Kraken add Dumoulin, Yamamoto following 1st playoff appearance

Also sign veteran forward Bellemare after advancing to Game 7 of Western Conference 2nd Round

By Nicholas J. Cotsonika

@cotsonika NHL.com Columnist

July 26, 2023

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2023-24 regular season, which starts Oct. 10. Today, the Seattle Kraken:

2022-23 season: 46-28-8, fourth in Pacific Division; lost in Western Conference Second Round

Key arrivals

Brian Dumoulin, D:The 31-year-old signed a two-year contract July 1 after setting NHL career highs in assists (24) and points (25) in 82 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. The veteran won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017. … Kailer Yamamoto, F: The 24-year-old signed a one-year contract July 2 after the Edmonton Oilers traded him to the Detroit Red Wings on June 29 and his contract was bought out. A native of Spokane, Washington, he had 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 58 games for the Oilers last season. … Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, F: The 38-year-old signed a one-year contract July 7 to play on the fourth line and kill penalties. He went to the Stanley Cup Final with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018 and the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022, and had 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 73 games for the Lightning last season.

EDM@LAK, Gm6: Yamamoto scores go-ahead goal in 3rd

Key departures

Daniel Sprong, F: Signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings on July 1 after setting NHL career highs in goals (21), assists (25) and points (46) in 66 games last season. He tied for third in goals and eighth in assists and ranked sixth in points for the Kraken last season. ... Carson Soucy, D: Signed a three-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1 after he had 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in 78 games last season. … Morgan Geekie, F: Signed a two-year contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1 after he had 28 points (nine goals, 19 assists) in 69 games last season. … Ryan Donato, F: Signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 1 after he had 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) in 71 games last season. …Video: EDM@LAK, Gm6: Yamamoto scores go-ahead goal in 3rd, G: He is an unrestricted free agent after going 27-13-3 with a 2.99 goals-against average, an .887 save percentage and three shutouts in 48 games as a backup last season.

On the cusp

Video: EDM@LAK, Gm6: Yamamoto scores go-ahead goal in 3rd, F: The 22-year-old undrafted free agent had 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists) for Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League last season, leading AHL rookies. Called up to the Kraken during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he scored in his NHL debut, a 3-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round on April 26, and had five points (three goals, two assists) in 10 games. He also had eight points (six goals, two assists) in 18 games for Coachella Valley in the Calder Cup Playoffs. … Video: EDM@LAK, Gm6: Yamamoto scores go-ahead goal in 3rd, F: Selected No. 4 in the 2022 NHL Draft, the 19-year-old had 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) for Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League, six points (four goals, two assists) in eight games for Coachella Valley and two points (one goal, one assist) in eight games for Seattle last season. … Video: EDM@LAK, Gm6: Yamamoto scores go-ahead goal in 3rd, D: Selected in the second round (No. 35) of the 2021 NHL Draft, the 21-year-old had 44 points (six goals, 38 assists) in 71 regular-season games and 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) in 26 playoff games for Coachella Valley.

NHL Tonight on the offseason for the Kraken

What they still need

Elite talent. Largely because of their depth, the Kraken made the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time last season, and they upset the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in seven games in the Western Conference First Round and took the Dallas Stars to Game 7 in the second round. But they didn't have anyone among the top 58 in points in the NHL.

They said it

"Seattle is definitely one of the top places that I wanted to be. A lot of it was just watching them play, having played against them. You could really feel how hard they worked for each other, what a great team they have, how hard the forwards work for their defensemen and vice versa." -- defenseman Brian Dumoulin

Fantasy focus

The Kraken provided fantasy value all throughout the lineup last season and have some very promising young players to target in keeper and dynasty leagues, along with standard leagues, next season. In addition to Calder-winner Matty Beniers, 20, Wright has fantasy appeal as he transitions into the NHL. Kartye is another young Kraken player with fantasy promise after having five points (three goals, two assists) in 10 playoff games. -- Anna Dua