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Welcome to What Went Incorrect the place we’ll take a look at every workforce that did not make the playoffs. We’ll additionally finish every article by highlighting some gamers of explicit curiosity on the squad. These are gamers who both left one thing to be desired throughout the 2021-22 marketing campaign, have important untapped upside, or have some massive underlining questions surrounding them going into the offseason.

We’ve already coated the Montreal Canadiens and Arizona Coyotes. Immediately we’re transferring on to the Seattle Kraken.

In some respects, it feels fallacious to indicate that one thing went fallacious with Seattle. In spite of everything, they had been an enlargement workforce, historically these are dangerous of their first season. And but, it’s onerous to not measure the Kraken in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights, who went to posted a 51-24-7 common season document of their inaugural season after which went all the best way to the Stanley Cup Remaining. Seattle had the very same enlargement draft guidelines as Vegas, however they went 27-49-6 of their first season.

So why is it that Vegas thrived whereas Seattle, given the identical guidelines, floundered? Loads of that comes from the 2 workforce’s totally different handlings of the enlargement draft. Going into the enlargement draft, Vegas was very proactive in buying concessions from groups in alternate for them not taking their gamers. That allowed them to accumulate Reilly Smith, Shea Theodore, Alex Tuch, and a wealth of picks and prospects in alternate for enlargement draft concerns. As well as, Vegas leveraged their abundance of cap area to realize much more draft picks in alternate for taking over dangerous contracts.

Then within the enlargement draft, they obtained a lot of diamonds within the tough, together with Jonathan Marchessault, Brayden McNabb, Erik Haula, Nate Schmidt, and William Karlsson. They complimented them with some stable veterans together with James Neal, David Perron, and most significantly goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. The top result’s that Vegas had each an amazing core and sufficient draft picks to make trades to reinforce it when the chance offered itself.

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In contrast Seattle made precisely zero pre-expansion draft trades. To be honest to Kraken GM Ron Francis, it appears the lesson groups took from the Vegas draft was that it wasn’t value it handy the enlargement workforce property in an effort to shield their gamers. As an alternative, it made extra sense for them to easily permit the chips to fall the place they could. That stated, Francis didn’t even use his cap area to tackle dangerous contracts in alternate for property and there have been loads of groups in a cap crunch so that you’d assume that there would have been alternatives there if the Kraken had been maybe a bit extra proactive or artistic or versatile of their calls for.

On prime of that, Seattle had a extremely conservative draft. The Kraken had the choice to take Carey Worth, Vladimir Tarasenko, Max Domi, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikael Granlund amongst others. Now there are legitimate explanation why Seattle handed on all of these and in some instances they had been confirmed proper. Worth’s knee points have sadly continued, and his future is unclear. Nevertheless, total an unwillingness to take dangers resulted within the Kraken coming into the season with a reasonably bland roster.

They had been nonetheless anticipated do higher than this although, partially as a result of the Kraken prioritized on assembling a giant blueline backed by sturdy goaltending. The Kraken had been hoping that Philip Grubauer, who they signed to a six-year, $35.4 million contract can be their equal of Marc-Andre Fleury and on prime of that, they felt they’d one of many league’s up-and-coming netminders in Chris Driedger.

They weren’t alone in that evaluation both. Lots of people questioned Seattle’s potential to attain, however felt they’d be a irritating workforce to play in opposition to and so they’d be capable of eke out a lot of 2-1 and 3-2 wins. As an alternative not solely was Seattle’s offense predictably dangerous, rating twenty eighth within the league with a mean of two.60 targets per recreation, however their protection was backside tier too, rating twenty fourth with a mean of three.46 targets per recreation. Grubauer went from being a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2020-21 to posting an 18-31-5 document, 3.16 GAA, and .889 save proportion in 55 video games. Driedger was no higher, ending with a 9-14-1 document, 2.96 GAA, and .899 save proportion in 27 video games.

So why was a workforce constructed so closely round sturdy defensive play and goaltending really easy to attain on? It appears in the event you dive a little bit bit deeper the issue was extra their goaltending than protection. When it comes to 5vs anticipated targets allowed, Seattle really had the sixth fewest within the league with 154.53, which put them roughly on par with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Seattle additionally allowed the fourth least pictures in opposition to per 60 within the league at 28.9, which put them between Boston and Calgary. In addition they tied the Tampa Bay Lightning for the seventh least Excessive Hazard Possibilities In opposition to at 689. All issues thought of, it seems to be just like the Kraken’s protection did its half, however when the puck did get to the web, Grubauer and Driedger didn’t do their half.

Seattle already made a long-term dedication to each goaltenders, so that they’ll possible be again subsequent season, however the silver lining is each of them have proven up to now that they’ll play at a excessive degree.

It’s telling that one of many first issues Seattle did after being eradicated was half methods with goaltending coach Andrew Allen. The hope is that they’ll get extra out of their netminders subsequent season and develop into the workforce they envisioned going into the 2021-22 marketing campaign: One which may not thrive offensively however might be irritating to play in opposition to. And on the plus facet, one factor their conservative drafting did was put them in an excellent cap scenario. Seattle has a wealth of area in the event that they wish to pursue some massive names on the UFA market or make a key commerce. For instance, the Minnesota Wild are in a cap crunch and have already steered that they may not be capable of afford RFA Kevin Fiala. Seattle is in an ideal place to benefit from that scenario, in the event that they determine to go in that course.

So whereas the Kraken didn’t have a very good inaugural season, they’ve some good choices going ahead.

Gamers To Watch:

Philipp Grubauer – Grubauer’s efficiency in 2021-22 was fairly perplexing. He posted a 1.95 GAA and .922 save proportion in 40 video games in 2020-21 and whereas regression from these outcomes was anticipated, he nonetheless seemed like a protected guess to be an above common starter. In spite of everything, he’s been fairly constant all through his profession. Not counting the 2021-22 marketing campaign, his save proportion has fluctuated between .915-.925, by no means dipping above or under these ranges in any particular person season. So to complete with a .889 save proportion in 2021-22 represents a whole collapse for him. He struggled just about all season too. There have been particular person video games the place he performed nicely, however precise sustained sizzling streaks had been only a few and much between. Possibly the goalie coach change will assist him. The Kraken must hope it does as a result of he’s signed by way of 2026-27.

Matthew Beniers – One factor the Kraken actually lack is a real first line ahead. Beniers may show to be that for them as early because the 2021-22 marketing campaign. He was the primary participant ever drafted by Seattle – second total within the 2021 draft – and he couldn’t have had a greater 2021-22 marketing campaign. He scored 20 targets and 43 factors in 37 video games with the College of Michigan after which made the soar to the NHL the place he scored three targets and 9 factors in 10 contests. He needs to be a severe contender for the Calder Trophy subsequent season.

Jaden Schwartz – Jaden Schwartz is a stable top-six ahead, however sadly accidents have held him again. The 2021-22 marketing campaign was one other instance of that. He was restricted to 37 video games, however he did nicely when he was in a position to play, scoring eight targets and 23 factors. If he can keep wholesome in 2022-23 then he might contribute 45-55 factors, which might be big for Seattle given their underwhelming offense. Sadly, Schwartz’s harm historical past makes me considerably pessimistic about his possibilities of avoiding the sidelines for the total marketing campaign.

Chris Driedger – I sometimes wouldn’t embody two goaltenders on this listing however was actually the story of the Kraken’s first season. Grubauer struggled mightily and there was a possibility for Driedger, who had emerged as an amazing backup in Florida, to benefit from the scenario. As an alternative, Driedger didn’t do a lot better, posting a 9-14-1 document, 2.96 GAA, and .899 save proportion in 27 contests with Seattle. Driedger doesn’t have the identical monitor document of success that Grubauer’s loved, however Driedger definitely seemed like a succesful goaltender who was trending in the correct course. Subsequent season might be a giant one for him. He’ll be in the course of his three-year, $10.5 million contract. If he doesn’t carry out, he may discover himself despatched to the minors in favor of Joey Daccord and probably even purchased out in the summertime of 2023. I wouldn’t write off Driedger but although. A bounce again season is solely possible.