When training camp starts next month, the Seattle Kraken will likely point out how they held 3rd place – above the playoff cut line – at last February’s Olympics break.
True enough. But that’s a little like a prospector sauntering into the saloon, offering to buy a round with a bag full of pyrite – commonly known as fool’s gold. Remember, as games resumed Feb. 25, Seattle had 27 wins and 29 losses (27-20-9). They had benefited from nine points gained in overtime and shootout losses, despite being outscored 165-162.
Fortunately, Seattle was competing in the Pacific, derisively called the “pillow fight” division by Edmonton’s Connor McDavid. It wasn’t so much that the Kraken had elevated their game, as that the rest of the division had retreated to meet them.
Kraken Pre-Olympics Break Breakdown
- Record vs. Pacific: 12-6-1
- Record vs. Central: 6-7-1
- Record vs. Atlantic: 3-3-2
- Record vs. Metro: 6-4-5
Seattle also feasted pre-break (7-1-2) on the five teams which would finish below them in the final standings: 2-0-0 each against the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs, 1-0-1 each against the Canucks and Rangers, and 1-1-0 against the Flames.
Enough With The Negativity!
In Simmer’s excellent “Early Kraken, Canucks, Pacific Division Predictions,” he detailed every team except Seattle, because, “We talk about and break down the Kraken on a daily basis.” Fair enough. Let’s pick up where Simmer left off.
While the boss forecast a 6th place finish, I believe Seattle could finish as high as 4th. If…
(1) Joey Daccord returns to form, and Philipp Grubauer retains his form. The silver lining in Daccord’s below-standard ’25-’26 season was the opening it gave Grubauer to have his best of five Kraken campaigns. The Kraken have never had both netminders simultaneously at the top of their games. This would be a lovely time to start.
(2) New forwards Mackie Samoskevich and Bobby McMann (image at right) each reach 25 goals. Think they can’t? Neither was ever given the chance to shine with their former teams that they’ll have in Seattle.
The pair skate fast, shoot hard, and best of all, have motivation. Samoskevich to prove he was worthy of being Florida’s 1st round pick in 2021, and McMann that his 10 goals after coming over from Toronto in March wasn’t a fluke.
(3) The Kraken improve their special teams. That shouldn’t be too tough, given last season’s 31st-ranked penalty kill (72.7%) and 20th ranked power play (19.5%). Coach Lane Lambert and his lieutenants have had an off-season to figure out fixes, especially shorthanded. They also need to get the best out of PK specialists like Ryan Lindgren and Freddy Gaudreau.
(4) The black alternate jerseys are sent back to the abyss. They look good, sure, but the Kraken were just 2-8-2 in games played in the 3rds. Besides, John Forslund has trouble reading the names and numbers, and that’s reason enough by itself.
Flaws Of Kraken Division Rivals
None of Seattle’s fellow pillow fighters are without blemishes.
Edmonton: Mike Babcock’s last coaching gig in Columbus lasted exactly zero games. What if he still can’t hide his prying eyes?
Vegas: Speaking of coaches, the Golden Knights are on their 3rd since late March. Pavel Dorofeyev has taken his 37 goals to the Rangers, and Vegas is still $8 million over the cap. Plus, Seattle had their number last season.
Los Angeles: Keep the Metamucil handy for their nine 34-or-older players: Erik Gustafsson and Anton Forsberg (34), Artemi Panarin, Brian Dumoulin and Erik Haula (35), Darcy Kuemper (36), Drew Doughty (37), Mats Zuccarello (39 on Sept. 1), and Corey Perry (41).
Anaheim: As good as the Ducks season was, making the playoffs and upsetting the Oilers in the 1st round, that’s how much of a nightmare their offseason has been. Matching the Leo Carlsson offer sheet may have made 41-goal scorer Cutter Gauthier un-signable.
San Jose: A roster loaded with enough young stars-in-waiting to make rivals teal with envy, led by Macklin Celebrini. But they added Mason Marchment – just sayin’.
Calgary and Vancouver: We don’t kick teams when they’re down here.
Earlier Kraken:
— Great Kraken Deals Down On The Farm
