Salk: The change Seattle Kraken should make to reach playoffs

You know what I want? I want the Seattle Kraken to make the playoffs this year, go on a run and recapture some of that momentum that was lost after the last playoff run a couple of years ago.

I don’t know whether what they did at the trade deadline is going to do that. Bobby McMann seems like a good player. He’s gritty and he shoots the puck and he’s got some speed and he’s scored some goals. I like all of those qualities. But he is a lot of what they already have – a very similar player to maybe Eeli Tolvanen, as opposed to being what they really need, which is somebody who can play on the top line and open up space for the people around them. Threaten them with his skill. Threaten them with his speed.

Maybe McMann will be able to do that playing in a slightly different role here than he did in that fishbowl in Toronto, but we haven’t seen that yet. And he’s 29 years old, so I don’t know whether I’m going to hold my breath on that one. Like the player, just not convinced of the fit.

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As I keep watching this team, I’ll say that again: They need somebody who opens up space for everybody else. They don’t get to play in space in the offensive zone very often. If you don’t have the right people to do that through their speed and through their skill, why not use the resource you do have, which is your physicality?

Yes, I know I’m a broken record talking about Jacob Melanson, but I love what this kid does. He plays with energy and physicality every single night. He’s doing it with just nine minutes a game on the fourth line without goal scorers around him.

anyways…

HEEEEEERE'S MELLY‼️ pic.twitter.com/tEvUnfQF0q

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) March 8, 2026

Why not put him on the first or second line for a little while? See what happens. Juggle things up. Maybe you get an opportunity to create space with his physicality and his checking, and maybe a Jared McCann or a Matty Beniers or a Jordan Eberle would end up being the beneficiary of it.

This post is a transcript of the video at the top of the post. It is edited for clarity. Catch Mike Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk.

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