The Seattle Kraken made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2023 on the strength of their depth. Seattle was one of the deepest teams in the league. And they used their depth to outlast the Colorado Avalanche to win their first playoff series. While Seattle's postseason ended in Game 7 of the second round last year, they had hope for the 2023-24 campaign.
However, the Kraken did not replicate their success from a year ago. Seattle struggled early on, and while they began to play better, it wasn't enough. They missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past season by a rather comfortable margin.
Now, the Kraken head toward NHL Free Agency looking to improve their roster. Seattle has enough talent to contend for the playoffs if they make the right moves. However, making the right moves is certainly easier said than done. With this in mind, here are two moves Seattle must make in the 2024 NHL offseason.
Kraken should extend Matty Beniers
Seattle made Matty Beniers their very first NHL Draft selection in franchise history in 2021. He made his debut later that season, and his official rookie season in 2022-23 gave the franchise hope he could be a fixture at the top of their lineup. However, he took a bit of a step back in 2023-24.
Still, Beniers figures to be one of the team's building blocks moving forward. The 2023 Calder Trophy winner has a ton of potential and is only 21 years old. This summer, though, he is a restricted free agent. He is not eligible for arbitration but he could technically sign an offer sheet with another team in NHL Free Agency.
The likelihood of this happening is rather slim. But the Kraken need to extend Beniers nonetheless. Giving him a three or four-year contract may certainly be a bit of a risk for them. However, it would signal their faith in the Michigan product. It would go a long way toward showing that they believe he can be a top-line center in the NHL. And that they are willing to work with him through his development.
Kraken must address goaltending
When Seattle entered the league, goaltending seemed to be a strength on paper. They picked Chris Driedger in the expansion draft along with Vitek Vanececk and Joey Daccord. Driedger was coming off a breakout season, while Vanecek and Daccord had upside. Additionally, they signed Philipp Grubauer in NHL Free Agency.
However, goaltending has proven to be a weakness. Seattle traded Vanecek after drafting him. Driedger struggled in his first season and has only played two NHL games since. Grubauer has not lived up to his contract. And while Daccord did have a breakout season in 2023-24, it's uncertain whether he can become a true first-choice goalie in this league.
The Kraken need to address their goaltending to some extent this summer. It's unlikely they shell out the assets needed to acquire a Juuse Saros or Jacob Markstrom on the trade front. But there are quality options to be had in NHL Free Agency. Laurent Brossoit and Anthony Stolarz are the top options after impressive seasons as backups in 2023-24. Furthermore, they could target Alex Nedeljkovic, Casey DeSmith, or Ilya Samsonov.
None of these options gives Seattle a true first-choice goalie. But if they believe in Daccord and his upside, those options give the Kraken insurance in the crease. If both Daccord and their new goalie pan out, the Kraken could certainly surprise people in 2024-25.
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