Despite Jason Robertson’s and other players' repeated rejection, the Seattle Kraken are a team to watch this off-season
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Despite Jason Robertson’s and other players' repeated rejection, the Seattle Kraken are a team to watch this off-season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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In the last few years, the Seattle Kraken have declared themselves as a franchise that isn’t afraid to spend its money.
Most recently, reports have surfaced that the Kraken offered Dallas Stars superstar left winger Jason Robertson an eight-year contract worth around $120 million. That comes out to about $15 million in average annual value.
Had Robertson accepted that deal, he would have become the second-highest paid NHL player, behind Kirill Kaprizov’s $17-million annual salary. Instead, Robertson remains a pending RFA with the Stars.
The complication there is that Dallas has just $9.3 million in salary cap space, and Robertson is going to cost a whole lot more than that per season.
It’s disappointing for Seattle to be rejected like that after offering one of the biggest contracts in NHL history. But their actions in the trade market and general off-season these last few years have been telling.
The Kraken have only visited the Stanley Cup playoffs once in their five-year existence. They haven’t been around for very long, but it’s clear that GM Jason Botterill wants to propel his team into contender status, rather than the pretenders they’ve been lately.
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Ultimately, that motive has led Seattle to be very spontaneous in its willingness to spend money. Robertson’s contract offer is just one example.
In the middle of last season, the New York Rangers made superstar left winger Artemi Panarin available as the team was going through a “retool.” The Kraken were very much in the mix and offered him a big contract in hopes of completing a sign-and-trade with the Rangers.
Seattle reportedly offered a four-year deal at $14 million per season, but he rejected it. Instead, he was shipped to the Los Angeles Kings and inked a two-year, $12 million-per-year contract, which is $2 million and two years shorter than the original offer from the Kraken.
Even though they’ve been rejected, it shows they’re willing to put down big money for big talent.
That leads to the belief that the Kraken may just be ready to be one of the biggest cash splashes in this upcoming free agency period.
Botterill has $22.6 million to work with and to improve his roster the way he desires. He already made his mark in extending left winger Bobby McMann to a six-year contract at $5.75 million AAV.
It’s also worth mentioning that he gave up some prime assets for 23-year-old right winger Mackie Samoskevich, including a 2026 first-round pick.
MORE: Former Panthers Winger Mackie Samoskevich Talks Trade To Kraken
In terms of available UFAs, the 2026 free agency class isn’t the most attractive one. But at any rate, Seattle has been a big spender in the past.
On July 1, 2024, the Kraken made a couple of big signings, acquiring defenseman Brandon Montour and center Chandler Stephenson.
Montour was inked to a seven-year contract at $7.14 million AAV, while Stephenson also earned a seven-year deal, but receives an annual salary of $6.25 million.
A team that is clearly thirsty for top talent and a competitive roster, look out for the Kraken to be big spenders this off-season.
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