Seattle Kraken Overview
The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle, Washington, that competes in the National Hockey League (NHL). The franchise plays in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference and began league play during the 2021–22 season, becoming the 32nd team in the NHL. Owned by Seattle Hockey Partners and led by majority figures including Jerry Bruckheimer, Tod Leiweke, and Samantha Holloway, the Kraken play their home games at Climate Pledge Arena. Their team colors include deep sea blue, ice blue, boundless blue, shadow blue, and red alert, and the franchise is represented by the mascot Buoy, a sea troll inspired by Seattle’s Fremont Troll sculpture.
Despite their youth, the Kraken have already established a distinctive identity. In 2023, the team became the first expansion franchise in NHL history to win a playoff series against the defending Stanley Cup champion, upsetting the Colorado Avalanche in the first round before falling to the Dallas Stars in the second round. The team’s leadership includes President of Hockey Operations Ron Francis, General Manager Jason Botterill, and Head Coach Lane Lambert, while Jordan Eberle serves as the second captain in franchise history. The Kraken maintain affiliations with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League and the Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The path to the Seattle Kraken began in December 2017, when the Seattle City Council voted 7–1 to approve a memorandum of understanding with Oak View Group, a sports company co-founded by Tim Leiweke, for renovations of KeyArena. Three days later, the NHL Board of Governors agreed to consider an expansion application from Seattle, with the expansion fee set at $650 million. The original ownership group was represented by David Bonderman and Jerry Bruckheimer, and the application was tied directly to the proposed KeyArena renovation, which was critical to the league’s interest in the market.
Exactly one year after the memorandum of understanding, the NHL Board of Governors voted unanimously to approve a Seattle expansion team. In mid-2019, the organization hired Ron Francis as the general manager to begin building the franchise’s operations. Francis stated that he wanted to prioritize speed, character, and competitiveness when constructing the roster. In July 2020, the franchise officially announced its name, the Seattle Kraken, along with its team colors, branding, and home jersey. The name honored Seattle’s maritime culture and the region’s Scandinavian heritage, while the colors were chosen to reflect the deep blues of the Pacific Ocean.
The franchise paid the final installment of the $650 million expansion fee on April 30, 2021, officially making the Seattle Kraken the 32nd team in the NHL. Shortly afterward, the team signed their first player, Luke Henman, on May 12, and hired Dave Hakstol as their inaugural head coach. The Kraken held their expansion draft in July 2021 at Gas Works Park, drawing more than 4,000 spectators, and used the second overall pick in the 2021 NHL entry draft to select center Matty Beniers from the University of Michigan.
Growth Into NHL Competition
The Kraken entered the NHL during the 2021–22 season with a clear plan to build through the entry draft, free agency, and a network of minor league affiliates. Before play began, the franchise signed forwards Alexander Wennberg and Jaden Schwartz and goaltender Philipp Grubauer during their inaugural free agency period. The team also named Mark Giordano as the inaugural captain, with Adam Larsson, Jordan Eberle, Yanni Gourde, and Jaden Schwartz serving as alternate captains. The Kraken’s first regular-season game took place on October 12, 2021, a 4–3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, and their first franchise win came two days later against the Nashville Predators.
To support player development, the organization built the Kraken Community Iceplex at Northgate Station in Seattle, which opened in September 2021 and features three rinks open to the public. The team also established minor league affiliations, originally partnering with the Texas-based Allen Americans in the ECHL before transitioning to the Kansas City Mavericks in 2022–23. In the American Hockey League, the Kraken helped launch the Coachella Valley Firebirds, an expansion franchise based in Thousand Palms, California. Construction delays pushed the Firebirds’ debut to 2022–23, and their home arena, Acrisure Arena, was completed on December 14, 2022.
Seattle Kraken Competitive Journey
The Kraken’s competitive journey has unfolded across five seasons, marked by an early struggle, a dramatic second-year breakthrough, and a pair of challenging follow-up campaigns. The team has already established several historic milestones for an expansion franchise, while continually reshaping its leadership and on-ice personnel in pursuit of long-term stability.
Early Seasons and Development (2021–2023)
The Kraken’s inaugural 2021–22 season proved difficult. The team played its first home game at Climate Pledge Arena on October 23, 2021, falling 4–2 to the Vancouver Canucks, and retired jersey number 32 to honor the 32,000 fans who placed ticket deposits on the first day. The franchise picked up its first home win on October 26 against the Montreal Canadiens and recorded its first shutout on February 2, 2022, with Grubauer making 19 saves in a 3–0 win over the New York Islanders. The Kraken finished the season last in the Pacific Division with a 27–49–6 record and 60 points, ahead only of the Arizona Coyotes in the Western Conference.
The team’s second season brought a dramatic turnaround. During the offseason, the Kraken signed goaltender Martin Jones, and in January 2023, Jones backstopped the franchise through seven games of an eight-game win streak, including the first perfect seven-game road trip in NHL history. The Kraken clinched their first playoff berth and finished 46–28–8 with 100 points, claiming the first wild card spot in the Western Conference. They upset the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in seven games before losing to the Dallas Stars in the second round. At the NHL Awards, Matty Beniers won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie after leading all first-year players with 57 points and 24 goals.
Breakthrough in NHL (2023–2024)
Following the highs of their playoff run, the Kraken faced significant challenges in their third season. The team struggled offensively, ranking 29th in the NHL with only 217 goals scored, and finished with an 81-point record that placed them sixth in the Pacific Division. During the season, goaltender Joey Daccord started eight of nine games during a franchise-record nine-game winning streak, including the 2024 Winter Classic, where he recorded the first shutout in Winter Classic history with a 3–0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Despite that high point, the team was eliminated from playoff contention in April 2024 and fired head coach Dave Hakstol on April 29, replacing him with Dan Bylsma on May 28.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2024–Present)
The Kraken’s modern era has been defined by organizational change and a renewed push for competitiveness. In July 2024, the team hired Jessica Campbell as the first female assistant coach in NHL history, and in October, they named Jordan Eberle the second captain in franchise history. The team’s fourth season ended with a 35–41–6 record, seventh in the Pacific Division, and a second consecutive playoff miss. On April 21, 2025, head coach Dan Bylsma was fired after one season, and a day later, the Kraken promoted Ron Francis to president of hockey operations while hiring Jason Botterill, formerly of the Buffalo Sabres, as the new general manager. The team then hired Lane Lambert as their third head coach on May 29.
Off the ice, the Kraken have continued to expand their regional presence. In 2024, a second community ice rink was proposed for Kirkland on Seattle’s Eastside, and in December 2025, the city manager was directed to proceed with a negotiated deal. The franchise also unveiled its first alternate uniform on September 4, 2025, a black-based set featuring glow-in-the-dark elements inspired by bioluminescence, along with sonar-inspired striping and a glow-in-the-dark Muckleshoot Indian Tribe patch. In 2025, the team’s primary affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, continued to develop NHL-ready talent, having reached the Calder Cup finals in each of their first two seasons of play.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
From the start, the Kraken have prioritized speed, character, and competitiveness as the foundation of their roster-building philosophy. The team’s playing identity emphasizes a fast, structured approach designed to disrupt opponents, supported by goaltending that has been a recurring strength, particularly through performances by Philipp Grubauer, Martin Jones, and Joey Daccord. The franchise’s investment in player development through the Coachella Valley Firebirds and the Kraken Community Iceplex reflects a long-term commitment to building the organization from within.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Some of the most significant moments in Kraken history include Ryan Donato scoring the first goal in franchise history on October 12, 2021, and the team retiring jersey number 32 to honor its place as the NHL’s 32nd franchise. In January 2023, the team became the first in NHL history to win all seven games of a seven-game road trip, and later that season, they became the first expansion team to defeat a defending Stanley Cup champion in a playoff series. Joey Daccord’s 2024 Winter Classic shutout marked the first in that event’s history, while Matty Beniers’ Calder Memorial Trophy win highlighted the team’s success in developing young talent.
Seattle Kraken Achievements and Results
Although the Kraken have not yet won a Stanley Cup, Presidents’ Trophy, conference championship, or division title, the franchise has already built a meaningful list of accomplishments in its short history. Their most notable achievements include a historic playoff upset of the defending champion Colorado Avalanche, a Calder Memorial Trophy win for Matty Beniers, and the first shutout in Winter Classic history by Joey Daccord. The team’s minor league affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, reached the Calder Cup finals in each of their first two seasons.
NHL Achievements
In just their second season, the Kraken made league history by becoming the first expansion team to defeat a defending Stanley Cup champion in a playoff series, eliminating the Colorado Avalanche in seven games during the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. The franchise’s first regular-season win came against the Nashville Predators in October 2021, while their first home win came against the Montreal Canadiens later that month. The team also won the first seven games of a seven-game road trip in January 2023, a first in NHL history. Individual player achievements include Matty Beniers’ Calder Memorial Trophy win in 2023 after a 57-point rookie season.
Conference Achievements
The Kraken have not yet won a Western Conference championship, but they made a memorable postseason run in 2022–23, earning the first wild card spot in the Western Conference with 100 points. Their seven-game upset of the Colorado Avalanche in the first round remains the franchise’s signature playoff moment, before their run ended with a seven-game loss to the Dallas Stars in the second round. Since then, the team has missed the playoffs in two consecutive seasons.
Divisional Achievements
The Kraken have yet to capture a Pacific Division title, but they finished as high as fourth in the division during the 2022–23 season, when their 46–28–8 record earned them 100 points. In their inaugural campaign, the team finished last in the Pacific Division with 60 points, and in 2023–24, they placed sixth. The 2024–25 season saw the Kraken finish seventh in the division with 76 points, leading to another coaching change.
Series Achievements
Within their brief history, the Kraken have developed several signature regular-season streaks and milestones. The team’s first shutout came on February 2, 2022, with Philipp Grubauer’s 19-save performance against the New York Islanders. Joey Daccord’s franchise-record nine-game win streak in 2023–24 was a defining stretch, capped by his historic Winter Classic shutout. The franchise has also produced individual award winners, with Matty Beniers capturing the Calder Memorial Trophy and the team’s internal awards, including the Pete Muldoon Award for most valuable player, highlighting the organization’s growing talent base.