Kraken Drops $34.5 Million on McMann, Trades For Samoskevich, And Our Pacific Division Rivals Are On Notice

Alright, Emerald City! Can you even believe what went down? Our Seattle Kraken front office, led by Ron Francis, went all in, big time. We're talking a massive 6-year, $34.5 million contract for McMann, and then, BAM! A trade that brings Samoskevich to the Puget Sound! If you weren't hyped before, you better be now because these moves tell you everything you need to know about where our Kraken are headed. It's time to get loud, 12s, because things are getting real in the NHL!

McMann's Massive Commitment Signals Our Intent

That McMann contract? Six years, $34.5 million. That's serious money, folks, and it shows the belief our management has in him. We've got a killer core with Matty Beniers, our captain Jordan Eberle, Jared McCann, Chandler Stephenson, Berkly Catton, Kaapo Kakko, and Tye Kartye up front. Adding McMann on a long-term deal signals he's a huge piece of the puzzle. This isn't a rental, this is a cornerstone. When you look at the Pacific Division needs the league's been talking about, a commitment like this says we're not filling gaps, we're building a force. Our defense, anchored by Adam Larsson, Vince Dunn, and Brandon Montour, plus Joey Daccord in net, got even more offensive support to play with.

Samoskevich Joins the Kraken Attack

And then the Samoskevich trade? We snagged him from the Panthers, giving up some picks, but let me tell you, that's a small price to pay for what he brings. This isn't about adding depth. This

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is about adding speed, skill, and another dynamic forward who can make things happen. Think about our existing offensive power. Now, Samoskevich gets to join that mix. You know Ron Francis is looking at the overall picture, and these moves, one after the other, scream "WE ARE BUILDING SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE!" Our Pacific Division opponents better be drawing up new game plans, because our Kraken are clearly gearing up to make a run.

Beyond Seattle: A Busy NHL Week

It's been a wild ride across the league too, with the Carolina Hurricanes taking home the Stanley Cup in a Game 6 victory over the Golden Knights. And speaking of legends, Jonathan Toews called it a career, stepping away from the NHL on June 19th. Plus, the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was announced on June 22nd, with Bergeron and K. Tkachuk making the cut. The league is even exploring expansion into Houston and Austin, which is wild to think about. We also saw some other big trades, like Brady Tkachuk going to the Panthers after requesting a trade, and Babcock returning to coach the Oilers. But honestly, while all that's happening, our eyes are locked on the 2026 NHL Draft. With the complete draft order out, you know our front office is already deep into their scouting reports. We’ve made some incredible moves these past few days, and now we get to see how we round out this roster. What's next for the Kraken? More building, more excitement, and a clear signal to the rest of the league: Seattle is here to stay, and we are coming for you. Get ready for draft day, Seattle, it's going to be electric!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.