The Kraken may (finally) be revving up for a bold move this summer
NHL teams can, broadly speaking, be classified as either contending or rebuilding. Every now and then, however, a team’s actions and results don’t seem to reflect a recognizably cohesive plan. It’s probably fair to say that the Seattle Kraken are of those teams.
Five years into their existence, the Kraken have made the playoffs just once, in their second season. Their current roster is a combination of decent veterans and youngsters, but nobody to get especially excited about. Seattle’s moves so far this offseason, which include the acquisition of Florida Panthers forward Mackie Samoskevich and a contract extension for forward Bobby McMann, however, suggest a belief in this team’s ability to contend as early as next season.
On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, hosts Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton were joined by insider David Pagnotta to discuss the Kraken’s potential plans this summer.
Tyler Yaremchuk: People who watch this show know I’m not shy to take shots at Seattle. I think they’re generally directionless. What do they want to do? You give Bobby McMann that big contract, you’re obviously still trying to compete. This is not a team who’s ever shown any interest in of going into a rebuild or a retool, so what so they want to do this summer?
David Pagnotta: That one, by the way, that came together relatively quickly, because yesterday morning they weren’t close on a deal, and then they obviously reconvened on that and were able to get it done. Jaden Schwartz, Eeli Tolvanen as of now, Jamie Oleksiak, they look like they’re going to market as free agents. Of course they added Samoskevich yesterday from the Florida Panthers. Shane Wright is very much available, they’re actively shopping him and looking at a variety of different elements. It’s trying to package him up for a first-line caliber player or trying to see what other options may be available to them, flip him out for other assets and maybe use that as package material for something.
They want to make a big splash. They’re one of the teams that I’m expecting to go hard after Alex Tuch if he hits July 1st. We know the Sabres are circling back today, trying to see if they can make any common ground on a deal there. For our sake, for the Free Agency show, I’m hoping they don’t so we have at least something going on the 1st to talk about. But Seattle, I would expect them, if Tuch doesn’t get a deal done with Buffalo, to be fully engaged in that player come free agency. They’ve got money to spend, and clearly with McMann’s deal they’re not afraid to spend it. Let’s see what else they can put together, not just on the Tuch front if he hits, but also on trade-wise. They want to make a big splash this summer.
You can catch the full discussion and the rest of Monday’s episode here…