In this Summer Coolers edition of NHL Wraparound, Neil Smith and Vic Morren dive deep into the least inspiring of the 32 NHL teams heading into the 2025–26 season: the Seattle Kraken.
After a quick taste of playoff success in their second year, the Kraken have slid into irrelevance—27th overall last season, a questionable coaching hire in Lane Lambert, and little improvement made during the offseason.
They’ve got some exciting prospects like Shane Wright and former Calder winner Matty Beniers, but the goaltending is shaky, the power play regressed, and the club is still searching for its identity in a league that has passed them by.
🧊 IN THIS EPISODE:
[00:00] Kraken preview: What’s not exciting about this roster
[00:38] Lane Lambert replaces Dan Bylsma—why?
[01:30] Vegas comparison and pressure from early success
[02:15] Offseason moves: Marchment, Lindgren, Gaudreau, Capo Kakko
[03:00] Notable re-signings: Caco, Cartier, Mahura
[03:45] Quiet exits: Burakovsky, Pezzetta, Eno fallout
[04:30] Matty Beniers: Calder winner or sophomore slump?
[05:30] Power play problems: Jessica Campbell’s unit slides to 23rd
[06:00] Key players who must improve: McCann, Beniers, Wright
[07:00] Goaltending woes: Grubauer, Daccord, and Matt Murray
[08:30] Shane Wright outlook: 60-point potential?
[09:00] Adam Larsson’s shocking +22: One bright spot on defense
[09:30] Why Seattle’s ceiling might be the middle of the pack (at best)
🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Lane Lambert’s hiring feels uninspired, and it’s unclear what he brings that will move the needle after Bylsma’s brief run.
Ron Francis stepped aside as GM—another odd move that raises more questions than answers.
Seattle’s goaltending is a liability. Grubauer is in serious decline, Daccord is serviceable, and Matt Murray is a gamble.
Scoring is shallow. No Kraken forward hit 30 goals last year. Jared McCann, Matty Beniers, and Shane Wright must elevate.
Shane Wright remains a wild card. If he breaks out this year, it could provide much-needed momentum.
🎯 FINAL WORD:
For a team entering its fifth season, Seattle feels directionless. The Kraken are clinging to past flashes of success while failing to deliver the growth fans expected. Without big years from their young stars and a serious turnaround in net, expect another year adrift—closer to the lottery than the playoffs.
🔗 RESOURCE LINKS:
🎥 YouTube: NHL Wraparound Channel
🐦 X (Twitter): @NHLWraparound
🎤 Neil Smith: @NYCNeil
📘 Vic Morren: Vic on LinkedIn
📸 Instagram: @NHLWraparound
🎵 TikTok: @NHLWraparound
👍 Facebook: NHL Wraparound on Facebook
🏒 HASHTAGS
#SeattleKraken #NHLWraparound #SummerCoolers #LaneLambert #RonFrancis #MattyBeniers #ShaneWright #CapoKakko #NHLGoaltending #KrakenHockey #PhilipGrubauer #MattMurray #JaredMcCann #JoeyDaccord #NHLPodcast #NHLPreview
Breadth and depth.
Contemporary and historical.
Straight-forward and experienced.
The NHL Wraparound podcast features Neil Smith, President-General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and longtime ESPN/NHL veteran Vic Morren sharing no-nonsense opinions on news and issues around the National Hockey League.
Bringing decades of experience from their respective fields, Smith and Morren create a unique partnership that examines the NHL from multiple perspectives. Additionally, as hockey historians, the pair can delve into any topic in today’s game and enlighten the audience with connections to events from previous years. To truly appreciate where hockey stands today, one needs to understand its past.
With 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of the Rangers last championship season, a special five-part series is planned to commemorate that magical run. Expect fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and special guests with particular focus on the GM who pushed all of his chips into the middle of the table amidst the most pressurized environments – and came out on top.
Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned fan, each episode of NHL Wraparound will leave you entertained and informed.
