Kraken News & Rumors: Wright Trade Discussions, Free Agency & More

The excitement for the 2026-27 season is kicking off, with the draft and the start of free agency now upon us. The Seattle Kraken have been relatively quiet during the offseason thus far, but there are still news and rumours swirling around the team.

Wright to Be Moved This Summer

One of the biggest pieces of news that has come out of the past few days of free agency was the announcement of the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet to Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson. The offer sheet included an $18 million average annual value (AAV) contract, and in exchange, the Ducks would receive four first-round picks from the Flyers if they decided not to match.

Elliotte Friedman shared an article late on July 3, detailing just how much this offer sheet will affect the NHL. Although this news has been shattering for just about everyone in the NHL, the second part of the article will be a hard break for Kraken fans. At the end of it, Friedman shared that Shane Wright and his agent, Kurt Overhardt, have had conversations with Kraken management to move him before the summer is over. Friedman shared this quote regarding the situation:

“I can confirm that we have had positive conversations with GM Jason Botterill, and he has agreed to move Shane this summer to a team in need of a top young centre,” Wright’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, said Wednesday.

This is not the first time Wright has been in trade talks, as he was rumored to be part of a trade to acquire Artemi Panarin before he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, according to the same article Friedman shared regarding the Carlsson offer sheet. Jason Robertson also turned down a major offer from the Kraken, an eight-year contract with an AAV of $15 million. It came out that the Kraken were going to give up their seventh overall pick in the 2026 Draft, and players were involved. Although the list of players in the potential sign-and-trade was never announced, it is safe to assume that Wright could have been part of that deal.

The question this poses is where Wright will end up. It would be pretty ironic for him to head to the Montreal Canadiens, considering he was originally the favorite for first overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, which would have sent him to Montreal. Instead, the Canadiens selected Juraj Slafkovsky.

Wherever Wright lands, hopefully he gets the ice time he is hoping for.

Kraken Lose and Gain in Free Agency

The Kraken have now lost two more members of their original 2021-22 roster. Forward Jaden Schwartz and defender Jamie Oleksiak signed with two new teams. Schwartz signed a three-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche, and Oleksiak signed a two-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

The only remaining members of the Kraken’s inaugural roster six seasons ago are Jordan Eberle, Jared McCann, Vince Dunn, Adam Larsson, Joey Daccord, and Philipp Grubauer. These six players are still sticking it out in Seattle, hopefully to try and help build a winning culture.

Although the Kraken lost two players, they also gained one. They signed forward Curtis Douglas to a two-year contract on the first day of free agency. Douglas played 43 NHL games last season, 29 with the Tampa Bay Lightning and 14 with the Canucks, and recorded four points.

Douglas has the opportunity to make it full-time with the Kraken or play in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Either way, the 6-foot-9 forward will surely find a way to make an impact within the Kraken organization.

Firebirds’ Assistant Coach Moves Up the Career Ladder

The Firebirds announced that their assistant head coach, Stu Bickel, has been named the head coach of the Iowa Wild. Bickel has been an AHL assistant coach since the 2021-22 season. He was first an assistant coach for the Springfield Thunderbirds for one season before joining the Firebirds’ staff in their inaugural season, 2022-23. He has been in his role since the team’s inception.

Bickel has been an integral part of the Firebirds’ coaching staff for both head coaches, Dan Bylsma and Derek Laxdal. Wishing Bickel the best of luck in his new role with the Wild.