Seattle Kraken: Trade deadline is key for team’s future
Forwards
The second task on Francis’s plate is dealing with pending free agents, and there are quite a few on the Seattle Kraken. While addressing this, he can also accomplish a second task which would be making space for prospects who may be NHL ready for next season. The most pending free agents are forwards. Nine of thirteen currently on the roster are either unrestricted or restricted free agents after this season.
Brandon Tanev and Jaden Schwartz are not included in these numbers since they are currently on the injured reserve. That makes it six total forwards signed for next year when you include those two.
Restricted
Out of the restricted free agents, Jared McCann, Ryan Donato, and Morgan Geekie are likely to be brought back from the main roster. Meanwhile, Kole Lind, Carsen Twarynski, and Alex True are currently in the AHL, but will almost certainly be brought back for organizational depth. Lind could make a run at getting a full-time NHL role next season.
Also, 2021 first round draft pick Matty Beniers will certainly take up a roster spot. Still, he may decide to stay at the University of Michigan for one more year. Francis could try and move Mason Appleton as a pending restricted free agent.
Unrestricted
There are four pending unrestricted free agents up-front. Namely, Calle Jarnkrok, Marcus Johansson, Riley Sheahan, and Colin Blackwell. Jarnkrok, Johansson, and Sheahan are all on the wrong side of thirty. It’s unlikely they’ll want to sit at the bottom of the standings waiting for Francis to build a winning team. The trio will likely be moved for future assets.
If any of this group is re-signed, Blackwell is the choice. He fits in nicely in a bottom-six role. Maybe one of the other three could be happy in Seattle and make a surprising move by signing an extension, but don’t count on it. At forward, Francis needs to move at minimum three of the four pending UFAs in order to build this team properly for the future.
Defense
Things are much simpler on the blue line. Both pending UFAs, Mark Giordano and Connor Carrick will likely be moving on. Giordano in an attempt to get him a Stanley Cup before his retirement. Meanwhile, Carrick would give a contender some depth. Regarding RFAs, both Fleurys: Cale, and Haydn, are young enough to justify a new contract. Jeremy Lauzon has been a regular in the lineup for a majority of the season and should return.