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The Seattle Kraken might be headed to the playoffs for the first time in their history. After an abysmal first season in the league, the Seattle Kraken have found their groove in 2023. Led by young talent and castoffs from other teams that have outperformed expectations, the Kraken sit in firm command of a Wild Card spot. How will the Seattle Kraken fare in their first playoff series?
Here’s a look at where the Seattle Kraken stand as they contend for the NHL playoffs
Forwards
The Kraken took Matthew Beniers second overall in their first draft as a club. Already in his second season, he’s looked like a franchise cornerstone for the future. Beniers has the potential to be a true number-one center for years to come.
Jared McCann has had the best scoring season of his career by far; expect the Kraken to take advantage. The Kraken’s back six have been plagued by injuries this season, but if Andre Burakovsky, Joonas Donskoi, and Jordan Eberle all return from injury, the Kraken may have the deepest forward group in the Western Conference.
Defensemen
Vince Dunn was perhaps the best pickup for the Kraken in their expansion draft, and it paid off in spades this season. Dunn leads the team in points as a defenseman, as well as first in overall point shares, showing his involvement in both sides of the game.
The rest of the defense is solid, and has been a reason for success with struggling goaltending. Adam Larsson has filled in the cracks to Dunn’s game. Carson Soucy and Justin Schultz are a rock solid third pair. Even William Borgen has sprung onto the scene as one of the biggest high-upside defenseman prospects in the league.
Goalies
The Seattle Kraken made the right choice in their first offseason as a professional club, going out and signing the biggest goalie in the market in Philipp Grubauer. Grubauer has not lived up to expectations this season, with a .894 save percentage and a GAA over three.
Due to Grubauer’s struggles and injuries, the Seattle Kraken have had to rely on goaltending from different sources to get the job done. The Kraken picked up Martin Jones on a veteran minimum, who has been serviceable this year. The Kraken would have liked to have been able to use their other expansion pick in Chris Dreidger. However, Driedger is out for the season. The Kraken need to find a reliable goaltender, and if they do, they could be a serious threat in the Western Conference.
