After the thrilling showdown in the Men's 2026 Olympic Hockey gold medal game, with the United States emerging victorious over Canada, NHL fans are shifting their focus back to the regular season. As the league's 32 teams resume play, they're staring down the barrel of the trade deadline on March 6 and the regular season's end on April 16. Teams on the playoff bubble are faced with crucial decisions: do they buy, sell, or stand pat?
The Seattle Kraken find themselves in an intriguing position. With hopes of clinching their second playoff berth in franchise history, the next seven weeks are pivotal. Let’s break down where the Kraken stand post-Olympic break and their chances of bringing playoff hockey back to Seattle this spring.
Kraken's Current Standings
The Kraken are sitting comfortably in the Western Conference standings ahead of their upcoming game against the Dallas Stars on February 25. They hold the third automatic playoff spot in the Pacific Division, boasting 63 points over 56 games.
They're trailing the division-leading Vegas Golden Knights by five points but have a game in hand. They're also just a point behind the Edmonton Oilers for second place, with two games in hand.
This marks a significant improvement from last season when they reached 63 points only after 67 games.
However, the race is tight, and nothing is guaranteed. Here's a snapshot of the current Western Conference wildcard race:
- Pacific 3: Seattle Kraken - 63 points, 26 games remaining
- Wildcard 1: Utah Mammoth - 64 points, 25 games remaining
- Wildcard 2: Anaheim Ducks - 63 points, 26 games remaining
- Playoff Line: Los Angeles Kings - 60 points, 26 games remaining
- Nashville Predators: 59 points, 25 games remaining
The Dallas Stars have a comfortable lead in their division, so teams like the Mammoth and Predators are more focused on securing a wildcard spot. Meanwhile, the Ducks, Kings, and Sharks are all within striking distance of the Kraken, making every point crucial.
The Chicago Blackhawks, with 53 points in 57 games, are technically still in the race but face a steep climb, with less than a 1% chance of making the playoffs according to top analysts.
Kraken's Playoff Odds
The analytics world is divided on the Kraken's playoff chances. The Athletic gives them an 18% chance, while MoneyPuck and HockeyReference are more optimistic at 68%.
The difference stems from how these models weigh past performance versus recent form. A balanced view suggests the Kraken have a decent shot.
Tankathon’s strength-of-schedule metric adds another layer, ranking Seattle’s remaining games 22nd in difficulty out of 32 teams. However, the Ducks, Kings, and Sharks have even easier schedules, ranking 30th, 31st, and 32nd respectively.
With Utah eager to ignite a new market with playoff action, the Ducks seeking experience for their young roster, and the Kings playing out Anze Kopitar’s final season, it’s unlikely these teams will be sellers at the deadline. The Sharks, defying early-season projections, are in the mix too, while the Predators might be looking at a rebuild, with big names like Steven Stamkos potentially on the move.
The Stretch Run
The Kraken have few direct playoff rival matchups left, but games against Vegas, Edmonton, Utah, and Los Angeles are critical. These contests could determine whether Seattle secures a top spot in the Pacific, grabs home-ice advantage, or even makes the playoffs.
Since January, the Kraken have been on a roll with a .632 points percentage, outperforming both the Golden Knights and Oilers. With 11 wins in their last 19 games, the hope is that the Olympic break hasn't disrupted their momentum.
Seattle's playoff destiny is in their own hands, a rare situation for the young franchise. Can they seize the moment and bring postseason hockey back to the Emerald City? Only time will tell.