Personnel and Deployment For The Kraken's Power Play

The Seattle Kraken finished with the 17th ranked power play based on percentage during the 2023-24 season and with the additions of Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson, the Kraken power play can improve and possibly crack the top 10.

Montour quarterbacked the Florida Panthers' power play for the previous two Stanley Cup runs and his 17 power play points helped the Panthers click at 23.51% on the man advantage.

Stephenson recorded 13 power play points and played a critical role in the Vegas Golden Knights top unit during their first-round matchup against the Dallas Stars.

Matty Beniers, Jared McCann and Jordan Eberle have been staples on the first unit and adding Montour and Stephenson will only improve their success. With Vince Dunn and Eeli Tolvanen on the first unit, the Kraken concluded the 2023-24 season with a power play percentage of 20.66.

Moving Vince Dunn to the second unit will provide Shane Wright, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Andre Burakovsky a veteran puck mover with a lot of experience manning a power play. They'll also bring in Tolvanen who possesses a potent shot off of the boards.

The first unit will likely look like an equal opportunity unit with McCann as the main one-time threat. Beniers and Stephenson can both work the opposite flank and the bumper position with Eberle looking to provide a passing outlet in the front of the net and the slot. Montour is a threat to shoot the puck from the point via a heavy slapshot or a soft wrist shot that he can sift through traffic.

The second unit will undergo a lot of experimenting. All four forwards have played the half-wall in their career but only two can do so. Burakovsky will most likely be the net-front presence and Wright, who has a lethal shot from either wing can play the bumper like he has in the past with Team Canada. Tolvanen and Bjorkstrand will play the half-wall with Tolvanen taking the majority of the shots. Wright and Bjorkstrand could easily swap positions if a change is needed.

The Kraken now have high-end skill on their first unit and have the depth to run a second unit that could be just as dangerous as the first. Their low goal-scoring numbers from last year could become irrelevant if the power play improves.

Make sure you bookmark THN’s Seattle Kraken site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

Related: Monochrome Monday: Scenes From Kraken Development Camp

Related: Kraken Have Third Most Travel Distance In 2024-25