The time… has come. Seattle Kraken prospects will hit the ice at Kraken Community Iceplex on Thursday to commence rookie camp, a few days ahead of the organization’s full training camp, which gets underway in earnest on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
As we ramp back toward the regular season, we at Sound Of Hockey thought it was a good time to review what the Kraken did this offseason to retool their front office, roster, and coaching staff—and consider how things might look different in 2025-26.
Front office changes
After their third losing season in four years of existence, the Kraken wasted no time making changes at the top. Head coach Dan Bylsma was handed his pink slip, while Ron Francis moved out of the general manager’s chair and into a newly created president of hockey operations role. Jason Botterill, who had served as assistant GM since Year 1, was promoted to GM.
At first, this shuffle felt superficial. But with Botterill holding final say, the approach has already been different. He’s been more forthcoming with media and fans than Francis ever was, and he wasted no time wheeling and dealing early in the offseason. Still, his moves were measured—aimed at complementing the roster with a new coach and a handful of shrewd trades and signings rather than blowing things up.
This marks Botterill’s second shot as an NHL general manager, following his tenure with the Buffalo Sabres from May, 2017, through June, 2020. To backfill his old AGM post, the Kraken hired Ryan Jankowski, most recently director of amateur scouting for the Arizona Coyotes / Utah Mammoth.
A new bench boss
Bylsma’s dismissal after a 35-41-6 finish that left Seattle second to last in the Pacific Division led to a lengthy search for the team’s third head coach. After a thorough process, Botterill tapped Lane Lambert, the former Islanders head coach who had most recently been associate head coach with the Maple Leafs.
Lambert brings years of NHL coaching experience: four seasons as head coach of the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, followed by stints as an assistant with Nashville and Washington, then five years as Islanders associate head coach before replacing Barry Trotz at the helm. Lambert lasted two and a half seasons as New York’s bench boss, compiling a 61-46-20 record and earning one playoff berth.
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Known for his structured, detail-oriented approach, Lambert is expected to instill a tighter defensive system and decrease the breakdowns that plagued Seattle last season. To round out his staff, the Kraken parted ways with assistants Dave Lowry and Bob Woods and goalie coach Steve Briere, then hired Aaron Schneekloth (formerly Colorado Eagles head coach), Chris Taylor (formerly Devils assistant), and promoted Coachella Valley goalie coach Colin Zulianello.
Roster tweaks
On the player side, Botterill came out firing with a June 19 trade for gritty-but-skilled winger Mason Marchment from Dallas. Marchment, 27, enters the final year of his deal but projects to play a top-six role. He scored 22 goals and added 25 assists in 62 games last season and should replace some of the offense lost when Oliver Bjorkstrand was shipped to Tampa Bay at the deadline.
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In your favorite podcast apps, we have a fantastic new Sound Of Hockey Podcast interview with #SeaKraken forward Mason Marchment.
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Marchment also brings something Seattle sorely needs: the ability to get inside and create space for teammates, similar to Kaapo Kakko’s impact after his midseason arrival. Matty Beniers’ production surged once Kakko came aboard, and Botterill is banking on Marchment having a similar effect.
Two days after the trade for Marchment, Botterill shed Andre Burakovsky’s hefty contract, flipping him to Chicago for Joe Veleno, who was then bought out. Five days after that, he landed versatile forward Frederick Gaudreau from Minnesota. A respected locker-room presence who can play center or wing, Gaudreau put up 18 goals and 19 assists last year and should provide depth, versatility, and some secondary scoring.
In free agency, Botterill surprised many by signing 27-year-old defenseman Ryan Lindgren to a four-year, $18 million contract. Known league-wide as a warrior who will do whatever it takes to win, Lindgren should help stabilize Seattle’s back end. Botterill also added veteran goalie Matt Murray as depth; with Philipp Grubauer still in the fold, Murray is likely destined for Coachella Valley to start, but he gives the Kraken a veteran fallback option if Grubauer flounders again.
Botterill rounded out his summer business by re-signing restricted free agents Tye Kartye (two years, $2.5 million), Kakko (three years, $13.575 million), and Ryker Evans (two years, $4.1 million).
Did the Kraken improve enough?
Seattle didn’t land any blockbuster names this offseason, but the front office believes last year’s group underperformed. So the focus was on adding character players and hiring a coach who can extract more from the roster through structure and consistency.
There’s also optimism that Shane Wright and Matty Beniers can take meaningful steps toward becoming leaders, while rookies like Berkly Catton—and possibly Jani Nyman—could step in and contribute.
Whether these changes to the front office, coaching staff, and roster will be enough to push the Kraken into the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history remains to be seen. But the journey begins now.
