Seattle Kraken's 2024 Free Agency: Early Moves and Insights

While teams like the Nashville Predators made headlines by signing Steven Stamkos, and Nikita Zadorov swapped his Canucks jersey for Bruins colors, Seattle Kraken GM Ron Francis made bold moves that turned heads across the league.

The Kraken welcomed Stanley Cup champions Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson to the team. Montour, who arrives fresh from the Florida Panthers, brings invaluable playoff experience and has inked a hefty seven-year deal worth $7.14 million AAV. Stephenson, coming from the Golden Knights, also signed for seven years at $6.25 million AAV, adding proven talent to Seattle's roster.

Francis's strategy clearly focused on acquiring seasoned players with championship experience, balancing their on-ice impact with the considerations of age and the NHL's shifting dynamics. These signings underscore Seattle's commitment to immediate improvement and a deeper postseason push.

However, these big signings required some roster adjustments. To create cap space, Seattle traded defenseman Brian Dumoulin to Anaheim and saw Tomas Tatar return to the Devils in free agency. Additionally, goalie Chris Driedger departed for the Panthers, streamlining the Kraken's goaltending situation.

On the other hand, Seattle invested in youth with Eeli Tolvanen's re-signing at $3.475 million AAV, signaling the team's dedication to developing young talent. This focus on the future is further highlighted by the signing of recent draft pick Berkly Catton to an entry-level contract.

All eyes now turn to Matty Beniers and his decision regarding a qualifying offer, a move that will play a crucial role in Seattle's future salary cap management. With $7.25 million in cap space still available, additional offseason moves are possible, though significant changes seem unlikely given the team's recent playoff success.

As the offseason unfolds, Seattle's focus will be on fine-tuning rather than overhauling the roster, aiming to build on their playoff momentum while addressing any remaining gaps.