We The Fans: 10 moves GM Jason Botterill Could Make to Save the Kraken’s Season after Bad Loss to the Buffalo Franchise that Fired Him … Part 2
We The Fans do not want to pay money to come and watch our team lose. Jason Boterill said, when he was hired as General Manager in April of 2025, that “Improving the roster is the top priority.” This was the day after the Kraken moved on from their 2nd coach in 4 years, Dan Bylsma was fired for being forced to try and win with players that left a lot to be desired on the ice. It seems franchises like Minnesota, Colorado, and Vegas have started to understand the value of proven performers and utilizing the personnel of the rest of the league to improve their club. The Kraken have a bevy of draft picks they are likely to gamble and underperform with, given the performance of prior Kraken Draft Picks the team will likely elect to gamble again this year on players that most likely won't be ready to come in and be Day 1 point scorers. With one of the more lack luster draft classes, the Kraken should look to trade current veterans and draft picks for young proven performers in the National Hockey League. Why try and draft the next Trevor Zegras, when you could trade your first round pick and a few players for Trevor Zegras and Noah Juulsen?
Ron Francis said upon his promotion, that the organization was very adamant about “the organization is trying to take the risk to win and do some things.” It’s no freaking secret we the fans want to see our guys in the post-season, regardless if they win the Stanley Cup or not. The coaches benefit, the organization benefits, and the players benefit: people will pay more for tickets and the team would make it easier to care about a sports team that is in one of the more competitive sports markets in the United States. Empty seats are a deadweight loss for NHL Teams; the only time missing the post season is acceptable is missing it by the last game, on the last night of the season. The Seattle Kraken Head Coach said after the Buffalo loss that “We have to play the perfect game in order to win and mistakes we are making are reaching up and biting us.”
This system of play with these players has largely been unsustainable throughout the beginning of the year, and if not for some timely puck luck for veterans in earlier games of the season then the Kraken may find themselves in similar positions to St.Louis or Vancouver. Utah was a bad loss, but losing to the Buffalo Sabres as a team that claims to want to be competitive in a deep Western Conference feels like a slap to the face for fans who have often blindly supported the Kraken regardless of the Operations and Management making questionable and often unproductive decisions in regards to future of the team. Things are starting to become unacceptable in Seattle and the team will more likely than not see a decrease in attendance after their Tuesday, Dec 16th, tilt with the blazing hot Colorado Avalanche. Make no mistake, fans will be in attendance for the nationally televised game, as much to see the best team in the league and their bevy of successful stars, just as heavily as they will to support the struggling Veteran-Heavy Kraken Squad.
It would be unfair for me to be so hypercritical of this professional hockey team and not offer likely solutions to help the team preform and allow the organization garner more success and support before the Olympic Break in February. It’s highly unlikely a squad that struggles with scoring this much will be able to magically return from the Olympic Break, find creative ways to score and win out to make it into the post-season. If this were the case then they’d be finding creative ways other than relying on the power play to stay in games. The Kraken spend 94 million on their roster, while the Colorado Avalanche are paying their roster 93 million and some change. With all this money being spent on players, ask yourself why was the best line in the previous game that of Melanson, Kartye, and Meyers? A line composed solely of players from the league below team, Coachella Valley Firebirds. It seems Coach Lambert felt it too, as this line was the primary bright spot in the little success found against Buffalo in the Sunday game.
If this team is not good enough to get into the Post-Season, then it is surely not good enough to Win a Stanley Cup, and if the team isn’t playing to win, then management and players are simply collecting a check to rob you and other fans of your hard earned money at the door every night. You pay to be entertained and at the moment at least, it seems this team could not make the games anymore boring and frustrating to watch if they tried. I’ve often wondered what a practice looks like for this current team and if I had to guess, I would say they are honestly probably also very boring.
I wanted to create a list of trades that is appropriate given the needs and resources of the team while also looking to boost future success and build assets and depth similar to the way the team was structured for their success in 2023, which saw them lead the league in goals. This season the team has been towards the top of the league in goals against, large in part and primarily due to the more defensive system put in by Coach Lambert and strong goalkeeping by the goalies, regardless of the save percentage. Save percentage does not factor in the quality of the shot or scoring chances. If you can’t give up a goalie, and you are deep with eligible defenseman in a strong defensive system, then it seems the Kraken have the ability to deal veteran offensive players who are struggling or lend defensive prowess rather than trying to adapt their game to a system that relies on a heavy amount of skating and more productive offensive minded forwards.
This team won’t be able to solve its problems through the draft, and even my wife who does not care to watch professional hockey knows that the current roster isn’t going to get the team away from its bottom of the league performance. Fans need something to believe in and it on Management to do the things neccessary to keep their team relevant in the standings for as long as possible. If the problem were with the coach, then the Coachella Valley Line would not look as good as they do. This lack luster management team has engrained themselves in the fabric of the Kraken Organization looking it seems only to collect their next paycheck or sale one more single game ticket deal.
What Transfers should we be looking to Make to improve the current roster?
Looking at the cap the Kraken will have 35 million to utilize in Free angency at the end of the 2026 season. However, this is a franchise that’s failed to make signings that arguably make the team better and giving third line guys the money of first line players isn’t the magic short cut to competing in this league, even with a next man up mentality. With that being said here is my Top 5 Trades to shake up the team and bring fresh life to Climate Pledge Arena.
(A captain swap with Boston) Number 1) #7 Jordan Eberle, #24 Jamie Oleksiak, an NHL Draft 2026 first round pick, and a 2027 NHL Draft 3rd round pick for #88 David Pastranak and #91 Nakita Zadorov from the Boston Bruins.
I am not a fan of single player deals, as it’s hard to change one person in sport with active line changes and expect an individual to restructure your entire professional hockey team and Boston Drafts Well. We are not a player away according to management, so give the pick and some players to a team who wants to play a more solid and reliable style of hockey and understands they are building a team that will be competitive and need a captain like Eberle to help focus less on scoring and more on trying to build a physical and a balanced two way forward system in Boston under their new head coach, as Morgan Geekie is not struggling to help Boston find success on the scoreboard.Jamie Oleksiak offers size back for size, but with a team hurting on the back end and lacking the same defensive depth as Seattle has plenty of defenseman. This is a move that increases the quality of play for two teams. The age would also be offset by Boston receiving a third round pick we’d likely gamble on players that can’t produce for us anyways. The Kraken get a weapon that injects life into their lineup and retain size, while trading Oleksiak who struggled under the new system for a fresh start in Boston. This move would give both teams a better shot at making the post season for years to come as it adds depth in areas they need it.
(Our Best Defenseman for their Best Forward) Number 2) #6 Adam Larsson, #84 Kappo Kakko, and a 2026 NHL Draft First Round pick for #11 Trevor Zegras and #47 Noah Juulsen.
The Kraken defense has not struggled under the new system implemented by Coach Lambert, often utilizing next man up mentality and demonstrating an ability to produce at least defensively. The system under the coach makes it easier to play defense in Seattle and taking a lot of pressure off of our goalies to be perfect and giving them goal support could help turn things around in Seattle. Zegras is a generational stick handling talent and while he comes with a price tag, he would help the Kraken in needed overtimes and shoot outs, Philly gets a first round pick for their fans to be excited about and solid hockey players back and Seattle becomes exponentially more dynamic on the power play and at forward. Juulsen makes a solid true third line pairing for the Kraken bottom pair and would likely slot in nicely next to Ryker Evans or Josh Mahura. The new ideal pairs would become Montour-Dunn, Lindgren-Evans, and a combination of Jamie Oleksiak, Josh Mahura, or Noah Juulsen in the bottom pair. This kind of move would definitely fire up the fans in Seattle granted management could get Philly to part with Zegras who has a team that has its fair share of goal scorers and Shoot-out weapons, but gives up tons of breakaways.
(Shooters from Long Island for Veteran Role Players and Picks) Number 3) #27 Mason Marchment, #38 Jani Nyman, #6 Adam Larsson, a 2026 7th round pick and a 2027 NHL Draft 2nd Round pick for #51 Emil Heineman, #11 Anthony Duclair, and #34 Adam Boqvist.
New York Islanders draft pick has shined for them through the first half of their season. This trade would off load some players who haven’t had the best success in Seattle with what they are being asked to do, while being traded to developing system with identity in New York, Marchment adds size and offensively ability to a team in New York that is deep offensively, he also brings a physical grit that the Islanders could benefit from, but with the exception to the Islanders woes being the play of Vezina Favorite Ilya Sorokin, The Islanders haven’t been able to stop a nose bleed this year when it comes to the better teams in the league. A strong multi-player trade could be what both of these franchise need to get them back in the hunt for the Post-Season. In theory, if you make it in, then you can Win. Seattle gets guys who can help put the puck in the net, and New York gets help on defense and successful veteran presence and top line man in Adam Larsson to combo with Schaffer on the top pair.
(Vegas calls they want their second line center back) Number 4) #9 Chandler Stephenson, #84 Kappo Kakko, #6 Adam Larsson, and a 2026 and 2027 NHL Draft 1st round pick to Vegas for #93 Mitch Marner, #21 Brett Howden, and #2 Zach Whitecloud
Stephenson was a key part of the Vegas power play and was staple member of their system, while productive in the dot, he has not had the same efficiency in Seattle and with their own future uncertain and the season not looking as productive as that in Colorado. Vegas could look to move a guy who is known less for his physicality and more for his skill which the Kraken offense has been lacking. It could be argued the familiarity of returning a veteran like Stephenson could help Vegas improve, but he’s largely been Seattle’s more efficient forward up this point and a rock for them in the dot. This trade is probably the least likely as most teams aren’t looking to unload a player they spent 12 million on just because he struggles. When will it click again in Vegas? It is a longshot that the mix of talent and physciality currently in Vegas will help them achieve another cup in this decade, but fans their are still hanging on to the memory of the last Stanley Cup they won, and it far more entertaining than hockey is in Seattle at the moment. Vegas needs defense and role players, Seattle needs offense. This fills needs for both sides, regardless of what the fans would think, a trade like this would restructure the league. After all, someone traded for Gretzky so never say never. Kakko could lend his playmaking abilities and be faced with less pressure to score as Vegas has guys who need good pass in their spots, and Larson makes Vegas as deep defensively as Dallas is offensively and helps them to compete with top teams using a Bruce Cassidy system that looks to use strong defense, fast transitions, and utilizes special teams to create scoring. A move like this would also most likely be made to help keep Vegas Salary Cap compliant.
(St. Louis wants to build after Bennington) #31 Phillip Grubauer, #24 Jamie Oleksiak, #27 Mason Marchment, and a 2026 NHL Draft 1st round pick to St.Louis for #50 Jordan Bennington, #25 Jordan Kyrou, and #51 Matthew Kessel
This trade is honestly the most likely if management wants to shake things up and give fans something to cheer about. The Kraken get a goalie who could help them with a post season run and big game proven in Jordan Bennington, Jordan Kyrou adds a scoring edge and could become a legend in a market like Seattle. The love he would feel here given he could come in and score would make him beloved. Causal hockey fans love fights and goals, and the kraken lineup features plenty of grit. St. Louis is probably not making the playoffs this year unless a miracle happens. Something needs to change in St Louis as it is probably not the fault of ex-Coach of the year, and Boston’s Coach for the best season ever, Jim Montgomery. We Kraken fans know all to well how hard it is to be a consistent goalie in this league, and Grubauer could give back to the Kraken organization that gave him the kind of contract that sets you up for life, by being a consistent goal tender for a struggling St.Louis team that’s seen their keepers pulled and swap more than makes the fans comfortable. St.Louis get back players who bring physicality and structure, and Grubauer is having his best year up to this point.
My Top 5 trade possibilities “Honorable Mentions” in no particular order. I apologize for the lack of explanation on these five trade possibilities as I am only one person and I wanted to get this out.
1) #67 Lawson Krouse from Utah Mammoth for #89 Frederick Gaudreau and a 2027 NHL draft 3rd round pick.
2) #12 Trevor Moore from LA Kings for a 2027 NHL Draft 3rd Round pick and #27 Mason Marchment
3) #92 Vasily Podkulzin, #10 Trent Federic, and #35 Tristan Jarry from Edmonton Oilers for #89 Freddy Gaudreau, #84 Kappo Kakko, #31 Phillip Grubauer, and a 2026 NHL draft 2nd Round Pick.
4) #86 Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets for #27 Mason Marchment and a 2026 NHL Draft 1st Round pick, and 2027 NHL Draft 2nd Round Pick.
5) #72 Anthony Beauvillier from the Washington Capitals for #89 Freddy Gaudreau and a 2027 NHL draft 2nd Round Pick