SUTTER ON HOW THE KRAKEN HAVE BEEN UNLEASHED

By: Braedyn Wozniak, RP Show Intern

The Seattle Kraken have been unleashed this year. 

After disappointing in their inaugural season by missing the playoffs, failing to match what their expansion cousins the Vegas Golden Knights did in 2017-18, the Kraken have re-grouped and put together a fantastic and surprising start to their follow-up season. 

What could have possibly changed in so short a time for a team to go from fourth in the NHL Entry Draft to fourth in NHL point %?

Former NHLer and current analyst Rich Sutter gave his thoughts on the Kraken’s breakout on the Rod Pedersen Show. 

“I’m happy for their group because they’ve turned a corner,” said Sutter. “Confidence is a crazy thing in this sport.” 

“This team has got some confidence and some swagger within themselves. They’re not an overly talented group. They play with sound structure.” 

Seattle sits fifth in the league standings points-wise, but has played three games less than the fourth-place Maple Leafs and two less than the third place Golden Knights. 

It’s possible with three more games under their belt, they could be sitting in a top-3 spot. 

It’s also possible they can revert to last year’s Kraken and take a deep dive to the bottom of the standings. 

“I think they’re going to be fine. Are they going to be a playoff team? They look like it at this point,” said Sutter. “I still think some teams are going to come back to the pack a little bit.” 

For an expansion team like the Kraken, chemistry was bound to be an issue early on. The pieces may have always been there, they just needed some time to gel. 

“There was a huge adjustment for all those guys this past year, not knowing each other that well,” said Sutter. “I think they settled in. They had a good summer to settle in and get the training place, guys get healthy … they’re playing much better as a group.” 

The off-season additions were nothing to write home about. Star rookie Matthew Beniers is seeing extended minutes on the club this year, and freshly acquired André Burakovsky and Oliver Bjorkstrand packed some punch offensively. 

Add in defenceman Justin Schultz on the back end along with goaltender Martin Jones, it seems all the right moves were made, even if they weren’t splash signings. 

“They’ve done a good job. Obviously, they didn’t do it like Vegas did, but it might turn out just as well in the long run … I like what they’ve got going on there.” 

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily on Game+ TV, YouTube Live and WQEE Radio)

Photo: Seattle Kraken