The Seattle Kraken are heading into December with a glaring problem-and it’s not one that shows up on highlight reels. Their penalty kill is officially the worst in the NHL, operating at a brutal 69.2 percent success rate.
That’s not just a slump; that’s a full-on crisis. And while offensive droughts tend to dominate headlines, it’s this breakdown on special teams that’s quietly torpedoing Seattle’s season.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Kraken are giving up power play goals at an alarming rate, nearly one out of every three times they go shorthanded. That’s dead last in the league-32nd out of 32.
And this isn’t a sudden drop-off. It’s a continuation of a downward trend from last season, when their penalty kill already ranked in the bottom third at 77.2 percent.
The trajectory is headed the wrong way, and fast.
In the lead-up to their late-November clash with Edmonton, the Kraken had allowed power play goals in three straight games. That’s not just a rough patch-it’s a pattern.
And it highlights a deeper issue that goes beyond effort or execution. This is about structure, deployment, and personnel.
The Kraken’s penalty kill woes aren’t about a lack of talent. The real issue lies in how that talent is being used-or, more accurately, misused.
When Seattle moved on from key penalty-killing forwards like Yanni Gourde and Brandon Tanev at last season’s trade deadline, they didn’t adequately replace their minutes or their roles. Gourde and Tanev weren’t just contributors-they were the backbone of the PK unit, logging over 100 percent of the available shorthanded minutes between them when healthy.
Gourde alone handled over 40 percent of the team’s PK time, while Tanev was on for nearly 60 percent.
That’s a massive void, and instead of filling it with similarly defensive-minded players, the Kraken have leaned on offensive forwards like Chandler Stephenson, Jared McCann, and even Matty Beniers to carry the load. These are skilled players, no doubt-but they’re creators, not destroyers.
Asking them to shut down elite power play units is like asking your top scorer to block shots and grind in the corners. It’s a mismatch, and opposing teams are feasting on it.
Seattle did try to plug the gap with the acquisition of Frédérick Gaudreau, a defensively responsible center known for his faceoff ability. But one guy can’t fix a systemic issue. Gaudreau’s presence helps, especially on the right side in the dot, but he’s not a cure-all.
The blue line tells a similar story. Brandon Montour brings offensive flash and Stanley Cup experience, but his defensive metrics raise red flags.
He finished last season with a minus-22 rating, and while plus-minus isn’t the be-all, end-all stat, it paints a picture. Montour thrives when he’s pushing the pace and joining the rush, not when he’s defending a man advantage.
Yet he’s still logging significant PK minutes-minutes that should be going elsewhere.
The solution? It’s been staring the Kraken in the face all along: build the penalty kill around Adam Larsson.
Larsson, one of Seattle’s original expansion picks, is the kind of defenseman every struggling PK unit dreams of. He’s big (6-foot-3, 207 pounds), physical, and positionally sound.
Last season, he averaged nearly three minutes of shorthanded ice time per game and did it with quiet, effective consistency. He doesn’t chase hits or overcommit-he plays disciplined, structured hockey, and he’s willing to eat pucks to get the job done.
This is the guy you want on the ice when the other team’s top unit is buzzing. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable-and reliability is everything when you're down a man.
His chemistry with Vince Dunn at even strength shows he can support more offensively inclined partners while still holding the defensive line. That kind of versatility is gold on the penalty kill.
So what’s the move? Start by giving Larsson the lion’s share of PK minutes.
Pair him with defense-first partners who can complement his game, not offensive-minded defensemen who leave gaps in coverage. On the forward side, lean into Gaudreau’s strengths and surround him with grinders-guys who will block shots, win battles, and clear the zone.
This isn’t about reinventing the wheel. It’s about getting back to basics.
In hockey, your best defensive players should be on the ice in defensive situations. That’s not strategy-it’s common sense.
Until the Kraken stop forcing square pegs into round holes and start using their personnel the right way, their penalty kill will continue to be a liability. And with the playoff race tightening, every failed kill is another nail in the coffin.
Seattle has the pieces to turn this around. But it starts with recognizing who they are-and who they’re not-when they’re down a man.