As the summer rolls along for the Seattle Kraken, the roster has just about taken shape for next season. With that said, some big names are designated to hit the free agency market after the 2024-25 season, and depending on the status of the Kraken at the time, they may be moved from this team long before the year is out.
So, here are some Kraken skaters who could see themselves in a new uniform come the trade deadline next season.
Yanni Gourde
If I were a betting man, which I'm not, I would wager the house on Yanni Gourde being dealt at the trade deadline in 2024-25. Outside of his rookie campaign, in which he contributed 64 points for the Tampa Bay Lightning, he has been a consistent high-30 to mid-40 point player. At $5 million AAV, that is not a good deal.
Gourde's main draw is due to his experience with the Lightning in the playoffs. He was a pivotal member of those back-to-back Stanley Cup-winning teams. Furthermore, he was also stellar in the Kraken's lone franchise playoff run in 2022-23, with 13 points in 14 games.
But, at that kind of salary, the Kraken are better off shipping Gourde off to another contender looking for that playoff experience. His trade value will fluctuate throughout the season, especially after he had one of the worst years of his career in 2023-24. In 80 games, Gourde had 11 goals and 22 assists.
Adam Larsson
Another guy whose trade value will likely fluctuate throughout the year is defenseman Adam Larsson. He is another player with an expiring contract due to run out after the end of next season. With the addition of Brandon Montour on the blueline, and the $7 million AAV price tag that came with him, it may take a home-town discount to keep Larsson.
The 31-year-old from Sweden has been a dependable defenseman for most of his 13-year career. Known for being a more defensive defenseman than one that specializes in creating offense, he has turned that around since joining the Kraken in the Expansion Draft from Pacific Division rival Edmonton. Larsson has scored 20 goals and added 56 assists in 245 games in Seattle, which eclipses both of his stats with his two former teams, the New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers.
As I had stated earlier, it's going to come down to price. Currently at $4 million a year, and entering the eighth or possibly ninth inning of his career, he should be able to stay on with the Kraken with a 2-year, $2.5 million AAV deal. Realistically, that makes the most sense. But, if he is having a career year come the middle of February, or early March, he may be moved just for the sake of getting the most amount of value for him.
Do you think either Gourde or Larsson get traded next season?