NHL EDGE stats 2026-27 season outlook for Seattle Kraken

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, we will identify key NHL EDGE stats for each team to preview the 2026-27 season. Today, we look at three advanced metrics trends surrounding the Seattle Kraken:

1. McMann's skating speed

Bobby McMann, who was acquired by the Kraken from the Toronto Maple Leafs last season prior to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, is a speedy forward who made an immediate impact with his new team (14 points in 18 games). Over that span, from McMann's Seattle debut (March 14) through the end of the regular season, he was tied for 10th in the NHL in goals (led Seattle with 10) and tied with his teammate, defenseman Brandon Montour, for ninth in the League in shots on goal (58 each).

McMann ranked seventh in the NHL in max skating speed (24.25 mph) last season. Although that mark came with the Maple Leafs on Dec. 2, 2025, it's worth noting four of McMann's six fastest speed bursts last season came during his brief time with the Kraken. McMann also ranked in the 98th percentile among forwards in both 22-plus mph speed bursts (28) and 20-plus mph bursts (267) last season. Seattle could benefit immensely from having McMann in their top-six forward group for a full season; the team ranked 29th out of 32 teams in 22-plus mph speed bursts (47) and 26th in 20-plus mph bursts (1,568) last season.

McMann's speed put him in position to be an opportunistic goal-scorer; he ranked in the 90th percentile among NHL forwards in high-danger goals (15) and 89th percentile in mid-range goals (nine) last season. Considering Seattle only had two 50-point scorers last season in forwards Jordan Eberle (55 points) and Matty Beniers (50) and no 30-goal scorers (Eberle was team leader with 26), McMann has a ceiling of being Seattle's leader in goals, points and shots on goal this season if he carries over the momentum from down the stretch last season.

2. Montour's elite shot metrics

Since 2024-25, Montour ranks sixth among NHL defensemen in goals (29) behind Cale Makar (50), Jakob Chychrun (46), Zach Werenski (45), Rasmus Dahlin (36) and Evan Bouchard (35). Montour's goal-scoring prowess continued when he was in the lineup last season (11 goals in 64 games; tied with Vince Dunn for most among Kraken defensemen) thanks to his strong underlying shot metrics.

Montour was tied for seventh in the NHL in 90-plus mph shot attempts (37) last season and had the eighth-hardest shot in the League (101.56 mph on March 26). Seattle, as a team, ranked highly in 90-plus mph shot attempts (86; fifth) and average shot speed (59.62 mph; fourth).

In terms of long-range shots on goal, Montour (99; tied for eighth) and Dunn (96; 10th) were each among the top 10 in the NHL last season, giving Seattle one of the best defenseman duos across the League. Montour also ranked highly among defensemen in long-range goals (four; 90th percentile), mid-range shots on goal (32; 91st percentile) and high-danger shots on goal (10; 87th percentile).

3. Beniers' high-danger goals

Beniers, who was the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and won the Calder Trophy in 2022-23, has yet to match or exceed his rookie point total (57) in any of the ensuing three seasons. That said, Beniers showed signs of rediscovering that potential last season and excelled in some key advanced stats categories.

Beniers was tied with Eberle for the Kraken's most high-danger goals (16), with each forward ranking in the 92nd percentile at the position in that category. Beniers, who was tied with Eberle and Chandler Stephenson for Seattle's most multipoint games (10 each), also ranked in the 80th percentile or higher among NHL forwards in other advanced metrics:

• Hardest shot: 90.36 mph (85th percentile)
• 20-plus mph speed bursts: 130 (82nd percentile)
• High-danger shots on goal: 63 (87th percentile)
• Mid-range shots on goal: 53 (85th percentile)
• Total skating distance: 267.67 miles (98th percentile)
• Power-play offensive zone time percentage: 64.0 (96th percentile)

Though Seattle has missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in four of its first five seasons, the team has other forwards with a high draft pedigree in Shane Wright (No. 4 pick in 2022 NHL Draft), Kaapo Kakko (No. 2 pick in 2019 NHL Draft), Berkly Catton (No. 8 pick in 2024 NHL Draft), as well as a notable offseason addition in Mackie Samoskevich (24th pick in 2021 NHL Draft; acquired from Florida Panthers on June 21). Any of those forwards could play more often on a line with Beniers to help him and the team reach a higher gear in the years ahead.