In the 25th of a 32 part series leading up to the start of the 2025-26 National Hockey League regular season, we will look at the key off-season transactions made by all NHL organizations with an overall grade. Here are the Seattle Kraken.
The Kraken added two forwards and one defenseman in the off season. Let us look at the three new acquisitions.
Mason Marchment
The forward from Uxbridge, Ontario was traded from the Dallas Stars to the Kraken for a fourth round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft (Stars selected left winger Brandon Gorzynski of Scottsdale, Arizona) and a third round pick in 2026 on Canada Day. Marchment is projected to be on the Kraken third line with Chandler Stephenson and Eeli Tolvanen.
Marchment is joining his fourth NHL team. He was previously with Toronto Maple Leafs (2019-2020), two seasons with the Florida Panthers (2020-2022), and three seasons with the Dallas Stars (2022-2025).
In 62 games, Marchment had 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 points. He was a +15 with 53 penalty minutes, 10 power-play points, four game-winning goals, 134 shots on goal, 12 faceoff wins, 21 blocked shots, 79 hits, 22 takeaways, and 58 giveaways.
Frederik Gaudreau
Gaudreau, a center from Bromont, Quebec was traded from the Minnesota Wild to the Kraken on June 26 for the fourth round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Wild selected center Adam Benak of Plzen, Czech Republic. With Seattle, Gaudreau is projected to centre a fourth line consisting of Tye Kartye and Jani Nyman.
Gaudreau is joining his fourth NHL franchise. He played three seasons with the Nashville Predators from 2016 to 2019, one season with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2020 to 2021, and four seasons with the Minnesota Wild from 2021 to 2025.
This past season, Gaudreau had 18 goals and 19 assists for 37 points in 82 games. He was a -2 with eight penalty minutes, five power-play points, two game-winning goals, 110 shots on goal, 529 faceoff wins, 61 blocked shots, 47 hits, 24 takeaways, and 50 giveaways.
Gaudreau’s first game-winning goal came on November 21 in a 5-3 Wild win over the Edmonton Oilers. He scored from Ryan Hartman with two minutes and 58 seconds left in the second period to put the Wild up 4-3 at the time. Gaudreau’s second game-winning goal came on March 2 in a 1-0 Wild win over the Boston Bruins. He scored from Marcus Johansson and Mats Zuccarello at 5:01 of the second period.
Ryan Lindgren
Lindgren, a defenseman from Minneapolis, Minnesota, signed a four-year deal worth $18 million. He is to be on the Kraken third defensive pairing with Ryker Evans.
Lindgren is joining his third NHL franchise. He was previously with the New York Rangers for seven seasons, and with the Colorado Avalanche for 18 games. Lindgren shared his time last season with the Rangers and Avalanche.
In 2024-25, Lindgren had four goals and 18 assists for 22 points in 72 games. He was a zero plus/minus rating with 40 penalty minutes, with two shorthanded points, 63 shots on goal, 128 blocked shots, 80 hits, 12 takeaways and 72 giveaways.
Projected Offseason Grade
I am going to give the Kraken an offseason grade of a D+. Many feel that Marchment has an undisciplined element of his game. The fact that Lindgren had a -60 takeaway/giveaway ratio should concern Kraken fans. Gaudreau and Marchment did combine to have 84 points last season. Is that enough to solve Seattle’s scoring woes? I say no.
