Forecasting the Kraken's power play and penalty kill strategies for the 2024-25

As training camp and preseason games progress, we'll gain more clarity, particularly in terms of player chemistry. To create these line combinations, we've made a few assumptions regarding who will be on the roster.

For this analysis, we're assuming the following:

Matty Beniers will be signed (no need to worry about that)
Ryker Evans and Shane Wright will be full-time Kraken players this season

This article stems from a question in our Patreon Mailbag, where subscriber Katie asked about the special teams lines for 2024-25. Thanks, Katie! (Editor's note: If you aren't a Patreon subscriber yet, you can join today!) Although we'll focus mainly on special teams, we'll also explore what Seattle could do with their even-strength lines.

Keep in mind that several roster changes will impact the upcoming season.

Alex Wennberg - Traded
Kailer Yamamoto - Free Agent
Tomas Tatar - Free Agent
Brian Dumoulin - Traded
Justin Schultz - Free Agent

Chandler Stephenson - Free Agent Signing
Brandon Montour - Free Agent Signing
Shane Wright - Promoted from AHL
Ryker Evans - Promoted from AHL
Josh Mahura - Free Agent Signing

All these departures played a role in special teams during the 2023-24 season, leaving gaps that need to be filled. Additionally, with new coaching staff members like Dan Bylsma, Bob Woods, and Jessica Campbell, we expect significant adjustments to special teams this season.

The power play unit saw changes before and after the 2024 trade deadline, especially with the trade of Alex Wennberg and injuries to Andre Burakovsky and Vince Dunn. Here's how the Seattle Kraken power play lines looked at the end of the 2023-24 season:

Ryker Evans, who had success on the power play in the AHL, is expected to be a full-time roster player. However, with Brandon Montour joining the team, Evans may start lower on the depth chart and might not be part of the power play initially.

Seattle's key free-agent signings, Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson, will make an immediate impact on the top power play unit. Stephenson won 52.6% of his face-offs last season, surpassing all Seattle Kraken centermen, none of whom were above 48% in the face-off circle.

Montour, who played on the top power play line for the Florida Panthers (who ranked sixth in the NHL with 63 goals), averaged 3:54 of power play time per game, over a minute more than the Kraken's top power play quarterback, Vince Dunn, who averaged 2:49 per game.

Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jared McCann, top power play scorers with 25 and 23 points, respectively, have earned their spots on the top unit and will likely continue there next season. Andre Burakovsky, who had a rough season, is poised for a comeback and could be key as a puck carrier. If Burakovsky doesn't produce quickly, he might be moved to the second unit.

The second unit is expected to feature Matty Beniers, who struggled with consistent scoring last season. Jordan Eberle will likely handle puck-carrying duties into the offensive zone. Vince Dunn will start as the quarterback on this unit and is expected to be productive again. Although Montour had more power play time, he only had one more point than Dunn (17). However, Montour's impressive 33-point power play season is why Dunn might start on the second unit but could move up if Montour doesn't click with the top group.

Shane Wright and Ryker Evans may not start the season on the power play but will be ready to step in if needed. Head coach Dan Bylsma and assistant coach Jessica Campbell, both coming from the Coachella Valley Firebirds, have firsthand experience with Wright and Evans succeeding on the power play and will be ready to insert them into the lineup when the opportunity arises. Wright's competition for a power play role will only make the Kraken stronger.

Katie also asked about the possibility of two defensemen on a power play unit. Given the forward depth, Seattle will likely use four forwards on most nights. However, situations could arise where Ryker Evans is deployed, but typically, expect just one defenseman on the power play.

The penalty kill units also saw changes by the end of last season. With Alex Wennberg and Brian Dumoulin traded and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare not re-signed, new roles opened up. Stephenson, accustomed to playing in all situations, is expected to replace Wennberg. The Montour signing and the expectation that Evans will make the team led to Dumoulin's trade. McCann filled Wennberg's vacancy after the deadline and might stay on the penalty kill. This leaves two spots to fill.

Face-off wins are crucial on the penalty kill. Of the forwards, only Brandon Tanev lacks in this department. We anticipate Yanni Gourde and Tanev on the top penalty-killing line, as they'll often be more rested due to limited playing time in other situations. Their high-energy style worked last year and should continue to disrupt opposing power plays. Adam Larsson and Jamie Oleksiak, the top penalty kill defense pairing last season, will likely remain in those roles for 2024-25.

The second unit will feature versatile Kraken forwards Chandler Stephenson and Jared McCann. Will Borgen, experienced on the penalty kill, will mentor Evans. Expect equal ice time between the first and second lines, as both will be deployed equally.

There will be some changes this year that might surprise fans, but change is a part of hockey and a part of the Kraken's commitment to improvement. Forward lines will likely change throughout the season, but here's a potential combination we could see Bylsma try:

Matty Beniers on the second line? The reality is that Beniers only scored 37 points last season, not ideal for a first-line center. Currently, Chandler Stephenson is the best center on the roster, and until Beniers or Wright surpasses him, Stephenson will be on the first line.

With Shane Wright expected to make the team this year, he'll need sheltered minutes and to be positioned with wingers who can help him contribute. A third-line role is ideal for this, and Jaden Schwartz and Eeli Tolvanen, with their strong shots and forechecking abilities, can help Wright succeed. Tye Kartye, Brandon Tanev, and Yanni Gourde are fan favorites due to their hustle and grinding play style. They'll excel as a change-of-pace line, capable of putting the other team on its heels.

Defensive pairings are easier to project since there are fewer lines and players. Adam Larsson and Vince Dunn have played well together in the first three years of Kraken hockey, so there's little reason to break them up. We anticipate Montour pairing with Oleksiak. Will Borgen, who led the Kraken defense in hits last year, will play a stay-at-home role, allowing Evans to further develop his puck-moving skills.

Line combinations will be fluid as chemistries develop and the new Kraken coaching staff experiments with what works and what doesn't. The forward lines are undoubtedly improved for the upcoming season, but the question remains: has the Seattle Kraken improved enough as a whole to secure a playoff spot?