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Salary Cap Deep Dive: Seattle Kraken

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Navigating the salary cap is one of the more important tasks for any GM.  Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful.  Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation heading into the 2022-23 season.  This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL.  All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.

Seattle Kraken

Current Cap Hit: $81,489,166 (under the $82.5MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

F Matthew Beniers (two years, $897.5K)
F Shane Wright (three years, $950K)

Potential Bonuses
Beniers: $925K
Wright: $3.0625MM
Total: $3.9875MM

Beniers was the second-overall selection last year and had a dominant year at Michigan before making the jump to the pros where he averaged just shy of a point per game down the stretch.  He should become their top center within the next couple of seasons and with it, a long-term deal in the $8MM range could be on the table based on recent comparable signings.  With his expected role, he should reach his bonuses this season which will need to be factored into their cap plans.  Wright slipped to fourth overall last month after being the consensus number one for a lot of the last two seasons but has been billed as being NHL-ready.  They’ll be able to ease him in which could result in some lower production at the beginning although it shouldn’t affect his second contract that much unless he’s in a limited role longer than expected.

Signed Through 2022-23, Non-Entry-Level

D William Borgen ($900K, RFA)
F Ryan Donato ($1.2MM, UFA)
F Joonas Donskoi ($3.9MM, UFA)
D Vince Dunn ($4MM, RFA)
F Morgan Geekie ($1.4MM, RFA)
F John Hayden ($750K, UFA)
F Karson Kuhlman ($825K, UFA)
G Martin Jones ($2MM, UFA)
F Kole Lind ($825K, RFA)
D Carson Soucy ($2.75MM, UFA)

Donskoi was one of Seattle’s higher-profile pickups in expansion but struggled considerably last season, scoring just twice in 75 games.  While it’s likely that he’ll rebound to an extent, he’ll be hard-pressed to get more than about two-thirds of his current cost unless he has a career year.  Geekie’s first full NHL season was a decent one as he acquitted himself in somewhat of a limited role while being their best player at the faceoff dot.  Even in a bottom-six role, there’s some room for him to pass the $2MM mark next summer.  Donato returned after being non-tendered to avoid salary arbitration and while he is coming off a career year, the fact he wasn’t able to do better than this on the open market doesn’t bode well for his odds next summer.  Lind, Kuhlman, and Hayden will be battling for the final forward spot or two on the roster but are unlikely to command much more than their current rates unless one of them can step into a legitimate full-time role.

GM Ron Francis felt that Dunn would be able to stand out more with a bigger role and he did just that, tying his career-high in points while setting a new benchmark in assists.  Another showing like that could push him past the $5MM mark next summer in his final season of RFA eligibility.  Soucy wasn’t able to land in Seattle’s top four very often last year but that didn’t stop him from showing off an improved offensive element to his game as he scored ten goals which is two more than the previous two years combined.  With the size he also brings, a repeat performance could allow him to generate a strong market that could push his AAV into the $3MM range despite being a third-pairing piece which is an area teams often try to save money in.  For Soucy, they might make an exception.  Borgen was a frequent healthy scratch last season which certainly wasn’t the Kraken debut he was hoping for.  A similar role could have him in non-tender territory next summer while if he does lock down a spot on the third pairing, a one-year deal at a small raise might be the route Seattle opts to take.

Jones is coming off another quiet year with the Flyers and has failed to post a save percentage above .900 over the last four seasons.  Despite that, Seattle opted for him as their backup goaltender for the upcoming campaign but at some point, it stands to reason that another below-average performance will push him down closer to the $1MM mark next summer.

Signed Through 2023-24

G Chris Driedger ($3.5MM, UFA)
F Jordan Eberle ($5.5MM, UFA)
D Justin Schultz ($3MM, UFA)
F Alexander Wennberg ($4.5MM, UFA)

Eberle’s first season with Seattle saw him play a similar role to the one that he had with the Islanders so it’s not surprising that his production was largely in line with his performance with New York.  It’s an output that isn’t quite worth $5.5MM but if he can stay around the 20-goal mark for the next couple of seasons, he should be able to land somewhat close to this on his next deal.  Wennberg wasn’t quite able to replicate the production he had with the Panthers but his output at the center position is worth close to his current rate compared to the open market.  However, with Beniers and Wright around, can he get those numbers again?  That will dictate a lot when it comes to his next contract as to whether a small raise could be had or a sizable drop.

Schultz comes over from Washington where he’s coming off a quiet year offensively by his standards which made this commitment a bit surprising.  He should have an opportunity to play a bigger role offensively which could help but even so, he’ll be 34 when his next contract starts so it’d be hard to foresee a big raise on the horizon.

Driedger had a tough first season with the Kraken although he still managed a save percentage of .899, the best on the team.  His second year will be even tougher as an ACL tear suffered at the Worlds will cost him the majority of next season.  Suffice it to say, there will be a lot at stake in 2023-24 when it comes to determining his next contract.

Signed Through 2024-25

F Yanni Gourde ($5.167MM, UFA)
D Adam Larsson ($4MM, UFA)
F Brandon Tanev ($3.5MM, UFA)

After a couple of quieter seasons with Tampa Bay, Gourde had a golden opportunity with Seattle last season as he was their all-situations top center.  While his best success came in a lower role with the Lightning, Gourde adapted quite well to being a go-to player and finished second on the team in scoring.  Again, Beniers and eventually Wright will cut into his playing time but for now, this contract is one of Seattle’s better ones.  Tanev was limited to just 32 games last season due to a knee injury but was quite effective over the first couple of months of the season.  His contract has long been viewed as above-market after Pittsburgh signed him for six years at his current price but if he stays near that half a point per game mark while playing his usual strong defensive and physical game, the Kraken will do well with this contract.

Larsson was one of two veteran defensemen to eschew a chance at testing the open market last summer to instead sign a long-term deal with Seattle.  In his case, he received a much bigger role than he was accustomed to with Edmonton which helped him set a new career-best in points.  In the process, he established himself as still being capable of being a second or third defender.  That’s not the most optimal role for him and he wouldn’t be in that role on a top team but any time a team can get a second or third blueliner for this much money, it’s one that they’re going to be quite happy with.  That said, even if he stays in that role for three more years, it’s unlikely the open market will view him at that level.

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Matt Tennyson Signs AHL Contract

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Veteran defenseman Matt Tennyson has settled for an AHL contract this year, though he’ll at least get to play somewhere warm. Tennyson has signed a one-year deal with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the new Seattle Kraken affiliate that will begin play this season.

In fact, it is something of a homecoming for Tennyson, who grew up and played minor hockey in California long before his professional career started. In the release, he explained how he feels about returning to the state:

It’s awesome to be back in the Coachella Valley. My grandparents lived in Palm Springs and my parents live in Rancho Mirage, so the opportunity to be closer to family made the decision to sign here extremely easy for me. I grew up playing hockey in California and the youth hockey scene here has come quite a long way since then. I am looking forward to being able to give back to and play in front of this great fan base and community.

What a career it has been for the undrafted defenseman who turned 32 earlier this year. After developing for three years at Western Michigan, Tennyson has played in 173 NHL and 358 AHL games, constantly bouncing back and forth between the two leagues as a capable depth option.

This year that won’t be the case (unless he signs an NHL deal at some point), as he has agreed to a minor league contract that will keep him with the Firebirds. He will likely take on a leadership role on the new team, helping Kraken prospects navigate their way into pro hockey and establishing a culture for the organization.

Francis: Kraken May Not Have Captain This Season, Likely To Decide After Camp

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  • Last season, the Kraken had Mark Giordano as their inaugural captain but that post has been vacant since the veteran was moved to Toronto at the trade deadline. GM Ron Francis told Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times that he’ll sit down with head coach Dave Hakstol to decide if they even want to name a captain this season and that if they do, they’ll likely wait to see how training camp goes before making a decision.  Veterans Yanni Gourde, Jordan Eberle, and Adam Larsson would be candidates for the captaincy if they do decide to name one for 2022-23.

Seattle Kraken Hire Doug Wilson Jr, Frans Nielsen

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  • The Seattle Kraken announced some notable additions to their hockey operations staff today, hiring former San Jose Sharks head of amateur scouting Doug Wilson Jr. as an amateur scout, and former NHLer Frans Nielsen as a player development consultant. The Kraken are loaded with picks for the 2023 draft class, so adding an experienced scout like Wilson will only help in their efforts to build a contender. Additionally, Nielsen brings nearly 1,000 NHL games of experience to the Kraken’s development team and should especially help with their crop of young centers headlined by Shane Wright and Matthew Beniers.

Seattle Kraken Hire Dave Lowry

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The Seattle Kraken are bringing in another veteran name behind the bench, adding Dave Lowry as an assistant coach. Lowry leaves the Winnipeg Jets where he served as interim head coach last season, following Paul Maurice’s midseason exit. Kraken general manager Ron Francis released the following statement:

Dave brings experience to our coaching staff. He had a long and successful NHL playing career and has significant coaching experience at the NHL and junior ranks. Dave will be a valuable addition to Dave Hakstol’s staff.

Lowry, 57, appeared in more than 1,000 games in the NHL over a long playing career, which included stops with the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks, and Calgary Flames, even serving as captain of the latter for a short time. As a coach, he has several stops around the league and was twice named the WHL Coach of the Year while with the Victoria Royals.

With so much experience coaching young players, he’ll be a valuable resource for the Kraken as they try to build through the draft. The team also has several new additions like Andre Burakovsky, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Justin Schultz who will try to turn their fortunes around quickly and contend for the playoffs in year two of the franchise’s history.

Lowry joins Hakstol’s staff which also includes Jay Leach and Paul McFarland as assistants.

Seattle Kraken Name Jeff Tambellini Director Of Player Development

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The Seattle Kraken announced this evening that they have hired former NHL veteran Jeff Tambellini to be their Director of Player Development. With the expansion of their young prospect pool as a new franchise, the organization made the decision to bring on Tambellini in order to facilitate player growth and development and to “optimize” their resources. The team has also hired Matt Larke as a Skills Development Consultant and added that former Seattle goaltending coach Andrew Allen will remain with the team as a scout evaluating goalies.

The newest member of Seattle’s front office had this to say on his hiring:

“It’s a big, big step going from junior hockey to college hockey into the American [Hockey] League and then to the National Hockey League. It’s my job along with our whole staff to help these players navigate that transition, make them better players. To make them stronger off the ice, set up their training schedules and teach the details of what goes into being a pro.”

Tambellini has plenty of experience in his own right that should help him to help Seattle’s young players. The 38-year-old was a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2004, attending the University of Michigan. He played parts of six NHL seasons, totaling 63 points in 242 games, a majority of those as a member of the New York Islanders. Tambellini’s last NHL action came as a member of the Vancouver Canucks in 2010-11, where he appeared in four games in that year’s Stanley Cup Finals. Following his retirement from playing in 2017, Tambellini spent a season as an assistant coach at Michigan before becoming General Manager and Head Coach of the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.

As for Larke, who will support Tambellini in his new role, he said the opportunity to work for an NHL franchise is “a dream come true.” Larke previously worked in a similar role for Team USA’s National Team Development Program. Allen also expressed excitement for his new role, one he had had prior to the team’s expansion draft last July.

Seattle Kraken Announce ECHL Affiliate

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The first ECHL affiliate in Seattle Kraken history will be the Kansas City Mavericks, who will partner with the expansion team and their new AHL affiliate Coachella Valley this season. The Mavericks had been affiliated with the Calgary Flames for the past several years.

It is a multi-year agreement between Kansas City and Seattle, though the exact details were not revealed. The Kraken had gone without full-time minor league affiliates in their first season as they built up their prospect system but will now need three tiers to develop and train players properly. More and more, the ECHL is being used as a proving ground for raw skaters or young goaltenders, giving them a chance to receive game action and improve through competition.

The Mavericks meanwhile had struggled of late, putting up losing seasons in each of the past three years. In fact, throughout the five-year affiliation with the Calgary Flames, they reached the playoffs just once and lost in the first round. The best season on record for the club is 2015-16 when they won 52 of 72 games.

At that time, they had a young star by the name of Carter Verhaeghe, who was trying to sort out his career after being sent to the low minors. He was joined the following season by a young netminder named Ville Husso, in his first year of North American hockey. These are the kinds of players that can benefit from time in the ECHL, meaning an affiliation like this is not something to be overlooked, even if it isn’t the landing spot for high-profile names.

Seattle Kraken Re-Sign Ryan Donato

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After not being given a qualifying offer this summer, making him an unrestricted free agent, Ryan Donato is heading back to Seattle anyway. The Kraken have signed Donato to a one-year, $1.2MM contract. General manager Ron Francis released a statement:

Ryan elevated his game last season and we’re happy to have him return to the Kraken. He completed a career year and will hopefully eclipse that in 2022-23.

While Donato’s qualifying offer would have been less than this, it would have opened up the possibility of arbitration which would have almost certainly resulted in a higher cap hit than $1.2MM. The 26-year-old forward reached new career-highs with 16 goals and 31 points in 74 games this season, after signing a one-year, $750K deal with the team in 2021.

It’s been a rollercoaster career for Donato since turning pro in 2018. He registered three points in his first game for the Boston Bruins and looked like he might be a key member of the team in the years to come. Before the end of his first full NHL season, he would be traded to the Minnesota Wild as part of the package for Charlie Coyle, and less than two years later would be sent to the San Jose Sharks for a third-round pick.

At the end of the 2020-21 season, he was left unqualified by the Sharks after scoring just six goals, leaving him without a clear path forward. With the Kraken, he has put his career back on track and now looks to take advantage of his second contract with the expansion franchise.

The Kraken, despite only entering the league a year ago, now have more than $80MM committed for 2022-23, leaving them with just over $2.2MM in cap space. Donato will try to continue carving out ice time in a forward group that has added Andre Burakovsky, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and potentially Shane Wright this summer, depending on what the team does with the latter.

Seattle Kraken Sign Michal Kempny

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July 25: Seattle has officially announced the contract, adding Kempny to the organization.

July 24: The Seattle Kraken have added another player, signing defenseman Michal Kempny to a one-year, one-way $750K deal, according to CapFriendly.

Kempny, 31, won the Stanley Cup in 2018 with the Washington Capitals, playing a decently-sized role on their veteran defense. Since that point, Kempny has struggled in larger roles and fallen down the depth chart in Washington, to the point where he split time between the Capitals and their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, in 2021-22.

The 31-year-old native of Czechia is an undrafted player who once looked like a potential middle-of-the-lineup NHL defenseman. Nowadays, though, he’s more of a depth player, and he’ll likely battle with Cale Fleury and Gustav Olofsson for the seventh defenseman slot in Kraken training camp. In Washington this year, Kempny skated in 15 games and notched two points, playing just under 16 minutes of ice time per game and just over a minute on the penalty kill. In the AHL, Kempny was able to handle a larger role and acted as the Bears’ number-one defenseman in the games he played. In Hershey, Kempny led the Bears in time-on-ice per game and saw significant minutes on their penalty kill.

In Seattle, Kempny will either win a training-camp battle and make the opening night roster, or the Kraken will hope he clears waivers and is able to be sent to their AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. If the latter scenario comes about, Kempny will likely play as a top-pairing defenseman in the AHL and be one of the team’s first call-ups if injuries hit their blueline. At a $750k cap hit, Kempny is a wise signing for a Kraken team looking to improve upon a dismal first season.

Seattle Kraken To Re-Sign Morgan Geekie

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According to PuckPedia, the Seattle Kraken and RFA forward Morgan Geekie have reached an agreement on a one-year, $1.4MM contract, thus avoiding arbitration (link). Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman also believes the deal to be in place (link). Geekie had been one of the 24 players who had elected salary arbitration ahead of last Sunday’s deadline to do so (link), and was scheduled for an August 11th hearing on the matter (link). After the acquisition of forward Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Geekie contract, Seattle is left with just over $2.2MM in available salary cap space.

A third-round draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2017, Geekie was an offensive force in the WHL, tallying as much as 90 and 84 points as a member of the Tri-City Americans. After turning pro for the 2019-20 season, Geekie again impressed with his offensive output, recording 46 points in 73 games in his pro debut as a member of the Charlotte Checkers. Geekie also made his NHL debut with the Hurricanes, scoring three goals with an assist in just two games in the regular season and was even trusted to play eight playoff games as well. The forward failed to take a meaningful step forward in 2020-21, however, with just nine points in 36 NHL games.

Despite not being able to continue the breakout, geekie was still rather valuable, at least enough for the Kraken to select him from the Hurricanes in their expansion draft. The brand new Kraken gave Geekie the full NHL experience in 2021-22, having him play 73 games. Still not exactly his AHL or WHL production, Geekie did take a small step forward with 22 points this season. Now giving him a raise from his previous $750K cap hit, Seattle will hope Geekie can tap into some of his prior success as the organization looks to keep climbing the standings.

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