The NHL summer splash rankings continue with team No. 20, the Seattle Kraken. In this series, we’re focusing on every NHL team’s off-season, ranking teams that got worse, better and mainly stayed the same. We’re analyzing each franchise’s additions, departures and, where applicable, coaching and management hirings and firings. We’re now at the point in the rankings where we’re zeroing in on teams that essentially have stayed the same this summer. The teams that finished below the Kraken [http://thn.com/seattle] are listed at the end. Let’s look at what Seattle has done. ADDITIONS Mason Marchment (LW), Frederick Gaudreau (C), Ryan Lindgren (D), Matt Murray (G), Lane Lambert (coach) The Breakdown: The Kraken had a disappointing performance in 2024-25, finishing seventh in the relatively weak Pacific Division. Entering its fifth season of operation, Seattle has had difficulty putting a balanced attack together. This past season, the Kraken had the NHL’s ninth-worst defense at an average of 3.20 goals against per game. New GM Jason Botterill only addressed that weakness with the signing of former New York Rangers [http://thn.com/nyrangers] and Colorado Avalanche [http://thn.com/colorado] defenseman Lindgren and former Minnesota Wild [http://thn.com/minnesota] center Gaudreau, the latter of whom posted 18 goals and 37 points as a bottom-six forward this past season. Meanwhile, the trade acquisition of former Dallas Stars [http://thn.com/dallas] left winger Marchment was a coup for Botterill. Marchment played only 62 regular-season games this past season, but he posted a career-high 22 goals, and his 47 points were tied for the second-most in a campaign in his career. Marchment is also entering a contract year, so he’ll be motivated to get a raise on his $4.5-million cap hit [https://puckpedia.com/player/mason-marchment]. But the three newcomers are net-positives for Seattle, even if only slightly so. That said, the biggest addition is Lambert coming in as Seattle’s new coach. The former New York Islanders [http://thn.com/nyislanders] bench boss and Toronto Maple Leafs [http://thn.com/toronto] associate coach has a clear task ahead of him: get this team back into the post-season for the first time in three years. Bylsma couldn’t get the job done in one year and was fired, so the pressure on Lambert will be immediate and considerable. Mason Marchment and Shane Wright (Steven Bisig-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/78490f26-a3e4-4b94-b538-dc186a4c9c33.jpeg] Mason Marchment and Shane Wright (Steven Bisig-Imagn Images) DEPARTURES Andre Burakovsky (LW), Michael Eyssimont (C), Dan Bylsma (coach) The Breakdown: For the most part, the Kraken lost only fringe players this summer. Eyssimont is a high-energy depth asset who had 16 points this past season. Burakovsky – who was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks [http://thn.com/chicago] – generated only 10 goals and 37 points in 79 games. Burakovsky’s pedigree as a two-time Stanley Cup winner only got him so far in Seattle, and essentially swapping him out for Marchment is good work by Botterill. Bylsma had only one year on the job before the team dismissed him. Bylsma’s 35-41-6 record this past season is hardly the stuff of coaching legend, and after the Kraken only finished ahead of the lowly San Jose Sharks [http://thn.com/sanjose] in the Pacific last year, Botterill moved swiftly to give Lambert his second chance at a head coaching gig. Under Lambert, the Maple Leafs’ defensive attack was solid [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/i-think-we-know-the-plan-maple-leafs-penalty-kill-soars-to-sixth-best-in-nhl-under-associate-coach-lane-lambert]. If he can get the Kraken’s defense in respectable order, Lambert will be considered a successful hire. But nothing is guaranteed in that regard, so time will tell whether changing out Bylsma for Lambert was the right move by Botterill. THE BOTTOM LINE To get back into the post-season, the Kraken must improve defensively. But even if that happens, Seattle still needs (a) young players like forwards Matty Beniers, Shane Wright and Kaapo Kakko to continue to develop their respective games, and (b) veteran contributors Jared McCann, Chandler Stephenson and Jaden Schwartz to do their share of the heavy lifting up front. The Pacific’s wild-card race is up in the air after likely playoff locks Edmonton [http://thn.com/edmonton], Vegas [http://thn.com/vegas] and Los Angeles [http://thn.com/la] settle in again at the top of the division. Seattle will be battling the Vancouver Canucks [http://thn.com/vancouver], Calgary Flames [http://thn.com/calgary] and Anaheim Ducks [http://thn.com/anaheim] for that last playoff spot – but that’s presuming the highly competitive Central Division only sends four of its teams into the post-season. The Central had five playoff teams this past season, so the Kraken have to do their utmost to challenge for a top-three spot in the Pacific. We don’t believe Seattle has gotten worse this summer, but it’s also clear they’re not considerably better than they were last season – hence, their place in the middle portion of our NHL summer splash rankings. The Kraken obviously aren’t satisfied with their 2024-25 results, but until the newly rejigged lineup proves it can improve on last season, it’s fair to start out the year being skeptical they can do so. SUMMER SPLASH RANKINGS 20. Seattle Kraken 21. Columbus Blue Jackets [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-summer-splash-rankings-no-21-columbus-blue-jackets] 22. Washington Capitals [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-summer-splash-rankings-no-22-washington-capitals] 23. Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-summer-splash-rankings-no-23-nashville-predators] 24. New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-summer-splash-rankings-no-24-new-york-islanders] 25. Tampa Bay Lightning [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-summer-splash-rankings-no-25-tampa-bay-lightning] 26. Toronto Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-summer-splash-rankings-no-26-toronto-maple-leafs] 27. Dallas Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-summer-splash-rankings-no-27-dallas-stars] 28. Calgary Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-summer-splash-rankings-no-28-calgary-flames] 29. Los Angeles Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-summer-splash-rankings-no-29-los-angeles-kings] 30. Winnipeg Jets [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-summer-splash-rankings-no-30-winnipeg-jets] 31. Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-summer-splash-rankings-no-31-chicago-blackhawks] 32. Buffalo Sabres [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-summer-splash-rankings-no-32-buffalo-sabres] Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
