Examining if the Kraken have the toughness to compete with top-tier Western teams

The Seattle Kraken find themselves in a conference that is tough, gritty, and downright nasty to play in. But is this team tough enough to compete with the top-tier Western Conference teams?

Tough Enough?

The Kraken have a much better team going into the 2024-25 season compared to
their disappointing run last season. They have some great new additions and a new head coach with Stanley Cup-winning experience. Since their inaugural 2021-22 season, this team has tried to find their identity in a tough division and conference.

Over the last three seasons, they have been among the top of the NHL in terms of fights per team. But that number seems to be dwindling, especially last season. In 2021-22, the Kraken had 26 fights in the regular season; in 2022-23, it fell to 23. This past year was even softer, with only 15 fights.

To measure a team's toughness, outside of throwing fists, is throwing bodies. The Kraken were the 19th-best team in terms of hits on the ice, which is not ideal. With 1,831 hits, they were far behind the team with the most hits in the NHL last season, Florida, with 2,344 hits.

Forwards Ty Kartye and Elli Tolvanen were the best hitters on the Kraken last season. That should speak volumes, as no defenseman was the best or second-best hitter on this roster. Adding Brandon Montour from Florida, who had 104 hits on the blueline last season, is crucial for the Kraken.

Do you think the Kraken are tough enough to compete with the more physical teams in the NHL?