Seattle Kraken 26th in Latest Contract Efficiency by The Athletic

This offseason, the Kraken made a splash by adding just three players but spent heavily to secure them. The signings of Brandon Montour at $7.1 million AAV and Chandler Stephenson at $6.3 million AAV were among the lowest-rated contracts for Seattle. Montour received a C- grade, while Stephenson, along with goaltender Philipp Grubauer, earned the team's worst marks with a D-.

On the brighter side, the Kraken's best contract grades went to Jared McCann, who received an A-, and Vince Dunn, who earned a B+. These deals are seen as positive investments for Seattle's future.

Among the forwards, Jaden Schwartz and Andre Burakovsky faced criticism for their contracts, while Eeli Tolvanen and Jordan Eberle received favorable evaluations. On defense, Josh Mahura was praised for his league-minimum deal, earning a positive grade, while the rest of the blueline received average assessments.

In the crease, Joey Daccord emerged as a bright spot, receiving a B+ grade following his impressive breakout season. His performance is seen as a key factor in offsetting some of the negative value attributed to Grubauer's contract.

Luszczyszyn also provided insight into why the Kraken dropped five spots from their 21st-place ranking last year. He noted, "The Kraken should probably stay away from free agency at this point. Philipp Grubauer, Jaden Schwartz, and Andre Burakovsky all don't look great. And now you can add Brandon Montour and especially Chandler Stephenson to that list. Good thing Seattle has a no-income tax advantage right?

On the positive end of the spectrum, Jared McCann and Vince Dunn's extensions are aging well, and Joey Daccord looks good enough to make up for Grubauer's negative value. There's just not enough elsewhere to make up for a lot of problems on the books. Maybe new coach Dan Bylsma can help get more out of the group, but for now, it doesn't look pretty."

While the rankings may appear grim, it's important to remember that they are subject to change. Players can exceed expectations, and the perception of the Kraken's contract efficiency could improve as the season progresses.