Kraken 2025-26 Offseason (different but the same??)

[Fistfullofbeer]

Our management doesn’t really have a plan. They ran the expansion draft like a team that was going to tank and build for the future, and then they spent a bunch of money like a team that was trying to win now, which they failed miserably at. Now they’re undergoing management changes and I’m still not sure if there’s any sense of a coherent plan. They neither seem willing to tank and build for the future, or to take smart aggressive approaches to try to build a contending team near term, and instead appear to be more like dogs chasing cars. I suspect the Kraken will be completely irrelevant for the next decade. What a joke of an organization. I waited 30 years for Seattle NHL team and so far it’s a pure dumpster fire.

Hindsight is 20/20 and all that. The plan was to build for the future. They made the playoffs and ownership appears to have changed their tune. The problem arose after that as the team was now caught between trying to be good without sacrificing any future assets and ended up with some really bad signings. Not excusing the GM (Francis) for this as he made the signings but it was never an area he has been comfortable with but ownership trying to fit a square peg in a round hole never works. Coaching has also been a noticeable issue since they have been focused on "second" chances. I am hoping we either have a fresh face in the NHL. If not, maybe someone who has had better experience coaching younger teams and teams will less talent.

I was not unhappy with the expansion draft. I was unhappy with a few FA signings. The drafting has been pretty damn good and we have not given up future assets, so nothing to complain about there. Most of our "bad" FA's minus Stephenson are off the book after the 2027-28 season as well.

Tanking was never an option for us. As much as we would have liked it.

I understand your negativity and the team has been terrible for the last 2 seasons but changes won't take that long. A better coach, 1 impactful player via UFA or trade and we are a bubble team this season. Catton and 1-2 other prospects making a impact next season will hopefully mean we are trending in the right direction.

 

[Interior Cascadian]

The plan was to build for the future. They made the playoffs and ownership appears to have changed their tune.

I generally agree with what you’re saying, but I think what often gets skipped over when we rip on management’s quick reversal are the rumors suggesting the Sonics’ return is nearing, and how that’s going to impact interest in the Kraken without them at least being a playoff team.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

I generally agree with what you’re saying, but I think what often gets skipped over when we rip on management’s quick reversal are the rumors suggesting the Sonics’ return is nearing, and how that’s going to impact interest in the Kraken without them at least being a playoff team.

But would management be even talking about "winning sooner than later" if the playoffs never happened? I think talk of the Sonics coming gives them a good reason to "justify" that reversal but I can't see them talking this way if our 2nd season was like any of our other 3.

 

[kihei]

Hey Habs fan here. I'm not really in tune with the Kraken. I was just wondering what the team management is trying to do in the short term. Continue to build with young pieces? Enter retool? Start to compete right away?

The habs are obviously in need of two big pieces. One of which is a top 4 RHD. Do you think the Kraken would shop Larsson and what do you think would be a realistic asking price?

Joshua Roy and a 2nd? Just guessing. I'm lousy at this sort of thing. Ideally, we could use a young D prospect but yours are too blue chippy or too controversial to touch (Mailloux).

 

[Interior Cascadian]

But would management be even talking about "winning sooner than later" if the playoffs never happened? I think talk of the Sonics coming gives them a good reason to "justify" that reversal but I can't see them talking this way if our 2nd season was like any of our other 3.

 

[dylanmacarthur]

Hindsight is 20/20 and all that. The plan was to build for the future. They made the playoffs and ownership appears to have changed their tune. The problem arose after that as the team was now caught between trying to be good without sacrificing any future assets and ended up with some really bad signings. Not excusing the GM (Francis) for this as he made the signings but it was never an area he has been comfortable with but ownership trying to fit a square peg in a round hole never works. Coaching has also been a noticeable issue since they have been focused on "second" chances. I am hoping we either have a fresh face in the NHL. If not, maybe someone who has had better experience coaching younger teams and teams will less talent.

I was not unhappy with the expansion draft. I was unhappy with a few FA signings. The drafting has been pretty damn good and we have not given up future assets, so nothing to complain about there. Most of our "bad" FA's minus Stephenson are off the book after the 2027-28 season as well.

Tanking was never an option for us. As much as we would have liked it.

I understand your negativity and the team has been terrible for the last 2 seasons but changes won't take that long. A better coach, 1 impactful player via UFA or trade and we are a bubble team this season. Catton and 1-2 other prospects making an impact next season will hopefully mean we are trending in the right direction.

Check my posting history. I don’t have hindsight I have foresight. I was right the last few years. I’m right now too.

We will be irrelevant for at least 5 years absent a fundamental change in approach.

 

[Fuhrious]

Check my posting history. I don’t have hindsight I have foresight. I was right the last few years. I’m right now too.

We will be irrelevant for at least 5 years absent a fundamental change in approach.

Weird flex. Your post history (here anyway) is a salt mine.

 

[dylanmacarthur]

Weird flex. Your post history (here anyway) is a salt mine.

salt is a valuable commodity.

 

[Kevinsane]

If you’re prescient, other people will notice and say so. Saying so yourself kinda smacks of the broken clock effect.
Predicting the Kraken might suck is not threatening Nostradamus’s record.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Check my posting history. I don’t have hindsight I have foresight. I was right the last few years. I’m right now too.

We will be irrelevant for at least 5 years absent a fundamental change in approach.

Maybe make a constructive post for a change.

The only times you show up here it is to voice a seasonal "I told you so" announcement about how bad the Kraken are. Maybe try to have a conversation about what the problem really is. What do you think a good solution to that problem is? We are all open to listen to you and have a conversation. But all you seem to want to do is "come. shit. go".