Kraken hope to build after disappointing inaugural campaign
SEATTLE (AP) — For all the joy and anticipation main as much as the primary puck drop, the inaugural season for the Seattle Kraken ended up trying like almost each different NHL growth season from the previous 30 years.
The comparisons with the final growth workforce, the Golden Knights, have been inevitable and the excessive bar set by Vegas by successful the Western Convention in its first season nearly ensured Seattle’s first outing was going be disappointing at some degree.
Maybe not this disappointing.
There have been accidents and sickness — a priority about COVID-19 instances almost derailed the primary recreation in Vegas. Goalkeeping was poor early, the protection was leaky at instances and scoring was up and down. The Kraken have been recurrently aggressive and solely hardly ever overmatched. But it surely took the higher a part of three months for Seattle to efficiently execute coach Dave Hakstol’s system on a constant foundation.
“Typically we take a look at two intervals and we play unbelievable, we management the sport. After which we’ve got a lapse and every part sort of crumbles slightly bit,” goalie Philipp Grubauer mentioned. “So we have to discover the construction and the idea in one another and ensure we’re constant sufficient subsequent 12 months.”
Seattle completed the season 27-49-6, together with a depressing nine-game shedding streak in December and January and a stretch of 11 losses in 12 video games in February and March. Making the playoffs was an afterthought even earlier than the All-Star break.
However there have been some indicators of promise within the closing six weeks. Seattle went 10-12-0 over its closing 22 video games, and whereas it wasn’t a successful mark, it gave the Kraken one thing they really feel they will carry into subsequent season.
“I feel we’ve confirmed ourselves and different folks that we’re not misplaced in opposition to a variety of these groups,” defenseman Jamie Oleksiak mentioned. “Some nights we’ve been proper within the recreation, and I feel we’ve confirmed that we might skate with a number of the greatest. And I feel we’ve seen progress all year long.”
BREAKOUT SEASONS
The Kraken noticed a number of gamers have profession years when supplied a chance to have an even bigger function.
The largest breakout got here from ahead Jared McCann, who led Seattle in objectives (27), factors (50) and was rewarded with a five-year contract extension. Defenseman Vince Dunn had a career-best 28 assists and earned a spot on the ability play models. Ryan Donato scored 16 objectives and was taking part in on the highest line late within the season. Defensemen Adam Larsson and Carson Soucy every had profession bests in objectives with eight and 10, respectively.
GOALIE GRAB
Goaltending was anticipated to be one among Seattle’s strengths with the combo of Grubauer and Chris Driedger. However accidents and defensive points early within the season created weak spot that took months to stabilize.
Grubauer’s 3.16 goals-against common was the best of his profession. Driedger wasn’t a lot better at 2.92.
Seattle might transfer ahead with the pair for subsequent season and hope a 12 months within the system results in higher outcomes. The Kraken might additionally look to make a transfer — almost definitely with Driedger — with promising younger goalie Joey Daccord coming off a stellar season for Charlotte within the AHL.
FUTURE GLIMPSE
Seattle acquired a take a look at the longer term with the ten video games Matty Beniers, the primary draft decide in franchise historical past, performed on the finish of the season. Beniers was a right away improve to Seattle’s assault and confirmed why he was the No. 2 general decide in final 12 months’s draft.
Beniers had a degree in 9 of the ten video games he performed, together with three objectives. He performed on the highest line with Donato and Jordan Eberle, and seemed comfy on the larger stage of the NHL.
Seattle additionally signed second-round decide defenseman Ryker Evans to an entry-level contract, giving him the shot a making the roster earlier than subsequent season. The Kraken even have the third-best odds of touchdown the No. 1 decide in subsequent week’s NHL draft lottery.
LOOKING AHEAD
Seattle may have important roster stability and wage cap area going into subsequent season. The workforce solely has three unrestricted free brokers — Riley Sheahan, Victor Rask and Derrick Pauliot. One other seven are restricted free brokers, highlighted by Donato.
The Kraken have a projected $23 million in cap area and draft capital, making it doubtless this will likely be an offseason of roster additions.
“The way in which we’ve acquired to win, the best way we’re gonna win is to search out the suitable identification. I feel we’ve discovered that,” ahead Yanni Gourde mentioned. “There’s some instances that we weren’t executing, however we’ve got the recipe, we all know what to do.”
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Tim Sales space, The Related Press
