Seattle Kraken Season Preview: Expectations, strengths and weaknesses

The Seattle Kraken begin the 2026-27 NHL season on Thursday, Oct. 1. The AP breaks down what you need to know going into the team's second year under coach Lane Lambert.

BY PAT GRAHAM, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sep 24, 2026, 10:50 AM

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Seattle Kraken preview 2026-27 NHL season Matty Beniers...

Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken is recorded by TNT during the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour on Sept. 9, 2026 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Seattle Kraken at a glance

• Last season: 34-37-11, missed the playoffs.

• Coach: Lane Lambert (34-37-11 in first season with Kraken; 61-46-20 in two seasons with New York Islanders).

What John Forslund wants to see from Kraken in Year 2 of Lambert era

• Season opener: Oct. 1 at Calgary Flames.

• Departures: President of hockey operations Ron Francis, assistant coach Jessica Campbell, RW Eeli Tolvanen, C Jaden Schwartz, D Jamie Oleksiak.

• Additions: RW Mackie Samoskevich.

• Goalies: Joey Daccord (20-20-6, 3.03 goals-against average, .896 save percentage), Philipp Grubauer (13-12-4, 2.65, .909).

What to expect

The Kraken try to make it back to the postseason for the first time since 2023. They finished near the bottom of the league in goals scored a year ago. The team promoted defensemen Vince Dunn and Brandon Montour to the role of alternate captain, where they join captain Jordan Eberle and fellow alternates Matty Beniers and Adam Larsson in the leadership department.

Seattle has a dynamic top line in Bobby McMann, Beniers and Eberle. Beniers had 20 goals and 30 assists last season, while Eberle scored 26 times. McMann was acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline and had 10 goals in 18 games with the Kraken. He re-signed with the team in June and will count $5.75 million against the salary cap through the 2031-32 season. Samoskevich was picked up in a June deal with Florida. He was part of the Panthers team that hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2025.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: Beniers won the Calder Trophy in 2022-23 with a 24-goal, 33-assist campaign. He’s scored 20 goals the past two seasons and took a career-best 149 shots last season. The team figures to be strong in net with the tandem of Daccord and Grubauer.

The not-so-good: Imagine the offensive boost had Dallas forward Jason Robertson agreed to a deal with the Kraken this season. The Stars had a sign-and-trade deal in place to send Robertson to Seattle for the seventh overall pick. Although Robertson couldn’t veto that trade, he wouldn’t agree to a long-term deal with the Kraken.

Players to watch

If the Kraken fall out of the playoff picture, Dunn’s name could surface in trade talk. Another name that could be in the mix should the Kraken struggle is Grubauer, who’s 34 and entering the final season of a six-year contract. Center Shane Wright, the No. 4 overall pick in 2022, is still with Seattle after trade chatter. He had 12 goals in 74 games last season. The team has an up-and-coming defenseman in Chase Reid, who was taken with the No. 7 pick. The 18-year-old Reid will play at Michigan State this season.