The Seattle Kraken entered the break in good spirits. Three straight wins have helped them stay in the game, although the overall picture of the season remains mixed. The Kraken have won just four of their last fourteen games, but thanks to weaker competition in the West, they are still just three points off the promotion positions and have four games to spare. Their situation in the goal area was analyzed by the ProHockeyRumours portal.
The record of 15–14–6 does not make them a certain participant in the playoffs, but considering the performances in the goal area, they should stay in the game at least until the transfer deadline. The trio of Joey Daccord, Philipp Grubauer and Matt Murray provided the team with a solid foundation. The problem is elsewhere: in the attack. Seattle is averaging just 2.54 goals per game, which ranks it among the league’s three weakest offenses.
The situation in the goal area can also play a key role off the ice. Not long ago, it seemed that some goalie contracts were practically non-negotiable in the NHL. Among them was that of Philipp Grubauer, similar to Tristan Jarry’s contract in Pittsburgh. But Jarry was eventually traded to Edmonton, with a full cap hit of over $5.3 million and two extra years on his contract. The Penguins even got two roster players and a second-round draft pick for him.
This trade once again showed how desperate teams in the league are for goaltenders. And this is where the question of Grubauer comes up again.
The 34-year-old goalkeeper came to Seattle in 2021 as a big reinforcement after winning the Stanley Cup with Colorado. He signed a six-year contract with an annual salary of $5.9 million and was expected to be a pillar of the new organization. The reality was significantly worse. He failed to repeat the performances from Denver, and his contract gradually became one of the Kraken’s heaviest burdens.
This year, however, the tide may turn. Grubauer entered the season quite solidly. In eleven matches, he has a success rate of 91.1% and an average of 2.59 goals. But the deeper look is more important: according to the MoneyPuck model, he has 7.1 goals against, the best of any Seattle goaltender.
That’s what Kraken can open the door to a business that seemed unthinkable just a year ago. Grubauer has a modified non-trade clause in his contract, so he would have to agree to the move. Even so, if his form is maintained, interested parties may appear.
The whole situation is further complicated by the injury of Matt Murray. Once the two-time Stanley Cup winner returns, Seattle will have three NHL-capable goaltenders. One of them will have to leave or go to the farm. And this is where the dilemma comes in: giving up Grubauer means a big risk, but at the same time a huge financial relief.
Replacing Grubauer with Murray is more of a lackluster move than an improvement at this point. On the other hand, Murray is quality and the Kraken would be shedding one of the biggest contracts in the organization. If most or even all of Grubauer’s salary could be moved, it would open up huge cap space for Seattle going forward. According to PuckPedia, the club could enter the 2026-27 season with approximately $40 million in cap space and just six players to sign.
In addition, Seattle has already indicated that they do not necessarily need to save this season at all costs. The trade of Mason Marchment to Columbus showed a willingness to sell. Murray himself is at the end of his contract, but his market value is limited due to injuries and a drop in performance in recent years.
Therefore, the most logical solution seems to be an attempt to move on with Grubauer’s contract, even for minimal consideration. It’s not so much about returning assets as it is about cleaning up the books and preparing for a big summer.
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