Kraken Trending Up, Powered by Montour’s Two-Way Brilliance
With November in the books and a short break in the schedule before Thursday night’s matchup, now’s a good time to take stock of where the Seattle Kraken stand - and where they might be headed.
Despite being hit hard by injuries early in the season, Seattle has managed to stay afloat - and then some. At 11-7-6 through 24 games, they’ve banked 28 points and currently hold one of the Western Conference’s two wildcard spots. That pace puts them on track for a 96-point season - a 20-point leap from last year and potentially enough to secure just the second playoff berth in franchise history.
And they’ve done it while missing some key names. Jared McCann (17 games missed), Kappo Kakko (16), and Ryker Evans (13) have all been sidelined for more than half the season so far.
That’s a big chunk of offensive production out of the lineup. McCann was the team’s leading scorer by points-per-game last year, while Evans ranked third among defensemen in the same metric, behind only Brandon Montour and Vince Dunn.
Evans’ ability to provide a third offensive option from the blue line was a nice complement to a defense corps that leans heavily on stay-at-home types like Adam Larsson, Jamie Oleksiak, and now Ryan Lindgren.
But when the Kraken needed someone to step up, Brandon Montour answered the call - and then some.
Montour Leading the Charge
At 31, Montour is in his second season with the Kraken after signing as a free agent in the 2024 offseason. And right now, he’s playing some of the best hockey of his career.
Through 20 games, he’s put up five goals and 13 points - tied for second on the team in points-per-game (0.65). He’s on pace to eclipse the 50-point mark for just the second time in his career, a feat he hasn’t accomplished since his 73-point breakout with the Florida Panthers in 2022-23.
Since the start of last season, Montour has quietly racked up 23 goals and 54 points in 101 games - totals that rank fourth and 24th, respectively, among NHL defensemen over that stretch. That kind of production has even sparked whispers about a potential Olympic nod for Team Canada in February. With the depth Canada has on the blue line, it’s a long shot - but it speaks volumes about the level Montour is playing at right now.
Driving Play at Even Strength
Montour’s value goes well beyond the box score. He’s second on the team in overall ice time, but no Kraken defenseman sees more minutes at five-on-five. And when he’s out there, Seattle generates offense - plain and simple.
Let’s dig into the numbers. Among Kraken defensemen, Montour leads in shots, expected goals, and scoring chances created per 60 minutes at five-on-five.
He’s also second in overall production rate. That’s elite-level impact, and it shows up even more when you look at his relative on-ice metrics - stats that compare how the team performs with him on the ice versus without him:
| Category | Relative to Team | Kraken D Ranking |
|---|
| Shots For | +3.4% | 2nd | | Goals For | +5% | 4th |
| Expected Goals For | +1.6% | 2nd | | Scoring Chances For | +2.6% | 1st |
| High-Danger Chances For | +0.6% | 2nd |
Considering he’s logging the toughest minutes of any Kraken defenseman at even strength, those numbers are eye-popping. The only category where he doesn’t rank top-two - goals for - is often subject to variance over small sample sizes.
Evans actually edges Montour in a few of those categories, but he’s played fewer than half the games and ranks fifth among Kraken defensemen in five-on-five ice time. The workload Montour carries makes his efficiency even more impressive.
A Team Struggling at Five-on-Five
Montour’s excellence becomes even more valuable when you zoom out to the team level. The Kraken, quite frankly, have struggled at five-on-five.
They rank near the bottom of the league in shot share, expected goals, scoring chances, and high-danger chances. And yet, they’re holding their own in actual goals - thanks in large part to elite goaltending.
That kind of imbalance can work in the short term, but it’s a dangerous game to play over a full season. Sooner or later, the dam usually breaks unless the underlying numbers improve. That’s why Montour’s ability to tilt the ice in Seattle’s favor, even in tough minutes, is so critical.
Defensive Pairings and Deployment
With a fully healthy blue line, the Kraken have settled into three regular pairings:
- Larsson-Dunn: Most-used pairing at five-on-five
- Montour-Lindgren: Second-most used
- Evans-Oleksiak: Third pairing, averaging three fewer minutes per game
On occasion, head coach Lane Lambert will pair Montour and Dunn together when the team needs a spark. And when they’re on the ice together, they deliver.
In limited minutes (just over 20), the duo has driven play at an elite level - 59% of expected goals, 67% of scoring chances, and 60% of high-danger chances. Those are the best marks of any defensive pairing on the team.
Still, Lambert has used them sparingly, likely to spread out the puck-moving ability across all three pairings. But adding another mobile defenseman could allow the Kraken to lean more heavily on Montour-Dunn when needed without sacrificing puck transition elsewhere.
Looking Ahead
Seattle’s front office has some interesting decisions to make. While the focus should be on building for the future, the Kraken have nine first- or second-round picks over the next three drafts.
That’s a lot of ammo - and it gives them flexibility. If the right opportunity arises, they could pursue a younger defenseman who fits both the long-term vision and the current playoff push.
Montour’s performance gives them a legitimate foundation to build on. With Dunn and Evans also capable of generating offense from the back end, the Kraken have the kind of blue line most teams envy - at least when healthy.
A Season Played With Heavy Shoulders
It’s also important to acknowledge what Montour has been carrying off the ice. He’s playing this season in the wake of his brother’s passing after a long battle with ALS - a devastating loss that puts everything else in perspective. To perform at this level while dealing with that kind of emotional weight speaks to his strength and professionalism.
We send our best to Montour and his family as he continues to honor his brother’s memory with every shift.
Can Montour Lead Seattle Back to the Playoffs?
If Montour keeps playing like this, the Kraken have a real shot at returning to the postseason. He’s not just logging big minutes - he’s making them count. Whether it’s driving scoring chances, stabilizing the back end, or stepping up in key moments, Montour is doing it all.
There’s still a long road ahead, and Seattle has some flaws to iron out. But with Montour at the heart of the blue line, the Kraken have a steady hand guiding the ship - and a reason to believe the best is yet to come.