The Seattle Kraken are trying to steady the ship after a turbulent stretch in January. What started as a promising month quickly turned into a grind, as the team stumbled through a five-game East Coast road trip, dropping four of those contests.
They returned home hoping to reset on familiar ice, but the first game of their six-game homestand didn’t go according to plan either-a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Fortunately, they bounced back in the next outing with a much-needed 4-1 win over the New York Islanders.
With five games left in January and nine days to play them, the Kraken are still in the thick of the playoff hunt-but they’ve got work to do. Let’s take a closer look at where things stand, both on the ice and behind the scenes.
Power Play Woes and a Shorthanded Streak Snapped
It’s not just the losses that have raised eyebrows-it’s how they’ve come. Despite boasting a top-10 power play unit (currently ranked ninth in the NHL), the Kraken found themselves on the wrong end of a troubling trend: giving up shorthanded goals.
It started back on Dec. 10 with a narrow 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. A bounce-back win over the New York Rangers on Dec. 12 seemed to right the course, but things unraveled again in New Jersey two nights later. The Kraken lost 3-2 in overtime to the Devils, salvaging a point, but the cracks were beginning to show.
The next night in Boston, those cracks became more pronounced. Seattle fell behind early, giving up two goals in the first four minutes.
Chandler Stephenson tried to spark a comeback with a goal of his own, but a shorthanded tally by Mark Kastelic halted any momentum. The Bruins walked away with a 4-2 win.
Then came a rough night in Utah, where the Kraken faced the Mammoth and suffered a 6-3 defeat. Once again, they allowed a shorthanded goal-this time to Kevin Stenlund. That made it three straight games where Seattle gave up a goal while on the man advantage.
Back in Seattle, the script didn’t change against Pittsburgh. Another 6-3 loss, another shorthanded goal allowed-this one courtesy of Connor Dewar. For a team that’s been effective with the extra man all season, allowing four shorthanded goals in as many games was a concerning trend.
The good news? The Kraken finally snapped that streak in their 4-1 win over the Islanders.
Not only did they avoid giving up a shorthanded goal, but they also looked more composed and confident on special teams. If that game was any indication, the power play breakdowns may have just been a midseason hiccup-not a structural flaw.
Shane Wright’s Future in Question
The biggest headline off the ice right now? Shane Wright’s name surfacing in trade discussions.
The 2022 fourth-overall pick has had a rocky road in Seattle, and it’s starting to show. While the Kraken are in the market for a legitimate top-six forward, they appear open to the idea of moving Wright to make it happen.
The issue seems to come down to development-or a lack thereof. Wright has voiced frustration with his role, and it’s hard to blame him. Despite his upside, the Kraken have leaned on veterans like Chandler Stephenson to fill top-line minutes, leaving Wright buried in the bottom six.
Through 49 games this season, Wright has tallied 17 points on seven goals and 10 assists. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but they’re respectable given his limited role. Still, if the organization isn’t committed to giving him the ice time he needs to grow, a change of scenery could benefit both sides.
It’s never easy to part with a young player who still has untapped potential, but the Kraken are in win-now mode. If Wright can help them land a proven top-six scorer, it might be a move they’re willing to make.
Jamie Oleksiak Also on the Trade Radar
Wright isn’t the only Kraken player making the rounds in trade chatter. Veteran defenseman Jamie Oleksiak is also rumored to be available ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.
Oleksiak has been with Seattle since day one, claimed from Dallas in the expansion draft. He posted a career-high 25 points last season, but his production has dipped this year-three goals and five assists through 47 games.
The Kraken have been hovering in and out of a playoff spot all season, currently holding the second wild card position in the Western Conference. If they’re serious about making a postseason push, they may look to retool the blue line. That could mean moving Oleksiak to a contender in need of size and experience on the back end-teams like the Edmonton Oilers have been mentioned as potential fits.
Whether it’s Wright, Oleksiak, or both, Seattle looks poised to be active at the deadline.
What’s Next?
The Kraken continue their homestand with a matchup against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. PT. With five games left this month and the playoff race tightening, every point matters.
The road hasn’t been easy lately, but the Kraken still control their fate. If they can clean up the special teams, find consistency in their lineup, and make the right moves at the deadline, they’ll be right in the mix come spring.