Kraken forward drawing trade interest

A Sportsnet’s Jacob Stoller report earlier this week indicated that the Seattle Kraken could make forward Jared McCann available at the trade deadline. A few days later, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman contradicted the report on his ’32 Thoughts’ podcast saying that multiple teams had contacted Seattle regarding McCann’s availability — not the other way around.

It makes a lot of sense for contending teams to inquire about McCann. He’s on a cost-effective $5MM salary until July 1st, 2027, and has become a bona fide top-six forward in Seattle. After being selected from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, McCann has scored 110 goals and 224 points in 290 games, the franchise’s leader in both offensive categories.

Still, since Friedman noted that Seattle is receiving calls rather than making them, it would likely take a sizeable offer to pry him away from the Kraken. Friedman didn’t mention any teams specifically, but Ben Kuzma of The Province and Sammi Silber of The Hockey News both wrote articles rationalizing why the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals could be potential fits respectively.

Although anything can happen, and more than two teams are likely calling, the edge would have to go to the Capitals. Out of the 18 trades made in Kraken history, the biggest deals have all been made with Eastern Conference teams involving players like Mark Giordano, Marcus Johansson, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Alexander Wennberg, and Kaapo Kakko.

Seattle has never been interested in helping teams within the Pacific Division and they don’t appear likely to trade arguably their top player, who they aren’t keenly interested in moving, to their rivals just over the northern border, even for a massive offer.

Washington would present another list of challenges. Even with approximately $17MM on LTIR, the Capitals only have $3.65MM in cap space which wouldn’t be enough to acquire McCann. They could include a roster player in the hypothetical trade but is Washington positioned to move on from Brandon Duhaime, Lars Eller, Nic Dowd, or Martin Fehervary?

As much as a player like McCann would generate plenty of trade interest, it doesn’t appear one is likely. Things could change leading up to the deadline, especially if more teams get involved, but it would likely require a generous overpay for the Kraken to part with their leading scorer.