Jared McCann

After a breakout 40-goal effort in 2022-23, Kraken forward Jared McCann has taken a small step back offensively since then.  While he has still surpassed 20 goals in each of the last two years, it appears that might not be enough to make his roster spot secure.  In a recent appearance on the Sekeres and Price Show (video link), David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period relayed that Seattle is open to moving McCann.  Meanwhile, Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic suggested on his podcast earlier this week (video link) that the Kraken might be compelled to move McCann.

The 29-year-old has spent the last four seasons in Seattle after being selected from Toronto (a team he never played for) in the expansion draft.  McCann has led the Kraken in scoring in each of those four seasons which certainly makes it puzzling that there are suggestions that he could be available.

Last season, he had 22 goals and 39 assists in 82 games, while amassing 118 goals and 125 assists in 315 games over his four seasons with the Kraken.  After never reaching 40 points with any of his former teams, McCann has reached the 50-point mark at a minimum each year in Seattle.  Meanwhile, his goal-per-60 rate at that time is sixth-best in the NHL over that stretch, a number inflated obviously by that 40-goal campaign.  Nonetheless, that’s an impressive spot to be in.

McCann has two years left on his contract with a $5MM price tag, one that stands out as a team-friendly pact in an inflationary salary cap environment with two more big jumps to the Upper Limit expected over the next two years.  It’s a contract that many teams can afford or would be willing to make other moves to be able to afford although it’s worth noting that McCann would have some say in any possible trade as he has a 10-team no-trade clause.

A natural center coming up, McCann has primarily played on the wing in Seattle and with the center depth they’ve amassed, especially among their younger players, it’s unlikely that they’d need to move him back down the middle for an extended period of time.  But given the extremely high demand for centers right now, that would only strengthen his trade value.

Seattle has a new GM in Jason Botterill plus a new head coach in Lane Lambert and has done more buying than selling so far this summer.  They’ve added Mason Marchment in a trade from Dallas along with Frederick Gaudreau in a swap with Minnesota and signed Ryan Lindgren to one of the bigger blueline deals in free agency while their main subtraction was Andre Burakovsky in a cap-clearing move to Chicago.  Those moves suggest that they are hoping to get back into the playoff picture and moving their top scorer would completely run counter to that objective.

However, in a free agent market that’s completely bereft of impact forwards now, the Kraken would be able to command a significant trade return if they were to move McCann and perhaps their reported willingness to deal him stems from that.  It would be a case of taking a step back to potentially take a couple of steps forward depending on the return and while Seattle has shied away from that approach early in their franchise’s history, perhaps they’ll get an offer that’s too good to pass up to push them in that direction now.  Either way, McCann becomes a player to keep an eye on over the next couple of months on the trade front.

A Sportsnet’s Jacob Stoller report earlier this week indicated that the Seattle Kraken could make forward Jared McCann available at the trade deadline. A few days later, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman contradicted the report on his ’32 Thoughts’ podcast saying that multiple teams had contacted Seattle regarding McCann’s availability — not the other way around.

It makes a lot of sense for contending teams to inquire about McCann. He’s on a cost-effective $5MM salary until July 1st, 2027, and has become a bona fide top-six forward in Seattle. After being selected from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, McCann has scored 110 goals and 224 points in 290 games, the franchise’s leader in both offensive categories.

Still, since Friedman noted that Seattle is receiving calls rather than making them, it would likely take a sizeable offer to pry him away from the Kraken. Friedman didn’t mention any teams specifically, but Ben Kuzma of The Province and Sammi Silber of The Hockey News both wrote articles rationalizing why the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals could be potential fits respectively.

Although anything can happen, and more than two teams are likely calling, the edge would have to go to the Capitals. Out of the 18 trades made in Kraken history, the biggest deals have all been made with Eastern Conference teams involving players like Mark Giordano, Marcus Johansson, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Alexander Wennberg, and Kaapo Kakko.

Seattle has never been interested in helping teams within the Pacific Division and they don’t appear likely to trade arguably their top player, who they aren’t keenly interested in moving, to their rivals just over the northern border, even for a massive offer.

Washington would present another list of challenges. Even with approximately $17MM on LTIR, the Capitals only have $3.65MM in cap space which wouldn’t be enough to acquire McCann. They could include a roster player in the hypothetical trade but is Washington positioned to move on from Brandon Duhaime, Lars Eller, Nic Dowd, or Martin Fehervary?

As much as a player like McCann would generate plenty of trade interest, it doesn’t appear one is likely. Things could change leading up to the deadline, especially if more teams get involved, but it would likely require a generous overpay for the Kraken to part with their leading scorer.