As the NHL Draft approaches, the Seattle Kraken are sharpening their strategy, with general manager Jason Botterill leading the charge on both the draft board and the coaching staff.
The team holds the 7th and 25th overall selections, plus a conditional first‑rounder from Tampa that could arrive in 2027, giving the franchise flexibility as it builds toward free agency.
Recent off‑season moves have also brought tributes to two of hockey’s most influential architects. Cliff Fletcher, the former Toronto Maple Leafs GM who steered the Calgary Flames to a 1989 Stanley Cup, passed away at 90, while Gerry Meehan, the Buffalo Sabres captain‑turned‑GM known for signing Alexander Mogilny, died at 79.
Adding to the coaching carousel, former Kraken assistant Jay Leach was appointed head coach of the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers’ affiliate, a promotion that reflects his growing reputation.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League and the Seattle Torrent have both expanded, adding four new clubs to the roster and signaling a rapid growth phase for women’s professional hockey.
Meanwhile, the Kraken are in contract negotiations with unrestricted free agent Bobby McMann, but the club may see other key contributors like Eeli Tolvanen, Jaden Schwartz and Jamie Oleksiak depart in the upcoming free‑agency period.
On the ice, the Stanley Cup Final is shaping up as a gritty contest between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights, a tightly contested series that promises physical battles and relentless competition.
The ripple effects of these developments extend beyond the rink, as the hockey community reflects on the legacies of Fletcher and Meehan while anticipating how the Kraken’s draft choices could reshape the roster for the next season.