Seattle Kraken fantasy projections for 2022-23

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, the fantasy hockey staff identifies relevant players from the Seattle Kraken. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy and subscribe for free to the "NHL Fantasy on Ice" podcast.

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NOTES: These fantasy projections (for 82-game season), a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen and Anna Dua, have been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past performance in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, projected line combinations, power-play usage, team goalie situations, injury history or concern, sleeper upside, anticipated regression or bounce-back candidacy, age, contract status and overall upside for this season. The below totals are safe estimates and do not necessarily indicate each player's ceiling or floor and should be used as a basis for decision-making in all fantasy leagues. Players are listed below in order of NHL.com top 250 rank.
Kraken 32 in 32: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects]
Matty Beniers, C -- Beniers had nine points (three goals, six assists), including four points on the power play, in his 10 games for the Kraken last season after he had 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) in 37 games at the University of Michigan. Beniers could play on the top line with at least one high-scoring wing in Andre Burakovsky, who signed a five-year contract July 13 after helping the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup last season, and/or Oliver Bjorkstrand, who was acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 22. Beniers is NHL.com's top-ranked fantasy rookie and among the top 100 overall players for this season.
NHL.com point projection for Beniers: 64
Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW -- Bjorkstrand set NHL career highs last season in goals (Blue Jackets-best 28), points (57), power-play points (19) and shots on goal (215) in 80 games last season. Bjorkstrand's 101 goals and 213 points in 344 games since 2017-18 led the Blue Jackets even though he played mostly a secondary role. He's a top 50 fantasy right wing and deep sleeper option with the potential to score more than 30 goals for Seattle in a top-line, first power-play role.
NHL.com point projection for Bjorkstrand: 59

Andre Burakovsky, LW/RW -- Burakovsky had NHL career bests last season in goals (22), assists (39), points (61) and shots on goal (149) in 80 games. Although Burakovsky loses some fantasy appeal from leaving the defending champion Avalanche to join the Kraken, he could see a much bigger role for Seattle than he did last season, when he averaged 16:16 of ice time, and have a higher point ceiling in a best-case scenario with Beniers and Bjorkstrand as linemates. The arrival of Bjorkstrand and Burakovsky could significantly boost Seattle's offense, which was tied for 28th at 2.60 goals per game and 29th on the power play at 14.6 percent.
NHL.com point projection for Burakovsky: 58

Vince Dunn, D -- Dunn averaged 0.48 points per game (35 points in 73 games) last season, the best average of his five NHL seasons, and was second on the Kraken with 11 power-play points behind forward Jared McCann (17) despite playing mostly behind defenseman Mark Giordano on the power-play depth chart. With Giordano traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline last season, Dunn is another fantasy deep sleeper candidate who should see a spot on the top power-play unit and benefit from more talent around him, including Bjorkstrand, Burakovsky, Beniers and possibly rookie forward Shane Wright, the No. 4 pick of the 2022 NHL Draft. Dunn should be considered a top 50 defenseman option.
NHL.com point projection for Dunn: 45
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Other SEA players to consider in fantasy: Jared McCann, C/LW; Shane Wright, C; Yanni Gourde, C; Philipp Grubauer, G
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