Seattle Kraken Still Won Despite Playoff Exit
Dan White
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The Seattle Kraken didn’t bring Lord Stanley’s Cup back to the Emerald City. Still, their 2022-23 season was a triumph and laid the foundation for future success.
The year might not have ended with the Seattle Kraken hoisting the Stanley Cup, but there were a lot of positives that came from this season. Let’s take a look at how this season was a success!
Silencing the Critics
Going into the 2022-23 season, no analysts or writers gave the Kraken any shot at making the playoffs. In fact, most considered the Kraken to compete in the NHL Entry Draft Lottery.
The joke was on them, as Seattle had one of the best road records in recent history (26-11-4). This includes going on a record-setting 7-game road trip and winning all of them. At one point, the Seattle Kraken actually sat at the top of their division and were one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
It all resulted in the Kraken soaring to a 40-point improvement. That was good enough for seventh place in the West and a playoff berth.
One would think this regular season success would have silenced the critics. Seattle ended up playing against the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Colorado Avalanche, in Round 1. Sure enough, almost all the prominent critics and analysts picked Colorado to win the series.
The joke would yet again be on them, as Seattle went on to eliminate Colorado in Game 7 and win the first playoff series in franchise history. Fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice; shame on me.
Unfortunately, the Seattle Kraken lost to Dallas in the second round. At least the critics finally acknowledged the Kraken are here to play. Additionally, the league was put on notice that Seattle will not be pushed around next season.
How is this good for the city?
Not only is this season and playoff success good for the Kraken, but it is also good for the city of Seattle in general. Free agents are likely to have taken notice of the upstart team’s formula and want in on the fun.
Not only that, the fanbase is likely to have grown due to national viewership in the playoffs. This will encourage fans from all over to travel to the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
They can take in the Emerald City’s sites, which will undoubtedly boost local businesses financially. After all – look no further than the Queen Anne Beer Hall hosting watch parties with standing room only!
A start, not an End
The Seattle Kraken have officially arrived in the NHL. Their next step should be targeting free agent centers with a proven success rate in the faceoff circle.
Additionally, Seattle will look at their defense and how to improve the unit’s performance.
Plenty of question marks on the roster will need to be answered. Among them are, which rookies stay, and which ones go back to juniors? Which free agents get re-signed, and which ones go? And the biggest question of all, was Philipp Grubauer’s strong playoff performance an outlier, or has the German Gentleman truly found his groove?
One thing is for sure; this season was one to remember. Next season should be even better. The next Seattle Kraken chapter is about to be written. Will you be watching? You should be!