The team may be done on the ice, but there will be plenty of Kraken draft and roster news coming up. Here’s a rundown on GM Ron Francis’s upcoming work over the next couple months-
###1: 2023 NHL Draft
The Kraken will draft 20th overall in the 1st round next month, and are likely to have a chance to draft a good prospect given how deep this draft is.
The Kraken also have 4 more picks in the top 3 rounds: 50th (from WPG), 52nd, and 57th (from TOR) in the 2nd round and 84th in the 3rd. They have another 5 picks in the 4th through 7th rounds.
###2: Expiring Contract Decisions (RFAs & UFAs)
* RFAs: Geekie, Sprong, Dunn, Borgen, Fleury
* UFAs: Donato, Froden, Soucy, Jones, Donskoi, Hayden
According to [CapFriendly](https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/kraken), they have ~$18.3M in cap space for next season and only a few roster spots to fill.
Vince Dunn must be re-signed and will earn significantly more than his $4M AAV this past season. Geekie and Borgen are also likely to return but on fairly cheap contracts, something like < $2M AAV for each. With Shane Wright and Tye Kartye likely to make the roster next season, Seattle may have to move on from depth forwards like Donato and Sprong.
###3: Decision Time in Net
Grubauer answered all the doubters with his playoff performance. He’s the guy. The question is what Francis will do for his backup.
Neither Jones nor Driedger showed enough to lock down the backup role so we may bring someone new in. If so, Francis may try to trade Dreidger to free up some cap space and give him a fresh start and a shot at an NHL role.
###4: The Wright Place to Play
Shane Wright can’t spend another season bouncing around between leagues and teams. The easiest solution is for him to prove in training camp and preseason that he deserves a full-time NHL spot. The problem will be fitting him into this roster. Barring injury or trade, the top 9 seems pretty locked in:
McCann-Beniers-Eberle
Schwartz-Wennberg-Burakovsky
Tolvanen-Gourde-Bjorkstrand
If he makes the team, Kartye will likely play with Geekie on the 4th line… but where does that leave Wright? Francis will need to keep this in mind when making roster decisions this summer.
*Edit: as suggested in a comment, a 4th line of Kartye-Wright-Geekie/Tanev when the roster is fully healthy would be ideal IMO*
###5: Free Agency & Trades
The Kraken have few holes that can’t be filled internally. They probably need a 4th line forward, a defenseman, and possibly a backup goalie.
The Kraken may look to add a middle-pair defenseman to upgrade over Soucy. Free agent options include Dimity Orlov (BOS, 31) and Vladislav Gavrikov (LAK, 27). Gavrikov probably re-signs with LA, but Boston likely can’t afford Orlov. On the trade market, I wonder what guys like Cam Fowler (ANA, 31, 3x$6.5M) or Nate Schmidt (WPG, 31, 2x$5.95M) would cost. Winnipeg feels ready to blow it all up so watch for a firesale in Manitoba this summer. Ditto for the Flyers?
###6: Early Extensions?
Last but not least, Ron Francis may want to extend players going into their final contract years. Beniers is the easy candidate, but I suspect his camp will want another full season on his resume to be in the best possible negotiating position before they consider anything. Tolvanen is the only other RFA and I don’t think there’s any urgency for the UFA class – Eberle, Wennberg, Schutlz, Megna, and Driedger. Considering the candidates, I don’t think we see any action here over the summer.
by SiccSemperTyrannis
18 Comments
Definitely would love Geekie, Donato, Dunn, and Borgen back. I feel like Dunn and Borgen are great young pieces to our defensemen. I would like to upgrade at least 2 guys around them tho. Shultz and Big cat are solid.
Not sure what we can do with Wright. He’s better off in the AHL for at least most of the year. The OHL (I know the age rule he had to)really wasn’t competitive enough for him last year.
I know Dreidger had no trade value last year. Don’t think we re-sign Jones. I would love to just try out Daccord if they can get a deal done.
My bad, meant AHL
Great post. Random thoughts I’ll add:
* Would be nice to find a face-off specialist, whether via trade or free agency.
* Any predictions on Dunn? $7.5 million AAV?
* Wonder if there’s a scenario where we trade some draft capital to a cap-strapped team, similar to how we picked up Bjorkstrand last offseason.
* If Geekie is re-signed and Wright makes the team, a simple solution on the fourth line would be to move Geekie to the wing. Kartye-Wright-Geekie?
* Can’t wait to see Burakovsky back in the lineup.
Knock on wood, but that projected depth amongst the 12 forwards that they will be able to roll at opponents line after line is pretty impressive, The distinction between their 1st and 3rd lines will be even harder for opponents to identify (in a good way). Projectable steps forward from Beniers, Kartye, Tolvanen and Dunn should be expected.
You look at the teams still standing this time of year: depth, structure, speed, and goaltending. Tkachuk maybe the closest thing left to a superstar – though Miro, Hintz, Eichel, Pietroangelo, Barkov, and Aho are all bigtime players too. But clearly, depth is way more conducive to success this time of year than being top heavy like Toronto or Edmonton.
It’s kinda tough to wait for it, but man, one day Beniers, Kartye, Wright, Evans, Goyette are all going to be in the mid-20s at the same time.
I’m sure at least one of Geekie, Sprong and Donato will be gone next season.
I’m not sure what Francis will do with Dunn, I am sure he won’t want to have a long term contract based on last season alone (8×8?) maybe a bridge deal and see where he is after next season? I was all for a long term deal until the playoffs where he regressed. I can’t see Ron giving him more than 6 million long term.
I could see Soucy leaving which leaves a whole on the left side, Fleury is right shot, maybe bring up Evans?
Wright did not look good in the OHL playoffs, I haven’t watched him in the AHL, but he only has a goal and 3 assists in 11 games. I could see him back in the OHL next year. I’m not sure if 4th line would be best for him.
I don’t see much in free agency. They have 18 million and 7 spots to fill. Dunn will take up much of that. Re-signing Borgen, Fleury, Geekie, Donato or Sprong will take up most of the remainder.
Really good summary all around.
I think Daccord being a UFA is probably significant enough to add him to that list, as well.
They’ll want to lock up Dunn long term. Figure 8X$7mil or 8X$8mil. Split the difference and call it 8X$7.5mil?
I’d bet on Borgen getting more than $2mil. Say 3X$3mil for a bridge deal? He’s a top 4 D for us now, he’s not going to settle for under $2mil.
Jones is definitely gone. It’s now a question of whether they want Dreidger or Daccord more. Daccord could be re-signed fairly cheap, but Dreidger would need to be traded and his value is quite diminished at the moment. They could still keep both of them, but that will depend on if Daccord doesn’t mind sticking around the minors another year. He’s also no longer waivers exempt, so that could be a problem too.
Don’t forget with Wright that Gourde can play wing. Gourde-Wright-Bjorkstrand would be a pretty tits 3rd line and Kartye-Geekie-Tolvanen would be a pretty tits 4th. 4th line time would be fine as long has he’s getting more than 8 minutes a night. As for next season, Wennberg’s deal is done. Depending on how far along Wright is by then, they could let Wennberg walk, and then it’s the Beniers/Wright 1C/2C we’ve been drueling about.
I’m so glad you mentioned Orlov because as I was looking through free agents he was my top thought for filling some of that needed presence in the D positions. That and former Caps seem to thrive here haha!
Fully agree one which free agents to keep.
Wright I’m not sure that’s such a tough one, but may need to spend some development time in Coachella and fill injury as needed by chance.
As for goalies, I don’t think we’ll be able to trade Driedger with out additional incentive. It will be difficult to bend but I would love to try to keep Daccord and bring him up as back up, he has shown promise and has been excellent in the playoffs so far, also young so could be longer term of it works out. Problem is he will be UFA and will likely get multiple offers given his performance.
This is really helpful, thank you.
I know I am in the minority, but my money is on Donato staying….
Definitely going to be an interesting offseason because this series proved we aren’t quite there yet but you also don’t want to screw with chemistry by making a ton of changes
I don’t see why they wouldn’t bring Driedger back as the backup next year. He was arguably their best goalie in 21-22, and was injured this past year.
Driedger was recovering from an ACL and only playing time was with the AHL as a long term reconditioning thing. Its not fair to him to be considered as “not” earned to be backup when the only reason we signed Jones was cause Driedger tore his ACL during 2022 men’s worlds.
Can you imagine if we got Erik karlsson?!
I wouldn’t pay Dunn over 7M after his performances in the playoffs
We need a face off specialist BADLY and I’d like us to move on from Soucy I’m sure we can find a defenseman much better in free agency plus I’m so sick of all the dumb penalties that Soucy takes
Thoughts on Carolina resigning Ghost? If they don’t, he might slot in well to replace soucy?
I know we all love the current guys on the roster. But if Kartye and Wright are ready to go then you don’t bring back all of Donato, Sprong, Geekie.
Tolvy took one of those spots away already as soon as Burky comes back.
Tanev is staying, he’s a stud on the PK
Ryker Evans probably takes Soucys spot in the 6 man D rotation.
You gotta take a look at all of Firkus, Nyman, Winterton, Lind and Goyette for Forward spots as well.
Wennberg could be a causality.
The backup goalie situation is a tough one. But you’d assume they roll with Grubi and Driedger. Unless they can move Driedger and not take too much of a hit on his remaining deal.
I’m excited to follow them on my first NHL off season as a fan,I’m all in on the Kraken and can’t wait for the start of next season.
I wasn’t all that impressed by Geekie this year.