Kraken Free Agency
Wanna bet? OK, maybe not bet, but you could try your hand at some free agent prognostication. Use your well established or maybe newfound hockey knowledge.
Who stays, who goes, who signs when?
Here’s my takes. I can’t ‘guarantee’ anything until the season gets well underway, but these are educated guesstimates.
There are six Seattle Kraken who will become unrestricted free agents (UFA) next summer. It means that as of this past July 1st, these players are eligible to sign extensions. If they don’t sign in Seattle or somewhere else (following a potential trade) by next July 1st, then they become UFA’s.
Here’s what will likely happen with each. We’ll address each player individually at some point, and have already done so with Jaden Schwartz here and Eeli Tolvanen here.
Jordan Eberle: (right wing) I think the Kraken captain signs first out of this group. No, he’s never won a Stanley Cup, but I don’t see this player leaving to chase one. He’ll be 36-years-old by next summer. I think Seattle will ink him to a two to three-year deal by Christmas and the cost will be reasonable. It seems he and his family are digging their current lifestyle and surroundings. A poor start for him or the team and they could push this to the trade deadline.*
Tolvanen: (lefty winger) If he’s red hot this season he might want to wait around and test the free agent market to cash in. Then again, if he’s red hot, the Kraken will beat him to the punch and offer him something long term. Let’s face it, the change of scenery to Seattle from Nashville actually revived, if not saved “Tolvy’s” career. He’ll be amenable to a deal. He’s entering his prime at age-26. I think they sign him ahead of the deadline. Let’s say by Valentine’s Day.
Schwartz: (lefty left wing) As I mentioned in our piece about the 33-year-old winger, Schwartzy doesn’t need a Cup. He’s got one. However, he might want to cash in one last time if the Kraken don’t agree to something by the deadline. If not headed to the playoffs, Seattle will deal him away. He has a modified no-trade clause in his contract that allows him to sort-of pick where he can go.
*Trade deadline is a key term here. It’s the wild card. If the season is going poorly, Seattle will be unloading a couple or a few of its UFA’s.
Jamie Oleksiak: (left-shot defense) “The big rig” is gone either way by next summer. He’s a lock to be dealt at the trade deadline if the Kraken aren’t a playoff team. He’s too often victimized and his analytics are poor. Even as a big stay-at-home D-man, Oleksiak’s value has diminished. He’ll be 33 in December.
Mitchell Stephens: (right-shot forward) We’re not too concerned with this reserve player’s value or whether or not Seattle keeps him around. They might decide to keep him on the cheap or they might not. It’s up to him in terms of performance. It’ll happen late in the season or in June if at all.
Mason Marchment: (lefty forward) This recent acquisition is a wait-and-see. If he does sign, this 30-year-old will be the last regular to do so.
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