The Kraken's 95-Point Goal Is Holding Back Emerald City Hockey

Alright, Seattle, let's talk real. We bleed green and blue, we show up at Climate Pledge, and we demand greatness. But after five seasons, with only one playoff appearance and one series win, are we actually aiming high enough? The cold, hard truth is our Kraken, bless their hearts, still have a ton of work to do to be a true contender. We've seen coaching changes, front-office shakeups, but the big picture? It feels like we're stuck in neutral, aiming for a measly 95 points. That isn't championship caliber, folks, not by a long shot.

Beniers' Climb and the Goalie Gamble

You know I'm a Matty Beniers fan, always have been. He's right there, on the fringes of being that elite core player we desperately need. His defensive game? So strong, a projected plus-4.3 Net Rating, it honestly makes you forgive what he might lack offensively. Imagine him hitting his full potential, growing into a true two-way ace, a Selke-caliber center like Patrice Bergeron. That’s the dream, right? But the reality is, he could also become more like an Adam Henrique or a Sean Couturier. Solid careers, absolutely, but not the franchise-altering star we're all praying for.

And then there's the net. Joey Daccord earned that starter's job, and he definitely showed he has the chops to be a No. 1. But let's be real, his 2025-26 season was shaky, even if his track record helps his projected Net Rating look passable. Luckily, Philipp Grubauer stepped up to share the load. Their combined efforts, no joke, were the driving force keeping us in the playoff race for most of the season. But Grubauer's track record is a bit of a rollercoaster, which is why Daccord got the nod in the first place. Joey just needs to stabilize his game, big time, for this team to take the next step.

Depth and Dreams: Why the Roster Still Needs a Spark

We've got some good pieces, no doubt. Vince Dunn? Checks the box as a scoring defenseman with a plus-6.1 Offensive Rating, even with some weaknesses in his own zone. Jared McCann was a positive force offensively when he was healthy this year. Kaapo Kakko has boosted his scoring and two-way play since joining the Emerald City, and Jordan Eberle's production was consistent. Shane Wright, our guy, is coming into his own in extremely sheltered minutes, but let's be honest, the ship has probably sailed on him becoming that true superstar. He could be a Brayden Schenn, which is cool, but we can't afford to bet on him avoiding the Beau Bennett or Peter Mueller path in an important role.

The pipeline is promising, no lie. Scott Wheeler ranked it No. 7 this spring, with Berkly Catton, Jake O’Brien, and Jagger Firkus all showing top-six potential. That's fantastic for building a deep second layer, but here’s the kicker: to have a second layer, you need real, elite talent at the top of the depth chart. We just don't have those game-breakers at forward or on defense, despite picking top-10 in four of the last five years. Our blue line? Brandon Montour, Adam Larsson, and Ryan Lindgren are solid depth, and Ryker Evans could grow, but we need more at the very top, same as up front.

So, what's next? The 2026-27 season is staring us down, and it's time to decide if we're content with "pretty good" or if we truly want to hang a banner. This team needs direction, and it needs those game-changing players. Anything less, and we're just going to keep banging our heads against the 95-point ceiling. Let's go Kraken, let's aim higher!

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