Who Should Wear The 'C' For The Seattle Kraken In 2022?

The Seattle Kraken are the NHL's newest franchise, and after a rough debut season in 2021, they are starting to build a roster with plenty of future and present success in mind. The Kraken are building down the centre, with Matty Beniers and Shane Wright taken in back-to-back years in the first round, and while both are potential future captains, the Kraken need a captain in 2022 that can lead them forward after they traded away Mark Giordano in 2021/22. 

The team appointed several alternates in 2021, and while there's some new faces in Seattle in 2022, the best choice comes from the group in the form of centre, Yanni Gourde who figures to be one the second or third line in 2022 along with Jared McCann. The former Stanley Cup Champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning played a huge part in the teams success, and given his play style and the fact that he figures to be a huge part of this team going forward, it all starts to make more and more sense.

Beyond that, the team had more alternates, with Adam Larsson, a 29-year old Defenceman who is going to be an integral part of this organization for years to come. Larsson plays a physical style of hockey, and leads well from the front, so the Kraken could do a lot worse in naming the second ever Captain of the franchise. 

This team is clearly focusing on the future, as both Matty Beniers and Shane Wright have the talent and leadership to be future captains in Seattle. As they're still 19 and 18 respectively, it's going to take time before they establish themselves in the league before talks of the 'C' come up, but it's nice for Kraken fans to know that the future is in good hands.

Ultimately, anyone that wore an 'A' for Seattle in their inaugural season could be in play, with Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Eberle too, but Yanni Gourde makes the most sense to lead this team forward, starting in 2022.

Photo Credit: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports