I think they have some good balance in their forward group.
I think it takes some elite players to really compete for the cup and that balance on its own can only take you so far. That's not to say someone in the group can't develop into that guy one day, but that's where they are at the moment in my opinion.
I don't think any Kraken fan thinks they are cup contenders yet but given preseason expectations it's pretty fun seeing them in a play off spot and just being really fun to watch (it's been a similar story for many Seattle sports teams this year- Seahawks, UW Football, Mariners breaking the drought). Large parts of last season were absolutely unwatchable crap. Now they are 2 points behind LA for 2nd with 4 less games played, 4 points behind Vegas for first with 2 less games played and slowly putting space between themselves and Edmonton/Calgary.
I can't wait for play off hockey in Seattle when it comes (hopefully this year).
Even looking at trades so far, we haven't missed anyone from last year that was traded away- Giordano, Blackwell, Lauzon, Appleton, Johansson, Jarnkrok.
Only real miss might have been Vanecek given Grubauer and Dredger's contracts look bad but that's with hindsight.
Will be excited to see how the prospects drafted do when they start coming up from the AHL in a couple of years or so.