The Seattle Kraken shot up the NHL standings with strong seasons by Matty Beniers and Vince Dunn. Ryan Kennedy and Mike Stephens wonder if they'll do it again.
The Seattle Kraken put the NHL on notice when they improved by 40 points in 2022-23 from their inaugural season.
As the 2023-24 season approaches, questions circulate on whether Jared McCann can replicate his 70-point campaign, whether Vince Dunn sets another career-best year, whether Matty Beniers avoids the sophomore slump and more.
Ryan Kennedy and Mike Stephens analyzed the Kraken as part of their Pacific Division preview episode of The Hockey News Podcast. Will their off-season moves be enough to get them back into the playoffs and do some damage?
Seattle Kraken
2022-23 Result: 46-28-8, 100 PTS, 4th in Pacific, 12th in NHL, Lost in Round 2 to Dallas
Key Additions: Kailer Yamamoto (RW), Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (LW), Brian Dumoulin (D)
Key Departures: Morgan Geekie (C), Ryan Donato (C), Daniel Sprong (RW), Joonas Donskoi (RW), Carson Soucy (D), Martin Jones (G)
Further Reading
NHL Prospect Overview: Tony Ferrari examines the strengths and weaknesses of the Seattle Kraken's prospect pool. The prospect expert also analyzes the 2023 NHL draft class, other notable players, and the next player he thinks is most likely to graduate to the top team, Shane Wright.
NHL Hot Seat Radar: Adam Proteau looks at the Kraken's goalies on the hot seat, with Philipp Grubauer under the most pressure to improve on last season's subpar stats.
NHL Off-Season Outlook: Earlier this summer, Adam Proteau examined the biggest needs and positives for the Kraken heading into the off-season.
The Hockey News Yearbook: Check out the in-depth preview for all 32 NHL teams, as well as their projected finish in the standings and much more. Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine and get a free issue at THN.com/Free.
The Hockey News’ Seattle Kraken Team Site: Check out the latest news, rumors, analysis and more all about the Kraken at THN.com/Seattle.