Kraken Gave Up Picks to Bring Samoskevich to Climate Pledge and the Pacific Division Is Already Noticing

WOAH, did you guys SEE what went down yesterday? The Kraken made a *major* splash, pulling off a trade that sends Samoskevich to the Emerald City! Yeah, you read that right. Our squad snagged him from the Panthers, and we gave up picks to do it. That's a statement move, pure and simple, right before the big draft, and it tells you everything about what our team is building toward.

Bringing in the Big Guns

Let's talk about this Samoskevich deal. The Panthers sent him our way, and in return, we shipped off some draft picks. You don't make a move like that if you're not serious about building a contender. The trade, finalized on June 22, 2026, shows that our front office isn't afraid to invest future assets for immediate talent. This isn't just a random swap, folks. This is the Kraken brass saying, "We're not waiting around." We need to see how Samoskevich fits with our core guys like Matty Beniers, Jared McCann, and Chandler Stephenson, but the potential for our lineup at Climate Pledge Arena is HUGE. Imagine that energy!

Locking Down Our Guys and Looking Ahead

And that wasn't the *only* big news f

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or the Kraken. Just a day before the Samoskevich trade, on June 21, 2026, we locked down McMann with a massive 6-year, $34.5 million contract. That's a serious commitment, showing the organization is investing in its future. Combined with the Samoskevich acquisition, it's clear our front office is building something solid around players like captain Jordan Eberle and Vince Dunn. While the full order of selection for the 2026 NHL Draft is now out there, and we've seen other teams like the Sharks making moves like trading Eklund to the Senators for the No. 9 pick, our team has already made some bold moves to shape the roster. It's a wild time in the league, with Brady Tkachuk heading to the Panthers and Kyrou going to the Capitals, showing just how much movement there is. We're keeping up, and then some. So, what does all this mean? The Kraken are not just sitting back. We're making moves. We're spending money. We're trading for talent. With Samoskevich joining the squad and McMann locked in long-term, the vision for the next season is getting clearer. Our guys like Joey Daccord, Adam Larsson, and Kaapo Kakko are going to have some exciting new faces around them. Get ready, Seattle, because it feels like we're just getting started.

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