The Kraken struggled this season with scoring as it seems no one could find the back of the net, including star forward Jared McCann.
It looks like the Kraken might be the front runners to land Lightning captain Steven Stamkos as his contract has expired and he is a free agent this summer.
Stamkos would be an incredible addition to Seattle as he has multiple Stanley Cup rings and would be a great addition offensively, even at 34 years old. The Lightning captain had a 40 goal season this year proving he is still at the top of his game and worth the money.
The big issue for the Kraken will be trying to liberate cap space if they plan on signing Stamkos as he will likely sign for around $9 million per year while the Kraken only have $1.3 million in cap space.
He won't come cheap. As per The Athletic's analysis, he is valued at $8.9 million (from �Steven Stamkos Contract Projection: How much would it take to land the Lightning star UFA?', The Athletic, May 6, 2024). Seattle's cap space is barely $1.3 million. - Chaput
If the Kraken are able to land such an incredible player, this might be exactly what they need to be a serious contender next season.
