{"id":549702,"date":"2026-04-10T17:51:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T17:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/549702\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T17:51:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T17:51:18","slug":"espn-insider-details-path-for-seattle-kraken-to-get-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/549702\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN insider details path for Seattle Kraken to get good"},"content":{"rendered":"

As another disappointing season nears its end, the Seattle Kraken announced Wednesday that president of hockey operations Ron Francis is stepping down<\/a>. Francis has been with the Kraken since their inception in 2021-22, spending the first four seasons as Seattle\u2019s general manager before moving to his current role last summer.<\/p>\n

Kraken president Ron Francis stepping down at end of season<\/a><\/p>\n

It marks a crossroads for the Kraken, who have gone just 174-187-44 over their five seasons. They made a run to Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinal in Year 2, but are on the brink of missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years.<\/p>\n

This season, the Kraken were in playoff position heading into February\u2019s Olympic break. But they\u2019ve been on a free fall since returning to the ice, going just 6-14-2 over their past 22 games. They currently have the fourth-fewest standings points in the NHL<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all a sharp contrast from the Vegas Golden Knights, who began play as an NHL expansion franchise four years prior to Seattle. The Golden Knights have been a perennial championship contender, reaching the\u00a0Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural 2017-18 season and winning the Cup in 2022-23.<\/p>\n

\u201c(The Kraken) weren\u2019t helped by the expansion draft in the same way that Vegas was, because it was the same rules, but everyone caught wise as to what they needed to do to not get fleeced (this time),\u201d ESPN senior NHL writer Greg Wyshynski<\/a> told Seattle Sports\u2019 Brock and Salk on Thursday. \u201cAnd unfortunately, that hindered Seattle\u2019s opportunity to get off the blocks in a big way.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut in the next five years after the expansion draft, it\u2019s just been middle-of-the-road moves and a lack of discernible personality for the team \u2013 a lack of direction for the team, no real star player to kind of hitch your wagon to.\u201d<\/p>\n

That lack of star power is what stands out most to Wyshynski.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Kraken do have good players, but I think they\u2019re complementary players,\u201d Wyshynski said. \u201cLike, throw Jordan Eberle or Jaden Schwartz on a contending team and I think they can really contribute.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I don\u2019t think that necessarily they\u2019re the ones you want their names on the marquee, or that you expect them to move heaven and earth to make the playoffs for your team.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Where do Kraken go from here?<\/p>\n

So, how do the Kraken acquire those cornerstone stars to build their franchise around?<\/p>\n

According to Wyshynski, the only realistic path is through the NHL Draft.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only way you get that kind of player is through the draft \u2013 especially now in the NHL where the (salary) cap is exponentially going up every season to the point where these teams are no longer pressured to trade a good young player, because they can\u2019t afford them,\u201d Wyshynski said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody can afford their guys now, so there\u2019s no pressure points for trying to get one of those players from another team, because ultimately the teams will just keep them around. So, the only way you can get these impact players is through the draft. And the only way that you can get them in the draft is to be terrible. That\u2019s just the way of the world in the National Hockey League.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Kraken had the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and the No. 4 overall pick in 2022. But since then, their first-round picks came at No. 20 in 2023 and then each of the past two years at No. 8.<\/p>\n

With one of the worst records in the NHL, the Kraken are in good position for one of the top picks in this year\u2019s draft lottery. They even have an outside shot at the No. 1 overall pick, with their odds currently sitting at 8.5%, according to Tankathon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve said for the last couple of years: the right path for this team is to tear it down, be bad for a few years and cycle back,\u201d Wyshynski said. \u201cWhen you really look at how teams build winners and sustain winners and create excitement and create star players, it\u2019s the same cycle,\u201d he added. \u201cWhether it\u2019s Edmonton getting (Connor) McDavid, whether it\u2019s Toronto getting (Auston) Matthews, or the Devils getting (Jack) Hughes, like, you\u2019ve gotta be bad and then you get good. That\u2019s just how it is in the NHL.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I think the problem for Seattle is that they\u2019ve been not bad enough. And they certainly haven\u2019t been good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Listen to the full conversation with ESPN\u2019s Greg Wyshynski at this link<\/a> or in the audio player near the middle of this story. Tune into Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.<\/p>\n

Seattle Kraken ownership takes potential step toward owning an NBA Sonics team<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow @CameronVanTil<\/a><\/p>\n