Kraken Rumors: Insider Suggests Seattle May Buyout Philipp Grubauer
With both goalies carrying big cap hits—Daccord at $5 million AAV starting next season and Grubauer at $5.9 million through 2026-27—the Kraken must decide whether to stick with this tandem or pivot to Daccord as the long-term starter.
As Kate Shefte of The Seattle Times notes, “At present, Daccord and Grubauer are expected to share the net until someone shows he needs it more,” showing the uncertainty in goal. However, Daccord’s emergence last season has accelerated the timeline for a potential resolution.
PHILIPP. GRUBAUER. 😱
— NHL (@NHL) November 3, 2023
That's it, that's the post... pic.twitter.com/sqnnDgqd8Y
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet has suggested that a buyout of Grubauer could be the Kraken’s cleanest path forward if Daccord seizes the starting job.
“A buyout could be a cleaner option,” Friedman explained, pointing to how it would spread the remaining financial burden across multiple seasons.
A Grubauer buyout would carry a modest $1.983 million cap hit in 2025-26, peak at $3.083 million in 2026-27, and then taper off to $1.683 million for two additional seasons.
Although a trade remains possible, Friedman cautioned that it may require Seattle to retain salary or add a sweetener to move Grubauer’s contract, complicating that route.
Philipp. Grubauer.#SeaKraken x @WAFDbank pic.twitter.com/XTAkblI0xS
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) October 14, 2024
Grubauer’s tenure in Seattle has been a mix of highs and lows—marked by injuries but highlighted by a stellar performance during the team’s first playoff run.
However, Daccord’s rise, fueled by a 2.46 GAA and .916 save percentage last season, has shifted the conversation toward him as the franchise’s potential long-term solution in goal.
If Daccord continues his upward trend, the Kraken may view a Grubauer buyout as the most strategic way to free up cap space and solidify their goaltending future.
Photo Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images
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