The Seattle Kraken are heading into the 2024-25 season with many questions about their goaltending situation.
Since Philipp Grubauer signed in the 2021 offseason, he has struggled to perform at the level he had with the Colorado Avalanche and Washington Capitals. In his three seasons with the Kraken, he’s never posted a save percentage above .900.
He has steadily increased from .889SV% to .895SV% and most recently, 899SV%. As his save percentage increases, the number of games he plays decreases. He dealt with a lower-body injury last year that kept him out for over a month but Joey Daccord played 14 more games and was more successful.
Daccord posted a .916SV% and 2.46GAA in 50 games. The 27-year-old is entering his last season under contract before becoming an UFA. It was a breakout season for him, previously he had just played 19 games in the NHL.
The question for the newly hired head coach Dan Bylsma is whether he should run a tandem or select a starter. Grubauer is being paid to be a starter and Daccord is paid to be a backup but their performances don’t match their contracts.
Grubauer has been given multiple opportunities to find his game and prove himself with the Kraken but has failed to do so. His $5.9M cap hit makes the 32-year-old extremely difficult to trade and with three years left on his deal, a buyout isn’t worth it.
The Kraken went out and spent money in free agency with the intent of challenging for a playoff spot. They don’t have time to wait for Grubauer to find his game.
The two goaltenders will compete during training camp and preseason for the starting role but both of them will likely have a short leash the bulk of the starts will be given to the goaltender with the hot hand.
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