The 2023 Seattle Kraken season was so good for a number of reasons. First, the team had a number of young, talented players who came into their own during the season. Players like Jared McCann, Yanni Gourde, and Jordan Eberle all had career years, and their contributions were essential to the team’s success. Second, the Kraken had a strong defense. The team’s top four defensemen – Mark Giordano, Vince Dunn, Adam Larsson, and Jamie Oleksiak – were all very solid, and they helped to keep the team in games when the offense was struggling. Third, the Kraken had a great goaltender in Philipp Grubauer. Grubauer was one of the best goalies in the NHL during the regular season, and he was a big reason why the Kraken were able to make the playoffs.
The Seattle Kraken made the 2023 NHL playoffs as the Western Conference’s first wild card team. They defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in seven games in the first round, but lost to the Dallas Stars in seven games in the second round.
The Kraken’s first-round series against the Avalanche was one of the most exciting series of the playoffs. The two teams split the first four games, and the Kraken won the decisive Game 7 in overtime. The Kraken’s second-round series against the Stars was also close, but the Stars ultimately prevailed in seven games.
The Kraken’s performance in the playoffs was a major accomplishment for a second-year team. They were one of the youngest teams in the NHL, and they had a lot of new players who were still getting used to playing together. The Kraken’s success in the playoffs is a sign of things to come, and they should be a force in the NHL for years to come.