The Kraken have a promising start. Now they need something that lasts.

Early-season optimism is most useful when it comes with a question. For the Kraken, the question is whether winning can be supported by a way of playing that remains recognizable after the first burst of momentum. A good result gives a team room to grow. It should also invite a closer look at how the result was produced.

Seattle’s latest step was a 3-2 shootout victory in Philadelphia on October 13, confirmed by NHL.com’s game recap. That is a useful current marker, not a verdict on the season. The evaluation should become more demanding as the schedule supplies a larger sample and opponents begin to test the same weaknesses repeatedly.

A reasonable expectation

Pat Graham’s Associated Press season preview, published by Seattle Sports, framed the task around returning to the playoffs after another missed opportunity. It also identified scoring as a weakness of the previous season. Those are appropriate reference points: competitive results matter, but so does showing that the offense can support them.

Our expectation is measurable progress rather than an October promise about April. Seattle should be able to explain how it creates chances, which young players are gaining responsibility, and what happens when its preferred attacking route is denied. A team with answers to those questions is easier to trust than one whose identity changes with the score.

What needs to improve

The first priority is getting out of the defensive zone with a useful next option. A clearance can relieve immediate pressure while handing possession straight back. A controlled exit with support gives the forwards a chance to attack before the opponent resets. That distinction should be part of the weekly evaluation, even when a game ends well.

The second is building offense that does not depend on a single route or line. More contributors can make matchups harder for an opponent, but a productive night from several players is only a beginning. The important question is whether the movement, passing support, and willingness to get inside keep creating opportunities when finishing cools.

The third is protecting development from the urge to judge every young player by the last shift. Useful responsibility includes difficult situations and an opportunity to respond to mistakes. At the same time, patience should come with specific expectations. Development is more convincing when a player’s role and decision-making become clearer, not merely when the explanation asks for more time.

The conversation around the team

John Forslund offered a useful frame before the season. In a September 20 Seattle Sports account of his Brock and Salk appearance, the Kraken broadcaster emphasized direction and identity, including a visible path for younger players. His argument places the emphasis on understanding what the team is becoming rather than forcing an early playoff declaration.

That is a broadcaster’s documented perspective, not a survey of the fan base. The Associated Press preview provides a different angle by weighing the roster’s strengths against its scoring limitations. Taken together, those sources explain why an encouraging start can coexist with a demand for evidence that the improvement will hold.

What to watch next

Watch the games in which a save or late finish changes the result. Did Seattle spend enough of the night creating the next chance, or did it spend most of the night surviving? Neither a heroic save nor a fortunate bounce invalidates a win. Repeated dependence on either would change how we interpret the record.

Also watch what stays consistent after a loss. Does the team retain its support structure, or do the gaps between players expand as individuals try to force a response? A durable identity gives the roster a shared way back into a game. It is especially valuable when the early confidence is tested.

The Kraken do not need to apologize for banking points. They need to use the time those points buy. The strongest version of this season would make the future easier to see while keeping the present competitive. That is a more useful expectation than either dismissing the start or treating it as a finished transformation.

Sources

• NHL.com — Seattle at Philadelphia recap, October 14 (checked 2026-10-14)
• Pat Graham, Associated Press via Seattle Sports — 2026–27 season preview, September 24 (checked 2026-10-14)
• Zac Hereth, Seattle Sports — John Forslund on direction and identity, September 20 (checked 2026-10-14)

Analysis and recommendations are the editorial desk’s interpretation. Reporting and attributed perspectives are linked above. Information is current as of the publication date.