Are the Penguins the Next Kraken?

Back in 2022-23, their second season of existence, the Seattle Kraken were arguably the surprise team of the NHL.

Thanks to some adroit selections at the 2021 expansion draft and a bevy of savvy, low-profile additions by then-GM Ron Francis, including former Pens Justin Schultz and Daniel Sprong, Oliver Bjorkstrand, André Burakovsky and Eeli Tolvanen, the Kraken executed a 40-point jump from their inaugural season. Good for 100 points and a fourth-place finish in the Pacific Division.

Boasting six 20-goal scorers, including the aforementioned Bjorkstand and Sprong and 40-goal man Jared McCann, yet another former Pen, the Kraken finished fourth in the league in scoring with 289 goals. Seven other players notched double-figures in goals, providing enviable offensive depth and balance. Although lacking a true superstar, the Kraken essentially possessed four second lines. Nearly everyone thrived.

The Kraken proceeded to stun the high-powered defending Cup champion Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs, then extended the Stars to seven hard-fought games before succumbing in the second round.

The future looked extremely bright, right?

Well…

…the Kraken moved on from the likes of Sprong, Ryan Donato and Morgan Geekie (who has since blossomed with the Bruins), while integrating kids like Ty Kartye and Shane Wright. Expected to help fill the production void, newcomers Kailer Yamamoto and Tomáš Tatar failed to pick up the slack.

In addition, none of the holdovers matched their output from the season before. The team’s output plummeted by a staggering 75 goals. The Kraken experienced a 19-point drop and missed the playoffs.

They’ve been on the outside of the postseason picture ever since while attempting to execute a Penguins-style retool on the fly.

I couldn’t help but be struck by the similarities between those ’22-23 Kraken and our present Pens. Powered by a number of players who enjoyed career seasons or darn near, Anthony Mantha first and foremost, we finished third in the NHL in scoring with 290 goals. We featured a Kraken-esque four 20+ goal scorers. A dozen who notched 10 goals or better, which enabled coach Dan Muse to roll four solid lines. Again, mirroring the Kraken.

Even the point totals were eerily similar, with our 98 points two shy of Seattle’s mark.

Like that Kraken squad, we’re anticipating changes over the coming off-season, some significant. Mantha is likely to depart via free agency, taking his 33 goals with him. A huge chunk of offense to have to replace.

Barring a free-agent signing or trade acquisition, the leading internal candidates to replace the popular winger, Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen, combined for five goals in 63 games with the Pens this past season.

Not exactly apples-to-apples production.

Others, most notably hulking winger Justin Brazeau, might be hard-pressed to repeat this season’s performance. Great as they’ve been, franchise icons Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin aren’t gettin’ any younger. Although aging well, neither are Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust.

Sooner rather than later, Father Time is going to catch up to them, as he already has with Kris Letang, whose game deteriorated this season and will continue to do so.

Our defense in general remains in a state of flux, especially if Ryan Shea departs through free agency on the heels of a breakout campaign. It remains to be seen if former first-round pick Owen Pickering and second-round plum Harrison Brunicke can establish themselves as a bona fide options.

Even our goaltending could be a question mark, especially if we ride the youthful tandem of Sergei Murashov and Arturs Šilovs, which appears to be the plan.

Of course, there’s always hope POHO/GM Kyle Dubas can continue to bat 1.000 with his moves. Francis couldn’t. He was eventually kicked upstairs, replaced by former Pens exec Jason Botterill.

While turnover and change is necessary, especially for a team seeking to get younger, expect growing pains along the way. Perhaps even a Kraken-esque slide into mediocrity (or worse) while our core winds down and the team transitions in earnest.