Seattle Kraken Should Not Name A New Captain, Yet
The Seattle Kraken have yet to name their new leader. Opting not to name a captain ahead of the 2022-23 season could be the right call.
In their inaugural season, the Seattle Kraken named Mark Giordano as the first captain in franchise history. The veteran defenseman and former Calgary Flames captain, once again, took on the responsibility of leading a team. However, his job in Seattle presented him with a new set of challenges, leaving him to lead an inexperienced team with little to no direction.
While he took the job in stride, the team floundered throughout the year. Instead of extending his contract, the Seattle Kraken flipped Gio at the trade deadline, along with Colin Blackwell, to Toronto for a pair of second-round draft picks (2022 and 2023) and a 2024 third-rounder.
With Giordano now gone, Kraken General Manager Ron Francis, the front office, and the coaching staff face a tough decision about their on-ice leadership ahead of the 2022-23 NHL season. Who should be the team’s next captain? Do they have someone fit to lead this organization?
Considering the results of last season’s venture, leadership on this team seems to be in short supply. During free agency, the front office made a lot of smart moves to try and rectify this situation. In addition to several players such as Jordan Eberle, Jamie Oleksiak, and Jared McCann, who stood out as integral leaders last year, the Kraken has a strong candidate pool.
There is another valid option for the front office to consider. Should the Seattle Kraken name a captain for the 2022-23 season? If the answer is unclear, then not naming a captain is a justifiable conclusion. It could be the right call going into the new year.