Free Agent Focus: Seattle Kraken

F Eeli Tolvanen – Seattle will also have to think through Tolvanen’s role coming off a two-year, $7MM contract. He scored 12 goals and 24 assists in 78 games this season, nearly an exact mirror of his 2024-25 campaign when he notched 23 goals and 12 assists. Tolvanen has settled into an important, middle-six role and found his step as a puck-mover when his scoring dried up this season. He also ranked second on the club with 187 hits in 2025-26. He brings clear impacts to the lineup, though through hot-and-cold stretches. Seattle should be able to secure Tolvanen on a slight upgrade from his previous $3.5MM cap hit, though they could first search for a bigger spark on the open market.

F Bobby McMann – Rounding out Seattle’s names to consider on offense is McMann, who joined the Kraken in a Trade Deadline move that returned a second-round and fourth-round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He brought an immediate spark, scoring 10 goals and 14 points in 18 games. McMann brought a spark to Seattle’s top-six and alternative to Eberle. He also recorded a 17.7 shooting percentage, over four percent higher than his career-average 13.1 percent. That could suggest a slowdown for the 30-year-old winger after his second season cresting the 20-goal mark. Given his age and mere 218 games of NHL experience, McMann could end up with a short-term and affordable contract.

D Jamie Oleksiak – The Kraken will face less of a head-scratcher on defense. Oleksiak continued to provide a reliable, shutdown role down Seattle’s depth chart – though he fell down a rung, to the third-pair, while scoring just 15 points in 78 games. He is an original Kraken and has offered year-over-year reliability since joining the team, typically rivaling 15 assists and top penalty-killing minutes. He also stands in the way of prospects Ryker Evans and Ty Nelson. Seattle could secure a reliable lineup piece, and their first expansion draft pick to retire with the club, by extending Oleksiak. They could also prioritize prospect development by leaving him on the open market.

Other UFAs: G Matt Murray, F Mitchell Stephens, D Gustav Olofsson

Salary Cap Outlook

The Kraken will have plenty of cap space to build out their roster after a front office shakeup. They hold a projected $28.34MM in cap space per PuckPedia. They will have to spend $1.242MM to reach the cap floor – $76.9MM – but could have enough space to re-sign each of their notable free agents while still having room to add. Seattle could be a prime location for impactful free agents like Alex Tuch, Jack Roslovic, or Andrei Kuzmenko. With four first-round picks across the 2026 and 2027 drafts, Seattle could also be a contender to pull of the brazen offer sheet in an attempt to land a true difference-maker.