The Seattle Kraken made a statement in the offseason, bulking up on much-needed improvements. After finishing seventh in the Pacific Division last season, GM Jason Botterill had to get to work. He went into free agency and got players who will indeed help them this season. The question is where do the Kraken finish this season?
Players added to the Kraken in the offseason
One thing that needed to change was the team's defense. Players did not buy in right away last season and it cost them. Now, with the four players added, the team has more offense, but also a team that can play a sound defensive game. On defense, they got a defensive defenseman who can play a nasty game in Ryan Lindgren. he was signed to a four-year deal and has played with the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche. His career numbers are 405 games, including 14 goals and 88 assists for 102 points, a +99 rating, 259 penalty minutes, 594 hits, and 593 blocks.
Goaltender Matt Murray joins Seattle on a one-year deal. Although he has fought injuries and has struggled, the Kraken believehe still has some in the tank. Training camp will be huge for Murray as he tries to regain his form. The former Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Pittsburgh Penguins netminder went 1-1 last season with a .879 save percentage and a 3.54 goals agaisnt average.
Two forwards, Frederick Gaudreau and Mason Marchment, join the Kraken for the upcoming season. Gaudreau is a solid bottom six guy who is also excellent on the penalty kill. He comes via trade with the Minnesota Wild and recorded 18 goals and 19 assists for 37 points last season. Marchment will make his Seattle debut after coming over from the Dallas Stars in exchange for two draft picks. His presence will immediately be felt as he is a pure point producer and can get under the oppositions skin. He will be an important piece of the top six and could be a pivotal piece down the stretch, Last season for Dallas, he scored 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 points in 62 games and was a +15.
Is goaltending a question?
Seattle comes into the 2025-26 season with three goaltenders, Murray, Joey Daccord, and Philipp Grubauer. Daccord was the more consistent last season, going 27-23-5 with a 2.75 goals against average and a .906 save percentage. Daccord will go into the season as the number one and Murray and Grubauer will fight it out in training camp. Grubauer will look to gain momentum to post better overall stats from last season when he went 8-17 with a 3.49 goals against average and a .875 save percentage.
Will new coach Lambert have an impact?
One of the bigger moves of the offseason was the Kraken's hiring of Lane Lambert as the organization's new head coach. He served as an assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs last season and was the head coach of the New York Islanders from 2022-2024. He has familiarity with Kraken players Jordan Eberle, Chandler Stephenson, and Grubauer. While he is new to the organization, his coaching style should not be. He has a coaching style that features a defensive structure, player accountability, and is extremely disciplined mentally.
The Kraken enter the 2025-26 season as a team on the bubble, and could potentially challenge for a wild card spot if they can find a steady groove.