The Seattle Kraken proceed to be one of many largest spenders of the 2024 offseason even in its late phases. They gave 31-year-old defenseman Adam Larsson a four-year extension with a $5.25 million common annual worth (AAV), taking him by way of the 2028-29 season.
Listening to Adam Larsson extension with Seattle shall be 4x$5.25M when accomplished.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 10, 2024
Larsson isn’t a game-changer, however he can eat up minutes and supply a stable on-ice product. Within the historical past of the Kraken, spanning again to 2021-22, no defenseman has extra ice time performed at even power or on the penalty kill. He has recorded over 140 hits and blocks in each season as a member of the crew, placing up 76 factors and a plus-10 ranking, too.
Although not analytically excellent, there can be a noticeable loss with out Larsson within the lineup. He has confirmed to be an incredible defensive accomplice for Vince Dunn, who holds a 51.7 anticipated objectives share (xGF%) subsequent to the 31-year-old Swedish defender together with a plus-34 ranking at even power since 2021-22. In Dunn’s non-Larsson minutes, he holds a 46.7 xGF% and a minus-4 ranking as a member of the Kraken.
Whereas Seattle missed the playoffs final season, they had been one win away from the 2023 Western Convention Ultimate. They’ve all the time been probably the greatest defensive groups within the league, boasting the NHL’s fifth-best anticipated objectives in opposition to whole since 2021-22—retaining that id intact looks like a should, particularly for a crew that would fairly return to the postseason in 2024-25.
Might Seattle’s Spending Damage Them within the Lengthy Time period?
The contractual worth right here is truthful if not a reduction. However Seattle’s spending habits might turn into a difficulty sooner or later in the event that they aren’t cautious. This group has a whole lot of younger expertise however fairly a couple of long-term offers for getting older gamers.
On this offseason alone, the Kraken gave out this Larsson contract, but additionally seven-year offers to 30-year-olds Brandon Montour ($7.14 million AAV) and Chandler Stephenson ($6.25 million AAV). Seattle isn’t fallacious to splurge following a disappointing 81-point marketing campaign in 2023-24, however they may very well be left with waning cap house when their finest younger gamers demand huge cash.
When it comes to youth, it looks like the Kraken are in a very great place. At middle, Shane Wright and Matty Beniers may very well be the crew’s long-term duo down the center—they’re solely 20 and 21 years outdated respectively, and have a ton of upside. They aren’t of their prime simply but, however these two encourage hope for the longer term.
And it’s not simply them. Just lately-drafted Berkly Catton has high-end first-line upside, 20-year-old winger Jani Nyman was sensational in Liiga (Finland’s prime league) with 43 factors in 48 contests, and 19-year-old winger Carson Rehkopf was one of many extra outstanding producers within the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with 95 factors in 60 video games. There’s extra, too—the longer term is fairly vivid right here.
However the Kraken are in a quite distinctive scenario in that they’re paying getting older gamers for a very long time but even have this inspiring prospect pool. In the event that they aren’t cautious, this may result in issues—common supervisor Ron Francis should be aware of that transferring ahead.
Seattle finds themselves in a aggressive Western Convention with considerably latest success, a possible playoff roster, and a gaggle of high-upside kids both on the roster presently or within the system. The signing of Larsson locks up a key roster participant so these younger up-and-comers have one thing to work with. Fairly probably, they’ll spend their finest years with good assist as a substitute of a roster with no probability to compete.
Stats courtesy of Pure Stat Trick
