2019 Offseason Report: Seattle Kraken
Coming off a solid expansion year and a vast improvement that saw the team fall just short of the playoffs last year, the Kraken have emphasized that they are still building for the future in Seattle and will not be big players in the off-season. They have targeted some players so help the team going forward, but have no plans to be big players in the off-season.
July 6th, 2019
Kraken announce a rash of minor league signings
6 players have come to terms with the Kraken, most notably D Jimmy Schuldt. Schuldt was the #7 D much of last year but appeared in just 5 games. After rejecting QO, he has signed a 2 year deal worth 750K per year, but most importantly to him it was a one-way deal. He has the inside track on a roster spot this year. 4 20 year olds in 2019 7th Round Pick RW Nicholas Guay (Dummondville, QMJHL), undrafted LD Jonathan Smart (Regina, WHL), undrafted G Luke Richardson (Kitchener, OHL) and undrafted RW Justin Brazeau (North Bay, OHL) have signed ELC's. Also brought in is 25 year old RW Brandon Hawkins from Northeastern where he will be expected to compete for a spot on roster.
July 7th, 2019
Kraken sign RD Cody Franson to 3year, 8.7 million dollar deal
Franson is coming back to back solid years in Chicago and will add some much needed depth to the Kraken backend. Can play both ends of the ice, known for hitting and his shot, the 30 year old looks forward to bigger responsibilities in Seattle.
July 26th, 2019
Kraken trade LD Jykri Jokipakka, MIN 2nd Round 2020, SJS 3rd Round 2020 to Washington for RW Riley Barber, C Brian Pinho, rights to LD Christian Djoos
GM Caulfield looked positively giddy at the press conference announcing this deal. Even with the expanded 82 million dollar cap, Washington had no room at all for the 25 year old puck moving Djoos coming off a solid 31 point season. While he lamented the loss of dependable Jokipakka signed to a steal of a 2year, 1.5 mil per deal and the picks, the reward he says was worth it for Djoos. It was announced Pinho was placed on waivers for purposes of a buyout during the conference (yes I know I am playing a LITTLE bit loose with the rules here as you cannot buyout in July).
July 30th, 2019
Kraken trade RW Riley Barber to San Jose for SJS 4th Round 2020, SJS 4th Round 2022, also sign RFA Djoos
Barber was unlikely to find a role in Seattle so Kraken recover some later picks for the picks given up in the Djoos trade. Djoss also signs on the dotted line with a 5 year 10 million dollar deal. Considered a steal at AAV in return for long term, Djoos will be a key piece moving forward for the Kraken.
August 3rd, 2019
Kraken sign LW Oscar Lindberg to 2 year, 5.65 million dollar deal
Lindberg spent last split between Golden Knights and Lightning where he recorded 6 goals and 18 points in 63 games. The 27 year old brings speed and defensive awareness to a roster lacking in depth players. It does make the forward situation for the Kraken rather even more muddy with 15-16 players with realistic chances to make the roster.
September 13, 2019
Kraken GM Caulfield speaks about training camp battles
Kraken break their 3rd training camp with much to be decided. There is competition at nearly every level and should make for some interesting watching. In net returning Stephan Williams (.921 in 10 games in NHL last year) and KHL star Vasily Demchenko figure to compete for the backup spot behind Jaro Halak. Caulfield has called it "completely open to the best man for the job". On defense the top 6 are likely set but has said that while Schuldt holds inside track for #7 role, Darren Raddysh, Jordan Gross, and Jack Ahcan all have a chance to claim that role. Up front it's hard to see where this roster goes with 6 NHL vets on LW, 3 at C, 3 at RW along with older players brought in like C Okulov, RW Frk, RW Rattie, RW Hawkins and youngsters like LW Tonge, C Dommisso, C Meireles, C Andersson, C Halbegeachs, C Frost all pushing for roster spots. Camp will be wide open.
September 26, 2019
Kraken trade LW Dominik Kubalik, LW Ty Lewis and rights to C Patrick Moynihan to Detroit for DET 2nd Round 2021, DET 3rd Round 2020, DET 3rd Round 2022
At least one roster decision has been made as one of last years standout rookies in Kubalik is traded to Detroit. Despite getting 9g, 25pts in 53 games, the high hockey IQ player with smooth hands is moved out to make some roster room for the high number of newcomers pushing for icetime. 2019 4th Rounder Moynihan and the guy with perhaps the best shot/hands combo in the organization Lewis also head to Detroit who look to quickly rebuild, while a bevy of picks return.
October 4, 2019
Kraken trade RW Ty Rattie to Quebec for G Antti Niemi
After poor camps from BOTH Demchenko and Williams the Kraken have decided to add a netminder. With 1 year remaining at 3.9 million, Niemi held negative value which is why Quebec was willing to trade him for recently waived RW Ty Rattie who may end up even figuring into their roster. Niemi became expendable after off-season waiver pickup of James Remier from Florida.
The 2019-2020 SEATTLE KRAKEN
21. Vladimir Tkachyov (23) - 93. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins"A" (26) - 12. Steve Moses (30)
87. Nikolai Prokhorkin (26) - 55. Konstantin Okulov (24) - 51. Anton Rodin (28)
22. Boone Jenner (26) - 91. Marek Hrivik (28) - 15. Melker Karlsson"A" (29)
24. Oscar Lindberg (27) - 11. Andrew Copp (25) - 97. Martin Frk (25)
39. Tobias Enstrom"C" (34) - 6. Cody Franson (32)
4. Christian Djoos (25) - 73. Adam Boqvist (19)
5. Brendan Dillon (28) - 3. Artyom Zub (24)
41. Jaroslav Halak (34)
40. Antti Niemi (36)
Ex: 2. Darren Raddysh (23), 13. LW Alex Tonge (24), 19. RW Matt Gaudreau (24)
Utah Grizzlies
Dominic Commisso (21) - Greg Meireles (20) - Brandon Hawkins (25)
Marc Michaelis (24) - Isac Andersson (18) - Kevin Hancock (21)
Robert Carpenter (23) - Jayden Halbgewachs (22) - Nicolas Guay (20)
MacAuley Carson (20) - Morgan Frost (20) - Ryan Moore (22)
Jimmy Schuldt (24) - Jordan Gross (24)
Jack Ahcan (22) - Kale Clague (21)
Jonathan Smart (20) - Matt Timms (21)
Stephan Williams (26)
Vasily Demchenko (25)
ECHL
G Stephen Dhillon (21)
G Luke Richardson (20)
RD Brady Lyle (20)
LW Joel Teasdale (20)
RW Justin Brazeau (21)
Around the NHL
July 5th, 2019
LD Ryan Ellis to Red Wings, 7y, 8.8per
C Matt Duchene to Wild, 7y, 9.1per
To Kansas City: C Jordan Staal, To Hurricanes: Rights to LD Artyom Minulin, KC 4th 2020, KC 5th 2020
To Stars: LD Marc Staal, To Rangers: Rights to LD Dalimil Mikyska, DAL 4th 2020, DAL 4th 2021
July 7th, 2019
G Sergei Bobrovsky to Blue Jackets 6y, 9.7per
LD Niklas Hjalmarsson to Canucks 2y, 7.8per
RD Cody Franson to Kraken 3y, 2.9per
July 8th, 2019
C Vadim Shipachyov to Vegas 2y, 6.1per
RD Anton Stralman to Maple Leafs 2y, 5.5per
C Mikko Koivu to Avalanche 2y, 3.7per
LW Colin Wilson to Quebec 3y, 3.8per
C Adam Lowry to Milwaukee 4y, 1.9per
July 10th, 2019
C Sam Bennett to Sabres 6y, 4.3per
To Hurricanes: RW Cal Clutterbuck, To Vegas: Rights to RW Pontus Aberg, VGK4th 2020, VGK 4th 2021
To Canucks: LD Kris Russell, To Oilers: Rights to C Cole Cassels, VAN 2nd 2020, VAN 3rd 2020
To Flyers: LD Brendan Smith, To Rangers: Rights to C Jacob Pivonka, PHI 4th 2020, PHI 5th 2020
To Quebec: LW Jakub Vrana, To Capitals: Rights to C Patrick Puistola, QUE 4th 2020, QUE 5th 2020
To Wild: LD Marco Scandella, To Sabres: C Eric Staal, MIN 3rd 2020, NSH 3rd 2020
July 11th, 2019
LD Jake Gardiner to Saskatchewan 7y, 7.9per
C Logan Couture to Milwaukee 6y, 6.7per
LW Tyler Ennis to Milwaukee 6y, 3.6per
C Joe Pavelski to Saskatchewan 1y, 6.4 (Kraken rumoured to have offered better deal)
July 15th, 2019
LD Derek Forbort to Kansas City, 5y, 2per
LD Paul Ladue to Golden Knights 5y, 2per
G Semyon Varlamov to Milwaukee 6y, 8.3per
RW Wayne Simmonds to Milwaukee 2y, 10.2per
C Valtteri Filppula to Kansas City 1y, 3.5
To Saskatchewan: C Ryan Kesler, To Chicago: Rights to RD Kim Nousiainen, SSK 4th 2020, SSK 5th 2020
To Vegas: LW Mathieu Perreault, To Jets: Rights to LW William Carrier, VGK 4th 2021, VGK 5th 2021
July 20th, 2019
LD Nathan Beaulieu to Kansas City 7y, 3.5per
RW Marko Dano to Vegas 5y, 2.7per
LD Alexander Edler to Sabres 2y, 8.8per
July 26th, 2019
RD Erik Gudbranson to Quebec 5y, 3.6per
RD Trevor Van Riemsdyk to Panthers 5y, 2.4per
LW Morgan Klimchuk to Saskatchewan 5y, 1.8per
G Marc-Andre Fleury to Panthers 2y, 5.3per
RW Richard Panik to Panthers 4y, 4.4per
LW William Carrier to Jets 1y, 1.5
RW Jamie McGinn to Blue Jackets 2y, 3per
To Capitals: LD Jryki Jokipakka, MIN 2nd 2020, SJS 3rd 2020, To Kraken: RW Riley Barber, C Brian Pinho, Rights to LD Christian Djoos
August 10th
LW Rick Nash to Quebec, 1y, 4.8
RW Joel Armia to Flames 4y, 2.7per
LD Jakub Jerabek to Lightning 4y, 1.9per
LW Pierre-Edouard Bellmare to Senators 1y, 1.5
August 15th
RW Jordan Weal to Quebec, 6y, 3.5per
LD Mark Barberio to Quebec 2y, 1.5per
RW Joonas Donskoi to Kansas City 4y, 3per
To Bruins: LD Ryan Murray, BUF 3rd 2020, To Canucks: Rights to C Alexis Losier, Rights to C Caiden Daley
To Kansas City: RD Zach Bogosian, Min 3rd 2020, To Buffalo: LD Christian Folin
August 25th
G Calvin Pickard to Lightning 6y, 3.4per
RW Brett Connolly to Rangers 1y, 1.4per
September 7th
LD Marc Methot to Flyers 2y, 2.4per
LW Marcus Sorensen to Lightning 2y, 1.5per
LW Carl Hagelin to Rangers 1y, 1.4
G Ondrej Pavelec to Predators 1y, 1.5
G Jimmy Howard to Golden Knights 1y, 5.5
LW Marcus Foligno to Avalanche 3y, 2per
C Jori Lehtera to Sharks 1y, 1.7
September 26th
To Detroit: LW Dominik Kubalik, LW Ty Lewis, Rights to C Patrick Moynihan, To Kraken: DET 2nd 2021, DET 3rd 2020, DET 3rd 2022
Former Kraken Report:
LD Stuart Percy (Claimed by QUE, Sept/17): After his -87 17-18 he was down in AHL last year where he clearly belongs. Still in Quebec system, he is back in AHL this year after 31pts in St. John's (AHL) last year.
C John Mitchell (Traded to NSH, Jan/18): Scored 51 points as Captain of Dallas' AHL affliate last year, will continue in that role as AHL veteran.
RD Dennis Wideman (Traded to PIT, Jan/18): Played 43 games for Detroit last year, before being bounced to Seattle then same day out to Washington. Had only 9pts in 43games with Detroit, but had 6pts in 14 games down stretch in Washington. Waived out of camp by Toronto this year.
LW Chris Vande Velde (Traded to SJS, Feb/18): Spent all last year with Quebec getting 8g, 15pts in 74 games and has now found himself a role as a depth guy in Arizona. Surprisingly he continues to be a good depth forward.
LD Marc-Andre Gragnani (Traded to TBL, Feb/18): Spent last season in Detroit's farm system scoring 42pts in 82 games in AHL, but has been the big shocker this year making the Sharks roster out of camp.
C Colin Smith (Traded to WSH, Feb/18): Made team out camp last year, but waiver pickups forced him down to AHL, much like Kosmachuk. Unlike Kosmachuk he has made roster for 2nd straight year, might actually be NHLer.
G Daniel Altshuller (Traded to Kansas City Feb/18): Not included last year as future didn't look great, Altshuller has won the backup spot to Cam Ward in Kansas City. This is despite the 10-45-5 record in AHL last year with a .889 save percentage. Will watch this to see where it goes.
LW Michael Bournival (Released as UFA July/18): Spent last year on Saskatchewan scoring 12goals, and 23 points, easily surpassing career highs. Despite thing Bournival has found himself waived this year to AHL.
G Leland Irving (Released as UFA July/18): Went 7-9-1 with .893 save percentage as Pittsburgh backup last year. Will return to role this year.
LW Brady Ferguson (Traded to EDM, Aug/18): Did end up failing to make Oilers roster last year, instead posting 30goals and 71points in AHL. Has moved as RFA to Kunlun in KHL.
RW Tyler Kellher (Traded to EDM, Aug/18): Struggled as depth winger for Edmonton getting just 9pts in 39 games. Left as RFA to Germany this year.
RW Austin Ortega (Traded to MIN, Sept/18): Could not replicate his rookie season of 18/18/36 in Minnesota getting just 5 goals, 17points in 54 games last year. Minnesota still hopes he will find a role as he will be back.
C Tyler Sheehy (Traded to WPG, Sept/18): Scored 59pts in AHL last year and is right on edge of moving up full-time to NHL.
LD Daniel Brickley (Trade to WPG, Nov/18): Would go on score 8 points in 43 games with Winnipeg, but went +5 compared to his -9 in 16 games in Seattle. Settled in nicely to bottom pairing and will likely continue there in Winnipeg.
G Jimmy Howard (Trade to NSH, Jan/19): Went 4-2-2 in 11 games with .909 save percentage to end the year, but struggled in one post-season appearance as Nashville went down in 2nd round. Moved on to Vegas as starter but only on a one-year deal.
RW Blake Comeau (Trade to NYI, Jan/19): Had real solid end to year with 16pts in 32games but has thus far been unable to find a new team.
C Ryan Carpenter (Trade to NYR. Feb/19): Scored 6pts in 24 games down stretch and turned his solid depth into a 2 year deal in Minnesota as a depth forward.
LW Daniel Carr (Trade to NYR, Feb/19): Scored another 4g, 7pts to finish with 12g, 26pts in 76 games last year. However his demands for long term deal have left him still unsigned to start new year.
LD Joe Morrow (Trade to LAK, Jun/19): Unbelievably his poor camp had him waived. He went unclaimed despite SEA desperately wanting him back they resisted to give a chance to younger guys.
C Carl Soderberg (Claimed by MIL, Jun/19): Milwaukee is still not sure where he fits, but he did make the roster.
Discontinued reports (retired, gone to Europe/AHL/unsigned multiple years): G Reto Berra, RW Darren Archibald, LD Jakub Kindl, RW Teddy Purcell, C TJ Hensick, LW Drew Miller, C Chris Porter, LW Andrew Desjardins, LD Victor Bartley, C Ryan Haggerty, RW Scott Kosmachuk, C Andrei Loktionov, RW Cole Bardreau, LD Ryan Culkin.
!
. Just makes it harder for me when to decide to sit my starting goalie 
