The long shots
Let’s move into the territory of long shots, where the Kraken might have a desire to trade these pieces, but financial or performance issues make them harder to move.
Philipp Grubauer
Philipp Grubauer came to Seattle with high expectations but has struggled to replicate the success he had in Colorado. In fact, he’s been placed on waivers, and no team took a flier on him. That’s a clear sign that the league isn’t exactly salivating over the idea of picking up his contract. However, we’ve all seen teams make creative moves at the deadline—especially if there’s a sweetener involved. If the Kraken attach a solid player (like Bjorkstrand) or retain salary to make a Grubauer trade more palatable, some GM might bite. It’s still a long shot but can’t be entirely dismissed.
Andre Burakovsky
Next up is Andre Burakovsky, who has unfortunately battled injuries and consistency issues since signing with Seattle in 2022. On paper, he looked like a fantastic add—someone who could slide into a scoring role in the Kraken’s top six. Yet for whatever reason, be it system fit or bad luck, he’s never truly flourished here. The Kraken might see him as an asset they’d prefer to move on from. But any team that acquires Burakovsky would inherit not just the remainder of this season but also two more years on his contract. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a player who has gone through stretches of disappearing on the scoresheet. Is there a GM out there who thinks a change of scenery could unlock Burakovsky’s old magic? Perhaps—but it’s definitely not a slam dunk.
Jamie Oleksiak
Jamie Oleksiak is another player with a hefty contract and a very specific skill set. He’s a big-bodied defenseman, fantastic for physical play, shot-blocking, and penalty killing, but not necessarily the kind of star who’ll fetch huge returns. If the Kraken are open to trading him, it’ll likely be a matter of finding a GM who values Oleksiak’s size and defensive reliability enough to maneuver the cap space required.