Proof of integrity; proof the Seattle Kraken aren’t “tanking” for purposes of improving their draft position: They want to win and they have been winning, albeit against the worst the NHL has to offer.
Against teams below them in the standings the Kraken have beaten the Anaheim Ducks three times and the San Jose Sharks and Arizona Coyotes each once over the last twelve days. They have a chance to beat the league-worst Sharks again on Thursday night in Seattle’s home finale.
Ironically, it was a 2-0 loss to San Jose on the road on January 30th, their final game before the NHL All-Star break, that first signalled that this Kraken team was likely to start a slippery slide out of the playoff picture.
Piling up a few victories now means Seattle could be losing draft positions, but at least they’re doing things the right way. In particular, it has meant a lot to forward prospect Shane Wright, who’s averaged a goal-a-game in the four that he’s played since being called up from the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Seattle 1st-Round
Draft position means the most in the all-important 1st-round. Entering action on Tuesday night, before the 5-0 victory over the Arizona Coyotes, the Kraken were picking 9th overall. One day later they’re picking 11th overall and a win against San Jose will slide them a little closer to potentially losing another spot or two.
Does it matter in the middle of the 1st-round and with latter picks? Probably. The NHL Draft is an inexact science to say the least, but the higher the pick the more options one possesses.
Let’s just put it this way. Finishing the season on a seven-game win streak, although very unlikely, would be a mild disaster. Emerald City hockey fans might want to quietly root against their favorite NHL team starting on Friday.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Hope Big WHL D-Man Lukas Dragicevic Has A Big Future
