Kraken stay quiet, still searching for a signature star

The Seattle Kraken had one of the quietest offseasons in the Pacific Division, and that's not necessarily a compliment. After showing encouraging signs of being in the mix, Seattle made only modest moves and missed on a big swing, leaving the franchise still searching for the signature star that could elevate it from the middle of the pack into genuine contention.

The big one that got away

The most notable Kraken storyline was a swing they didn't land. Seattle reportedly offered star winger Jason Robertson a massive long-term extension in an effort to acquire him, but Robertson declined to facilitate the trade. It would have been a franchise-altering addition — exactly the kind of elite talent Seattle has long needed to complement its solid-but-unspectacular roster. Missing on that swing was a genuine disappointment, and it left the Kraken looking for their signature piece elsewhere.

Modest additions

Seattle did make some reasonable moves, acquiring young forward Mackie Samoskevich and adding forward Bobby McMann on a long-term extension. Those are useful complementary pieces, but they don't move the needle the way a top-end star would. The Kraken remain a well-run, competitive organization, but one still in search of the difference-maker who brings everything together.

Season outlook

The Kraken enter 2026-27 as a middle-of-the-pack team in a competitive Pacific Division, capable of pushing for a playoff spot but lacking the star power to be considered a serious threat. The encouraging news is that Seattle has been in the mix and has a solid foundation; the frustration is that the front office hasn't yet found the signature addition to raise the ceiling. The hope is that the Kraken take another swing rather than settle, because the roster is close to being interesting. For now, Seattle is a competent team searching for a star — and until it finds one, the mushy middle is the likeliest destination.