Six Years, a Hot Tub Boat, and Bobby McMann's Demand: What It Means for the Kraken's Future

HOLY SMOKES, did you guys hear the news? Bobby McMann is officially locked in! After what felt like forever, with us fans glued to every social media post, our guy signed a massive six-year deal with the Seattle Kraken! This is huge, not just because he tore it up for us last season, but because McMann really did his homework on the Emerald City before committing. He wanted to know if Seattle was a fit for him, the people, the whole vibe, for potentially half a decade. And you know what? He loved it! He specifically said, "Obviously really liked it, and wanted to stick around." Let's GO!

McMann, The Ultimate Seattle Scout

Seriously, McMann wasn't just thinking about the ice, he was scouting our city like a pro. The dude hit the streets on foot, sampled our amazing cuisine, and checked out neighborhoods. He even hiked Twin Falls! How awesome is that? Our own Kraken teammates hooked him up too, showing off their spots in Bellevue and Kirkland. And get this: someone sent him to the Lake Union hot tub boat! You know you're doing Seattle right when you're chilling on a hot tub boat. He told us he wasn't carrying a checklist, but just trying to get the city's vibe. And clearly, it worked. He also pointed out how invested, loud, and caring our fans are at Climate Pledge Arena, saying, "There’s a lot of good energy in that rink." He fit right into the locker room, feeling like he had "25 friends right away," and felt the organization's support. He's bought into building something from scratch with this fifth-year franchise, and we absolutely love to hear it.

A Big Bet and a Winning Vision

Okay, let's talk numbers and why this is such a big deal. McMann only played 18 games

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for the Kraken last season, but he lit the lamp 10 times! Ten goals in 18 games? That's electric. This season he set career highs with 29 goals, 17 assists, and 46 points in 78 games. The dude was going to get paid by *someone* on July 1st if he hit free agency, and we got him. His six-year deal comes with an average annual value of $5.75 million, making him our sixth-highest earner next season. It's a massive raise for a guy who wasn't even drafted and didn't hit the NHL until he was 26. He was making $1.35 million the past two seasons and $762,500 the two seasons before that! What a journey for him. Now, he's 30 years old, and a long-term deal usually comes with an assumed decline. But McMann had some of the fastest feet available at the trade deadline and that shoot-first tendency we've desperately lacked. Plus, the Kraken are in a three-year playoff drought, tied for the fourth-lowest goals-per-game average in the entire 32-team league. While other bottom-five teams are rebuilding, we're trying to avoid that. McMann was straight-up with GM Jason Botterill and coach Lane Lambert, pressing them hard on the team's vision for the next couple of years. He said, "I want to play on a team that wins. I want to play on a team that does well, and I want to play on a team that is cons" This guy wants to win, and that's exactly the mindset we need to turn things around. What's next? This signing is a massive vote of confidence, both from McMann in Seattle and from the Kraken in his talent. After missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years, we need that winning vision McMann talked about. This deal is our commitment to getting back on track, adding a proven scorer who wants to contribute and win. It's time to build on this, keep pushing, and light up Climate Pledge Arena next season!

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