Kraken Futures
If ifs and buts were candies and nuts, it’d be Christmas everyday.
The Kraken brass, CEO Tod Leiweke and GM Jason Botterill, presented plenty of “ifs” during their end of season media session on Wednesday morning at the Kraken Community Iceplex. They also presented a lot of hopes.
Yes the Climate Pledge Arena is fantastic, yes the fans are passionate, yes the players like playing in Seattle. Check, check, and check. In fact, maybe they’re too comfortable.
But as for roster development, it was a lot of hope and speculation.
— More Reaction — Read The Quotes From Leiweke And ‘Botts’ —
Many on hand were surprised that the team still hasn’t conducted it’s franchise-wide “audit”. A process Leiweke described and promised was forthcoming during his own media availability two weeks ago. We still don’t know who the mystery consultant / hockey expert is; the person charged with carrying out the review.
Coming off the major failure that was the club’s NHL trade deadline strategy — we’ll learn if there’s also long term damage over the coming three or four years — with the team imploding after holding on to four unrestricted free agents (UFA’s) instead of trading them, the club will look to bounce back with the players and prospects they have in hand.
Botterill did point to the upcoming free agent market, but wasn’t overly optimistic about the talent level available this summer. As for his own unsigned UFA’s, he only referred to veteran Jaden Schwartz and the injury the player bounced back from this season. Maybe there’s a possibility of him returning.
Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak will be gone for nothing, and it sounds like a similar fate for winger Eeli Tolvanen. Sounds like he’s ready to dip his toes in the market. Captain Jordan Eberle already re-signed a two-year deal with the team.
The best thing that could happen to the Kraken at this point: the ping pong balls bounce in their favor and they move up in the NHL Draft. The top four prospects are considered no brainers. Right now Seattle sits sixth worst in the league and has a 7.5% chance of landing the top pick. Regardless, even if they stay where they are, much of their success in the coming few years could be impacted by this summer’s pick.
There was a lot of talk of prospect development, but the Ryan Winterton’s and the Jacob Melanson’s of the world have certain ceilings. The Kraken are still looking for an elite center and as time goes by they’ll have to bolster an aging D-corps.
They’re full of hope.
Earlier Kraken:
— Glenn’s Gems; Kraken Dance To Montour’s Tunes
