Kraken hire Lambert as coachbring in Marchment to boost forward group

After the NHL Draftfree agency and other offseason movesNHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2025-26 regular seasonwhich starts Oct. 7. Todaythe Seattle Kraken:

2024-25 season: 35-41-6seventh in Pacific Division; missed Stanley Cup Playoffs

Key arrivals

Mason MarchmentF: Acquired on June 19 in a trade with the Dallas Stars for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft (forward Brandon Gorzynski) and a third-round pick in 2026the 30-year-old had 47 points (22 goals25 assists) in 62 regular-season games for Dallas last season and five points (one goalfour assists) in 18 playoff games. He has one season left on a four-year contract. Marchment has 189 points (76 goals113 assists) in 302 career games with the Toronto Maple LeafsFlorida Panthers and Starsand 19 points (11 goalseight assists) in 59 playoff games. … Frederick GaudreauF: The 32-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Wild for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft (forward Adam Benak). Gaudreau had 37 points (18 goals19 assists) in 82 games for the Wild last season but did not have a point in six playoff games. He has 152 points (61 goals91 assists) in 410 career games with the Nashville PredatorsPittsburgh Penguins and Wildand 10 points (eight goalstwo assists) in 32 playoff games. He has three seasons left on a five-year contract. … Ryan LindgrenD: The 27-year-old signed a four-year contract on July 1 after he had 19 points (two goals17 assists) in 54 games with the New York Rangers and three points (two goalsone assist) in 18 games with the Colorado Avalanche after he was traded to Colorado on March 1. He also had three assists in seven playoff games for the Avalanche. In his careerhe has 102 points (14 goals88 assists) in 405 games for the Rangers and Avalancheand 14 points (three goals11 assists) in 50 playoff games. … Lane Lambertcoach: The 60-year-old was hired May 29 to be the third coach in Kraken historyreplacing Dan Bylsma after one season. In his first NHL coaching jobLambert was 61-46-20 in 127 regular-season games and 2-4 in six playoff games for the New York Islanderswho fired him during his second season on Jan. 202024.

Key departures

Andre BurakovskyF: The 30-year-old was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on June 21 for forward Joe Velenowhose contract was then bought out by the Kraken. Burakovsky had 92 points (30 goals62 assists) in 177 games across three seasons for Seattleincluding 37 points (10 goals27 assists) in 79 games last season.

On the cusp

Berkly CattonF: The 19-year-oldwho signed a three-yearentry-level contract with Seattle on July 52024has yet to make his NHL debut but is expected to make the team out of training camp. Selected with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NHL DraftCatton had 109 points (38 goals71 assists) in 57 games as captain of Spokane of the Western Hockey League last season and 42 points (11 goals31 assists) in 20 WHL playoff games. …Jani NymanF: The 20-year-oldknown for his heavy shotplayed 12 games for the Kraken last season and had six points (three goalsthree assists). Selected by Seattle in the second round (No. 49) of the 2022 NHL DraftNyman also had 44 points (28 goals16 assists) in 58 games with Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League last season and one assist in six Calder Cup Playoff games. He will be considered for a full-time roster spot during training camp.

What they still need

Another scoring wing for one of the top two lines. Seattle’s top three centers -- Matty BeniersChandler Stephensonand Shane Wright -- can all score goalsbut none of the three is a pure scorer. Beniers had 43 points (20 goals23 assists) in 82 games last seasonWright had 44 points (19 goals25 assists) in 79 gamesand Stephensonwho had 51 points (13 goals38 assists) in 78 gamesplays a pass-first . The closest thing Seattle has to a pure goal-scorer is Jared McCannwho primarily plays left wingbut even he is coming off a down season in terms of goals with 22 in 82 games and could use some help shouldering the offensive load.

They said it

“We’ll be strong structurallybut we will also create offenseand we’ll play fastwe’ll be aggressivewe’ll be at the net in the offensive zonewe’ll shoot pucks. These are things thatif you look at the balance and you look at stressing offense or stressing defensethere’s both in there.” -- coach Lane Lambert

EDGE stat to watch

The Kraken were tied for third in long-range goals (23) last season and ranked fifth in long-range shots on goal (564). Defenseman Brandon Montour ranked third in the NHL in both long-range goals (seven) and long-range shots on goal (124) during his first season with Seattle after winning the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2024. Montourwho ranked fourth among defensemen in both goals (18) and shots on goal (231)was also a standout at his position in 20-plus mph speed bursts (140; fourth)midrange goals (eight; tied for fourth)90-plus mph shots on goal (34; seventh) and total skating distance (279.17 miles; ninth). -- Troy Perlowitz

Fantasy spin

Wright’s 44 points included 13 power-play points (third on Seattle) in his first full NHL season. He ranked in the 96th percentile in 20-plus mph speed bursts (209) last seasonis the only player from the Kraken in NHL.com’s fantasy keeper and dynasty rankings and has breakout potential considering he averaged 15:14 of time on ice per game in the second half of the season (compared to 13:32 in first half). -- Chris Meaney

Projected lineup

Jaden Schwartz -- Matty Beniers -- Kaapo Kakko

Jared McCann -- Chandler Stephenson -- Mason Marchment

Berkly Catton -- Shane Wright -- Jordan Eberle

Jani Nyman -- Frederick Gaudreau -- Eeli Tolvanen

Vince Dunn -- Adam Larsson

Ryan Lindgren -- Brandon Montour

Ryker Evans -- Jamie Oleksiak

Joey Daccord

Philipp Grubauer