By Marcus Sledge
The Kraken didn’t overhaul their roster this summer. Instead, Seattle doubled down on speed, youth and internal development. The big question: Is it enough to get back to the playoffs?
The Seattle Kraken enter the 2026-27 season with something they haven’t had much of in recent years: a clear sense of where they want to go.
Seattle finished last season 34-37-11, good for sixth place in the Pacific Division and 15 points out of a playoff spot. The Kraken were competitive for stretches and occupied a playoff position heading into the Olympic break, but a disastrous finish — including an 11-game winless stretch — ended those hopes.
Now the Kraken are betting that another year of development, a more comfortable second season under head coach Lane Lambert and a couple of important additions can change the equation.
And unlike some NHL teams, Seattle didn’t attempt a massive offseason makeover.
Instead, general manager Jason Botterill largely stayed with the plan.
Samoskevich Becomes the Biggest New Piece
The centerpiece of the offseason was the June trade for forward Mackie Samoskevich, acquired from the Florida Panthers for a 2026 first-round pick and a conditional 2027 second-round selection.
The 23-year-old winger posted 12 goals and 32 points in 77 games for Florida last season and signed a three-year, $11.55 million contract with Seattle.
The Kraken are expecting more.
Samoskevich brings speed, skill and — perhaps most importantly — a willingness to shoot. Seattle desperately needs that mentality after finishing 28th in the NHL in scoring last season at 2.73 goals per game.
He also fits neatly into a young forward group that includes Shane Wright, Matty Beniers and Berkly Catton.
If Samoskevich can turn his flashes of offensive ability in Florida into consistent production with a larger role in Seattle, the trade could become one of the most important moves of the offseason.
McMann Could Be Just as Important
The Kraken also made sure last season’s trade-deadline acquisition wasn’t a rental.
Seattle acquired Bobby McMann from Toronto in March, and he immediately provided something the Kraken needed: goals.
McMann scored 10 goals in just 18 games after joining Seattle.
The Kraken rewarded him with a six-year, $34.5 million contract, keeping one of their most effective offensive additions in the fold for the long term.
A full season of McMann, combined with Samoskevich’s arrival, gives Seattle legitimate hope of improving an offense that struggled badly last season.
Seattle Got Bigger, Too
The Kraken also added some size and physicality by signing Curtis Douglas, a 6-foot-9, 243-pound forward, to a two-year, $2.5 million contract.
Douglas isn’t expected to suddenly become a top-six scorer, but his size gives Seattle another element it lacked.
Meanwhile, Seattle said goodbye to several familiar faces, including Jaden Schwartz, Eeli Tolvanen and Jamie Oleksiak.
Those departures create some holes, particularly in experience and secondary scoring, but the Kraken appear comfortable giving younger players more responsibility.
A Shorter Preseason Means Every Game Matters
The Kraken won’t have much time to figure things out this fall.
Seattle’s 2026 preseason has been shortened to just four games as the NHL moves to an expanded 84-game regular season. That makes each exhibition game more important, particularly for young players and prospects fighting for NHL roster spots.
The Kraken will open the preseason Saturday, Sept. 19, at Climate Pledge Arena against the Vancouver Canucks. Seattle then travels to Calgary on Sept. 20 before returning home Sept. 24 to face the Flames. The preseason concludes Sept. 26 in Vancouver.
Seattle’s 2026 Preseason Schedule:
- Sept. 19: Vancouver Canucks at Seattle — 6:00 p.m. PT
- Sept. 20: Seattle at Calgary Flames — 5:00 p.m. PT
- Sept. 24: Calgary Flames at Seattle — 6:40 p.m. PT
- Sept. 26: Seattle at Vancouver Canucks — 4:00 p.m. PT
For Seattle’s younger players, there won’t be many opportunities to make an impression.
General manager Jason Botterill has acknowledged that the shortened schedule means players on the roster bubble could have only one or two games to make their case rather than the four or five they might have received in previous preseasons.
That puts additional pressure on prospects such as Jacob Melanson, Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, Nikke Kokko, Jagger Firkus and defensive prospects Tyson Jugnauth, Ville Ottavainen and Ty Nelson. The preseason will also give the coaching staff an early look at how Seattle’s young forwards fit alongside the established NHL group.
The Kraken already gave fans a preview of their prospect pipeline with a two-game showcase against Vancouver’s prospects in Abbotsford on Sept. 12 and 13. With Rookie Camp and Training Camp now underway, the countdown to opening night is officially on.
In a season where Seattle is counting on internal development to drive its improvement, the preseason may provide the first real clues about which young players are ready to take the next step.
The Young Core Has to Take Over
Perhaps the biggest offseason additions weren’t new players at all.
They’re the players Seattle already has.
Wright, Beniers and Catton are expected to play increasingly important roles, while Samoskevich joins a group that could feature as many as seven or eight forwards age 23 or younger.
That is exciting.
It’s also risky.
Seattle doesn’t have a Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon or Auston Matthews-type superstar who can single-handedly change a game. The Kraken instead have to win through depth, speed, structure and balance.
That makes player development absolutely critical.
Beniers needs to continue becoming a legitimate top-line center. Wright needs to establish himself as a consistent NHL offensive contributor. Catton, entering his second NHL season, needs to take another step.
If all three happen, Seattle’s ceiling rises dramatically.
The Biggest Problem: Scoring
The Kraken’s biggest question remains the same one they faced entering last season.
Where are the goals coming from?
Jordan Eberle led Seattle with 26 goals last season. Beniers and Jared McCann each scored 20.
That’s simply not enough top-end production for a team trying to make the playoffs.
The good news is that McMann’s full-season presence and Samoskevich’s arrival give Seattle more scoring potential. Jared McCann should also benefit from better health after playing just 52 games last season.
Seattle also has plenty of offensive potential on defense, with Brandon Montour and Vince Dunn providing a significant portion of the team’s scoring from the blue line.
But the Kraken need their forwards to start driving the offense.
Defense and Goaltending Could Keep Them in Games
Seattle’s defensive group remains experienced, led by Dunn, Montour and Adam Larsson, while Ryker Evans continues to develop.
In net, Joey Daccord gives Seattle a proven option capable of stealing games.
If the Kraken can remain structurally sound while increasing their offensive pressure, they should be competitive most nights.
That’s important because Seattle was particularly effective when playing with pace and aggression last season. The problem was maintaining that identity consistently.
NHL.com’s preseason analysis noted that Seattle had the fewest high-danger shots on goal in the NHL last season, a statistic that illustrates just how badly the Kraken need to generate more dangerous opportunities.
So, where does Seattle finish?
My prediction: 43-31-8 — 94 points.
That’s a significant improvement from last year’s 34-37-11 record, but it may still leave Seattle fighting for one of the final Western Conference playoff spots.
I expect the Kraken to be more entertaining, faster and more dangerous offensively.
I also expect some growing pains.
The Pacific Division remains difficult, and Seattle’s lack of an established elite scorer makes projecting a dramatic breakout difficult. But the Kraken have enough depth, young talent and goaltending to stay in the race.
Best-case scenario: Samoskevich becomes a 25-goal scorer, McMann approaches 30, Wright and Catton make significant jumps, and Seattle pushes toward 100 points.
Worst-case scenario: The young forwards aren’t ready to carry the offense, scoring remains near the bottom of the league, and Seattle again finds itself watching the playoffs from home.
But the most likely outcome?
A Kraken team that is finally ready to take the next step.
Seattle may not be a Stanley Cup contender yet.
But after three consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance, getting back into the postseason would represent meaningful progress — and the 2026-27
Kraken have enough new speed and young talent to make that goal realistic.
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