O’ Mice an’ Men an’ Kraken

As the 2025-2026 NHL season wrapped up, Seattle Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke suggested an eventful offseason was ahead. That was music to Kraken fans, as the team finished a disappointing 34-37 on the season, good for 6th in the Pacific Division and 13th in the Western Conference. All that added up to a third straight season without a trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

With that in mind, when Leiweke suggested the Kraken would embark on a “prolific” offseason, you can understand why the Pacific Northwest believed they had something to look forward to.

The Not So Prolific Offseason

The problem with the promised prolific offseason is that it simply didn’t happen. In fact, the Kraken are on track to start the season with a roster featuring the least turnover in the NHL.

It happens.

Leiweke could very well have intended a prolific offseason. We all know navigating an NHL offseason is no guarantee, and sometimes a plan doesn’t come to fruition.

“The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men,” right?

The problem for Leiweke and the Kraken is that the failure to deliver on a prolific offseason doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Winning matters the most; there is no doubt about that. Getting back to the playoffs should be the goal. But you’d have to forgive one if they were wondering if there is a need to define an identity or direction within the organization.

Changes At The Top

Ron Francis was the Kraken’s first General Manager and served in that capacity until the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season. With Francis transitioning to a new role within the organization, the General Manager responsibilities were given to Jason Botterill.

Botterill is no stranger to the Kraken organization, having been a member of the staff since 2021. He’s no stranger to the NHL either, having served as the General Manager of the Buffalo Sabres for just over three seasons.

More Changes At The Top

The logical thought is that Botterill takes the GM role with a leg up, being familiar with the organization.

Still, things got more interesting earlier this week when the Kraken brought in another NHL former General Manager into the organization. Chuck Fletcher is now a member of the Kraken in the capacity of a senior advisor to Jason Botterill. Fletcher has over three decades of NHL executive experience, having served in numerous roles, most recently a senior advisor to the General Manager of the New Jersey Devils.

So, is this a simple instance of adding experience because it was available? Or is there another layer?

Jason Botterill knows the Kraken organization, and that probably does give him a leg up. But from a macro perspective, is the Kraken showing they need another voice when it comes to their identity?

As far as the roles are defined, it’s hard to have too much experience.

Phrasing

Now, from my perspective, the Kraken find themselves in an interesting position – one not uncommon in sports as a whole.

Simply put, they’re in limbo.

You’ve likely heard people say this before – tear it down. Start over. The only way to get better is a complete rebuild.

Generally, I’m of a completely different mindset. Winning should always be the goal. That doesn’t mean making bad roster moves or irresponsible trades, but winning should be the goal. If you want to charge NHL prices, you should compete to win. That’s the point, right?

It seems like the Kraken organization is on board with this line of thinking, at least if phrasing is to be believed.

I think “new era” is a nice way to describe things. But, is “New Era” the fan-friendly way of saying rebuild? Phrasing is important, right? The Kraken already know confusing phrasing is awfully … confusing.

Prolific, anyone?

With training camp underway and the season beginning soon, phrasing, wording, and the like won’t matter nearly as much. What will matter is the play on the ice.