The Seattle Kraken had been anticipated to be contending this season after they signed Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson final offseason. Nonetheless, the Kraken are nowhere close to the playoff image; as an alternative, they’re the place they could land within the draft lottery.
It will be an fascinating offseason for the Kraken, as they really feel they’re near contending, however the outcomes have not proven on the ice. The draft will likely be acceptable, but when the Kraken plan to compete quickly, they could must increase their outlook and goal some trades that may elevate them for the 2025-26 season and past.
Are the Kraken dipping their toes in a rebuild?
It’s difficult to see the Kraken getting into a rebuild with their group of younger gamers and final offseason’s large signings. Possibly rebuild is not the fitting phrase for what Seattle will do. They have already got Shane Wright, Matty Beniers, Ryker Evans, and Tye Kartye on the roster. Their prospect pool includes Berkly Catton, Eduard Sale, Jagger Firkus, Ty Nelson, and Lukas Dragicevic, amongst others. You would possible argue that the Kraken had been already in a rebuild, however the entrance workplace insisted they’d purpose to compete this season.
The Kraken have the fifth-worst file within the league. Nonetheless, they’re in an amazing place to amass one other high prospect and have some commerce candidates who may fetch younger property and draft picks. Seattle already traded Oliver Bjorkstrand, Yanni Gourde, and Brandon Tanev on the commerce deadline. Gourde and Tanev had been pending free brokers, however Bjorkstrand had some time period left on his deal. It makes you marvel if Jared McCann, Andre Burakovsky, Jamie Oleksiak, and Jaden Schwartz may be expendable property this summer season.
The Kraken acquired two first-round picks and a second-rounder within the Gourde and Bjorkstrand deal. It reveals Seattle may proceed buying younger expertise, and draft picks must be the aim. Possibly the Kraken can land one other first-round choose this 12 months with a draft-day deal and use it to maneuver up. Nonetheless, they’re going to possible must accept future picks. Regardless, Seattle cannot proceed down their present path of sitting within the center. It is time to both embrace the suck and rebuild for one more couple of years or turn out to be consumers within the offseason and add to their core of veterans like Montour, Stephenson, and Eberle.
Bowen Byram might be out there
Bowen Byram is a pending restricted free agent who hasn’t totally discovered his match with the Buffalo Sabres. It is unknown what course the Sabres are heading after buying and selling Dylan Cozens on the commerce deadline, so buying property for Byram may additionally curiosity them. The Kraken at the moment have 4 defensemen from their present roster below contract for subsequent season, with Ryker Evans awaiting a brand new deal below his RFA standing.
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Byram may bridge the hole between the ageing Kraken protection core and the prospects of their system. Seattle solely has one defenseman on its roster below 28, and Byram could be an improve over bringing again Josh Mahura or Cale Fleury into the fold. Byram could be a second complementary piece to Brandon Montour’s offensive skills, as he and Vince Dunn would make the Kraken protection extra cell from the left facet. You possibly can by no means have too many puck-moving defensemen in a sport that’s getting more and more offensive yearly.
Byram has 35 factors in 74 video games this season, which already smashed his earlier career-high by 11 factors. It would be fascinating to see Byram develop with the remainder of this younger core and consider how excessive his ceiling may go along with the fitting match.
Noah Dobson could be an even bigger splash
It was onerous to select between RFAs Noah Dobson and Evan Bouchard for the third commerce goal. Each defensemen could be invaluable to the Kraken, however would fetch a better return, which could not be as interesting as grabbing Byram for much less. Finally, Dobson looks like a extra real looking possibility, as it might be a tough promote for the Edmonton Oilers to commerce Bouchard to a Pacific Division rival.
Dobson can also be the higher defenseman of the 2. Bouchard will get factors on the powerplay with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, however what’s his ceiling on a distinct staff? It is onerous to pinpoint, however it’s decrease than in Edmonton. We additionally already know Bouchard’s deficiencies on the defensive finish, which might be a pink flag for potential consumers.
Dobson is a right-shot defenseman that the majority entrance places of work can solely want they land. It will be troublesome to pry him out of Lou Lamoriello’s arms, however it’s an enormous dream possibility for GM Ron Francis.