NHL Preview 2024-25 111 SportsForecaster.com

Forwards

Matty Beniers [C]

  • Age: 21
  • Ht: 6-2
  • Wt: 175
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 77 15 22 37 -11 20 0.48
Career 275 65 97 162 4 42 0.59
Forecast 82 21 34 55 - - 0.67

The 2023 Calder Trophy winner will try to get back to that form after stumbling in his second NHL season. Beniers concentrated more on his defensive play in '23-24, so his offensive totals dropped sharply across the board. He got extra attention from opponents and faced tougher matchups. Expect Beniers to get back on track in year 3.

Oliver Bjorkstrand [RW/LW]

  • Age: 29
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 175
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 82 20 39 59 -20 12 0.72
Career 652 174 219 393 -45 122 0.60
Forecast 82 25 30 55 - - 0.67

He will try to build on career highs in assists and points, totals that helped get him to the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, despite averaging 16:11 of ice time last campaign. He has hit the 20-goal mark in five of the past six seasons and led the Kraken with 25 power-play points in 2023-24. His minus-20 rating was second worst on the team.

Andre Burakovsky [RW]

  • Age: 29
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 203
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 49 7 9 16 -15 14 0.33
Career 720 160 245 405 35 173 0.56
Forecast 70 15 29 44 - - 0.63

For the second straight season, the two-time Cup champ missed 33 games with injuries. This time, it reduced his offense to almost an afterthought–he scored just two of his seven goals at even strength in '23-24. Also, his minus-15 rating was a career low. The good news for Burakovsky was his play at the '24 worlds, where he excelled.

Jordan Eberle [RW]

  • Age: 34
  • Ht: 5-11
  • Wt: 187
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 78 17 27 44 1 17 0.56
Career 1086 316 428 744 -54 275 0.69
Forecast 80 16 32 48 - - 0.60

Playing the first six weeks of last season with a broken hand cut down on Eberle's scoring numbers, this after enjoying his best offensive campaign since the mid-2010s in '22-23. As he enters his 15th NHL season, Eberle continues to be a reliable mid-level scorer who will put up at least 15 goals and 40 points–maybe more this season.

Yanni Gourde [C/RW]

  • Age: 32
  • Ht: 5-9
  • Wt: 174
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 80 11 22 33 -11 62 0.41
Career 630 138 219 357 50 472 0.57
Forecast 82 13 28 41 - - 0.50

Veteran Gourde will try to bounce back after his offensive numbers dropped off across the board in 2023-24. Also, his plus/minus rating fell sharply. He did dish out 156 hits, a big total for a 5'9'', 174-pound player. He is still one of the NHL's best all-around pests who will mix it up with anyone, as well as a good penalty killer.

Tye Kartye [LW/C]

  • Age: 23
  • Ht: 5-11
  • Wt: 202
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 77 11 9 20 -1 37 0.26
Career 166 19 19 38 89 0.23
Forecast 78 10 10 20 - - 0.26

An undrafted free agent in 2022 and the AHL Rookie of the Year in 2023, Kartye averaged just 11:50 of ice time in his first NHL campaign–but still led the Kraken with 229 hits in 2023-24. He showed a willingness to stand up for his teammates and also contributed some offense. Kartye displays plenty of positional versatility up front.

Jared McCann [LW/C]

  • Age: 28
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 185
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 80 29 33 62 -10 31 0.78
Career 677 188 216 404 17 218 0.60
Forecast 81 34 32 66 - - 0.81

The Kraken's all-time leader in goals (96), points (182), power-play goals (24) and shorthanded goals (6) led them in scoring again last campaign, although his numbers dropped from '22-23. The 28-year-old McCann owns an excellent shot, goes to the dirty areas and knows what to do when he gets there. He makes the most of his ice time.

Jaden Schwartz [LW]

  • Age: 32
  • Ht: 5-10
  • Wt: 190
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 62 13 17 30 -15 24 0.48
Career 834 230 312 542 29 245 0.65
Forecast 65 15 16 31 - - 0.48

He hopes to rebound after missing 20 games with injuries last campaign, which is not unusual for the 32-year-old: he has missed at least 10 games in six of the last seven seasons. Some of the injuries are caused by the pounding he takes because he is willing to get to the front of the net. He scored seven power-play goals in 2023-24.

Chandler Stephenson [C/LW]

  • Age: 30
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 199
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
VGK 75 16 35 51 -9 25 0.68
Career 599 107 227 334 39 158 0.56
Forecast 80 17 28 45 - - 0.56

The two-time Cup winner saw his offensive totals and plus/minus rating fall off last season. He has the speed and skill to produce 65 points, but he would help himself by shooting more (just 97 shots in 75 games in '23-24). Stephenson is not physical but is an excellent skater who plays a quick game; he can be used in all situations.

Brandon Tanev [LW/RW]

  • Age: 32
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 189
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 66 7 9 16 2 51 0.24
Career 579 84 97 181 33 259 0.31
Forecast 78 10 13 23 - - 0.29

An opening-night injury that cost him a month was a harbinger of Tanev's 2023-24 campaign; he followed his best offensive season with one of his worst. At his best, Tanev is a speedy pest who spends loads of time killing penalties. He can contribute double figures in goals and around 25-35 points in 14-15 minutes of average ice time.

Eeli Tolvanen [RW/LW]

  • Age: 25
  • Ht: 5-10
  • Wt: 191
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 81 16 25 41 -15 24 0.51
Career 371 84 83 167 -23 89 0.45
Forecast 82 22 25 47 - - 0.57

He is coming off career highs in assists (25), points (41) and ice time (15:39 TOI/GP) in 2023-24. Tolvanen also finished second on Seattle in hits (210). His style is an interesting blend: part playmaker, part scorer and part physical winger who is not intimidated by big opponents. He has become a most productive bottom-six forward.

Shane Wright [C/RW]

  • Age: 20
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 192
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 8 4 1 5 1 0 0.63
Career 121 29 34 63 10 22 0.52
Forecast 73 15 18 33 - - 0.45

The No. 4 pick in the 2022 draft enjoyed a solid AHL season in 2023-24 and also scored four goals in eight games with the Kraken. He is a well-built center who has a powerful wrister and quick hands. Wright can push play up ice and displays a pretty good two-way game for such a young player. Wright also does not always need the puck.

Defensemen

Goaltenders

Will Borgen

  • Age: 27
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 204
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 82 3 22 25 -5 65 0.30
Career 322 15 57 72 -2 198 0.22
Forecast 82 4 20 24 - - 0.29

Despite posting career highs in assists and points last season, his biggest asset is his willingness to sacrifice his body: the 27-year-old Borgen placed third on Seattle in hits (195) and blocked shots (111). Despite all that grit, he played in all 82 games for the second straight season and averaged a career-best 17:35 of ice time.

Vince Dunn

  • Age: 27
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 200
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 59 11 35 46 8 78 0.78
Career 568 79 221 300 31 359 0.53
Forecast 76 15 41 56 - - 0.74

The injuries that limited Dunn to 59 contests in '23-24 (two after March 4) took Seattle's playoff hopes with them. He paced the Kraken in average ice time (23:05), tied for first in plus/minus rating (+8) and was their only defenseman to hit double figures in goals and finish with more than 26 points. Dunn is an important component.

Ryker Evans

  • Age: 22
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 195
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 36 1 8 9 -5 20 0.25
Career 122 8 32 40 -16 52 0.33
Forecast 79 5 19 24 - - 0.30

His physical development came later than most NHL hopefuls, but his two-way play in the pros has helped him fit right in as a defenseman who can contribute on both special teams. On offense, he is a heady puck-moving rearguard who makes plays in the attacking zone. Defensively, he gets involved physically and fills gaps aggressively.

Adam Larsson

  • Age: 31
  • Ht: 6-3
  • Wt: 208
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 81 4 14 18 6 55 0.22
Career 956 54 194 248 48 545 0.26
Forecast 80 5 17 22 - - 0.28

The No. 4 pick in '11 is the ideal partner for an offensive defenseman, and that is how he has spent most of his NHL career. The vet of 13 campaigns was second on Seattle in average ice time (22:57), fourth in hits (162) and second in blocked shots (151). He does the dirty work that lets his attack-oriented partner get into the play.

Brandon Montour

  • Age: 30
  • Ht: 6-0
  • Wt: 199
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Fla 66 8 25 33 1 46 0.50
Career 623 90 218 308 22 468 0.49
Forecast 77 11 28 39 - - 0.51

Off-season shoulder surgery cost Montour 16 games in '23-24 and was a big reason why his points total dropped by more than half from his career-high 73 in '22-23. But the right-shooter's defensive metrics remained excellent. He has a big shot and can put up points, quarterback the power play, log big minutes and play a physical game.

Jamie Oleksiak

  • Age: 31
  • Ht: 6-7
  • Wt: 252
'23-24 GP G A P +/- PIM P/GP
Sea 82 2 13 15 -2 37 0.18
Career 705 42 109 151 -5 485 0.21
Forecast 75 4 14 18 - - 0.24

Oleksiak's offensive totals regressed to the mean last season. Although he played all 82 games for the first time, his scoring numbers fell across the board from '22-23, returning to where they had been for the previous five seasons. The 6'7'' defenseman did lead Seattle in blocked shots (177) and average shorthanded ice time (2:58).

Joey Daccord

  • Age: 28
  • Ht: 6-2
  • Wt: 197
'23-24 GP W L OT SO GAA Sv%
Sea 50 19 18 11 3 2.46 0.916
Career 144 56 57 22 7 2.79 0.904
Forecast 49 24 - - 4 2.67 0.911

The first NHLer coming out of Arizona State University aims to build on the success he had during his first full NHL campaign, one that followed four short stints in the league and two solid AHL seasons. An injury opened up the No. 1 job and he ran with it–including the first-ever Winter Classic shutout. Did he tire down the stretch?

Philipp Grubauer

  • Age: 32
  • Ht: 6-1
  • Wt: 188
'23-24 GP W L OT SO GAA Sv%
Sea 36 14 16 2 2 2.85 0.899
Career 377 170 139 34 22 2.65 0.908
Forecast 37 16 - - 1 2.78 0.9

The Kraken signed Grubauer in '21 with the idea that he would be the starter. However, injuries and slumps have derailed those plans. He lost the starting job last season due to injury, missed 20 games and never regained the No. 1 gig, though he was splitting time and playing his best hockey in the final weeks of the '23-24 campaign.