Above: A photo of Jamie Oleksiak (#24 at left) I took at the very first Seattle Kraken training camp in September, 2021.
Four days prior to the March 6 NHL trade deadline, the Big Rig made roadkill of any Carolina Hurricanes in his path. In a memorable performance, Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak obliterated Canes on every shift at Climate Pledge Arena that night, a career-high 11 hits. For good measure, he blocked three shots.
Not coincidentally, the Kraken upset the soon-to-be Stanley Cup champions, 2-1. Did we mention that Oleksiak assisted on both goals? “He’s such a beast, an absolute beast,” winning goalie Joey Daccord said of his 6-foot-7, 252 pound defenseman. “He’s a warrior blocking shots. He had a great stick tonight and made so many good plays. He was just burying guys, too.”
Some surmised the unexpected display of aggressiveness had been purposeful. Perhaps the 33-year-old Oleksiak was showcasing his value for playoff contenders. He, like teammates Eeli Tolvanen and Jaden Schwartz, were all pending free agents. It made sense for the Kraken to amass as many picks and prospects as they could by sending the “rentals” to Cup contenders.
Ex-Kraken Finding New Homes
The Kraken instead held on to all three pending UFAs, in the mistaken belief the team was still a viable playoff contender. Now, two of the trio are ex-Kraken, with Tolvanen headed out the door as well – with zero compensation coming the other way. Schwartz signed with the Colorado Avalanche, while Oleksiak joined the Vancouver Canucks on a two year, $10 million deal.
“Playing in a Canadian market for a historic franchise like the Canucks, and obviously living in Seattle, I came to really appreciate the Pacific Northwest,” Oleksiak said in a media conference call. “I’m excited to explore Vancouver and play in front of the fans there and grow with the team as well. I think it just presented a lot of great possibilities, and it was tough to turn down. So I’m excited.
“I’ve been around the league for a while, and I can bring my experiences to the team. Just show up every day with a good work ethic, try and help set the standard, and work with some of these young players, and the veteran guys they brought in as well,” he said.
The rearguard is aware the Canucks finished dead last in 2025-26, with dim prospects of doing much better in the coming season. “It’s going to be a challenge. It’s going to be something that, as athletes, we always embrace. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Big Rig Could Be On The Road Again
The most recent five of Oleksiak’s 14 NHL seasons were spent on the Seattle blueline. An original Kraken, he finished with 389 games wearing the blue “S.” He was the definition of durability, missing just four Kraken games in the last three seasons combined.
Looking back, “The (Seattle) expansion draft was very unique, just kind of coming together as a group, guys from all over the league. It was a special time I had there in Seattle.”
Oleksiak has already connected with fellow veteran addition Luke Schenn since both signed in Vancouver, according to Sportsnet. He says Schenn, making his third tour of duty in Vancouver, has been a valuable resource for learning more about the city. He also will be reuniting with longtime Montreal Canadien Brendan Gallagher, whom he won a bronze medal alongside at the 2012 World Junior Championships.
Though he’d have to leave the PNW/Lower Mainland, the 2027 playoffs might still be in Oleksiak’s future – if the Canucks do what the Kraken failed to. Since Vancouver has conceded they’re in a rebuild, they might look to flip the veteran for assets this spring. By next March, the pro-rated portion of Oleksiak’s $5 million AAV would make him an economical addition for a playoff contender seeking a rugged veteran depth defender.
Earlier Kraken:
Simmer-9; Kraken Wedding Pic’s, Trade Rumor, Big Bucks
