Jason Botterill’s talk of a youth-driven turn in Seattle sounded bold in late August. On the eve of opening night, though, the Kraken still look like a team in transition rather than one that has fully committed to that plan.
The offseason did bring the “aggressive” push for star talent that the front office promised, but the big swing never landed. Seattle came up short on the sort of impact move that would have changed the shape of the roster, and the idea that a top-tier restricted free agent like Dallas’s Jason Robertson would simply be lured in by a massive offer did not pan out.
That leaves Botterill’s most intriguing comment from Aug. 23 still hanging in the air. “There’s a possibility we could have seven or eight forwards 23-and-under on opening night,” Botterill told NHL.com.
That vision suggested a clear break from the usual NHL treadmill: let the young group grow together, take the bumps, and build something more coherent over time. It’s a path teams like Edmonton, Anaheim, and San Jose have taken with success. It also helped explain why veterans Jaden Schwartz and Eeli Tolvanen were allowed to leave in free agency, with Schwartz going to the Avalanche and Tolvanen to the Rangers.
But the actual opening-night picture is less dramatic. Of the 15 forwards listed on the Kraken roster, only six fit Botterill’s age threshold: Berkly Catton (20), Shane Wright (22), Ryan Winterton (23), Jacob Melanson (23), Matty Beniers (23), and Mackie Samoskevich (23).
Even that count doesn’t last long. Because Beniers and Samoskevich both have November birthdays, the number of 23-and-under forwards drops to four within six weeks of the season starting.
Wright’s situation adds another layer of uncertainty. It’s still unclear how long he’ll stay in Seattle, and there’s an odd twist to that reality: for the Kraken to get a trade return they’d actually want, Wright would likely have to play well enough to make them hesitate about honoring his trade request.
And this may not be the final word on Seattle’s youth movement anyway. More young forwards from the Coachella Valley Firebirds could arrive during the season if injuries, trades, stronger AHL play, or weaker NHL play open the door. Among the draft-pick forwards who could be called up are Jake O’Brien (19), Julius Miettinen (20), Carson Rehkopf (21), Oscar Fisker-Molgaard (21), Jani Nyman (22), and Jagger Firkus (22).
In Other News...
Shane Wright Suddenly Sits At The Center Of A Kraken Test
A new layer of intrigue has been added around Shane Wright as the offseason market keeps shifting, with the young center suddenly drawing attention from a division rival looking to shore up its middle. Wright, 22, remains one of the more interesting development projects in the Kraken system, and Seattle has spent real time and resources on his growth, which is part of why he still feels more like a piece to build around than a name to shop.
Still, the fact that another club is circling says something about how the market is taking shape, especially with Edmonton also looking at Montreals Kirby Dach as it explores options. From Seattles side, moving Wright would run against the grain of how the organization has treated him so far, and the question now is less about whether he has value than whether that value could ever push the Kraken into a bigger conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Kraken Still Have One Costly Problem They Cant Afford This Season
The preseason score line against Vancouver was close enough to suggest the Kraken were hanging around at even strength, but the special teams picture told a different story. Seattle was beaten 4-3 after giving up too much on the penalty kill, a concern that has lingered through camp as the team tries to settle into a new look under Lane Lambert.
Lambert said the group is still working new players into those shorthanded roles after roster turnover up front, and the shortened training camp has only made that process harder. With veteran preseason appearances limited, the Kraken have not had as many chances as they would like to build chemistry and clean up the details in a phase of the game that can swing results quickly. [Read more 🡒]