first-round draft picks, a second-round pick, and Mikey Eyssimont. Then, on Friday morning, the Kraken sent Brandon Tanev to the Winnipeg Jets for a second-round pick.
All three players had devout followings among Kraken faithful, and in the case of Tanev and Gourde, they were two of the remaining original NHL Expansion Draft picks from 2021. Both Tanev and Gourde were on expiring contracts, so neither of their trades came as a surprise. We also predicted a player with term might be traded as well: enter Bjorkstrand.
Now what?
As of now, the 2025-26 Seattle Kraken roster got worse with Bjorkstrand’s departure, but what the team lost in on-ice skill, they captured in significant currency that can be leveraged to make next season’s team better. The Kraken now have five first-round draft picks and five second-round draft picks over the next three drafts. But don’t think that signals the Kraken are rebuilding.
General manager Ron Francis made himself available to several media outlets since the trade deadline, and he made it clear that the team plans to use these newly acquired assets this offseason. Speaking to Ian Furness on KJR radio last Friday, Ron said, “We are not looking to draft 10 players with these 10 picks. What we’re hoping to do is package the first and second or two seconds or two firsts or whatever we have to do in the summertime leading up to the draft to go out and get somebody.”
These situations are usually available when teams are up against the cap, but with the upper limit of the salary cap going up by $7.5 million next season, getting teams to flip valuable assets might be easier said than done now that all 32 teams get some more breathing room.
The Kraken currently have over $20 million in cap space for next season, but they will still need to sign pending restricted free agents Tye Kartye, Ryker Evans, and last but not least, Kaapo Kakko.
Here is a quick look at the cap situation for the Kraken next season:
That is a lot of cap space, and there is also a scenario where they don’t spend it in free agency and hope someone needs to dump a bigger contract after free agency, like Columbus handed Bjorkstrand over to Seattle or Minnesota with Kevin Fiala back in 2022.
Forever grateful for Yanni Gourde
We all knew it was coming, but from a fan’s perspective, losing Yanni Gourde was a heartbreaker. I don’t think you could have launched a franchise with a better personality than Yanni. I remember his first training camp back in 2021 when he was flying around the ice with a red non-contact jersey while rehabbing from an offseason shoulder injury.
From Day 1, his compete level was so fun to watch. He was a spark plug on the ice and left it all out there every game he played. He was obviously a huge part of the 2023 playoff team and was a player built for the playoffs. He led the Kraken in points in their only playoff appearance, including this beauty of a timely goal in Game 1 of the second-round series against Dallas.
I also loved his uncanny ability to be consistently transparent in interviews when most hockey interviews give you the same cliché responses. He was great when we had him on the Sound Of Hockey Podcast too, but one of my favorite interviews was the one he gave Piper in a game where the Kraken looked awful.
Candidate for intermission interview of the season right here from @PiperShawTV
Also Yanni Gourde is a real one. Ton of time for this guy.
There was also the human element that gave us a glimpse of Yanni and the Gourdes off the ice. It is impossible to narrow down one moment as my favorite, but this season’s Gourds with Gourde was a great look into how he and his family shared some of his off-ice life in Seattle.
We will miss you, Yanni, and wish you all the best for the rest of this season and beyond.
Oliver Bjorkstrand
Listeners of the pod know that Bjorkstrand was one of my favorite players. Getting him for a third- and a fourth-round pick in the summer of 2022 was a steal for Ron Francis and company. Bjorkstrand was very soft-spoken off the ice, which was part of his charm. He was a big reason why the Kraken even qualified for the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and they would not have advanced to the second round without his two goals in their 2-1 win in Game 7 of Round 1 against the Colorado Avalanche.
I was also able to interact with Oliver a bit off the ice when I presented him with a loaf of Rugbrød for our preseason podcast interview. I wish you all could have seen his surprised face as I pulled the loaf out of the bag. He was always nice to people around him and always gracious with his time.
The Kraken games over the last week
Oh, yes, and games were played. As mentioned earlier, the Kraken went 1-3-0 over the last week with a 4-3 loss at home to the Minnesota Wild, a stinker of a game against the Nashville Predators in a 5-3 loss, a dominant 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, and then a tough 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals on Sunday. Other than the Nashville game, the players competed when they could have easily started to mail it in the rest of the season. If they play like they did over the weekend for the rest of the season, I will be happy to watch this team the rest of the way.
Kraken Trivia: With the departures of Gourde and Tanev, seven players remain with the Seattle Kraken organization from the expansion selections. Can you name them?
Other musings
Part of the Bjorkstrand/Gourde trade was Mikey Eyssimont being included in the package from Tampa Bay. He was a fourth-line player averaging under 11 minutes of time on ice and on an expiring deal, so I didn’t expect much. But after two games, he looks like a solid fourth-line option for the Kraken next season.
When the news broke about the Bjorkstrand/Gourde trade, I was stepping onto the ice for a lunch skate. After the skate, I had about 20 text messages from various hockey people. In case there was any doubt, the overwhelming consensus was extremely positive for Seattle. I really like how the Kraken have handled all trade deadlines to date.
The Kraken have now acquired 12 draft picks (one first-rounder, six second-rounders, two third-rounders, two fourth-rounders, and one seventh-rounder) with their expansion pick selections, plus Kaapo Kakko.
With Bjorkstrand moving on, that’s one fewer Seattle Kraken player that will participate in the Olympics next winter. Don’t worry, there will still be a reason to watch Denmark — Kraken prospect Oscar Fisker Mølgaard is expected to be on the Danish team.
Ron Francis confirmed that one of the top Kraken prospects, Jani Nyman, will be getting called up to Coachella Valley for some games with the Seattle Kraken before the season ends. He is the only Kraken prospect I would pencil in for next season. Even then, I am still using a pencil.
The Kraken went 0-for-4 in the Washington Capitals game over the weekend. That is one of the big opportunities for improvement next season, and I wonder if Nyman is part of the solution.
One of Ron Francis’ media stops was on the pregame show on the Kraken Hockey Network before the Washington Capitals game on Sunday.
Adam Larsson (SEA) – Larsson isn’t known for his offense, so he rarely gets mentioned in player performance reviews. However, over the last four games, the Big Cat has two goals and two assists. After he scores is also one of the rare times we get to see Larsson smile. 😊
1-0 #SeaKraken
Larsson bats in his D-partner’s rebound for his 50th NHL goal! (Nice screen by Schwartz)
Alexis Bernier (BAC/SEA) – The 2024 third-round selection of the Seattle Kraken had five points over his last three games for Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL. Bernier is fifth in points among defensemen in the Q this season.
Victor Ostman (CVF/SEA) – The Kansas City Mavericks goalie got called up to Coachella Valley and won his first AHL game last week, saving 23 out of 25 shots in the Firebirds’ win over the Calgary Wranglers. Ostman was a free-agent signing last spring and is having a good season for the Mavericks in the ECHL with a record of 21-7-4.
The week ahead
The Kraken return home for a challenging three-game homestand with games against Montreal, Utah, and Winnipeg. There will be a lot of eyes focused on Juraj Slafkovský and Shane Wright in the Montreal game. If you don’t know the backstory, for most of the season leading up to the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Wright was projected to go first overall. Weeks before the draft, the projections started to shift. Montreal selected Slafkovský first overall, and Wright slipped to the Seattle Kraken at fourth.
Since then, there has been a confirmation bias campaign by both fan bases to prove which player is better. Wright has also been unfairly scrutinized for his development path, going back to junior his post-draft season and playing last season in the AHL. Meanwhile, Slafkovský made the jump immediately to the NHL and has already played 181 NHL games.
Looking at this season, Wright has 15 goals and 23 assists, and Slafkovský has 11 goals and 24 assists, further igniting the debate over who is better. The reality is that both players appear to be good NHL players, but this is a fun side story that will likely never go away. Montreal still has a lot to play for, sitting just three points out of a playoff spot, and they were embarrassed back in October when the Kraken scored eight goals in their 8-2 win in Montreal.
The game against the Jets will also be interesting, as Tanev will be right back on the ice at Climate Pledge Arena, facing the team that just traded him.
Trivia Answer: The Seattle Kraken players that were selected in the 2021 expansion draft that remain with the team are Joey Daccord, Jared McCann, Jordan Eberle, Jamie Oleksiak, Vince Dunn, Adam Larsson, and Cale Fleury.
