2024-25 Kraken Roster discussion

[Fistfullofbeer]

There's no limit on buyouts.

Good. Buy both of them out then. The team just doesn't seem to trust Gru and that is bad for a team already struggling and low in confidence. Give Daccord a better backup to give him some breaks without expecting a L every time we do so.

 

[tank44]

I've been on team Grubauer for a while but the past few outings really has turned me. Can we buy him out mid-season? It's bad...

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

I've been on team Grubauer for a while but the past few outings really has turned me. Can we buy him out mid-season? It's bad...

No benefit of doing that. We will still need a backup for this season and Kokko is not quite ready. Throwing him to the wolves is not going to be good for his confidence either.

If someone waives a goalie who is not making much, we can maybe go for him but our cap situation is pretty tight so not sure how feasible that is.

But they can definitely not go into next season with Gru on this team.

 

[majormajor]

So who made the decision to keep going with Grubauer for so long? I need to know who to be angry at.

Francis? Bylsma? Someone above Francis?

I somehow missed this earlier but Friedman reported on ownership overruling Francis on the coaching hire, among other things. Did we talk about this?

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

So who made the decision to keep going with Grubauer for so long? I need to know who to be angry at.

Francis? Bylsma? Someone above Francis?

I somehow missed this earlier but Friedman reported on ownership overruling Francis on the coaching hire, among other things. Did we talk about this?

I have seen this multiple times but since its Friedman, I am not sure how much to believe it. However, if this is true, we can't hope both Bylsma and Francis next season. Took us only 3 years to turn into a dysfunctional organization.

 

[majormajor]

I have seen this multiple times but since its Friedman, I am not sure how much to believe it. However, if this is true, we can't hope both Bylsma and Francis next season. Took us only 3 years to turn into a dysfunctional organization.

I have zero reason to distrust Friedman.

 

[Kevinsane]

Meddling ownership would really really be a blow to this team. As much as I don’t like the job Francis has done, you hire hockey people to hire hockey people, and stay the eff out of the way.

 

[RainyCityHockey]

So who made the decision to keep going with Grubauer for so long? I need to know who to be angry at.

Francis? Bylsma? Someone above Francis?

I somehow missed this earlier but Friedman reported on ownership overruling Francis on the coaching hire, among other things. Did we talk about this?

That Friedman report was totally weird and made no sense.

According to it Francis somehow didn't want to go in on free agents and especially Stephenson(somehow the guy that was a crap signing) but also didn't want the development coach(Bylsma) but rather McLallan.

1) If he's always overruled than why do you need Francis?

2) Going from trying to keep on building with young players but than wanting the win now coach over the development guy makes absolutley no sense.

Like ECH speculated, that artcile looked like someone handed information to Friedman and it only tried to protect Francis who's on the hot seat....strange one that....

 

[majormajor]

Meddling ownership would really really be a blow to this team. As much as I don’t like the job Francis has done, you hire hockey people to hire hockey people, and stay the eff out of the way.

Especially picking the coach?

 

[majormajor]

That Friedman report was totally weird and made no sense.

According to it Francis somehow didn't want to go in on free agents and especially Stephenson(somehow the guy that was a crap signing) but also didn't want the development coach(Bylsma) but rather McLallan.

I don't know the particulars of the reporting on the Stephenson signing - did Friedman say something about him in particular?

Francis' reputation as a risk averse GM who is very analytics friendly does run against signing Stephenson.

1) If he's always overruled than why do you need Francis?

We see this with a lot of clubs where the GM gets bossed around. It's not without precedent.

2) Going from trying to keep on building with young players but than wanting the win now coach over the development guy makes absolutley no sense.

I don't think the archetypes of Bylsma as the development coach and McLellan as the win now coach are very meaningful.

Edit: Someone on reddit quoted Friedman from last May talking about the coaching debate:

“Seattle, I think there’s three names: Dan Bylsma, Todd McLellan and Jay Leach. And the interesting thing about Seattle is, in New Jersey I think at different times, different people have argued in favor of who should be the next coach of the Devils. I think that’s also the case in Seattle. I don’t know if a split is the right word, but at different times I think people have argued for different people.”

So he's got a longstanding source. I'm not sure that it is not Francis covering his ass, but I'm guessing it's probably someone else. It's not a completely new story that someone started spinning now that the season has gone badly.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Stezka is officially being recalled. Makes sense - let Kokko continue to work on the North American pro game in CV.

 

[The Marquis]

It really looks like Cups is turning things around. He's second in scoring on the team, has the most assists, his poor defensive play seems to be turned around a lot and actually wins faceoffs. If he can play like he has for the last 5ish games all the time, we all ought to be happy.

 

[Fuhrious]

It really looks like Cups is turning things around. He's second in scoring on the team, has the most assists, his poor defensive play seems to be turned around a lot and actually wins faceoffs. If he can play like he has for the next 5 years all the time, we all ought to be happy.

Fixed that for you

 

[KevinRedkey]

Sens fan here.

Wondering if McCann is remotely available for trade, and if he is - what the general asking price would be for him. I could make a 'value of' thread but I'd rather just get your guys' opinions before opening it up to everyone.

Thanks

 

[The Marquis]

Fixed that for you

I think both apply, but yeah. He’s got a long ways to go.

 

[The Marquis]

Sens fan here.

Wondering if McCann is remotely available for trade, and if he is - what the general asking price would be for him. I could make a 'value of' thread but I'd rather just get your guys' opinions before opening it up to everyone.

Thanks

I know for a fact that McCann isn’t available for a trade. For a fact. lol, I’m kidding, none of us know but as our leading points guy, I think we’d all be surprised if he was traded. He’s been cold for like 2 months and still leads the team in points.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Sens fan here.

Wondering if McCann is remotely available for trade, and if he is - what the general asking price would be for him. I could make a 'value of' thread but I'd rather just get your guys' opinions before opening it up to everyone.

Thanks

Like @The Marquis said, I doubt he is available for a trade. But if he was, I would think 1st + top prospect OR 2 x 1sts or something like that. Not only is he our top scorer but he is signed to a very friendly team contract and has another 2 years left at 5M AAV.

 

[CLW]

Gourde out for 5-7 weeks following a sports hernia operation. Guess they've tried to avoid the op but with the TDL approaching (March 7) they had to pull the trigger. He should be back just in time for the TDL... which potentially means he's played his last game for the Kraken.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Gourde out for 5-7 weeks following a sports hernia operation. Guess they've tried to avoid the op but with the TDL approaching (March 7) they had to pull the trigger. He should be back just in time for the TDL... which potentially means he's played his last game for the Kraken.

Thats pretty close to the TDL. From our perspective, I wonder if that reduces his trade value.

 

[RainyCityHockey]

Gourde out for 5-7 weeks following a sports hernia operation. Guess they've tried to avoid the op but with the TDL approaching (March 7) they had to pull the trigger. He should be back just in time for the TDL... which potentially means he's played his last game for the Kraken.

Well, should've done that earlier but you probably never know.

Hopefully he's back before the TDL so the team can trade him and get something back.

Thats pretty close to the TDL. From our perspective, I wonder if that reduces his trade value.

I'm pretty sure it does unless he's back befor the TDL and shows he's ready to go.

BTW: The Sharks just got a 1st round pick for Mikael Granlund(who Pittsburgh couldn't get rid off fast enough) and Cody Ceci.

Not sure we can get anything like this(value wise) back with what we've realistically(I doubt Francis trades anyone but the UFA's) got to offer.

 

[CLW]

Thats pretty close to the TDL. From our perspective, I wonder if that reduces his trade value.

As I see it Gourde is one of the prizes of this trade deadline. The team that trades for him won't really need him until the playoffs. Teams are not supposed to trade injured players so the timeline around his operation means he'll be declared fit at the TDL, then his new team can let him rest and heal up further if needed. Gourde has serious pedigree; he'll fetch a nice return especially if the Kraken retain.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Looks like the cap is going up significantly next season, and continues to go up through 2027-28. I think that makes it all the more likely that at least one, if not both of Gru and Bura can get bought out.

NHL, NHLPA announce team payroll ranges for next 3 seasons | NHL.com

Salary cap could increase to $113.5 million for 2027-28 season

www.nhl.com