2021-22 Kraken Report Cards: Donato, Rask, Sprong

Happy September, Seattle Kraken fans, and welcome to the final edition of the Kraken Report Cards! As of now, only one of the final three players I’ll discuss will be on the team this season. The other two are currently free agents. The first player we’ll discuss will be on the team and is someone I’ve liked for a while, and he’s coming off a career year. The other two were acquired during the season by general manager Ron Francis and had experienced a fair amount of success given their roles.

Before I start, let’s break down the grading system. It’s the basic A-F system where an A is excellent, and a C- means they have a lot to work on. Minimum qualifications for inclusion are having played 10 games and finished the season with the Kraken. For the final time this offseason, let’s get it going. 

Ryan Donato

Ryan Donato’s 16 goals and 31 points were good enough to earn him another contract, as he signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal after initially not being offered one. Not only did he have a strong year, but he also scored the first goal in franchise history. Personally, for the sentimentality alone, I also would’ve re-signed him; though the numbers he put up definitely helped.

Donato averaged 13:48 time on ice, which is now his career-high over the course of a full season. He also played nearly 133 minutes on the power play, shattering his previous best. Given that he’s back on another contract year, he’s going to want to at the very least emulate that performance, if not exceed it.

Sprong faces a similar problem as Rask in that the Kraken just don’t have the space for him. Could he have found a home with the Firebirds? Maybe, but an AHL role may not be something he’s looking for, as he has only played in the AHL in one season since turning pro during the 2017-18 season. Being that we only have a small sample size to work with, his grade will reflect that.

Player Grade: C+

Kraken fans should be excited to see what Donato will bring to the table in whatever role he ends up in. The THW Kraken Team will be exploring the potential lineups for opening day, but there’s a good chance that he’ll be on my personal Kraken lineup, though nothing is set in stone yet. As for Rask and Sprong, I’m not sure where they’ll end up. They could head overseas in an attempt to rejuvenate their careers, but only time will tell.