Seattle Kraken: A Deep Dive into the 2023 Season
A Promising Start
The Seattle Kraken, an expansion team that joined the NHL in 2021, had a remarkable inaugural season, finishing with a respectable 27-49-6 record. Despite missing the playoffs, the team showcased promising young talent and a strong work ethic, laying the foundation for a successful future.
In their second season, the Kraken have continued to build on their initial momentum. As of the All-Star break, they sit at 31-24-6, good for eighth place in the Western Conference. The team has been led by a balanced scoring attack, with seven players tallying at least 10 goals.
Key Players
One of the driving forces behind Seattle's success has been the emergence of center Matty Beniers, who has quickly become one of the most exciting young players in the league. The 20-year-old leads the team in scoring with 20 goals and 22 assists in 55 games.
Other key contributors include:
- Andre Burakovsky: Acquired in a trade from the Colorado Avalanche, Burakovsky has provided a much-needed scoring boost, tallying 19 goals in 52 games.
- Jared McCann: A versatile forward, McCann has chipped in with 18 goals and 17 assists in 56 games.
- Vince Dunn: The defenseman has been a force on the blue line, contributing 10 goals and 20 assists in 52 games.
Areas for Improvement
Despite their strong start, the Kraken still have areas where they can improve. One area of concern is their penalty kill, which ranks 29th in the league with a success rate of just 72.4%.
Additionally, the Kraken could benefit from more consistency in their goaltending. Philipp Grubauer and Martin Jones have split the starts this season, but neither has been able to establish themselves as a clear number one.
Playoff Hopes
With 22 games remaining in the regular season, the Kraken are in a good position to make their first playoff appearance. They currently hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference and have a six-point lead over the ninth-place Edmonton Oilers.
If the Kraken can maintain their current pace and improve their penalty kill and goaltending, they have a good shot at reaching the playoffs for the first time in their short history.
Conclusion
The Seattle Kraken are a young team on the rise. With a talented roster and a strong work ethic, they have quickly established themselves as a competitive force in the NHL. If they can continue to improve and address their weaknesses, they have the potential to make a deep playoff run in the years to come.
