The Seattle Kraken and Joey Daccord agreed to a five-year, $5M AAV contract extension that comes with a lot of risk but also as a sign of trust and faith.
Before the 2023-24 campaign, Daccord had played just 19 NHL games. The most he had ever played in a single season was eight, which was with the Ottawa Senators in the 2020-21 season.
Fast forward to last year and Daccord takes the Kraken crease by storm playing in 50 games posting a .916SV% and 2.46GAA. The 28-year-old proved a lot that season. He showed he could handle a heavy workload, stop pucks at a high rate and help will the Kraken to win games even when the offence couldn’t generate goals. The one thing he couldn’t prove is that last year wasn’t a one-time occurence and that he can replicate it.
The risk factors in for the Kraken if he isn’t able to replicate it. If he is unable to play to that level, the Kraken will have the fourth most expensive goaltender tandem in the NHL with Philipp Grubauer, who has already struggled throughout his Kraken career. Grubauer’s contract doesn’t expire until 2027 when they would hope Niklas Kokko is ready to step in.
Related: Kraken’s Goaltender Situation Heading Into The 2024-25 Season
Looking at the contract through a different lens means that the Kraken could be paying a goaltender who finished with the fifth-highest save percentage in the NHL last year, tied with Jeremy Swayman, for just $5M. The Kraken clearly look at the contract through this lens as well.
“Joey stepped up last season and proved his ability to handle an increased workload,” said Kraken GM Ron Francis. “We’re confident he can take his game to another level. We’re excited to have him under contract long-term.”
Daccord has always believed in himself and is thrilled that the Kraken do as well.
“I’m so grateful the Kraken have given me this opportunity,” said Daccord. “From Sam [owner Samantha Holloway], Tod [CEO Tod Leiweke], Ron and the whole organization, they’re incredible people and a first-class organization. I couldn’t be any more thrilled. I truly love playing in Seattle and I’m pumped to be here for another five years.”
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The Boston, Massachusetts native was a former seventh-round pick and has never been highly touted, something he acknowledges but doesn’t let bring him down.
“I was never a top prospect. I feel like I’ve had to work really hard. I’ve earned everything. To be where we are now, it is pretty amazing. I have so many people to thank for helping me achieve my wildest dreams. The Kraken took a chance on me in the expansion draft. Giving me an opportunity to play [the heavy workload] in the AHL and then last year to prove that I could be an NHL goalie [playing a majority of games. I always believed in my abilities and my work ethic. The biggest thing for me was getting that opportunity and experience to be the starting goalie in Charlotte. Then Coachella was huge for me going on that deep playoff run. That really was a springboard for me to start off last year. Getting 51 games under my belt was amazing.”
Daccord’s belief in himself and the Kraken’s trust in what they know he can be will be what ultimately decides if the contract is going to look like a success or failure very soon. He put up incredible numbers on a team that was towards the bottom of the standings last year and doing it this year on a team with aspirations of making the playoffs increases the pressure.
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