The Kraken Missed the Playoffs Again, and Seattle Fans Have Every Right to Be Frustrated

The Seattle Kraken's season ended with a thud six days before general manager Jason Botterill and CEO Tod Leiweke faced 31 reporters, bloggers, and photographers at the Kraken Community Iceplex on Wednesday. And honestly? There are legitimate reasons to question whether this franchise is actually headed somewhere better.

This was the Kraken's fifth season, and it ended the way too many recent ones have: with Seattle tumbling out of playoff position after the Olympic break. The numbers tell an ugly story. Seattle went 7-17-2 in their final 26 games. They finished 19th in the NHL in power play percentage, 23rd in goals against, 27th in shots, 28th in goals, and 31st in penalty kill percentage. This wasn't a team that had one weakness. This was a team with no strengths and no stars to lean on.

You Can't Sell Fans on Beautiful Buildings

When asked what should excite Kraken fans about the future, Leiweke pointed to the quality of the franchise's facilities and arena. Sure, Seattle sits in what might be the best training facility in the NHL. Sure, the arena is arguably one of the most beautiful in the world. Those are real accomplishments.

But here's the thing: fans are tired of hearing about beautiful buildings and world-class ownership while the team continues to lose more than it wins. They're tired of hearing about excellent branding and community outreach while April and May roll around and the playoff stands sit empty. You can't tell a fan base to be patient about the on-ice product when everyone in the organization keeps talking about everything except the on-ice product.

The Prospects Better Deliver

Botterill cited the development of Seattle's young talent and the Kraken's quartet of first-round picks in the next two drafts as reasons for optimism. The Athletic ranked Seattle's prospect pool seventh in the NHL this month. Berkly Catton made his Kraken debut this season at age 19, and there are other intriguing names in the pipeline like 18-year-old center Jake O'Brien and 21-year-old winger Jagger Firkus.

But here's the catch: former prospects like Matty Beniers and Shane Wright have shown statistical stagnation so far. Until those young seeds actually blossom, it's hard to have real confidence. The Kraken parted ways with president of hockey operations Ron Francis this month but will apparently retain Botterill and coach Lane Lambert.

What's Next?

Leiweke promised "a full, independent audit of hockey operations" on April 9, though he seemed less clear on the specifics when reporters pressed him Wednesday. The organization is going to turn over every rock, he said. But that could mean anything: replacing Botterill, embracing a rebuild, or just shuffling the deck. Seattle fans deserve better than vague promises. They deserve results.

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