Savage

@Benton_Mike The part where they’re going to screw up their draft position again

What part of the Kraken future is at the top of your mind after tonight? Send me your Kraken tweets.

Absolutely pointless and possibly harmful 2 points for the Kraken. We’ve seen them punt draft position year after year and miss out on better prospects. They need to be losing every game left

@EmeraldCityHky No idea why he’s even playing at this point. Won’t be on the team next year.

2-0 Vegas. Mark Stone with another one. Need more physicality from Oleksiak. He's there, but doesn't take away the stick or the body.

@EmeraldCityHky Nothing about this inspires confidence and seems to reinforce the fact theyre not realistic about the current state of their roster.

Key points from #SEAKraken CEO Tod Leiweke: - "No one is satisfied. We have not delivered on the promise of this team." - Jason Botterill will lead a "fully independent audit of hockey operations." - Audit will involve an individual with "fresh eyes". Botterill has identified some candidates. - "We're going to go back to the model we started with. We're going to have a GM who makes the decisions." - The team will share an "annual report" with fans. "We're going to set mile markers and our fans are going to know where we are." First report coming this May. - Admits the team has had trouble attracting players "we've got to do more to make this a hockey city, to keep players, to attract other players." - The team will get input from "incredibly smart people in and around this organization" including Samantha Holloway and Jerry Bruckheimer." - They want to build a perennial playoff team, not just a team that sneaks into the playoffs. Mentions Vegas as an example. - Wouldn't confirm that Lambert will be back, but said he's "coached his ass off this year." - Is the team rebuilding? "No, but I think you should check with us in two weeks."

@Benton_Mike @933KJR So is this admitting that Francis was still in charge last year or is Leiweke just this bad?

Tod Leiweke said a full independent audit of hockey operations is coming in the offseason. Jason Botterill will lead it. “We have a hell of a lot of work to do.” #SeaKraken @933KJR

@EmeraldCityHky The issues with this franchise go beyond Francis and Botterill. Wether it’s Leiweke or Holloway, they’re either shortsighted in their goals or don’t have the ability realize the front office’s plan is bad

"Botterill, 49, will lead hockey operations as the team’s executive vice president and GM." We'll clarify tomorrow, but this would seem to imply the team won't be cleaning house. Don't like that.

@SeattleKraken This should have happened last year, along with replacing the entire front office but Leiweke wanted to keep his buddy around. They’ll all be gone by this time next year

The #SeaKraken announced today that Ron Francis will be stepping down from his role as President of Hockey Operations at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. We wish Ron & his family all the best → bit.ly/RF040826

@Tequilla_UW Fully expecting them to somehow turn their current position into the 10th overall pick

Big win for the St Louis Blues tonight From a Kraken perspective I think you can write off any chance of “passing” them in the standings Then anticipating a loss by the Kraken tomorrow in Winnipeg and that’s another team that the Kraken likely won’t be able to catch

@CorbinSmithNFL Unless it includes removing Tod Leiweke as well it won’t mattwr since he’s the one hiring these guys

Seattle has too much to work with draft pick-wise to allow the same regime another chance. This is a critical offseason for the franchise. Need to bring someone new in to handle that responsibility. Not the same crew that has proven time and time again they can't cut it.

The #Kraken must start over at the top. Lane Lambert isn't the problem. They need fresh voices above him, however. The talent acquisition aspect isn't anywhere close to where it needs to be.

@JoshYohe_PGH Skinner’s last 8 games is 30 goals and .880

In his past 8 games, Arturs Silovs has allowed 31 goals and his save percentage is .842. This is a real problem.

@EmeraldCityHky Yet the Team will think they’re “close” and go out and resign the same veterans that lose every year

April 4th, 2025: Kraken have 5th-worst record in NHL -16 goal differential 19 points out of a playoff spot Eliminated a week ago April 4th, 2026: Kraken have 5th-worst record in NHL -25 goal differential 4 points out of a playoff spot Still in the playoff race

@Benton_Mike Biggest concern is they’re going to continue to reward the losing core they have with more extensions just like Larsson, Eberle while overpaying more bad veteran free agents like Stephenson, Lindgren, etc

What's been your biggest concern since the start of March? Send me your Kraken tweets.

@realjeffsimmons Need someone on the edge with explosiveness but don’t rally see them being able to address it until 2027

@RW_Savage True. but can you have no speed rushers ?

A lot of Jacas talk on the timeline today. DJ mentioned him on Brock/Salk as a good fit for a RD 2 pick. Im struggling with this one. He’s tough and rugged - fits Mikes profile of EDGE players - I saw a Matt Judon comp- but is he redundant with what they have?

@JFreshHockey Believe nobody has a higher P/60 than Kucherov since 2017. Seems at least on the Jagr level?

everyone will have their own criteria for what generational means. it's not anything close to an exact science. to me, it's a very restrictive group that leaves out a lot of legends, and it's not close to an insult not to be on that list yet at age 19

@JasonKelce @NFL_DougFarrar Signing bonus should be just that. A bonus for signing your contract. If a club wants to make that pay about actually playing, then make it a roster bonus.

This is interesting. It feels like it’s obvious that Frank retired because he was physically fighting through injuries and pain, and it got to a point that he no longer could play the game in an enjoyable, effective, or healthy way. The whole purpose of a signing bonus is to be a guarantee up front that insures a salary irregardless of performance metrics, or most importantly injuries that could compromise your career in the future. What makes this interesting is that Frank likely retired “voluntarily”, meaning, he wasn’t declared medically unfit to play by a doctor, which allows the team to ask for a prorated amount of his signing bonus back. Had he been medically deemed unfit to play football by a doctor before he retired, the team wouldn’t be able to recoup part of the signing bonus. Let me say this first, if a player truly just retires without reason, or because they’ve lost the desire to play, I completely get and acknowledge teams should be able to recoup compensation when players don’t fulfill there contractual obligations and agreements. However, Frank was known for being hurt and playing through injuries most players wouldn’t play through constantly. Broken foot, a torn pec, multiple knee injuries, back issues. There was always something, and I’m sure he was continuously dealing with multiple ailments to try and continue playing the game. His body clearly had deteriorated to a degree that made football no longer a viable option, physically, and probably mentally. In my opinion, the signing bonus is supposed to protect players from future physical ailments limiting their availability on the field, that’s one of the reasons you want more guaranteed money upfront. So while I get that the team has a right to ask for money back, in the spirit of the agreement, I think it’s bullshit Frank is being asked to return money. This was clearly a player that the game had physically taken its toll on, and his body was clearly no longer holding up to the rigors of the NFL. It wasn’t just some player deciding he didn’t want to play anymore, it wasn’t that simple, and these signing bonuses are there to protect players from the inevitable injuries they incur on the field.

@AGretz Some of those teams are a couple points from either the playoffs or a top 5 pick

So much focus on the Eastern Conference playoff race and how insane it has been has really blinded us from the Western Conference playoff race which is actually just legitimately stupid. How are any of these teams still in this.

@StoneLarry Or was it the other 10? Real chicken and the egg scenario

Mariners 1-for-12 with RISP, but the 1 is the reason they’re still playing.

@RyanDivish Any reason why the Mariners haven’t used their best starter yet? Seems strange

Chase DeLauter is on a heater

Is there a reason why the Mariners haven’t used their best starter in their first 2 games? Seems weird