2024-25 Kraken Roster discussion

The Marquis

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Aug 24, 2020
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ngl I posted this because part of me hoped they left Burakovsky home because they had traded him, and wanted to share the sadness that it proved not to be the case

I assumed that wasn’t the case, but the hope was there. I just hope he does like the worst of employees and calls in sick with as much intermittent FMLA as is allowed, which would have him miss every game.
 
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RainyCityHockey

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Dec 24, 2019
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ngl I posted this because part of me hoped they left Burakovsky home because they had traded him, and wanted to share the sadness that it proved not to be the case

Who exactly would trade for Burakovsky unless they could get rid of a pretty bad contract?
Despite the absurdity of our free agency signings, I think the overall set of moves points towards Francis being focused on the long run. It's more on ownership to recognize the situation and be clear with him that his job isn't hinging on what the club does in the next few months. They've either already concluded that he isn't the guy to take us to that long run, or they've decided that he is. But they're not going to pressure him to try and win and do win-now moves with a weak roster late in a lost season.

I've always seen this when teams have lost seasons - people think the GM is going to flail around to keep his job - and it has happened before on some clubs. It's really up to ownership to be clear that we're focused on the long run now.

Well, he's under pressure to win and needs to make things happen.
His free agency doings also show nothing of long run at all.

Maybe he's not going to do anything stupid(cause ownership won't let him) but he's got the green light to spend(see free agency) and probably knows that another bottom ten finish could be his end in Seattle.

Most importantly, I'm a bit uneasy about him not doing the right thing and trading guys like Gourde or Tanev cause he seems to love those expansion draft picks and there've been some rumors about the Kraken looking to extend Gourde which makes no sense.

But we'll see what happens within the next couple of months until the TDL and I wouldn't mind more trades like the Kakko one wether that's for young guys or draft picks/prospects.
 

kihei

McEnroe: The older I get, the better I used to be.
Jun 14, 2006
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Damn, I am almost beginning to feel sympathy for Burakovsky. He has been disappointing, no question, but he is a pretty small cog in a much bigger machine. With a handful of notable exceptions, this season has been a collective failure from upper management on down. There is more than enough blame to go around.
 
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majormajor

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Jun 23, 2018
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Who exactly would trade for Burakovsky unless they could get rid of a pretty bad contract?


Well, he's under pressure to win and needs to make things happen.
His free agency doings also show nothing of long run at all.

Maybe he's not going to do anything stupid(cause ownership won't let him) but he's got the green light to spend(see free agency) and probably knows that another bottom ten finish could be his end in Seattle.

Most importantly, I'm a bit uneasy about him not doing the right thing and trading guys like Gourde or Tanev cause he seems to love those expansion draft picks and there've been some rumors about the Kraken looking to extend Gourde which makes no sense.

But we'll see what happens within the next couple of months until the TDL and I wouldn't mind more trades like the Kakko one wether that's for young guys or draft picks/prospects.

Our ownership has probably already realized in the last couple months that the team is hopeless. It's a little too obvious at this point. And the gritty expansion core is aging out and there is a gap before the next wave. Ownership is probably not dumb, they realize this is going to take time.

They've probably already decided whether Francis is the guy for the long run play. I don't think they're going to pressure him to make the playoffs next year.
 
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RainyCityHockey

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Damn, I am almost beginning to feel sympathy for Burakovsky. He has been disappointing, no question, but he is a pretty small cog in a much bigger machine. With a handful of notable exceptions, this season has been a collective failure from upper management on down. There is more than enough blame to go around.

Well, if you build a roster full of complimentary pieces(I think it's about eight guys making five-ish million) you end up with what we got and people venting at single guys at different times.

I'm really curious how the Kraken intend to get out of this and build somethting that can actually compete.

Our ownership has probably already realized in the last couple months that the team is hopeless. It's a little too obvious at this point. And the gritty expansion core is aging out and there is a gap before the next wave. Ownership is probably not dumb, they realize this is going to take time.

They've probably already decided whether Francis is the guy for the long run play. I don't think they're going to pressure him to make the playoffs next year.

Well, if they've actually decided on that I'd hope Francis starts trading the vets to be ahead of the curve and not wait till the last moment when prices are dropping right at the TDL.

Overall I'm not too sure about that, even with the Kakko trade.
 
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Fistfullofbeer

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May 9, 2011
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Well, if you build a roster full of complimentary pieces(I think it's about eight guys making five-ish million) you end up with what we got and people venting at single guys at different times.

I'm really curious how the Kraken intend to get out of this and build somethting that can actually compete.
Outside of the Stephenson contract, the others will just work themselves out with time.

Schwartz - 1 more season. No need to move him since he has not really been a problem.
Gourde - Pending UFA. Should be traded at TDL or earlier. Do not re-sign.
Burakovsky - 2 more season
Tanev - Pending UFA. Should be traded, even if for peanuts. Do not re-sign.
Eberle - 1 more season.
Grubauer - 3 more seasons
Oleksiak - 1 more season. Not a net negative. Specially paired with Montour.

Eberle should be getting more into bottom-6 minutes starting next season and not be a negative. The real problems are really Burakovsky and Grubauer. I know Grubi has been terrible for us but I almost think moving out Burakovsky or a buyout makes more sense. If not, do that to Grubi. Ideally, trade one and buy one out.

Well, if they've actually decided on that I'd hope Francis starts trading the vets to be ahead of the curve and not wait till the last moment when prices are dropping right at the TDL.

Overall I'm not too sure about that, even with the Kakko trade.
The TDL is March 7th. So little over 2 months. I can't see Francis making any moves right out of the break, but I maybe mid-to-end of January if we remain about where we are in the standings.
 

kihei

McEnroe: The older I get, the better I used to be.
Jun 14, 2006
44,036
11,306
Toronto
Well, if you build a roster full of complimentary pieces(I think it's about eight guys making five-ish million) you end up with what we got and people venting at single guys at different times.

I'm really curious how the Kraken intend to get out of this and build somethting that can actually compete.
In the long run, I think there is only one way to really get out of it...and that is to build through the draft. I would make acquiring draft picks now for veterans a primary objective. Any other method of team building at this point for the Kraken would demand tremendously either on luck or on the stupidity of other GMs in the league, or, most likely, both.
 

majormajor

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Jun 23, 2018
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In the long run, I think there is only one way to really get out of it...and that is to build through the draft. I would make acquiring draft picks now for veterans a primary objective. Any other method of team building at this point for the Kraken would demand tremendously either on luck or on the stupidity of other GMs in the league, or, most likely, both.

9 2nd rounders in the last 3 years is a good start.
 
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RayMartyniukTotems

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Jul 8, 2022
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Like Gourde a lot but I think I'd pull the trigger on a deal for him and Tanev and get as many draft choices as possible...they are glue guys teams convet come playoff time because they kick it up a notch or 2...they are Winners
 
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majormajor

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Jun 23, 2018
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Unless one of them somehow turns into a steal and top producer(hopefully someone does) we're talking about middle six forwards and 2nd/3rd pairing defenseman.

Those are nice and needed to fill out the roster but only if you have high end talent to carry those guys.

I'm watching Kirill Marchenko right now, he's one of countless 2nd rounders in the league who have become star forwards. You know this, don't make me start listing them off.
 
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