The NHL is expanding again, with the addition of the Seattle Kraken as the league’s 32nd team. With the Kraken set to begin play in the 2021-22 season, it’s natural to start thinking about how they will match up against the other teams in the league, including the Arizona Coyotes. In this post, we will compare the Arizona Coyotes and the Seattle Kraken in terms of their history, strengths, and weaknesses.
07 APRIL 2023
TIME: 10:30 AM ET
History
The Arizona Coyotes were founded in 1972 as the Winnipeg Jets before moving to Phoenix in 1996. The team has never won a Stanley Cup championship but has made it to the playoffs several times over the years. The Coyotes have had some notable players don their jersey, including Keith Tkachuk, Jeremy Roenick, and Shane Doan.
The Seattle Kraken, on the other hand, are a brand new franchise set to begin play in the 2021-22 season. The team has yet to play a single game in the NHL but has already generated a lot of excitement among fans. The Kraken have a strong management team in place and have made some key signings and trades to build their roster.
Strengths
The Arizona Coyotes have a solid defense, which includes Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jakob Chychrun. They also have a great goaltender in Darcy Kuemper, who has been a consistent performer for the team over the past few seasons. The Coyotes’ offense is led by Clayton Keller and Phil Kessel, who are both capable of putting up points.
The Seattle Kraken, despite being a brand new team, have a lot of potential. They have a solid defense, which includes Mark Giordano, Adam Larsson, and Vince Dunn. The team also has a great goaltender in Philipp Grubauer, who was a key part of the Colorado Avalanche’s success over the past few seasons. The Kraken’s offense is led by Jordan Eberle and Jaden Schwartz, who are both capable of putting up points.
Weaknesses
The Arizona Coyotes have struggled with consistency over the years. They have had several seasons where they have missed the playoffs or been knocked out in the first round. Additionally, the team has had some ownership and financial issues, which have affected the team’s ability to compete in the league.
The Seattle Kraken are a brand new team, so it’s difficult to say what their weaknesses will be. However, one area of concern for the team could be their lack of scoring depth. While the team has some capable scorers in Eberle and Schwartz, they will need to find some secondary scoring to compete with the best teams in the league.
Comparison
When comparing the Arizona Coyotes and the Seattle Kraken, it’s clear that both teams have their strengths and weaknesses. The Coyotes have a solid defense and goaltending, while the Kraken have a solid defense and goaltending as well. The Coyotes’ offense is led by Keller and Kessel, while the Kraken’s offense is led by Eberle and Schwartz.
In terms of history, the Coyotes have been a part of the league for over 40 years but have never won a championship. The Kraken, on the other hand, are a brand new team set to begin play in the 2021-22 season.
Looking ahead to the future, both teams have the potential to be competitive in the league. The Coyotes have a solid core in place, which includes Ekman-Larsson, Chychrun, and Kuemper. However, the team will need to find some consistent scoring to compete with the best teams in the league.