Ex-Kraken Moves Up; Grubauer's Happy Future In Suds

Philipp Grubauer is prepared for this to be his last season in goal for the Seattle Kraken. But not for this to be his last season in Seattle.

“We will always be here in Seattle,” Grubauer told Mike Vorel for a Seattle Times profile.

Stopping Scores & Sudsy Pours For Kraken Goalie

If possible, Grubauer has upped his game from his bounce-back 2025-26 season. In Friday’s 6-3 victory in Detroit, he made 37 saves, including 21 in the first 22 minutes of the game. Two of the three goals he allowed were unlucky redirections off Seattle sticks.

However, the Kraken are unlikely to extend Grubauer beyond this year for anything near his current $5.9 million per season, even if he replicates his outstanding 2025-26. The Roseheim, Germany native recorded his best save percentage (.909) and lowest goals-against average (2.65) in five seasons between the Seattle pipes.

“I love being a part of the start-up process, to where we are right now.” Grubauer could have been talking about the Kraken, where he’s in the final season of a six year, $35 million contract. Instead, he’s describing his part-ownership of a pair of Seattle breweries.

What Comes Next?

Former Kraken defenseman Justin Schultz returned to the Kraken after he retired as a developmental coach. If Grubauer isn’t tendered a new contract by Seattle – or anyone else – he could go the same route as Schultz.

“Who knows what’s going to happen after I’m retired? Let’s say I don’t get a contract. If I get a chance to work for the organization, then I’m going to stay here full time.”

Top-Six Tye Kartye

Speaking of former Kraken, the New York Rangers have promoted Tye Kartye from their fourth line to the second line. He’s now skating alongside high-scoring Pavel Dorofeyev and J.T. Miller.

“One of Tye’s greatest strengths is he can really skate,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan told the New York Post. “He’s a dog on a bone on the puck. So when he gets in on the forecheck, he’s a disruptive player.” To make room for Kartye, the player demoted was another ex-Kraken, Oliver Bjorkstrand.

“Without a doubt, we always have conversations with players that get moved up the lineup,” Sullivan said. “Don’t change your game just because you moved up the lineup. You got moved up the lineup because of the game that you’re playing. Bring that element to the line, and everything will work.”

“When it happened,” Kartye says about getting waived by Seattle last February, “I kinda move from the last team that I was on and I focus on the team that I’m on now – and doing everything that I can to be successful here and help the team win here.”