3 Kraken Players Who Won’t Be Back Next Season

The Seattle Kraken are still fighting for a playoff spot, but it is a long-shot. The team sold at the deadline, but not everything. They really need star power and will have to make some changes in order to be able to bring someone like that in. Let's take a look at who won't be back with the team next season.

Tomas Tatar

Tomas Tatar was a mid-season pickup by the Kraken to see if he can bring some more scoring to the team that was really hurting for it. He brought a little, but not nearly enough as he has seven goals and 13 points in 35 games for the team this season. Tatar is currently slotting in on the fourth line and since he is a UFA without a contract, it is not only likely he will want an opportunity elsewhere, the Kraken will move on from him and look for someone who can be more effective in their lineup as well.

Justin Schultz

The Kraken defense is pretty solid and it looks like Ryker Evans is going to require a spot on the team next season. Since Justin Schultz is the easiest player to swap out for Evans, this will likely happen and the team will look for a seventh defenseman in free agency. Schultz has been alright offensively for Seattle this season, but he is aging and plays the least amount among the defensemen on the team this season.

Chris Driedger

After the final season in Florida that Chris Driedger had, it was exciting that the Kraken were able to sign him. That quickly backfired as he has not been the same goalie and has barely even played in the NHL over the past two seasons. Although he played well in one of his two games in the NHL this season, his contract has just hurt the team over the three seasons and it makes sense for both sides to move on from each other. Driedger is not going to get any more NHL opportunities on the Kraken with Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer as the tandem in Seattle.