Home, Seattle, Home

TORONTO - Back in late July, Jared McCann, who grew up in nearby Stratford, was convinced Seattle was going to be a long-time home for his hockey life.
The vision fully materialized Tuesday when his five-year contract extension was announced before the Kraken's matchup with the Maple Leafs. McCann is the first-ever NHL player to re-sign with the Kraken, a milestone indicator for how GM Ron Francis is building out the franchise.

"As soon I was picked in the draft, I knew this was a fresh beginning for me, fresh beginning for a lot of guys," said McCann Monday night.
McCann started thinking about the Pacific Northwest destination four days before the NHL's 32nd franchise made its expansion picks. That's when he was traded from Pittsburgh to his hometown Maple Leafs after two-plus productive seasons with the Penguins.
Toronto GM Kyle Dubas called to inform the 25-year-old McCann he was being exposed in the expansion draft. Right then, McCann said he started thinking Seattle would be the long-sought opportunity to prove his worth as a top-six forward. A first-round Vancouver draft choice in 2014, Seattle would mark his fourth team over eight seasons for which he has suited up.
Dream come true? Yes, and more. The latter is what Kraken fans should register most.

"Absolutely, it feels like a big weight lifted off the shoulders," said McCann. "It's something I worked my whole life for, right? It's an awesome, amazing feeling to just relax now, go out and play hockey."
"I feel like I put the work in every single summer to get better. Every single season in the NHL I've gotten better and better. That's my goal, get better every season."
McCann said he's "out to prove they [Seattle GM Ron Francis and assistant GM Ricky Olczyk] made the right decision."
"I believe in Ron, Ricky too," said McCann. "We hold the same passion. They want to win. I want to be part of this franchise winning."
McCann shared he has always felt unsettled during past NHL trade deadlines, not knowing if he might be moved again. As this year's March 21 deadline approached, some media members were floating the possibility the top-line forward would bring a high-value return.
It's apparent Francis and his hockey operations group see McCann as part of the Kraken core. McCann has impressed with his two-way play and especially draws praise from coach Dave Hakstol for his ability to take on the center role with added defensive duties while still bring his elite shot (Francis' opinion) and goal-radar hockey IQ on the offensive end.

McCann would have been a restricted free agent this summer. That means he could be controlled by the Kraken for one more season given certain rules were followed (making a "qualifying" offer and matching any offer sheets from one of the other 31 NHL teams). But in the summer of 2023, McCann could have left for the highest bidder.
The Kraken didn't like such a timeline and neither did McCann and his agent. Both sides hammered out a deal that is win-win and, bonus, allows McCann jerseys to be purchased by fans with no looking over their shoulders.
Make no mistake, Kraken fans have been persuasive for the Kraken's leading scorer enjoying a career year. The McCann signing, which rewards the player handsomely, will resonate positively about Kraken culture around the league, no matter this season's final record.
"To see our fans every single night, no matter how we're doing, they are supporting us," said McCann, smiling at the mention of the noise level at Climate Pledge Arena. "As a player, it makes you want to win for them.
"The fans are clearly wild and excited to have an NHL team. In some instances, things haven't gone our way. But when we score or make a good play, they are cheering and it gets so loud in there."
To project the potential high-impact success of this signing, Kraken fans need to look no further back than Sunday night's game at Carolina to provide Kraken a clear picture of how the McCann extension can play out great in future seasons.
The Hurricanes are the Eastern Conference's top team and a Stanley Cup favorite for which Francis is the foundational architect. During the summer of 2017, then-GM Ron Francis signed defensemen Jacob Slavin ($5.3 million AAV) and Brett Pesce ($4.025 million AAV) to long-term team-friendly contracts.
Those re-signings have allowed Carolina to acquire and keep other players to build what is now a perennial playoff team. Slavin and Pesce were the Hurricane's top two players in terms of ice-time during a hard-fought, tight 3-2 game.
This is just the start, Kraken fans, with the trade deadline, NHL Draft and the free agency period on the near hockey horizon. The future got brighter Tuesday morning.