Out of gas would be how I would describe the Kraken's play against the Edmonton Oilers. Suddenly the Kraken were allowing 6 or 7 odd man rushes against a period, weren't able to skate with the Oilers and were getting burned. The first week of January the Kraken played 4 games, the second week of January they did the same and now we are entering the third week of playing 4 games a week. Seattle has played fewer games than a number of teams in the NHL and now they need to be the ones to play catch-up.

Overall it's been a brilliant January by the team with even the most optimistic fans likely not predicting this kind of run. I don't think this is the Cinderella story coming to a close but I think there is some natural regression that is about to take place.

The Kraken have a team S% of 12.3%. That is a historic number. I don't believe in the cap era there has been a team that has had a S% over 12% after a full season. The average individual on a team shoots at roughly 9-10%. Let's take a look at a few members of the Kraken this season.

What about Tolvanen

Jared McCann - Career Average 11.9% - This Season - 26.2%
Eeli Tolvanen - Career Average 11.5% - This Season - 22.7%
Daniel Sprong - Career Average 12.3% - This Season - 18.8%
Jamie Oleksiak - Career Average 5.8% - This Season - 16.7%

Add to that newcomer Matty Beniers and his 19.1% and there is simply a ton of puck luck going for the Kraken. Confidence is a heck of a thing and when a team is playing with confidence and getting into the right position they are going to score more, I am not discounting all of the Kraken's success as simply luck. That being said all teams face some level of regression over the course of a season and the Kraken are quite simply playing tired right now.

Seattle plays the Kraken tonight followed by the Avalanche on Saturday and will then enjoy a three day break. It will be the first time they have had at least two days off since after the Christmas break.

Focusing on tonight, the Kraken face off against a Devils team that is finishing up a 5 game road trip, barely getting a win against the Sharks with the game having to go to a shootout. That being said they did remain undefeated on that roadtrip and are on a 5 game winning streak. The Devils have been an interesting team this season, sometimes looking unstoppable while at other times looking highly pedestrian. Jack Hughes is not to be trifled with though as the elite centre has 29 goals in 44 games this season and just continues to look like one of the best players in the NHL. Very much like Seattle, the weakest point of their team is their goaltending.

Both the Devils and Kraken can beat you with a strong possession game and a bunch of shots generated by each line going over the ice. This game very likely could come down to which goalie is able to make one extra save.

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What would it take for the Seattle Kraken to get Bo Horvat? At first I took this rumour with a grain of salt but it continues to pop up more and more by people I respect and who's opinions I trust. Horvat would give the Kraken a legitimate top six centre and a huge boost to their two way play.

The Canucks are an absolute mess right now with no real understanding of how they want to proceed as a team. The team should absolutely be going back into a full rebuild, collecting as many picks and prospects as possible. Ownership however seems to think that they are just a few veterans away from being a playoff team. Everything in Canuck Land has been mishandled. All this means is a team like the Kraken might have exactly what the Canucks "think" will push them into the promised land.

If the Canucks want NHL ready players for Horvat, what about Yanni Gourde? The 31 year old has two more years on his deal after this one and a respectable 6-23-29 in 43 games this season, playing most in a third line capacity for the Kraken. Last season in a more prolific role, Gourde put up 21 goals. Of course with Gourde there is the connection with the now long term signed J.T. Miller who played together in Tampa.

What about Tolvanen with 5 goals in 10 games this season for the Kraken? The 23 year old is signed for this season and next season at 1.45 million and is an RFA at the end of the deal.

Gourde, Tolvanen, a 1st, and a conditional 1st if he resigns in exchange for Bo Horvat. Who says no to that deal? I honestly believe that is exactly the kind of trade that the Canucks think is a slam dunk for them moving forward. I look at it as the team trading an expensive third line centre, a top nine winger on a heater, and a 1st in exchange for a legit top end centreman. This is what the lineup could look like for the Kraken with that in mind:

Burakovsky-Beniers-Eberle
Schwartz-Horvat-McCann
Donato-Wennberg-Bjorkstrand
Tanev-Geekie-Sprong

Enjoy the game!

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