In this world of division and discord, how nice that the Seattle Kraken can bring fans, the media, and even team ownership together to the same identical conclusion.
Shayna Goldman of The Athletic is the latest to sing off the same page – make that the same single line – of Kraken sheet music.
“Something has to change if this team is going to reach that next gear and become a fixture in the playoff picture.”
Goldman isn’t wrong in joining the chorus of Kraken followers, both fans, plus local and national hockey media. Maybe, at this point, a tad repetitive. As we’ve written previously (and Goldman agreed in her story), Seattle will need to count on a maturing prospect pipeline, because the chances of improving the team through free agency is slim to none.
“Berkly Catton, Jake O’Brien and Jagger Firkus all look to have top-six potential,” she writes. It will be interesting to see how closely the organizational audit hews to the rest of her Kraken Rx.
“If the Kraken are going to bring in some top-tier talent, especially up front, offer sheets and trades are the best bet. The team has cap flexibility to work and trade capital between its first four-rounders over the next two years and a deep pipeline.
“But it can’t just be one move in a vacuum either, not when this roster isn’t playoff-caliber. It has to be a series of transactions to punch this team up, and make any of those investments worthwhile.”
Simmer correctly asked the $64K question in his Kraken-9 column:
“What’s going on with the Seattle Kraken’s franchise-wide audit? Not sure. We do know the club’s various staffs are hard at work these days, in meetings, planning for next season. For the hockey ops staff and GM Jason Botterill, that would mean preparing for the NHL Draft at the end of this month and figuring out who’s going to fill out the coaching staff. There’s also free agency coming up on July 1.”
If Kraken Don’t Re-Sign McMann
One of those decisions Seattle must weigh involves soon-to-be free agent forward Bobby McMann. Let’s say the Kraken ultimately pass on what McMann will be asking for. A year from now, will we be saying the team “Pulled a Geekie” or “Avoided a Sprong?”
Seattle already let one scoring winger get away. The Boston Bruins signed Morgan Geekie to a two-year, $4 million deal in 2023. Geekie responded with 89 goals over the past three seasons, including 39 last year. What the Kraken really can’t afford is to make that kind of mistake again.
To be fair, Geekie only notched 16 goals over his two seasons with the Kraken.
He wasn’t the only 4th liner Seattle didn’t re-sign that in the summer of 2023. Ryan Donato also walked. After tallying 30 goals over two seasons in Seattle, he’s popped home 12, 31, and then 15 in his three seasons since joining the Chicago Blackhawks. Donato also wasn’t afraid to drops the mitts.
Daniel Sprong scored 21 goals the season leading up, and Seattle was wise not to bet on a repeat (although they did bring him back for nine games in 2024).
Earlier Kraken:
— Glenn’s Gems; Seattle Free Agent-To-Be Expects Many Suitors
