The Seattle Kraken are moving on from Eeli Tolvanen, and the winger is set to test the open market.
Tolvanen will officially become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, leaving the Kraken to search for a more productive option on the wing. The 27-year-old’s production slipped last season, when his shooting percentage fell to about eight percent and his goal total dropped to 13 after he had posted 16 percent and 23 goals the year before.
His time in Seattle spanned three and a half seasons and three different head coaches. Last season, he played under Lane Lambert, who was described as “defensive minded.”
Tolvanen became a quick favorite with Kraken fans at Climate Pledge Arena because he was one of the tougher players on the roster to handle. He finished second on the team with 187 hits, and the best way to describe him might be as a prototypical, understated, feisty Finn.
Seattle’s connection with Tolvanen dates back to December of 2022, when then general manager Ron Francis claimed him off waivers from the Nashville Predators. The former 30th-overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft was looking for a fresh start, and the move was viewed as a major win for the Kraken.
He made the most of that opportunity. In his partial season with Seattle, Tolvanen scored 16 goals and added 11 assists in 48 games. He also chipped in three goals and eight points over 14 playoff games.
The lack of a deal for Tolvanen adds to the sense that Seattle’s wing picture is crowded, especially after Bobby McMann signed a six-year contract with the club after finishing last season with 10 goals in 18 games. That has led to speculation that the Kraken could still be trying to work out a last-minute agreement with UFA veteran forward Jaden Schwartz.
If that doesn’t happen, the current wing mix would include Jared McCann, McMann, Jordan Eberle, Kaapo Kakko, Freddie Gaudreau, Ryan Winterton, Berkly Catton, recently acquired Mackie Samoskevich, Jacob Melanson, and three or four others like Melanson and Winterton pushing to make the full-time jump from the American Hockey League. At least one player on that list is expected to line up in the middle.
The Kraken are also looking to add another winger or two in free agency.
They chose to keep four pending unrestricted free agents at the March trade deadline instead of moving them for draft picks or other pieces. Eberle, the captain, signed a new two-year contract, while Tolvanen, defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, and possibly Schwartz are all set to leave without Seattle getting anything back in return.
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One of the more interesting parts of that picture is Justin Schultz stepping into a player development consultant role with the Kraken, with a focus on mentoring young defensemen. The former Seattle defenseman gives the organization a familiar voice around a camp that will include several drafted prospects and signed players, all of them getting a chance to show how they fit in a deeper, more crowded defense mix than the franchise has had before. The question now is less about whether the talent is there and more about which young blueliners begin to separate themselves once the camp opens. [Read more 🡒]