Seattle Kraken: 2 Breakout Candidates For Next Season

With each season that passes, it seems as though every team has players who improve significantly. They often turn out to be prospects naturally, but players who have some experience in the league also can. In this segment, we will be looking at two potential breakout candidates from each team. We will also be setting a max age limit of 26 years old, so older players are not eligible for discussion.

Earlier today, we discussed the San Jose Sharks. Now, let's move on to the Seattle Kraken. This is going to be a very fun team to watch, as they of course are entering their inaugural season. They also have some young players who should be able to noticeably improve on their new team. One is a young forward who is coming off of a career-best season. The other is another young forward who is looking to bring his AHL success to the NHL level.

Mason Appleton C/RW: Mason Appleton took a real step forward this season. In 56 games with the Winnipeg Jets, the 25-year-old center scored 12 goals and had 25 points. With the Kraken, his offensive totals should go up, as he will certainly be given more playing time. The Jets are known for having a lot of forward depth, so Appleton did not play top-six minutes with them on a regular basis. Now with Seattle, he should be able to land a spot on their second-line, which will surely benefit him.

Morgan Geekie C: Morgan Geekie is such an interesting player to pay attention to this upcoming season. In two AHL games with the Chicago Wolves last season, he scored four goals and had five points. Previously in the AHL, he also was quite successful, as he had a 42-point campaign in 55 games in 2019-20. In a bottom-six role with the Hurricanes this season, he had three goals and nine points in 36 games. One has to assume that Geekie will be able make significant strides this upcoming season on Seattle. Like Appleton, he should be able to secure more playing time. Keep in mind, he's just 23 years old, so there is room for improvement.