Kraken Storylines Heading Into Training Camp 2025
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - The Seattle Kraken are about to begin training camp ahead of their fifth season in their NHL existence, still searching for a true identity to be established as the third coach in as many years steps into the top role. There’s hope that Lane Lambert will step into this head coach role and install a true system, allowing structure to play a key role in the Kraken taking a step back towards the postseason they got a thrilling taste of in year two. Many are thrilled to just be getting hockey back in front of them in some form, others are wary of what this team will actually look like when the games start to matter. Either way, there will be a few things to take note of when the boys in ice blue hit the ice starting this morning. Here are a few storylines to keep your eyes on for the Seattle Kraken heading into training camp.
Seattle Kraken forward prospect Berkly Catton during the teams development camp in 2024 at the Kraken Community Iceplex. (Photos by Rio Giancarlo for Circling Seattle Sports)
How many prospects can truly make the opening night roster?
All eyes are on Berkly Catton, the crown jewel of the Kraken prospect pool, and if he’ll be able to make the opening night roster for the Kraken. While that’s an obvious storyline, and of course it must be included, there’s another name that impressed at the NHL level last season during a brief late season stint that easily could push for his own spot on the Seattle roster. Jani Nyman showcased his skillset and didn’t look overwhelmed whatsoever during his time with the Kraken deep into the 2024-25 campaign, racking up a few goals and using his big frame to give Seattle something that they hadn’t really seen at the forward position until this year with Kaapo Kakko and himself. Could they both make the opening night roster for the Kraken, even with what looks like a busy forward room coming into camp? Will it just be Catton and Nyman is set to dominate the AHL scene with the Coachella Valley Firebirds again?
It’s a topic to look at in a more broad sense, and later, but the Kraken roster could look very different heading into next year considering the players who are only under contract through this season. Jaden Schwartz, Jordan Eberle, Mason Marchment, and Eeli Tolvanen are all set to become unrestricted free agents when we reach the next summer, so spots on the NHL roster will free up. Expect to see Nyman and Catton both on the roster for sure next season, but obviously we’ll have to watch and see if they get to add NHL experience (More, in Jani’s case) to their experience before then.
How different does the Lane Lambert era look right away?
It’ll be a little bit before we get a better idea of what it truly means to watch a Lane Lambert coached team on a daily basis, but there are some things to note in training camp in regards to what the new regime looks like. Dan Bylsma was fully involved in drills last camp and during practices throughout the season, and we saw plenty of "optional skates” last year for a team that looked like it could use a bit more work as a unit and perhaps consequence for lack of effort or energy on a given night. It doesn’t sound like Lane is going to let an easy going demeanor be present with the Kraken under his watch, so expect to see more structure from this Seattle team in a number of ways. Maybe that’s changing how morning skates operate. Perhaps there’s more accountability from this team.
Will the 2025-26 season be the last one in a Seattle Kraken jersey for expansion draft pick Jamie Oleksiak? (Photos by Rio Giancarlo for Circling Seattle Sports)
What’s Seattle’s plan on the blueline?
It was somewhat surprising to see the Kraken add another free agent defenseman this past summer, inking former New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche blueliner Ryan Lindgren to a deal that lasts through the 2028-29 season. Seattle has five left shot defensemen on the roster that played at the NHL level last season going into training camp, and five of their blueliners in general are commanding a salary north of $4M this season. That doesn’t exactly seem like the best idea, especially considering the defensive struggles that plagued the Kraken last season, and depending on the pairings that Lambert rolls with we could see Jamie Oleksiak ($4.6M due this season) or Lindgren ($4.5M due this season in year one of his four year deal) on the third pairing.
Having that much money on the back end seems like a real waste. Seattle will certainly have hopes to contend early, but if things aren’t going well then you have to wonder who from this group gets moved and it’s likely going to be Oleksiak if a move is made considering he becomes a free agent next summer. If the Kraken are more interested in getting a younger blueliner (Ryker Evans, who did struggle last season and isn’t necessarily a fan favorite anymore) more minutes and a chance to bounce back, Seattle could spring a move sooner than that.
Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann during the 2024-25 season at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Rio Giancarlo for Circling Seattle Sports)
What can we expect from Jared McCann this year?
Kraken fans have come to adore Jared McCann, and for good reason. He was one of the first players in franchise history to sign a major extension, inking a five year deal back in March of the inaugural season while stating his desire to win for the city of Seattle. McCann has certainly done his part during his Kraken tenure, which includes a 40-goal season during the teams postseason run in 2022-23, and while he’s produced back to back 60+ point seasons, he’s had to deal with injuries those last two years. “Canner” has been the type of player every team and fanbase wants: doing anything and everything it takes to win and stick up for his team, including playing at center during times where injuries require it and even dropping the gloves at times when the team needs that too. The problem? Seattle’s top goal scorer shouldn’t have to do that, ever, and you want to keep him healthy considering the other injuries he’s dealt with.
During exit interviews this past year, McCann told the local media that he was going to have a procedure in the summer, not saying what kind or what it was for. In the brief instances we’ve seen him ahead of camp, he looks back to the sort of players we’ve come to depend on when the team needs offense, so here’s hoping that’s the case when the regular season rolls around.
Fans can check this link on the Kraken Community Iceplex website to check when training camp is open to the public for viewing, starting today as sessions last from 9:15AM to 12:45PM PDT.
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Check out our previous Seattle Kraken articles here.
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