Kraken Netminding
That’s not to suggest Seattle will dump Grubauer, but the possibility exists. And when I say “dump”, I don’t mean a salary buy-out, because that opportunity passed. The club is stuck with his $5.9-million salary in some way, shape, or form this season.
“Dump” in this case would mean waivers and a trip back to the American Hockey League, where about 85% of his earnings would still go against the salary cap if no other NHL team claims him. None will.
The unpredictable, under-performing, and often-enough injured Grubauer still has two seasons remaining at the aforementioned burdensome number. One might recall he played seven games last season for the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, not based on injury recovery of any sort, but simply based on poor play in the big show.
Fortunately salary cap space isn’t an issue for Seattle. What is an issue is goaltending depth. Neither Niklas Kokko nor the two other youngsters in the pipeline on two-way contracts are ready for the big show.
Important to note of course, Joey Daccord is safe for now as the presumed number-one netminder with a new five-year deal worth $5-million per season. He worked his butt off the last three seasons and played his way into a fortune.
It’s that back-up goalie position that remains a question mark.
Cue Matt Murray.
The Kraken created options based on training camp performance when they signed the veteran free agent and two-time Stanley Cup champion for a million bucks and one season back on July 1st. If the former Penguins star beats out “Grubi” at camp, Murray’s $1,000,000 would pretty much replace the amount the club would save on the cap by sending Grubauer down. (They’d save $1.15-million off the cap, though Grubauer would still be paid his full salary).
Murray is no lock. The 31-year-old has had performance and injury issues of his own, dating back to 2020 when the Penguins shipped him to the Ottawa Senators. Since the start of the 2021-’22 season, Murray has played 48 games in the NHL, 26 in the AHL. This is a reclamation project.
If Murray turns out to be the legitimate answer, the Kraken have one other “escape” option, but it wouldn’t really be an escape at all financially. They could try to trade Grubauer, but it would likely involve retaining a large hunk of his salary.
The last option is to keep three goalies on the NHL roster. Not a good idea. It simply never works; too many bodies at morning skate, too many bodies at practice, too many goalies in the room.
Something’s gotta give. Maybe Grubauer finds his game. We’ll start to find out at training camp in about five weeks.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken’s Tolvanen Should Bust Out
