Seattle Kraken Roll Call is assessing every player who held a significant place in the fortunes of the 2022-23 Kraken season. We’ll be looking at the highs and lows they experienced during the last campaign, as well as what the future may hold for them in Seattle. Today we feature D-man Adam Larsson.
Position: Right shot defenseman.
2022-’23 Kraken totals (GP-G-A-P): 82-8-25-33, 47 PIM
Contract Status: Two seasons remaining at $4-million per. He has a modified no-trade clause where he submits a 10-team no-trade list.
Seattle Kraken Season Synopsis
Well, we handled his partner Vince Dunn earlier this week, so how about we complete the set. While Dunn missed just one regular season game in 2022-’23, his partner Larsson didn’t miss any.
The 30-year-old Swede led the Kraken in blocked shots, hits and somehow managed to have a positive takeaway-giveaway ratio despite the nature of his game. That would be taking care of business in his own end while his partner and the Kraken’s 2nd leading scorer Dunn forayed into the offensive zone more often than not.
That said, despite his propensity for physical play and a no nonsense approach to defending, Larsson’s point total is actually impressive, as was his occasional ability to show some dangle. This, April 8th, in a romp over the Blackhawks at Climate Pledge Arena.
Highs And Lows
The entire season was a high for Larsson when you consider the positive impact the man some call “Bearcat” had on the Kraken. Staying healthy helped of course, and his consistency of effort matched his presence.
Much has been made of Dunn’s scoring streaks. Larsson had a seven-game point streak of his own from late December into January and posted three two-point games along with way. One of them came at home on January 25th when he tallied two assists in the Kraken’s 6-1 win over their rivals from up the road, the Vancouver Canucks. It was the first time the Seattle franchise had ever beaten them.
Ultimately, Larsson tied a career high for goals in a season with eight, and set new highs in assists and points with 25 and 33 respectively.
Minute munching says the most as it relates to blueline value. In the postseason, Larsson averaged more than 25-minutes a night in ice time. His 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame is built for the violent, playoff grind.
What The Future Holds
“Rest”, was the first thing Larsson mentioned in May when it came to his summer plans. Fair enough. That would be followed by steady off-season training. While much of it for him would be dry-land until the season gets closer, it won’t be long before the informal skating starts if it hasn’t already.
Larsson enters his 13th NHL season. Five with the New Jersey Devils, five with the Edmonton Oilers, and now his third with the Kraken. The Stanley Cup remains elusive. He’d like to join his many Seattle teammates who have their name etched in silver.
The club is coming off a season in which they took a big step. He’s well aware of what’s next.
“I don’t think people expected us to do what we did this year, but at the same time, coming back to next year everybody starts from square one again so, as much as we want to feel good about this one, it doesn’t really mean much at the end of the road,” Larsson said in May. “Just need to come back and be even more prepared.”
Recent Roll Calls:
— Seattle Kraken Roll Call: Vince Dunn
— Seattle Kraken Roll Call: Brandon Tanev
— Seattle Kraken Roll Call: Alexander Wennberg
