Expansion Battle: Can the Kraken Win the Stanley Cup in Less Than Six Years?
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The Vegas Golden Knights were crowned Stanley Cup champions in early June and had a full-circle moment with their owner, Bill Foley. Foley made the promise that not only would his team make the playoffs in three years but would win the Stanley Cup in six, which is exactly what happened. The Golden Knights famously made the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season but fell to the Washington Capitals, and most recently beat out the Florida Panthers for the trophy this year. The newest NHL franchise, Seattle Kraken, has a real opportunity to come out on top soon. The question now becomes, will the Kraken take more or less time than Pacific Division rivals and fellow expansion teams to hoist the Stanley Cup?
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Year One
After what many called a questionable expansion draft, the Seattle team was preparing for the beginning of its journey in the league. Another offseason stop, however, was the 2021 NHL Draft. Most notably, Seattle drafted top prospect Matty Beniers with the second-overall selection. After the draft, the Kraken ended up signing free-agent goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who was coming off a pretty spectacular year with the Colorado Avalanche. The rest of the offseason flew by as the Kraken were gearing up for their inaugural season. This season, though, ended up being a pretty tough NHL introduction, unlike the experience that Vegas had. The Kraken finished 2021-22 with a 27-46-6 record, missing the postseason by only 39 points.
Year Two
Year two, on the other hand, was a complete 180 from the previous season. They had a decently quiet offseason, with things like Macklemore and Marshawn Lynch joining the ownership group and naming a mascot overshadowing actual signings. However, the Kraken did acquire right winger Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Columbus Blue Jackets, gave a five-year contract to left winger and Stanley Cup champion Andre Burakovsky and Matty Beniers was going to make his long-awaited jump to the NHL. After a crazy first season, it was time for season number two to get started. With arguably zero true stars on the roster, the Kraken came together and showed the NHL what they were about. The team secured a 46-28-8 record and the first wild card spot in the Western Conference. They then went on to take out the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in seven games but ultimately fell to the Dallas Stars in seven as well.
What Does the Near Future Hold?
The Seattle Kraken have a lot going for them heading into this year. If Calder Trophy winner Matty Beniers can avoid a sophomore slump and his team builds off of its first-ever playoff run, who’s to say that they can’t go all the way in 2024? There is stiff competition in the Western Conference, with teams like the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, and Edmonton Oilers, but the Kraken proved that they can play with the big names. If the team beats the reigning champions once, there is a strong possibility that it could happen again. If the latest expansion squad keeps trending how it has been, there is no limit to what it could accomplish in its first six seasons. Compared to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Seattle Kraken have a legitimate chance to hoist the Stanley Cup before it hits the six-season mark.
