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Seattle Kraken: 2023 Regular Season Record Analysis
A Promising Start and a Strong Finish
The Seattle Kraken had a solid 2023 regular season, finishing with a record of 34-31-17. This placed them fifth in the Pacific Division and 12th in the Western Conference, just missing out on a playoff spot. Despite not making the playoffs, the Kraken showed significant improvement from their inaugural season in 2021-22, when they finished with a league-worst 27-49-6 record.
Key Stats
* 34 wins (tied for 16th in NHL) * 31 losses (tied for 20th in NHL) * 17 overtime/shootout losses (tied for 8th in NHL) * 253 goals for (tied for 22nd in NHL) * 280 goals against (tied for 24th in NHL) * 14.2% power-play percentage (tied for 25th in NHL) * 80.1% penalty-kill percentage (tied for 12th in NHL)
Offensive Struggles and Defensive Resilience
The Kraken's offense struggled to find consistency throughout the season. They ranked in the bottom third of the league in goals for, with only 14 players scoring more than 10 goals. However, their defense was a bright spot, allowing the fourth-fewest shots per game in the NHL. Their penalty kill was also strong, ranking 12th in the league.
Key Players
* Andre Burakovsky: Led the team in scoring with 22 goals and 35 assists. * Jared McCann: Added 19 goals and 26 assists, forming a dynamic duo with Burakovsky. * Matty Beniers: The rookie center emerged as a key contributor with 19 goals and 24 assists. * Vince Dunn: Anchored the defense with a team-high 26:08 minutes per game and a plus-10 rating. * Martin Jones: Split time in goal with Philipp Grubauer and posted a 19-14-9 record with a .909 save percentage.
Looking Ahead to 2023-24
The Kraken have a solid foundation to build on heading into the 2023-24 season. They have a young and talented core led by Beniers, McCann, and Dunn, and they have some cap space to add a few more pieces. With a few key additions, the Kraken could be a playoff contender next season.