If the Kraken hope to climb back into the playoff race \u2014 and maintain that position \u2014 three things will be especially important this season.<\/p>\n
Avoiding the Injury Bug<\/p>\n
Staying healthy sounds easier than it really is, but one of Seattle\u2019s biggest obstacles over the past few seasons has been staying healthy. The Kraken frequently switched up the lineup, not just to see what worked, but because of the amount of injuries key players faced. This forced players into unfamiliar roles and disrupted chemistry throughout the lineup. Of course, every team deals with injuries, but Seattle struggled to maintain consistency whenever key contributors were unavailable.<\/p>\n
That consistency matters, especially for a team still trying to establish an identity under a relatively new coaching staff<\/a>. Offensive lines generally need time to build chemistry, defensive pairings become more effective with repetition, and special teams often suffer when personnel changes become routine. <\/p>\n While a healthy core would provide a much stronger foundation than the club has enjoyed in recent seasons, injuries are impossible to predict. However, if the Kraken can avoid the lengthy absences that plagued portions of last season, they\u2019ll be better positioned to build momentum instead of constantly trying to replace it.<\/p>\n Letting the Kids Play<\/p>\n One of the most exciting storylines entering this season involves Seattle\u2019s youth movement. Berkly Catton <\/a>had a solid rookie season and should be gearing up for another full season in the NHL, while Shane Wright, despite the trade rumors<\/a>, enters another season with expectations continuing to rise.<\/p>\n Rather than relying almost exclusively on veterans, the Kraken should embrace the next wave of talent. That doesn\u2019t mean handing young players top-line minutes without earning them. Instead, it means giving them meaningful opportunities to grow through NHL experience. Catton\u2019s offensive creativity could provide a spark to Seattle\u2019s middle six, while players like Wright have another opportunity to establish themselves as long-term building blocks. Young players inevitably make mistakes, but organizations only discover what they truly have by allowing prospects to play through those growing pains.<\/p>\n In addition to the young players that are already set to return to the NHL, prospects such as Chase Reid, Blake Fiddler and Clarke Caswell continuing their development in the NCAA represent the next wave of talent. Seattle doesn\u2019t need to rush their prospects, but seeing the organization\u2019s pipeline start to move is an encouraging sign for both the present and the future. <\/p>\n Improving the Penalty Kill<\/p>\n The Kraken finished the 2025-26 season 31st on the penalty kill, dropping ten spots from the 2024-25 season where they finished 21st, so there is plenty of room to grow in that aspect. <\/p>\n The team allowed opponents to capitalize far too often, especially in a league where games are frequently decided by one goal; an ineffective penalty kill<\/a> can erase an otherwise strong performance in a matter of minutes.<\/p>\n![\"Shane](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Shane-Wright-Kraken-2-1200x800.jpg\")
Seattle Kraken forward Shane\u00a0Wright celebrates a goal with goalie Joey\u00a0Daccord (Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n