Seattle Kraken buoyed by secondary scoring in 2022-23
The Seattle Kraken are putting up goals at a record pace. A good reason for the offensive breakout is their secondary scoring.
This season the Seattle Kraken have scored 147 goals, good for third most in the NHL (behind Boston-154, Buffalo-151). They are on pace for 301 goals, or 3.67 goals per game!
In the 2021-22 season, Seattle scored 216 goals, an average of 2.63 goals/game. So, they have improved by over a goal per contest.
This uptick in scoring not a fluke. The additions of Andre Burakovsky and Oliver Bjorkstrand, as well as a full season with potential Calder Trophy (NHL Rookie of the Year) winner Matty Beniers in the lineup, have given the Seattle Kraken a solid top-6 forward group that can battle against the league’s best.
What makes the Kraken so good offensively, however, is their scoring depth. While the top-6 are excelling on the stat sheet, the bottom-6 is also adding points.
Additional scoring from unexpected sources
Daniel Sprong has put together a solid first half with 13 goals and 12 assists in 33 games. His career high in goals is 14, and he has already surpassed his previous career high in points (20). It’s shaping up to be a banner season for him.
And Sprong has done it with an average ice time of 11:11. Not bad for someone making only $750K toward the cap.
He isn’t the only depth player stepping up for the Kraken, though. Ryan Donato has potted 8 goals so far , which puts him on pace to tie his career high of 16 that he established last season.
Fan favorite Brandon Tanev sometimes sees time on the top two lines but he isn’t counted on to be a scorer. Neverthess, “Turbo” has 20 points so far while averaging only 14:44 per night (8th among Kraken forwards).
While Morgan Geekie hasn’t appeared in the boxscore as often (4g, 10a), his +18 indicates he is on the ice for many more Seattle goals than goals against. Exactly what a team needs from a third or fourth line forward.
Finally, the Kraken’s newest addition, Eeli Tolvanen, has made a significant impact. The Finn, acquired off waivers from the Nashville Predators is making it very hard for coach Dave Hakstol to keep him out of the lineup.
Tolvanen has registered 5 points in his first 6 games after donning the Seattle Kraken sweater. Nashville GM David Poile admitted that perhaps they should not have let him go.
What do you think about the Seattle Kraken’s production from their bottom-6 forwards?