Seattle Kraken: Preview for the 2024-2025 NHL Season

The newest NHL franchise, the Seattle Kraken enter their fourth season on October 8th, against the St. Louis Blues. With one season out of three for the Kraken making it to the playoffs, will this season continue to be focused on building an identity, or will it be a breakout?  The unfortunate loss of a few veteran defensemen and forwards during the trade season, the addition of two reputable players, and the Kraken’s preseason performance are impactful events. How will the Seattle Kraken perform this season as a club?

Post Season Activities

The Seattle Kraken had a difficult past year. Losing momentum in the most recent season, compared to the earlier 2022-2023 NHL season, the Kraken took an overall loss in team points, mainly due to goal-scoring deficiencies. The club also finished sixth in the Pacific compared to their prior year of finishing in fourth. Kraken management pivoted direction and fired Head Coach Dave Hakstol, and replaced him with the successful, experienced coach Dan Bylsma. Bylsma has had success with the Kraken’s affiliate AHL team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, along with previous experience with numerous NHL teams.

The Kraken club has also lost several dependable players. Brian Dumoulin was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for a distant fourth-round pick in 2026. Kailer Yamamoto joined Utah recently under a PTO (professional try-out). After only one season, the talented but prone-to-injury, right-winger was not offered further opportunity with Seattle. Yamamoto’s loss for the Kraken may taste a little bitter with his recent preseason performance with the Utah Hockey Club. Seattle acquired forward Chandler Stephenson from the Golden Knights and Brandon Montour from the recent Stanley Cup Champions The Florida Panthers.

Preseason Performance

During the 2024 Rookie Faceoff, the Seattle Kraken participated in two games. The first game, against the Colorado Avalanche, was dominated by the Seattle Kraken. The young Kraken’s towered over the Avalanche in a 5-1 final. The next day, the Kraken fell to the Golden Knights’ rookies, losing 5-3. Young players like Andrei Loshko and Nathan Villeneuve made impressionable plays on the ice during the Faceoff. The young players were versatile and delivered quick reactions in heated plays. While the Kraken’s rookies looked promising, their regular season roster is still forming.

The Kraken has played whiplash performance hockey in their recent games. The club has only won two of the five matches played thus far. With the team over the salary cap and cuts still being made, which players will be retained on the upcoming roster, is a gamble. With still no Captain this late into the preseason activities, the Kraken lacks the leadership needed. Despite this, many Seattle Kraken players are determined to mold into a competitive hockey club this season.

Players and Line Combinations to Watch

Two-time Stanley Cup Champion Chandler Stephenson has joined the Kraken bench this off-season. Switching from a line that has significant depth and tenure (VGK) to an under-construction team, will Stephenson recreate his success? Considering the hefty contract from the Seattle Kraken with Stephenson, we can expect to see him hold the second center slot. With that said, which line will the prodigal youngster Shane Wright take? A big question to ask, is will the coaching staff offer the space for the younger players to step up, especially for such a capable player like Wright. With the top-line center spot nearly guaranteed to Jared McCann, the third and fourth may be the only options for Wright.

To conclude the concerns for the offensive lines,  Oliver Bjorkstrand was the second top goal scorer for the Kraken, but his contract expires in 2025. Moving onto the Kraken’s blue-line defense is the Stanley Cup Champion Brandon Montour. Vince Dunn will most likely take Montour’s wing. The pairs’ playing styles seem to complement each other effectively. Montour should reinforce the Kraken’s blue line. His addition should add more depth to the defense, relieving some of the pressure for the dependable goaltender Philipp Grubauer. However, a founded concern is Montour’s health. He has had multiple surgeries in the past few years. With such a pivotal upcoming season for the Seattle Kraken, Montour staying at peak health is essential for Seattle’s success.

Several Potential Outcomes

The Seattle Kraken needs structure this season. A new coach, the lack of a named captain, the lines needing attention, coupled with the loss of some of the more dependable players have left the Kraken with multiple areas of concern. On the upside, two highly sought-after players have joined the Seattle ranks. Chandler Stephenson could add the forward progression the front lines often struggle to muster. Brandon Montour, if healthy, could reinforce the defensive line, which has been a concern for Seattle for some time.

Another promising addition is Shane Wright. Seattle Kraken has invested quite a lot in the young player, and many eyes have been glued to Wright since a young age, but will the Kraken give him the room? The Seattle Kraken could start looking toward the future if the roster can improve their unity, but in reality, the future is hazy for the Seattle Kraken. Whether they prioritize the younger players could mean another year of rebuilding but multiple potentially rewarding seasons in the future. However, if they place the biggest bets on the veteran players, will the youngsters be underdeveloped, or will the veterans provide the leadership needed?

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