Kraken Year3

Team: 2023-24 Seattle Kraken

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 24, 2023

Published: May 17, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Right now Wright's status is an unkown next year. If he's eligible to be in the AHL then I think that's where he ends up after a short look at the season's start again. The Kraken are in no rush for him to join the NHL roster so give him a season to grow then he ought to be good to step up.
There's not much I think the Kraken can do this offseason to significantly improve, they're not going to break up the forward corps to overpay to bring in a UFA forward who will be too old for the cup window they're aiming for. Realistically picking up Megna to cover the loss of Soucy was the move and either adding a vet or two, or graduating some older AHLers for scratches is probably what will happen.
However, there is one move that would change things on the back end both for the short and long term.
I honestly believe there's a trade to be done with the Avs for Byram, I just don't see them wanting to commit to a 5th D-man long term, and I see them re-signing Toews when his contract runs out. I'm not sure the Kraken have the pieces to put the best package forward, especially if they're not including a 1st round pick which they particularly covet. However, if they can then I believe the money is better spent there to secure a long term piece, than on extending Donato or Sprong, as good as they have been for Seattle this season. The play of Kartye in the playoffs also suggests he could comfortably step into one of their spots on the roster at a lower cap hit.
Cale Fleury would provide the 3rd pairing, cost controlled D-man that would fit the slot in the Avs roster. Nyman fits the 'scoring winger with size' archtype they like and has decent odds of being a middle-6 winger before long. And a pair of picks to restock the Avs bare cupboard would likely be well received too. It's a package whose sum perhaps offers more than a straight 1st round pick and offers benefits sooner rather than later.
Adding Byram and pairing him as the puck-mover to Borgen's defensive defenseman gives them a D-pair that would be effective straight away though would also be a solid Top4 backend option for years to come. And Byram can compete as a PowerPlay option (where the Kraken need help) and alleviate any issue in letting Schultz walk to UFA next Summer. He gets the bridge deal Dunn has just had to prove his worth to the team before the big contract once the cap has taken it's big step up and a few other costlier pieces will have aged off the roster.
The contract on Dunn may look a little rich, but that's the market rate given the season he's just produced, in fact I think his postseason play probably cost him some AAV. He's not your elite 1D, but he is improving, is hitting his prime and I think signing him is better than the cost of acquiring a true 1D through UFA or trade.