It’s very early on in the campaign, but the Seattle Kraken look to be a new and improved outfit. The team has kicked off the 2026-27 NHL season with two wins and four points through four games, sitting just outside the Western Conference’s wildcard spots.
There isn’t enough of a sample size to draw many meaningful conclusions yet, but certain trends have already defined the Kraken’s first handful of games. Let’s dive in.
Joey Daccord Returning to Form
Joey Daccord, the starting goalie, was rewarded for his stellar play since joining the Kraken organization with a five-year, $25 million contract worth $5 million annually ahead of the 2025-26 season, but his performance last year was underwhelming.
The 30-year-old netminder posted a subpar .897 save percentage (SV%) in 47 games during a frustrating, injury-disrupted year. Much-maligned backup Philipp Grubauer (top 10 in cap hit for most of his six-year contract) found his game in Daccord’s stead, and the decision of who to start was difficult when both were healthy.
With such uncertainty and doubt hanging around the crease entering this season, Daccord has reminded the franchise why it gave him the contract in the first place. He has submitted a .911 SV% through three games and saved 0.33 goals above expected (GSAx), despite conceding five goals on 21 shots against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 6. Detractors will point to his two wins coming against a very clearly rebuilding Calgary Flames squad and his poor performance against the Golden Knights as reasons to doubt he has fully rediscovered his game, but the early returns are promising nonetheless.
Kraken Offense Finally Wakes Up
One of the prevailing criticisms of the Kraken across their brief existence is that their attack is routinely among the league’s least prolific, ranking in the bottom half of the league in all but one season since 2021-22. Through four games, the script has been flipped.
Seattle rang up 12 goals in two games against the Flames before only tallying three collectively against the Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers. Those early outbursts have the Kraken sitting in the top 10 with 3.75 goals per game, higher than Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Florida.
Some of that output comes from a reliable 25% power-play conversion (three of 12 opportunities), but most has come at five-on-five (12), which is a better sign for sustainability.
Four players are tied for the team lead in scoring with two goals apiece, and five have tallied four points or more. Jared McCann (one goal and five points) currently paces the team in scoring and is likely to do so assuming good health.
How much of the offensive improvement is real depends on whether the Flames beatdowns are a mirage and whether they’re taking advantage of one of the worst teams of the salary cap era. For now, the attack is the least of their problems.
Kraken Youngsters Taking Next Step
While the Kraken’s four leading point producers are 30 or older, their youth revolution is beginning to take hold.
Shane Wright (two goals and three points in four games), Matty Beniers (three points), and Berkly Catton (two points) have all hit the scoresheet and look poised to take the next step in their development.
The Kraken’s best lines early on, according to MoneyPuck, have revolved around the Wright-Catton pairing, with either Ryan Winterton or Kaapo Kakko playing most of the minutes in the third-fiddle role. Both trios control the expected goals share at 64% or higher, feasting on other teams’ depth.
Depth has long been an issue for the Kraken. Their top line has often held opposing teams’ top lines to a near-draw, but poor depth has exposed the talent gap between Seattle and the conference’s elite. If Catton and Wright (and others) deliver on their first-round pedigree, the Kraken should start dreaming about a legitimate playoff push.
Kraken Hit the Road
The Kraken begin a five-game Eastern Conference road trip this week, starting with the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 9th. The team returns to Seattle by hosting the Red Wings on Oct. 20th.
Earning at least six of the 10 points up for grabs on the road trip would go a long way towards solidifying their place in the Western Conference playoff race. Early signs are encouraging, but the Kraken must prove they are not just preying on the league’s fodder before the league takes them seriously as a postseason lock.
Data courtesy of Hockey Stats and Natural Stat Trick.
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