The Seattle Kraken are “not planning” to trade winger Eeli Tolvanen or their other pending UFA players before the trade deadline unless it is an “overpayment,” according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. Per Pagnotta, the Kraken are “focused on making the playoffs and adding.” Sharks Hockey Digest’s Max Miller added to Pagnotta’s report, writing that Tolvanen and his representatives are expecting to begin talks with Seattle on a contract extension this week.
Tolvanen is not the only notable pending UFA player on Seattle’s roster. Included in that group alongside Tolvanen are three notable veterans: winger Jaden Schwartz, defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, and captain Jordan Eberle.
Together with Tolvanen they form a quartet of players who would each likely receive considerable interest on the trade market, but based on Pagnotta’s report, that isn’t a path the Kraken are willing to go down.
Through 59 games this season, Seattle has amassed a 28-22-9 record with a -6 goal differential, good for 65 points and the Western Conference’s second Wild Card spot. They are three points ahead of their closest rival, the San Jose Sharks, who have 62 points and a game in hand. They are also just one point behind the Edmonton Oilers for third place in the Pacific Division, and hold two games in hand there. In other words – the Kraken have multiple routes they can take to reach the playoffs.
With that said, their form since returning from the Olympic break has been mixed. They dropped games against the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues by a combined 9-2 score, but managed a win over the struggling Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. In order to stand the best chance of not only making it to the playoffs, but also surviving beyond the first round if they do, they may need to reinforce their roster with additional veteran talent.
Pagnotta reports that the Kraken are interested in doing so, which matches up with what has been previously reported. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman noted on the 32 Thoughts podcast Friday that the Kraken offered north of $14MM AAV to try to sway Artemi Panarin to choose Seattle. He elected to be dealt to the Los Angeles Kings instead. But the Kraken’s pursuit of a difference-making scoring forward has persisted, including to the point where they would be willing to deal 2022 No. 4 pick Shane Wright.
Friedman said on 32 Thoughts that the Kraken “are serious about getting a player that can electrify them offensively,” and pointed to a sense of pressure that exists in Seattle to get the organization back in the playoffs for the first time since 2022-23. He even referenced the NBA’s stated interest in considering expansion cities – of which Seattle would be a strong contender – as a factor contributing to the importance of the Kraken finding a way back to the playoffs this season.
Whether the Kraken are best served retaining four pending UFAs for a stretch run that could end up concluding in a first-round matchup against the juggernaut Colorado Avalanche is a matter of debate. There are business considerations, as Friedman suggested, that the team may be wrestling with, and the reality of the NHL playoffs is that an element of randomness is guaranteed. The Kraken have pulled off an upset before, after all. So it’s not entirely unreasonable for the Kraken to bet on, and invest in, their current team.
But for a team that has largely lacked star power in its brief existence as an NHL franchise, is investing significant hockey assets in this capable, but flawed, 2025-26 Kraken team the most sensible long-term decision? That will be the question the Kraken’s hockey operations leaders will have to interrogate this week, and it will be interesting to see what path president of hockey operations Ron Francis and GM Jason Botterill elect to take.
Photos courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
If they buy a significant player, that player needs to have some term. They’re not really a Cup contender this year.
But I agree with going for the playoffs. They have extra draft picks, and you can’t sell when you’re in a playoff spot!
28, And 31 is there record in REALITY, And, Seattle has three backup goaltenders, So, If they make the playoffs, It won’t last, This is a perfect time for the Kraken to move on from the old guys, And get some assets.
Agree with you about the “old guys”, but you better check your goaltending stats.
23-22-15 in regulation, which really is the playoff standard since there won’t be 3-on-3 or shootout. Not that they’re going to the Final, just stumping for regulation record.
It’s not like the Pacific Division has a world beater right now. I’d rather have a team that tries.
So in other words, you just speak out your behind before looking up stats? The goaltending is anything but backup quality. Just thought I’d let you know the REALITY.
It is just living in a lonely world wanting to hear themselves speak.
“Only two or three teams should compete each year and everyone else should rebuild all the time.”
I hope the Kraken look at all of these guys as internal rentals. If they can back into the playoffs as presently constructed, great. But I hope they aren’t buyers. As far as negotiations with Tolvanen, if I was his agent I’d advise him to get to free agency. In a UFA class this week, someone will seriously overpay for him. Good for him.
It would be great if that someone isn’t the kraken, too!
As a team the Kraken are 31st in xG%, 32nd in Corsi%, and 30th in expected goal differential. They should not be buyers. But their pending free agents aren’t needle movers either, and they already have good draft capital. Keeping them around seems like a defensible course to take. Maybe they avoid a tough 1st round matchup and win a round.
Most deadline deals aren’t for Needle movers. Depth with talent is needed for a long run. All of their pending UFAs have something to offer and teams tend to overpay at the deadline. That said, it should be an extreme overpay for them to move one as making the playoff is important this year. The FO is in a tough spot. Don’t overpay without reasonable term to improve and don’t accept anything less than an extreme overpay to subtract.
Rom Francis and his minion have zero interest in winning. The arena sells out night after night and that’s their number one priority. The team is run like a joke. Watch them trade Shane for next to nothing.
BS. They may not be good at their jobs, but they all want to win.