NHL Rumors: Kraken Insiders Name 5 Trade Candidates To Bring In Headliner

After a stunningly successful sophomore season in the NHL last year, in which they recorded 100 points and won a playoff round in their first-ever series, the Seattle Kraken came back down to earth this season, settling for a mere 79 points and finishing close to 20 points back of a postseason berth.

Now, as they close out the 2023-24 season with their final game Thursday night, thoughts are turning to the summer, and how to get the franchise back into the playoffs. Their offense fell off a cliff, and they'll finish 29th in goals scored in the NHL this year.

Kraken beat writers Geoff Baker and Kate Shefte write in the Seattle Times that the team needs to bring in some elite game-changing offensive talent, and the only way to do that would be to trade some attractive pieces. "They can't leave anything off the table," says Baker. He then goes on to name five players that could be used as enticing trade bait to bring in a real difference-maker up front:

Vince Dunn (the headliner in any deal)
Will Borgen
Adam Larsson
Joey Daccord
Shane Wright

Shefte also writes that it's time for the Kraken "to pony up for some scoring punch." But she calls Dunn untouchable, along with Jared McCann. She also doesn't see Wright going anywhere, but then throws out the name of sensational junior prospect Jagger Firkus as a potential deal headliner: He went wild with the Moose Jaw Warriors this season in the WHL, scoring 61 goals in 63 games with 126 points.

All in all, the Kraken have to figure out a way to seriously boost their offensive production, and if takes sacrificing some enticing names that fans would rather not part with, it just might have to be the cost.