SEATTLE — With June and the 2025 NHL Draft in the rearview mirror for general managers, their focus has shifted to free agency.

On day one, the Seattle Kraken GM Jason Botterill made two acquisitions in order “to bring depth to our organization [because] we’re trying to create competition in a lot of different positions.”

Botterill and the Kraken’s first move was signing defenseman Ryan Lindgren to a four-year $4.5 million average annual value contract. The defenseman was previously with the Colorado Avalanche for a single season (2024-2025) and before that, a five-year run with the New York Rangers (2018-2024).

Despite appearing in just 18 games last season, the Kraken have high hopes for the defenseman.

His physicality, his compete out there, helping out PK, which needs to get better this year look at his track record of playing big games and knowing what it takes to have success in the playoffs,” said Botterill. “Certainly, excited to bring his culture to our organization.

The second move came from the signing of two-time Stanley Cup-winning goalie Matt Murray of the Toronto Maple Leafs to a one-year deal worth $1 million. The goalie only appeared in two games for Toronto last season while recovering from bilateral hip surgery in 2023.

But that doesn’t seem to scare Seattle’s front office.

“Matt has dealt with injuries,” Botterill said. “We feel he’s healthy. We feel he’s hungry to come in and compete for a position. He obviously has the pedigree of knowing what it takes to win a Stanley Cup.”

The amount of action on the first day of free agency was key for Botterill and the long-term Kraken goal for the awkward schedule in the season ahead.

You look at the forwards, you look at our defense, look at our goaltending we’re trying to bring depth to our organization, we’re trying to create competition in a lot of different positions,” Botterill said. “It’s something you’re going to hear quite a bit with it being an Olympic year and the condensed schedule. You’re going to have to utilize your depth a lot.

While there are still 14 more days in free agency, the Kraken are seemingly satisfied with the moves they’ve made to accomplish the organization’s goals.

“We’re happy with what we’ve done with the roster. Right?” Botterill said. “We’ve talked about adding a little bit more size, a little bit more physicality, and a little more competition. I hate to bring it up, but to me, there’s competition, and that’s what we really want.”