Kraken Breakdown: The impact of Seattle’s top 4 offseason additions

The Kraken completed off a season-long, six-game homestand Wednesday with a loopy 8-5 win in opposition to the San Jose Sharks. They completed the homestand with a 4-1-1 report which lifted them to second within the Pacific Division as they put together for a Friday night time take a look at in opposition to the first-place Vegas Golden Knights.

What’s permitting Seattle Kraken to have success in OT, shut video games?

Seattle has began robust and the enhancements over final season are apparent. A lot of that enchancment got here from the additions they made this summer season, each via free company and trades.

The brand new additions have all paid off to this point and are contributing to the Kraken’s early success. Right here’s a take a look at the brand new guys and the way they’ve helped.

Martin Jones, goalie

Signed to a one-year, $2 million contract this previous summer season, Jones was to be a stopgap to fill in for Chris Driedger, who injured his knee on the IIHF and is anticipated to be out long-term.

Jones, 32, was previously the starter in San Jose however had fallen out of favor with the Sharks and was relegated to the backup spot in Philadelphia final season. Seems he simply could be the Kraken MVP for the primary quarter of the season.

Compelled into the No. 1 goalie place due to an harm to Philipp Grubauer, Jones has performed higher than anybody anticipated.

To this point with Seattle, he’s appeared in 16 video games, beginning 15 of them, whereas having a 10-4-2 report, 2.49 goals-against common and a .906 save proportion. He was simply named one of many NHL stars of the week, and it’s exhausting to think about the place the Kraken can be with out him.

He seems to be just like the Jones of previous who led the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Closing in 2016. For no matter motive, he has discovered the fountain of youth in Seattle and the Kraken are reaping the rewards.

Jones performs a really regular objective with nice positioning and an economic system of movement. He hardly ever seems to be rattled, even when there’s a scramble in entrance of him. His calmness in web has influenced the skaters, who’re rapidly gaining confidence in him.

With Grubuaer now again and accessible it will likely be fascinating how coach Dave Hakstol handles the goalie rotation. Jones has been the starter within the two video games that Grubauer has been again for. With a three-game street journey in opposition to division opponents beginning, count on Jones to be entrance and middle.

Andre Burakovsky, ahead

After handing over a profession season in 2021-22 for the Colorado Avalanche with 22 targets and 61 factors, Burakovsky was a lovely free-agent goal for the Kraken this summer season.

They landed the 27-year-old from Sweden, who’s the proprietor of two Stanley Cup rings, signing him to a five-year, $5.5 million deal. To this point, it’s been a terrific match.

“I be ok with being right here,” Burakovsky stated final week at observe. “I prefer it so much, the group is nice, we’re profitable video games. I be ok with my sport and like the place we’re dwelling now, it’s good.”

The sensation is mutual and Burakovsky has delivered. By the primary 19 video games, he leads the Kraken in scoring with 18 factors on 5 targets and 13 assists. He’s been one of many massive causes that Seattle has been higher offensively this season.

Objectives and assists have helped, however he’s been a play driver, and with Burakovsky on the ice at 5-on-5 the Kraken have taken 52.48% of the shot makes an attempt. His earlier stops with Colorado and the Washington Capitals have seen him play behind a number of the NHL’s largest superstars. He’s not satisfied you want superstars to win.

“I believe we’ve sort of proved that we don’t have to have that,” Burakovsky stated. “Our power on this group is that we’re a very deep group and we’ve 4 traces that may win any matchup they’re taking part in, and so we’ve simply proved it.”

The Kraken hope they will hold profitable with no famous person.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, ahead

In one of many extra savvy trades that basic supervisor Ron Francis has pulled off to this point in his tenure, he was capable of leverage cap house and commerce belongings to pry Bjorkstrand out of Columbus for only a third- and fourth-round draft decide this July.

Bjorstrand is an offensive risk and might shoot from all over the place on the ice.

He has had dangerous luck, hitting a number of posts, which have restricted him to only a pair of targets to this point. However that sluggish begin in scoring has not stopped Bjorkstrand from being part of the Kraken assault.

Bjorkstrand has assisted on eight targets and been a puck possession monster, and the Kraken have taken 54.88% p.c of the 5-on-5 shot makes an attempt when he’s been on the ice. Protected to say that Seattle is pushing the tempo when Bjorkstrand is out for a shift.

The scoring will come, and his fairly backhanded objective Wednesday might be what breaks the dam and will get him going.

Justin Schultz, protection

Maybe a signing that was considerably missed, the Kraken added the veteran Schultz on a two-year, $2 million contract this summer season with hopes the 32-year-old would bolster the group’s energy play.

The facility play has improved however Schultz’s presence has had an even bigger impression. He’s an offensive-minded defenseman who has scored thrice and is second amongst Kraken defensemen in scoring with 11 factors to this point.

Taking part in near dwelling, Kraken newcomer Justin Schultz developing massive

“It’s been good for guys. All of us get alongside rather well,” Schultz stated. “We’ve chemistry and having enjoyable proper now – every little thing’s enjoyable whenever you’re profitable, proper? So we’ve simply received to attempt to hold this going. Seattle’s been superior so I’m having fun with it.”

When his defensive companion, Jamie Oleksiak, received damage in early November, Schultz was the man who performed with Cale Fleury and AHL call-up Gustav Olofsson, which allowed Hakstol to keep away from scrambling his pairings. There was little to no distinction in how Seattle performed defensively.

Schultz has slot in properly and a few of which may be as a consequence of his familiarity with many Kraken. Having beforehand performed in Edmonton, Pittsburgh and Washington, he had already performed with a number of guys on the Kraken roster.

“Washington and Pittsburgh, once I received traded there, I didn’t know anybody,” Schultz stated. “That’s so much totally different right here, I knew a bunch of men really so made it simpler to come back in. Like my spouse, she knew these guys’ important others and made it simple on all of us.”

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