3 NHL teams that exceeded expectations in 2022-23

NHL teams that exceeded expectations: 1. Seattle Kraken (46-28-8)

The NHL’s newest franchise, the Seattle Kraken, soared to new heights in their sophomore season. In their debut season, the Kraken won just 27 games and finished last in the Pacific Division with 60 points. Naturally, expectations weren’t very high following the inaugural season’s results. In their second season, though, Seattle won 46 games and landed 4th in their division with 100 points. Their leap in the standings earned a lot of attention and praise. The Kraken made their first Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance as a wild card team. They’re led by head coach Dave Hakstol.

Several players were critical in the Kraken’s huge step forward. 20-year-old rookie Matty Beniers made noise with 24 goals and 33 assists. Beniers was selected as the Kraken’s All-Star representative but had to pull out due to an injury. Center Jared McCann scored 40 goals with a shooting percentage of 19%. He’s a two-way player with a high hockey IQ. Winger Jordan Eberle had 63 points in the regular season and was electric in the playoffs. Vince Dunn is a strong two-way defenseman who reached 64 points in the regular season. Dunn saw the most ice time on the Kraken and led the team in the +/- column with a career-high 28 +/-.

While the Kraken had not been in the playoffs before as a team, there were plenty of guys with playoff experience among the group, like Dunn, Eberle, and Jaden Schwartz. Much like the Devils with a lack of playoff experience as a team, the Kraken were able to draw upon the experiences players had while on other teams. The Kraken shockingly beat the defending champions, the Colorado Avalanche, in Round 1. Defeating the defending champions is no easy feat, especially for a team as new as the Kraken. The playoffs are truly unpredictable. After tying up the Round 2 series in Game 6, Seattle ultimately fell to the Dallas Stars in seven games.

The leadership for the Kraken is still developing. After trading their first captain, Mark Giordano, in March 2022, the Kraken have been without a captain. They opted to select four alternate captains. This ultimately made sense for a team still trying to find its legs, but the lack of an appointed team leader can be a stumbling block. The Kraken were up to the challenge, with the four alternate captains working together to form a leadership unit. Jordan Eberle is a standout and could be a strong choice for captain when the Kraken are ready to name one.

The Kraken have some promising prospects getting ready to make an impact. Their top prospects are Shane Wright and Ryker Evans. Wright had an up-and-down season, but it’s likely he’ll get his shot in the NHL next season. Evans, the Kraken’s top defensive prospect, is a strong skater who is known to also contribute offensively. These two players can help the Kraken keep climbing.

What does next season bring for the Kraken? The team is in good shape to keep building the fledgling franchise’s history. Expectations will be higher next year following their strong showing in 2022-23, which might cause some growing pains, but the current group proved it can weather the storm. Look for the Seattle Kraken to be in the mix again in 2023-24.

Will the three teams on this list have another big year in 2023-24? We’ll see when the puck drops next fall.