The Seattle Kraken appear to be bringing back a familiar face by signing Karson Kuhlman to a one-year standard contract worth $825K, according to CapFriendly. The deal will carry Kuhlamn through 2022-23 and leave him a UFA after the season. Kuhlman was among the Kraken players who did not come to the team via the expansion draft, and was instead claimed on waivers in January from the Boston Bruins.
After another solid season, Kuhlman, an energy-type player, appeared to earn another look from a Kraken team that is still building searching for its identity. The forward put up three goals and seven assists in 44 games between Boston and Seattle in 2021-22, but eight of those 10 points came in just 25 games with the Kraken. Now the forward should have a chance to make an impact in training camp to try and earn regular minutes for Seattle, or if not, as a quality depth piece for 2022-23.
Kuhlman began his amateur career as a member of the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL before attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he played much the same role as he does now. After his college career, the undrafted free agent signed with the Bruins, joining the Providence Bruins for two games to round out 2017-18. He would have a solid season for Providence the following year while also making his NHL debut with Boston. The 26-year-old spent the rest of his career with Boston, occasionally making stops in Providence before this season’s waiver claim that sent him out to Seattle.
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