Jared McCann is entering the final year of his contract with the Seattle Kraken at an opportune time. He’ll conduct negotiations in a period of a rising salary cap and $18 million offer sheets.
“It’s good to see,” McCann said on TSN 1050 radio in Toronto. “Hearing from a lot of the older guys who didn’t play in this era, ‘Oh, must be nice!’ The league’s going in the right direction, growing the game.”
The 30-year-old winger made sure to pump the Kraken’s tires. “Seattle’s been great to me and my family. I owe them a lot. The team’s trying to get better, offering guys money in free agency. The rink (Climate Pledge Arena) is amazing, the double jumbotrons.”
McCann also made sure to promote the city he plays in. “It doesn’t snow. Fishing, they have some amazing golf courses out there. They all have enclosed carts if it’s raining, heaters in the carts, too. They’re building another rink in Kirkland right now. The women’s team there is doing really well. Growing the game is the most important thing, making it available to kids, to families.”
Kraken Play In Happy City
McCann provided a sweet rebuttal to keyboard warriors who trashed Seattle after the Kraken were spurned by two star players. Here’s another.
A spring study by WalletHub ranked Seattle as the 15th happiest city in America – out of 182 cities listed. And listen up, Jason Robertson; Dallas came in 111th. As to other NHL cities with more sunshine and no pending “Millionaire’s Tax” – Tampa ranked 68th, Miami ranked 78th, and Nashville ranked 133rd.
In June, the Stars’ Robertson rejected a big-money offer from the Kraken. He agreed instead to a one-year extension with Dallas. In March, then-Ranger Artemi Panerin turned the Kraken down, too. Like slugs after a rainstorm, out came the “warriors.” Seattle was too inclusive, too progressive, too friendly to immigrants, too whatever fit the basement-dwellers’ narrative.
Every player’s motivations are different, of course. If a visiting team’s entire Seattle experience is a dark, drippy February day seen from their hotel windows, that doesn’t help. In Panarin’s case, he’s hinted that uniform design was a factor in landing with the L.A. Kings.
Past the dollars and term, though, most pros care about a suitor’s position in the standings, and the plan for future success. If the Kraken make strides there, they’ll start getting different answers.
Earlier Kraken:
— Fun Poll Questions For Seattle Kraken Fans; Get Busy!
