2024-25 Kraken Roster discussion

[Fuhrious]

I mean...ok?

At some point Francis needs to stop with the durdling around on bottom 6 forwards and make an actual impact trade. Tolvanen 2.0 isn't really going to move the damn needle plus it further blocks Winterton and Morrison.

I dunno, man...if I had to pick between Bjorkstrand or Bylsma, I'd pick Bjorkstrand. I'm just not impressed with whatever it is Bylsma is supposedly doing so far.

 

[The Marquis]

Sprong had an impact. Where the hell are Geeekie and Donato now?

 

[majormajor]

Spronger is such a niche player, it's hard to tell if there is still a niche for him here to pop off like he had with us two years ago. But absolutely I think he is the right guy to give a shot to when you can't seem to buy a goal. In his last tour here the Kraken outscored opponents 40-21 with him on the ice. Of course you try that again.

We need something I guess but part of me would rather try a youngster and give them experience.

Who did you have in mind? I think there will be plenty of time for younger guys to step up later in the year, as we will sell a bit and maybe have injuries. But for now they still have to sell to the fans and to the players too that they're still trying to win games.

Does this mean the end of Bjorkstrand?

Bjorkstrand has tended to be a hard minutes player and Spronger an easier minutes player that the coach shelters. I don't see why they're related to each other.

I also still can't imagine that they would want to move Bjorkstrand, I'm not sure what's going on there.

 

[kihei]

Going off Marquis' last post in the Colorado GDT, you kinda summed up something I've been feeling already...apathy. I've already started to feel like "The season just started, I shouldn't already be as indifferent to catching tonight's game as I was when they were mathematically eliminated at the end of last season".

Quite frankly...the team just isn't that fun to watch 80 to 90% of the time.

Fell in love with the team when they played the fast, hard working style in seasons 1 and 2, and they just aren't doing that anymore, despite having almost the exact same roster.

The growing pains are no fun, but we are not going to able to avoid them the way Vegas did. I don't think the Kraken are going to be in this funk forever this season. I haven't abandoned hope yet. I'm just trying to take the long view; we really aren't going to know what kind of team will emerge until the kids start coming up. Though the immediate future seems bleak, Blysma's coaching is still a work in progress. Let's see what things look like in a month.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Bjorkstrand has tended to be a hard minutes player and Spronger an easier minutes player that the coach shelters. I don't see why they're related to each other.

I also still can't imagine that they would want to move Bjorkstrand, I'm not sure what's going on there.

I don't think the Sprong trade has anything directly to do with Bjorkstrand. Sprong makes 975K, but unfortunately, we cannot have more than 12F-6D-2G once Dunn returns from injury without going over the cap. The only safe option is sending Wright back since he is waiver-exempt unless we want to expose Kartye to waivers.

It does sound though that Dunn is about 3 weeks away from a return based on what Francis told Lukan. That plus if Gru ends up going on LTIR, it could make things easier.

Either way, we will have to deal with a cap issue IF we ever end up icing a healthy team.

Alison Lukan (@alisonl.bsky.social)

GM Ron Francis just joined us on KHN pregame and told us that the hope is Vince Dunn can begin basic skating around Sunday but he’s likely three weeks away from returning. #SeaKraken

bsky.app

 

[Scomerica]

Who did you have in mind? I think there will be plenty of time for younger guys to step up later in the year, as we will sell a bit and maybe have injuries. But for now they still have to sell to the fans and to the players too that they're still trying to win games.

It's a good question. At this point I'm not against wright playing on the wing on the 4th lone to try get him going/boost his confidence rather than send down. I wouldnt mind though seeing firkus, Morrison and winterton come up for big league experience for short spells. Maybe one clicks like beniers did. Your right though that there's time for that later in the year.

I don't think the Sprong trade has anything directly to do with Bjorkstrand. Sprong makes 975K, but unfortunately, we cannot have more than 12F-6D-2G once Dunn returns from injury without going over the cap. The only safe option is sending Wright back since he is waiver-exempt unless we want to expose Kartye to waivers.

It does sound though that Dunn is about 3 weeks away from a return based on what Francis told Lukan. That plus if Gru ends up going on LTIR, it could make things easier.

Either way, we will have to deal with a cap issue IF we ever end up icing a healthy team.

Alison Lukan (@alisonl.bsky.social)

GM Ron Francis just joined us on KHN pregame and told us that the hope is Vince Dunn can begin basic skating around Sunday but he’s likely three weeks away from returning. #SeaKraken

bsky.app

I wondering if they do expose kartye given the recent benching

 

[Scomerica]

What did happen with gru btw. Heard an accident at home? How serious though. Ltir would be pretty convenient for the kraken for salary cap and given gru's form. (I do hope he is okay though). Can the league hammer teams if they abuse ltir to get around the cap? He is technically injured. He gets paid still and the kraken get some salary cap relief.

 

[Fuhrious]

It's a good question. At this point I'm not against wright playing on the wing on the 4th lone to try get him going/boost his confidence rather than send down. I wouldnt mind though seeing firkus, Morrison and winterton come up for big league experience for short spells. Maybe one clicks like beniers did. Your right though that there's time for that later in the year.


I wondering if they do expose kartye given the recent benching

I dunno, at this point the team's biggest problem is the fat middle of the lineup where you've got 5 of the same exact 30-40 point player most of whom are grossly overpaid for their level of production. Realistically, Francis should be doing something about Schwartz, Burakovsky, expiring Gourde and expiring Tanev.

I think the biggest thing working against Wright are the inevitable underachieving black holes this team has to pair with him as top 6 wingers. Ditto Beniers, really. Maybe even Stephenson.

Outside McCann of course...he's their best player. Fight me.

EDIT: I hope they don't try pairing Sprong with Wright, honestly. The team doesnt have a forward who can cover for those two defensively. Hell, I'm not sure that player exists in the entire league.

 

[RainyCityHockey]

We've traded for Daniel Sprong for future considerations.

How was he when he left Seattle?

We need something I guess but part of me would rather try a youngster and give them experience.

Does this mean the end of Bjorkstrand?

Man, I really liked future considerations.
Dude always goes hard but seems to get moved somewhere at anyways.....

BTW: I do think it means Kartye going back to CV for some time cause he hasn't been all that great and probably would benefit from working on his game in the AHL.

 

[majormajor]

Kartye is fine, he just had a good game, and there's not a lot of offense to uncover there with AHL seasoning.

And I highly doubt we're exposing him to waivers or sending him down. It would be a surprise if we didn't have injuries and were actually that hard pressed to the cap.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Kartye is fine, he just had a good game, and there's not a lot of offense to uncover there with AHL seasoning.

And I highly doubt we're exposing him to waivers or sending him down. It would be a surprise if we didn't have injuries and were actually that hard pressed to the cap.

If I was a betting man I'd wager Bura moving on maybe back to Colorado where he his best (3) seasons as a Pro! And might as well throw in Grubauer cause the Kraken have the heir Apparent...what would the Kraken get back...Kiviranta he killed us last time and would be a good 13th Forward...Georgiev and a draft pick and someone else to make the money work...

 

[majormajor]

If I was a betting man I'd wager Bura moving on maybe back to Colorado where he his best (3) seasons as a Pro! And might as well throw in Grubauer cause the Kraken have the heir Apparent...what would the Kraken get back...Kiviranta he killed us last time and would be a good 13th Forward...Georgiev and a draft pick and someone else to make the money work...

We can talk about that the hypothetical of us being 100% healthy and needing to move someone out, but let's just be clear that that is such a rare scenario. I'm not expecting to get there.

 

[Fuhrious]

Kiviranta and Georgiev don't even cover Burakovsky let alone adding in Grubauer.

Colorado doesn't throw stupid dollars at bottom 6 wingers like Francis, the only way they find "someone else to make the money work" is by adding legitimate top 6 talents like Middlestadt or Lehkonen. There's no way they trade players of that quality to get duds like Burakovsky and Grubauer in return.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

We can talk about that the hypothetical of us being 100% healthy and needing to move someone out, but let's just be clear that that is such a rare scenario. I'm not expecting to get there.

I don't see Francis making a trade before the TDL unless his hand is forced. i.e healthy roster. I can see him making trades at the TDL if we are out of the playoff race.

Burakovsky is a decent candidate for change in scenery, but if that happens we are likely to get a player in a similar situation back. i.e underperforming for their contract with similar AAV and term.

Nobody is trading for Gru. He has absolutely negative value right now and is very likely to be a buyout candidate next season.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Kiviranta and Georgiev don't even cover Burakovsky let alone adding in Grubauer.

Colorado doesn't throw stupid dollars at bottom 6 wingers like Francis, the only way they find "someone else to make the money work" is by adding legitimate top 6 talents like Middlestadt or Lehkonen. There's no way they trade players of that quality to get duds like Burakovsky and Grubauer in return.

To be fair Francis doesn't really throw money at bottom-6 wingers. Gourde and Tanev were part of the expansion draft and are on their original contracts. I wouldn't really call Burakovsky and Schwartz bottom-6 players either. Bura has shown he can be a legit top-6 player but has just not clicked. Schwartz has been injury bitten but he has been a positive player this season. I actually consider his trade value to be positive at this point. Both are borderline 2nd line players and good 3rd line players.

Also, with the new Stephenson signing, I see the exact same case. i.e middle-6. However, for whatever reason Francis sees him as a legit top-6 player.

So TLDR: Francis throws money at middle-6 forwards ..

 

[Fuhrious]

To be fair Francis doesn't really throw money at bottom-6 wingers. Gourde and Tanev were part of the expansion draft and are on their original contracts. I wouldn't really call Burakovsky and Schwartz bottom-6 players either. Bura has shown he can be a legit top-6 player but has just not clicked. Schwartz has been injury bitten but he has been a positive player this season. I actually consider his trade value to be positive at this point. Both are borderline 2nd line players and good 3rd line players.

Also, with the new Stephenson signing, I see the exact same case. i.e middle-6. However, for whatever reason Francis sees him as a legit top-6 player.

So TLDR: Francis throws money at middle-6 forwards ..

I feel like all 3 (Schwartz, Burakovsky and Stephenson) would be 3rd liners on the majority of teams in the league. They play up in Seattle's lineup because there is no talent to push them down. To my mind that makes them "bottom 6".

 

[majormajor]

Kiviranta and Georgiev don't even cover Burakovsky let alone adding in Grubauer.

Colorado doesn't throw stupid dollars at bottom 6 wingers like Francis, the only way they find "someone else to make the money work" is by adding legitimate top 6 talents like Middlestadt or Lehkonen. There's no way they trade players of that quality to get duds like Burakovsky and Grubauer in return.

It would be a mix of retention and taking a body back.

 

[majormajor]

To be fair Francis doesn't really throw money at bottom-6 wingers. Gourde and Tanev were part of the expansion draft and are on their original contracts. I wouldn't really call Burakovsky and Schwartz bottom-6 players either. Bura has shown he can be a legit top-6 player but has just not clicked. Schwartz has been injury bitten but he has been a positive player this season. I actually consider his trade value to be positive at this point. Both are borderline 2nd line players and good 3rd line players.

Also, with the new Stephenson signing, I see the exact same case. i.e middle-6. However, for whatever reason Francis sees him as a legit top-6 player.

So TLDR: Francis throws money at middle-6 forwards ..

Yeah I was about to say, we have about 6 middle six forwards getting 2nd line type money, and regardless of what Francis thought they were, we are indeed paying some third line caliber talent with 2nd line caliber money. It's really just the Stephenson deal I really don't like.

I feel like all 3 (Schwartz, Burakovsky and Stephenson) would be 3rd liners on the majority of teams in the league. They play up in Seattle's lineup because there is no talent to push them down. To my mind that makes them "bottom 6".

Schwartz has aged into that more limited role. Bura has been a top six talent for most of the last few years, maybe not anymore (not 100% sure), but he has been a legit top six forward. Stephenson wasn't even that in his last year in Vegas, so...

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

I feel like all 3 (Schwartz, Burakovsky and Stephenson) would be 3rd liners on the majority of teams in the league. They play up in Seattle's lineup because there is no talent to push them down. To my mind that makes them "bottom 6".

I would argue that Schwartz and Burakovsky have shown that they can both be legit top-6 forwards when playing on better teams. Maybe not top-line but certainly the 2nd line. Neither are line drivers. Both are complimentary wingers and need a better C than who they have right now to really produce.

I got nothing for Stephenson.

 

[gstommylee]

I don't see Francis making a trade before the TDL unless his hand is forced. i.e healthy roster. I can see him making trades at the TDL if we are out of the playoff race.

Burakovsky is a decent candidate for change in scenery, but if that happens we are likely to get a player in a similar situation back. i.e underperforming for their contract with similar AAV and term.

Nobody is trading for Gru. He has absolutely negative value right now and is very likely to be a buyout candidate next season.

or seattle decides to keep gru and just player finish the contract since its kinda no point in having dead weight since we would sign a replacement goalie and with the goalie price going up a bit, there still isn't going to be much saving.

 

[RainyCityHockey]

Dunn will be out for an additional three weeks.

Vince Dunn To Miss Three More Weeks With Mid-Body Injury

Star Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn may begin skating with the team this weekend but is still around three weeks away from …

www.prohockeyrumors.com

 

[The Marquis]

Dunn will be out for an additional three weeks.

Vince Dunn To Miss Three More Weeks With Mid-Body Injury

Star Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn may begin skating with the team this weekend but is still around three weeks away from …

www.prohockeyrumors.com

Huge bummer. 3 more weeks. Takes us through the dreaded Thanksgiving.

 

[Fuhrious]

24th

 

[The Marquis]

View attachment 928894

24th

Sounds about right.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

or seattle decides to keep gru and just player finish the contract since its kinda no point in having dead weight since we would sign a replacement goalie and with the goalie price going up a bit, there still isn't going to be much saving.

I have bought this up before. We don't have to buy out Gru. But he is already dead weight. Buying him out gives us more options. Heck, the money we save from his buyout could potentially cover the cost of Joey's backup. Then we also have additional cap space to fill in gaps that we may need to.