Trade Deadline Primer: Seattle Kraken

With the Olympic break now over, the trade deadline is almost a week away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with teams in the fight for a playoff spot, next up are the Kraken.

Coming into the season, expectations weren’t particularly high for Seattle.  They were coming off missing the playoffs and didn’t do much to shake up their roster.  However, a significant improvement defensively under new head coach Lane Lambert has them squarely in the race for a playoff spot.  But with some prominent veterans on expiring contracts, will they run the risk of letting them walk in free agency to bolster their playoff hopes or weaken those postseason odds to ensure they get a good return for some of those players?

Record

27-22-9, 4th in the Pacific (55.5% playoff probability, per MoneyPuck)

Deadline Status

Wild Card, could buy, sell, or some of each

Deadline Cap Space

$22.07MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2026: SEA 1st, TB 1st, SEA 2nd, ANA 4th, NYR 4th, SEA 4th, SEA 6th, NJ 7th, SEA 7th
2027: SEA 1st, TB 1st, CBJ 2nd, SEA 2nd, WPG 2nd, SEA 3rd, SEA 4th, SEA 5th, SEA 6th, SEA 7th

Trade Chips

Let’s talk about the veterans first.  Up front, captain Jordan Eberle has already reached the 20-goal mark for the ninth time in his career and leads Seattle in scoring with 38 points.  The captain has a full no-trade clause but his $4.75MM cap charge for a second-line winger is quite reasonable while he has a solid track record in the playoffs with a point-per-game average that’s rather close to his regular season averages.

Forward Jaden Schwartz has been a capable top-six player in recent years but, like many Kraken players this season, his output is down a bit in 2025-26.  Still, with his track record and ability to play center in a pinch, there would be a market for his services, even at a $5.75MM cap charge.  That said, his injury history might limit his potential return compared to another UFA winger in Eeli Tolvanen.  Tolvanen brings a lot of physicality to the table with a bit of an offensive punch, although it’s highly unlikely he gets back to the 20-goal mark this season as he did a year ago.  For teams looking to add some grit to their third line, his $3.475MM price tag will be appealing.  Also worth noting is that Tolvanen doesn’t have any trade protection in his contract.

Perhaps their most appealing rental player is on the back end, however.  Two elements that playoff-bound teams are consistently looking to add are grit and size to their blueline.  Jamie Oleksiak brings both of those to the table.  While he’s only a third-pairing player at five-on-five, he can log heavy penalty killing minutes, block plenty of shots, and play in late-game situations.  His $4.6MM AAV for that role is on the high side but it stands to reason that Seattle would retain the maximum of 50% to maximize their return; a $2.3MM cap charge is much more affordable for contenders.  Even though he’s having a bit of a down year, Oleksiak’s market will be strong if he’s put in play.

Over the last couple of months, center Shane Wright’s name has come up in a discussion of players who are believed to be available.  The fourth overall pick in 2022 is a regular third-liner for the second straight season, although his offensive numbers are down from his rookie campaign when he potted 19 goals and 44 points in 79 games.  Given the high demand for centers and the fact he’s easily affordable on the salary cap given that he’s on his entry-level deal, the Kraken would be well-positioned to command a quality return should they opt to trade from their center depth.

If Seattle opts to be a light buyer, one prospect to keep an eye on is Logan Morrison.  A prolific scorer in junior, he’s having a strong season with AHL Coachella Valley, checking in at just under a point per game.  Still, his NHL opportunity has been limited to just four games last season.  He’s in his final year of waiver exemption and there could be a few teams that would have interest in giving him an NHL look down the stretch.

Team Needs

Offensive Firepower: While Seattle is much-improved defensively this season, it has come at the expense of some scoring as they’ve gone from a mid-pack team to one barely ahead of the bottom five in scoring.  No player has hit 40 points yet (though Jared McCann would easily be there had he been healthy all season) and only Eberle has reached 20 goals.  While the Kraken have a by-committee approach offensively, a legitimate top-six addition could go a long way toward bolstering their playoff odds, should GM Jason Botterill decide to be a buyer.

Penalty Killing Help: For all of the improved defensive play (and goaltending), one goal prevention area that still needs work is the penalty kill.  They’re down nearly 6% from last season, checking in at just 71.4%, narrowly better than Vancouver who sits dead last.  They’ve yet to score at four-on-five and generate the fewest shot attempts of any team in the league and the sit-back approach hasn’t quite worked.  Given the importance of special teams in the playoffs, upgrading a player or two on the penalty kill – even if it’s their fourth-line or third-pairing options – could be enough of an improvement to see some legitimate improvement on that front.

Photo courtesy of Brett Holmes-Imagn Images.