Seattle, WA

What to know about the trade deadline for the Seattle Kraken

Published

11 months ago

February 18, 2025

What to know about the trade deadline for the Seattle Kraken

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – FEBRUARY 06: Brandon Tanev #13 of the Seattle Kraken pushes the puck as Steven Lorentz #18 of the Toronto Maple Leafs pursues during the third period of a game at Climate Pledge Arena on February 6, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Christopher Mast / NHLI / Getty Images)

With the Seattle Kraken set to return to the ice later this week following the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the NHL trade deadline is now looming just two weeks away with decisions possible for several pieces of the roster.

The Kraken will not make the playoffs this season. They are 11 points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and have played two more games than the Vancouver Canucks, who hold that spot in the standings. Seattle would need to win at least 20 of their final 25 games to have a chance to back-door into the postseason.

The reality is the team will be sellers at the trade deadline and very few pieces of the roster should be considered untouchable. So who could be headed out of Seattle in the next two weeks before the trade deadline on March 7?

BRANDON TANEV

There is very little reason for forward Brandon Tanev to be on the Kraken’s roster after the trade deadline.

An original member of the Kraken from the NHL Expansion Draft, Tanev, 33, is in the final year of his contract and is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. A noted fan favorite, Tanev has nine goals and eight assists in 55 games played with Seattle this season. However, his $3.5 million AAV (average annual value) contract is too pricey for his limited fourth-line role.

Tanev has valuable traits that other teams could find useful for the playoffs ahead. Tanev’s speed is one of his greatest assets, and he’s a proven option on penalty kill units. However, Tanev’s offensive ability is extremely limited, and he’s realistically only a depth option for competitive teams.

The Kraken could retain up to 50 percent of Tanev’s salary for the rest of the season in a trade, which would potentially allow them to secure a better return in a deal. He does have a 10-team no-trade list, per PuckPedia.com.

YANNI GOURDE

Like Tanev, center Yanni Gourde is an original Kraken who is in the final year of his current contract and is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Gourde, 33, has been one of the Kraken’s cornerstone players, and has served as an assistant captain for each of his four seasons in Seattle. He’s embraced being a part of the Kraken’s foundation and has been a productive depth forward for the team.

Gourde accepted having his playing time reduced this season while centering the fourth line behind free agent addition Chandler Stephenson, and former draft picks Matty Beniers and Shane Wright. He had six goals and 10 assists in 35 games this season before he was sidelined in January with a sports hernia that later required surgery.

Gourde’s contract also outpaces his current production as he’s earning $5.17 million in AAV from Seattle this season. That’s a contract that is too rich for a fourth-line center.

However, Gourde won’t play another game before the trade deadline due to his recovery timeline from surgery. That reality could make Gourde harder to move at the deadline. He also has a 23-team no-trade list – per PuckPedia.com – and could veto a trade.

A contract extension for Gourde isn’t outside the realm of possibility either, but it would have to be at a much reduced rate to his existing deal to make sense for Seattle. Eventually, the Kraken’s center depth will include 2024 first-round pick Berkly Catton as well, which will affect future roster planning.

Gourde can play center and on the wing and is an effective penalty kill option as well. His ability to play down the middle still makes him a potentially valuable addition for playoff teams. The two-time Stanley Cup champion also has a strong reputation around the league.

JAMIE OLEKSIAK

A left-handed defenseman and other original Kraken, Jamie Oleksiak has one more year remaining on his existing contract as he’ll be a free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Oleksiak, 32, is a defensively-focused blueliner who has more skill in his game than you’d expect from his 6-foot-7 frame. He’s been a fixture on Seattle’s penalty kill units throughout his tenure in Seattle and has four goals and nine assists in 57 games played this year.

Though Oleksiak doesn’t make use of his size as much as some would like to see, he would still be a solid depth addition to a team in search of defensive help.

Unlike Tanev and Gourde, Oleksiak having another year on his contract means it isn’t urgent for Seattle to consider moving him before the trade deadline. But that extra year on his contract could be seen as a plus for teams looking to make an addition as well.

Oleksiak is currently earning $4.6 million in AAV and is part of a rather pricey defensive core for Seattle. With Ryker Evans set to be a restricted free agent who could see a significant raise this offseason, moving Oleksiak is certainly an option to consider.

Oleksiak has a 16-team no-trade list, per PuckPedia.com.

OLIVER BJORKSTRAND

Winger Oliver Bjorkstrand might be the most valuable piece that could leave the Kraken ahead of the trade deadline.

Bjorkstrand, 29, is fourth on the Kraken in scoring this season with 15 goals and 20 assists in 56 games played. A right-handed shot, Bjorkstrand has been consistently productive since mid-November. After a slow start to the year, Bjorkstrand has 11 goals and 16 assists in his last 37 games played, which trails only Shane Wright for most points on the Kraken over that span.

Like Oleksiak, Bjorkstrand has another year remaining on his existing contract, which is worth $5.4 million a year in AAV. However, he’s also the youngest player on this list so far. He was Seattle’s representative at the 2024 All-Star Game and had his most productive season of his career with 59 points on 20 goals and 39 assists.

There isn’t a pressing need to move Bjorkstrand, but he might be their most valuable asset at the deadline. If the Kraken get an advantageous offer, it’s a decision they would need to consider.

LESS LIKELY OPTIONS

Jared McCann:

McCann, 28, is the Kraken’s leading scorer with 42 points in 57 games. However, he’s also on his lowest goalscoring pace of his four seasons with Seattle, with just 14 goals this season so far.

McCann would likely be the Kraken’s most valuable asset in the trade market. However, his $5 million AAV is terrific value for Seattle as well and would take quite a valuable return to consider moving. He also has a 10-team no-trade list, per PuckPedia.com.

Jaden Schwartz:

Schwartz, 32, is on pace for his most productive season in his four years with the Kraken. Schwartz has 18 goals and 18 assists in 57 games played for Seattle, which ranks third on the team behind McCann and Stephenson (40).

Schwartz has been a part of Seattle most productive line over the last month alongside Beniers and Kaapo Kakko. With that production, Schwartz would have value. But his value to the Kraken alongside Beniers and Kakko might be more valuable to Seattle and his $5.5 million AAV isn’t prohibitive either. He has a 16-team no-trade list, per PuckPedia.com.

Eeli Tolvanen:

Tolvanen, 25, has been on a heater over the last month with eight goals and three assists in 16 games played for Seattle since January 9. His presence in the locker room has also helped Kakko – a fellow Finn – transition to the Kraken after his trade from the New York Rangers in December. His 175 hits also leads the team as he’s been a willing forechecker.

Tolvanen has one year remaining on his contract with Seattle and earns $3.48 million in AAV with the team.

André Burakovsky:

Burakovsky, 30, would almost certainly be traded if he could. However, his contract makes that an unlikely proposition for Seattle.

Burakovsky was Seattle’s leading scorer two seasons ago with 13 goals and 26 assists in 49 games played before an injury ultimately forced him to miss the rest of the season. After surgery, Burakovsky has been unable to recapture his old form. He had just 16 points on seven goals and nine assists in 49 games last season, and has just five goals and 16 assists in 54 games this year.

Burakovsky has two more seasons on his contract with Seattle through the 2026-27 season at $5.5 million in AAV. The Kraken might have to attach a significant prospect to Burakovsky in order to trade his contract to another team. He also carries a 10-team no-trade list, per PuckPedia.com.

The Source: Original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle.

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Shane Wright scores twice, but Seattle Kraken fall 5-4 in shootout to Red Wings

Seattle Kraken bothered by goalie interference rulings in 3-2 loss to Flames

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Seahawks land 2 players on list of potential salary cap cuts in 2026

Published

6 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Seattle Seahawks land 2 players on list of potential salary cap cuts in 2026

No matter how the playoffs go for the Seatte Seahawks, general manager John Schneider and his team are looking at a very busy offseason ahead.

In addition to their usual preparations for the 2026 NFL draft, Seattle has a ton of important players who are about to become unrestricted free agents. That list includes special teams superstar Rashid Shaheed, running back Ken Walker and defensive standouts Boye Mafe, Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant.

It’s going to be really difficult to keep that entire group together, even with a lot of cap space projected to be open in 2026. The Seahawks may have to create room with some salary cap casualties after the season is over.

On that note, Over the Cap has listed a pair of Seattle players as potential cap casualties. Let’s review both of them.

OLB Uchenna Nwosu

Dec 18, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum (22) dives for a touchdown against Seattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) in the second half at Lumen Field. | Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

Coming in at No. 46 on OTC’s list is veteran edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu, who has one year remaining on his contract with a cap hit just over $20 million. Nwosu has been valuable when he’s on the field but he’s also missed a ton of time due to injuries and it will be difficult to justify his cap hit with so many other players to pay.

Seattle can save a little over $11.5 million if they cut Nwosu, before June 1 or after. However, they would also take on a dead money hit north of $8.5 million, which takes a lot of the flavor out of those cap savings.

In 45 games with the Seahawks, Nwosu has tallied 19.5 sacks, 52 QB hits, 24 tackles for a loss, five forced fumbles and eight pass breakups.

That’s a lot of good production across the board as an all-around defender, but he’ll turn 30 years old before next season is over and there are a lot of mouths to feed for Mike Macdonald’s defense.

Over the Cap projects there’s a 58.5% chance that the Seahawks will wind up cutting him. Our best guess is that will be the case, especially if they want to pursue someone like Maxx Crosby on the trade market.

K Jason Myers

Jan 3, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks place kicker Jason Myers (5) kicks a field goal against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half at Levi’s Stadium. | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

The only other Seahawks player who made the list (at No. 77) was placekicker Jason Myers, where the team has an interesting choice to make.

Myers has been around since the 2019 season and he’s come through for them more often than not. In 117 games he’s converted 200 of 232 field goal attempts, coming out to 86.2%. On extra point attempts he’s gone 292/307 for 95.1%.

Those are very solid numbers for an NFL kicker, and when you have a solid option at this position you don’t mess with it.

Another factor working in Myers’ favor is that Seattle really can’t save all that much money by cutting him. According to OTC’s numbers the Seahawks would create $5.1 million in cap room by cutting him, with a dead money hit of $1,875,000.

Five million might get Seattle a decent backup for their interior offensive line, or another contributor to Mike Macdonald’s defense. It’s not enough to really move the needle for this roster, though.

OTC gives it a 52.5% chance that Myers will get cut, but we don’t see that happening. If they want to lower his cap hit, the Seahawks can create a little over $3 million for 2026 with an extension. That’s the only move they should be looking to make at this spot.

Kraken Extend Streak In Comeback OT Loss | Seattle Kraken

Published

18 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Kraken Extend Streak In Comeback OT Loss | Seattle Kraken

And while Dunn’s head coach insisted afterwards he doesn’t believe in “measuring stick games” the Kraken measured up fairly well in this one considering they played a pretty poor first period and needed half of the second frame to get any type of offense going against the league’s No. 2 defensive unit.

But they eventually got it going and the salvaged point, as Dunn mentioned, was huge in that it allowed the Kraken to remain in third place in the Pacific Division – just two points behind leaders Vegas and Edmonton – as they now embark on a five-city road trip. They extended their points streak to 10 games in the process, going 8-0-2 that stretch to transform a season hinging on the brink.

Mats Zuccarello got the overtime winner for Minnesota, converting a Kirill Kaprizov pass off a 2-on-1 break after the Kraken had been foiled just moments prior on their own odd-man rush. That foiled an outstanding night for Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer, who’d made several huge stops in both overtime and the third period to keep things tied, as well as prior to that frame to give his team the shot at a comeback.

The Kraken had spent the past week filling opposition nets with pucks but waited until the final 17 minutes to score their first goal of this game. By that point, they’d been trailing 2-0 since a pair of 42-foot wrist shot goals by Ryan Hartman and Brock Faber in the first period silenced the home crowd.

“The first period was awful, and our execution was probably the biggest part of that,” Dunn said. “It’s just tough when you’re chasing the game a little bit to start the game. So, we kind of set ourselves up for the second period to come out and play the right way and I thought as the game went on, we got a lot better.

“And I thought it was a pretty competitive game both ways. A lot of chances both ways.”

Grubauer kept things close from there, stopping 31 of 34 shots on the night to give his team a chance to get back in it.

Adam Larsson then got the Kraken on the board three minutes into the final period with a slap shot goal from the right circle after Dunn had rung one off the post on a prior blast seconds earlier. And the Kraken weren’t done yet.

The Wild ran into penalty trouble not long after and the Kraken capitalized on the power play with Matty Beniers banging home a net front rebound off a Jared McCann shot that lifted the home side into a 2-2 tie and sent the Climate Pledge Arena crowd into a frenzy.

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Seattle, WA

Valter Walker vs. Marcin Tybura booked for UFC Seattle

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Valter Walker vs. Marcin Tybura booked for UFC Seattle

Heavyweights will collide in “Rain City.”

MMAmania.com confirmed with multiple sources today (Thurs., Jan. 8, 2026) that No. 10-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Marcin Tybura will take on surging Brazilian prospect Valter Walker at UFC Seattle on Sat., March 28, 2026, inside Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.

Walker (15-1) stumbled out of the gate in his UFC debut, suffering a loss to Lukasz Brzeski in 2024. Since then, however, “Clean Monster” has completely rewritten the narrative — and the UFC record books.

Walker opened 2025 by submitting Don’Tale Mayes with a heel hook (watch highlights), his second straight victory via the technique. Five months later, he followed it up with another first-round heel hook against Kennedy Nzechukwu (watch highlights), setting a new UFC record for most consecutive heel hook submission wins with three.

But he wasn’t finished.

At UFC 321 in Oct. 2025, Walker once again locked in a first-round heel hook — this time against Louie Sutherland — tying Rousimar Palhares for the most heel hook submissions (four) in UFC history while extending his own record for consecutive heel hook finishes (watch it).

A win in Seattle would almost certainly vault Walker into the Top 10 of the Heavyweight rankings.

Tybura (27-10), meanwhile, will be defending his No. 10 spot when he steps into the cage. The Polish veteran went 1-1 in 2025, handing highly touted U.K. prospect Mick Parkin his first professional loss at UFC London before suffering a quick knockout loss to debuting Ante Delija at UFC Paris (watch highlights), snapping a two-fight win streak.

Now 40 years old, Tybura is 5-3 over his last eight appearances.

Here are some other bouts currently scheduled for UFC Seattle:

Casey O’Neill vs. Gabriella Fernandes

Alexa Grasso vs. Maycee Barber

Nicolle Caliari vs. Carol Fiori

To checkout UFC’s upcoming schedule of events click here.

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