Plus: Unflattering Kraken Predictions, Dueling Views On Daniel Sprong
The Seattle Kraken currently are one of nine NHL teams which have not named a captain for the 2023-24 season.
That number was reduced by one yesterday, when the Vancouver Canucks tabbed defenseman Quinn Hughes as their 15th captain. Hughes, a 2018 first round draft choice, has spent his entire 283-game NHL career in Vancouver.
As for Seattle, they didn't name a captain last year, and haven't had one since Mark Giordano (pictured above) departed for Toronto at the 2022 trade deadline.
Some believe the Kraken, like the Canucks, would like to anoint a home-grown captain. Likely candidate Matty Beniers isn't yet ready at age 20. Any number of veteran Kraken could fill the role in the interim, but Seattle didn't seem to suffer without one last season.
Three captain-less clubs will likely name a replacement: Boston's Patrice Bergeron retired, Chicago's Jonathan Toews wasn't re-signed, and St. Louis' Ryan O'Reilly was traded.
The remaining five clubs which haven't doled out the "C" are the Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, and Winnipeg Jets.
Kraken Not The Proteau-Type
At least one expert says the top team in the Pacific Division won't be the Cup champs, or the Connor McDavids. The Hockey News' Adam Proteau likes the Los Angeles Kings to claim the Pacific throne.
"L.A. has a dynamic mix of young and old competitors," says Proteau. Then comes the damning with faint praise: "Given the Pacific Division is the weakest of the four divisions this season, the Kings have every opportunity to not only secure a home-ice advantage playoff berth but to win the division."
Proteau places Seattle fifth, behind L.A., Vegas, Edmonton, and Calgary. "In some ways, the Kraken were playing with house money in 2022-23, giving their fan base much to cheer about as they overachieved.
"However, now that they’ve set the bar higher for themselves, they have significant pressure to perform as well as they did last season. And they may not have enough gas in the tank to take them to the playoffs for a second straight year."
The Kraken Truth Is Out There
"The X-Factor" is what the Kraken are in the Pacific, according to THN's Adamo Marinelli.
"The Pacific Division is a three-team race between the Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings," says Marinelli, echoing Proteau. Then he throws the Kraken a bone: "...but the Kraken are right behind."
Then he adds something surprising, given what he just wrote. "Don’t be surprised if Seattle contends for its first division title. With new additions like defenseman Brian Dumoulin, winger Kailer Yamamoto and forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare to bolster their depth without breaking the bank, the Kraken may reach 50 wins if their goaltending stays strong."
Two Viewpoints On Departed Daniel Sprong
In his concluding comment on Yamamoto, Marinelli says, "If he can match his 20-goal, 40-point pace in 2021-22, they won’t have a problem replacing Daniel Sprong’s production."
Thescore.com isn't so sure. "Sprong has been one of the game's most efficient scorers over the past three seasons, ranking seventh in goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five since the 2020-21 campaign." Sprong signed as a free agent this summer with Detroit.
"It's a mystery why the Seattle Kraken didn't issue Sprong a $737,500 qualifying offer to retain his rights considering he's only 26 years old and coming off his best season. But the Red Wings stand to gain."
It isn't THAT much of a mystery. Sprong has never been known for a tenacious checking game - and Yamamoto has.
