The Seattle Kraken are about to embark on an important and exciting 2024-25 season but before they do so, they'll need to answer five important questions during their training camp.
The Seattle Kraken are about to embark on an important and exciting 2024-25 season but before they do so, they'll need to answer five important questions during their training camp.
The new additions of Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson will need time to get acclimated and build chemistry with their new teammates and young additions such as Shane Wright and Ryker Evans will have to battle for spots and ice time all season long. The roster embraces internal competitiveness with ice time and spots higher in the lineup up for grabs.
1. Where Does Shane Wright Play
It almost feels like a foregone conclusion that Wright will play his first full-time season with the Kraken this year after successful stints with the club last year and a stellar AHL season. Where and who Wright plays with is still in question. Playing him on the fourth-line will do him no good and the team has tried that before. It's also hard to imagine him playing in the top six with Matty Beniers and Stephenson filling the roles of the top two centres, leaving Wright to possibly be the team's third-line centre. Who will skate alongside will likely change throughout the season and won't be determined until preseason finishes.
2. What Is The Goaltender Situation
Philipp Grubauer has been disappointing since signing with the Kraken, failing to record a save percentage above .900% in any of his first three seasons. Joey Daccord had a breakout campaign after playing just 19 games in four seasons. Last year he was among the league's best goaltenders recording a .916SV% and a 2.46GAA in 50 games. If he's able to replicate his previous performance he'll take over as the Kraken's number one goaltender but with how up and down NHL goalies are, it's no guarantee Daccord performs at the same level.
3. Who Plays On the Power Play and Where?
One issue teams can find themselves when building a lineup that is well-balanced and doesn't rely on a few individual superstars is that some players are going to have to sacrifice roles they once played. Picking who plays on the power play and what role they play will be incredibly difficult for head coach Dan Bylsma. He could run two evenly balanced units with Vince Dunn and Montour each quarter-backing a unit but selecting the forwards is a difficult task.
4. Could A Prospect Crack The Opening Night Roster
The 2024 NHL Rookie Faceoff concluded this past weekend with multiple Kraken prospects standing out. Jagger Firkus, David Goyette and Ryan Winterton are three highly-rated, point-producing forwards who are all entering training camp with one goal, to make the Kraken roster. Berkly Catton also has the offensive tools to push for a spot as well. The Kraken lineup looks to be set but these prospects could make the Kraken coaching staff re-think things.
5. Could Matty Beniers Breakout Offensively?
After a Calder Trophy-winning rookie season, many expected Beniers to take another step in his development but it unfortunately didn't happen. This offseason he signed a seven-year contract extension and now more than ever needs to prove he is the franchise centre he's shown he can be. He's reportedly added weight and is ready to focus purely on hockey. If Beniers can flirt around the point-per-game mark, the Kraken's offence should drastically improve and possibly lead them to the playoffs.
Make sure you bookmark THN’s Seattle Kraken site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.