Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis still backs his head coach and his beleaguered starting goaltender despite the NHL expansion team’s disappointing first season.
The Kraken are in last place in the Pacific Division with a 10-19-4 record (24 points), 12 points out of a playoff spot. Their .364 points percentage is second lowest in the Western Conference. While many preseason projections had Seattle contending for a playoff berth, thanks to favorable expansion draft rules and the presumed strength of their goaltending, the Kraken currently have a less than 1% chance of making the postseason.
“I think it’s certainly been more challenging than we were hoping for when the season started,” Francis told ESPN on Monday. “I thought we’d be a competitive team. You’re always hoping that things go right for you, that you have a chance to make the playoffs. Unfortunately for us, it’s gone the other way.”
Francis said his team’s goaltenders have “struggled” this season, with an NHL-worst…
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