2024-25
Record: 35-41-10, 7th in Pacific Division
Playoffs: Missed Stanley Cup Playoffs
Key Losses
Andre Burakovsky (F – Trade with CHI), and Dan Bylsma (Head Coach – Fired)
Key Additions
Mason Marchment (F – Trade with DAL), Frederick Gaudreau (F – Trade with MIN), Ryan Lindgren (D – Signed via FA), and Lane Lambert (Head Coach – Hired)
2025-26 Preview
Looking for a Bounceback
After failing to make the playoffs in the 2023-24 season, the Seattle Kraken moved on from head coach Dave Hakstol and hired Dan Bylsma. The hiring proved to be the wrong move for the Kraken. Under Bylsma, the Kraken did worse during the 2024-25 season as they went 35-41-6 for 76 points, which was 5 points less than the season before, and fell to 7th in the Pacific Division, dropping from 6th the season before. It was proof of what was always known about Bylsma, and that was he is a one-hit wonder as an NHL head coach.
For the Kraken, after firing Bylsma, they hired Lane Lambert as head coach. The Kraken also promoted Ron Francis to president of hockey operations, and Jason Botterill to general manager. Botterill started making changes. He traded forward Andre Burakovsky to Chicago, and then acquired forwards Mason Marchment, from Dallas, and Frederick Gaudreau, from Minnesota. Botterill also made a big splash by signing rugged defenseman Ryan Lindgren in free agency. Botterill is looking put his stamp on this team, and with these changes, it’ll make the Kraken a deeper team with some more grit.
Lambert’s True Chance to Shine
For Lane Lambert, this will be his first true chance to show what he can do as an NHL head coach after being handcuffed during his brief time as head coach of the New York Islanders. While under Barry Trotz in both Washington, Stanley Cup in 2018, and with the Islanders, Lambert had great success as an assistant coach. However, when Trotz was relieved of his duties, Lambert would finally get his shot to be an NHL head coach, but with Lou Lamoriello running the show, Lambert had his hands tied to what Lou wanted for how the team was going to play. It was very restricting.
Now with the Kraken, Lambert will have a true opportunity to spread his wings, and show the NHL the head coach he can really be when he has the freedom to coach his style of hockey.
Projected Lineup
Offense
Jaden Schwartz — Matty Beniers — Kaapo Kakko
Jared McCann — Chandler Stephenson — Mason Marchment
Berkly Catton — Shane Wright — Jordan Eberle
Jani Nyman — Frederick Gaudreau — Eeli Tolvanen
Defense
Vince Dunn — Adam Larsson
Ryan Lindgren — Brandon Montour
Ryker Evans — Jamie Oleksiak
Goalies
Joey Daccord
Philipp Grubauer
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