Predicting the Seattle Kraken’s 2026-27 Opening Night Lineup

The Seattle Kraken enter the 2026-27 season with plenty of optimism and just as many questions. After a busy start to July, the roster appears deeper than it did a year ago, with several additions expected to strengthen the middle six and a handful of young players pushing for NHL jobs. While training camp will ultimately determine the final roster, the current group provides a solid indication of what head coach Lane Lambert could ice on opening night.

Heading into this season, very few roster spots feel completely secure beyond the team’s core. Prospects are knocking on the door, veterans will be battling to hold onto roles, and Seattle’s improved organizational depth should make for one of the most competitive training camps in franchise history. Based on the current roster, here’s an early prediction of what the Kraken’s lineup could look like when the regular season begins.

Projected Forward Lines

Jared McCann – Matty Beniers – Jordan Eberle

Seattle’s most productive line from last season deserves another opportunity to begin the season together. Jared McCann continued to lead the offensive charge with his scoring touch, Matty Beniers took another step forward as the club’s top two-way center, and Jordan Eberle proved he can still be an effective top-six winger while providing veteran leadership. The trio consistently generated offense and showed strong chemistry throughout the season, making them the logical choice to anchor the Kraken’s lineup on opening night. Rather than reinventing the wheel, Seattle can lean on a combination that has already proven capable of producing at a high level.

Berkly Catton – Chandler Stephenson – Kaapo Kakko

Moving Kaapo Kakko to the second line gives the Kraken another legitimate scoring unit while balancing the offense throughout the lineup. After finding his game in Seattle, Kakko established himself as one of the team’s best puck-possession forwards, using his strength along the boards and improved confidence to create scoring opportunities. Chandler Stephenson’s speed through the neutral zone complements Kakko’s ability to hold onto the puck, while Berkly Catton’s creativity and offensive instincts could give this line an exciting dynamic assuming he returns to the NHL on opening night. It would also allow Catton to continue to develop alongside two established NHL forwards without immediately facing the pressure of matching up against every opponent’s top defensive pair.

Mackie Samoskevich – Shane Wright – Bobby McMann

This line has the potential to become one of Seattle’s most intriguing combinations. Shane Wright showed encouraging growth last season and should continue receiving offensive opportunities, while Mackie Samoskevich arrives with the skill set to provide another scoring threat on the wing. Bobby McMann adds size, physicality and finishing ability, giving this trio a balanced mix of speed, skill and grit. If everything clicks, Seattle could have three legitimate scoring lines.

Ryan Winterton – Frederick Gaudreau – Ben Meyers

Seattle’s fourth line projects to be dependable rather than flashy. Frederick Gaudreau remains one of the team’s most reliable defensive forwards and can be trusted in key faceoff situations, while Ben Meyers has consistently shown he can step into a variety of roles whenever injuries arise. Ryan Winterton brings energy and forechecking ability, and after gaining valuable NHL experience last season, he appears ready to compete for a regular spot. Together, this line should provide responsible minutes while occasionally chipping in offensively.

Extras: Curtis Douglas, Oscar Fisker-Mølgaard

The Kraken finally have the type of forward depth they’ve been working toward. Curtis Douglas offers a unique physical presence that can change the tone of a game, while Oscar Fisker-Mølgaard continues to develop into a dependable two-way forward who could earn NHL minutes at some point during the season. Neither player would be a surprise addition to the lineup if injuries create opportunities.

A Balanced Blue Line

Vince Dunn – Adam Larsson

Seattle’s top pairing remains unchanged. Vince Dunn continues to drive offense from the blue line with his skating and puck-moving ability, while Adam Larsson handles the difficult defensive assignments against opposing top lines. Their chemistry has been one of the organization’s biggest strengths over the past several seasons, making them the clear choice to anchor the defense.

Ryker Evans – Brandon Montour

Ryker Evans appears ready for an even larger role after continuing his development last season, and pairing him with Brandon Montour should only accelerate that growth. Montour’s offensive instincts and ability to move the puck make him an ideal complement to the young defenseman, giving Seattle another pairing capable of creating offense while logging significant minutes.

Ryan Lindgren – Josh Mahura

With Jamie Oleksiak no longer on the roster, Ryan Lindgren steps into an important shutdown role. Known for his physical style and willingness to block shots, he brings the defensive stability Seattle will need on its third pairing. Josh Mahura’s mobility and puck movement complement Lindgren’s game well, creating a pairing capable of handling reliable minutes without being overwhelmed by difficult matchups.

Extra: Cale Fleury

Cale Fleury has proven to be a dependable depth defenseman whenever called upon. While he may begin the season as the seventh defenseman, his familiarity with Seattle’s system makes him an easy option to plug into the lineup when needed.

Joey Daccord Leads the Way in Net

Starter: Joey Daccord

Backup: Philipp Grubauer

While goaltending is one of the easiest positions to project heading into training camp, the 2025-26 season showed that Seattle has competition in net. Joey Daccord had previously established himself as Seattle’s No. 1 goaltender, delivering consistent performances that often kept the Kraken in games. His athleticism, competitiveness and ability to make timely saves have made him one of the club’s most valuable players, and Seattle will likely rely heavily on him. But throughout last season, Philipp Grubauer gave him a run for his money.

Grubauer provides an experienced veteran presence. While his tenure in Seattle has featured its share of ups and downs, he has more than proven he can still provide quality starts when called upon. Having a strong tandem is something that most teams strive to find, and there is a chance that Seattle will have that.

Training Camp Will Shape the Final Roster

Although this projection offers a glimpse at how Seattle could look on opening night, several jobs remain up for grabs. Jake O’Brien will have the spotlight throughout training camp as he attempts to prove that he deserves an NHL roster spot, while Winterton, Douglas and Fisker-Mølgaard will all be competing to solidify their places within the organization. On the blue line, younger defensemen will also be looking to challenge for opportunities as the season progresses.

Still, this projected lineup highlights a noticeable improvement in the Kraken’s overall depth. The additions of Samoskevich, Douglas, and the re-signing of McMann strengthen key areas of the roster, while continued development from players like Beniers, Wright, Evans and Kakko gives Seattle reason for optimism.