Salk: The big question Seattle Kraken need to answer

Here we are in the post-trade deadline version of the Seattle Kraken.

They traded for Bobby McMann. I was a little concerned that he was going to just play a role all too similar to some of the other guys on the team. And after watching him for three games, clearly he’s a little bit different. He is much bigger than a guy like an Eeli Tolvanen, he does play a physical game and he’s found a way to put the puck in the net in the first three games he’s been on the team. So, obviously, that has been a really nice sign.

The question is, can they do this consistently? That is going to be the question over and over again for the Kraken. You see two, three games at a time where they really do look good. Sometimes, yeah, it’s against the dregs of the league like the Canucks, but sometimes it’s against good hockey teams. I know Florida hasn’t been what they were supposed to be this year, but they’re still a good team and the Kraken just absolutely whomped them.

Salk: The change Seattle Kraken should make to reach playoffs

And then you see this other version, the version that showed up against Colorado, the one that showed up, unfortunately, this past game when they were terrible against Tampa Bay. I know coach Lane Lambert afterwards said that there were parts of the game that were even. I know he’s right, but the giveaways, the sloppy play and the number of times that Lambert has to come out afterwards and talk about the inexplicable play that he sees from his team – at some point, it just kind of becomes who you are. It ceases to be a one off and just becomes the team that you are.

There is talent on the Seattle Kraken. There is hope for the Seattle Kraken. But regardless of the good moves they’ve made – and I think adding Bobby McMann was a good move – they continue to have guys just playing up at a level that is above where they should be. Instead of having all second-liners along the first line, it would be helpful at some point, maybe this offseason, if they could actually find some first-line players.

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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