Comparing Their First 3 Seasons

On Tuesday, March 12, the Seattle Kraken aim to get their hunt for a postseason berth back on track when they host the Vegas Golden Knights. With effort and a bit of luck, the Kraken could make the playoffs for the second consecutive season. And yet, nearly three years into the franchise’s existence, the Kraken could glance at the Golden Knights and ponder “What if?…”

There are several reasons why comparing these two organizations is a noteworthy exercise. First and foremost, they are the two youngest NHL franchises. Lest we forget that Vegas has hosted an NHL team only since the 2017-18 season. Seattle came shortly after that, readying itself for the 2021-22 campaign. 

A side-by-side between the Kraken’s nearly three years and the Golden Knights’ nearly seven would lack balance. But even by restricting the sample size to the Nevada-based organization’s first three, there is enough evidence suggesting that the Golden Knights have done more things correctly than the Kraken. It must have been tempting for hockey fans in Seattle to fantasize about a brilliant start to their new team’s existence akin to what Vegas accomplished. The reality has been very different. 

Golden Knights Hit the Jackpot, the Kraken Sink Early

“Jackpot” might be a stretch. That would have entailed winning the Stanley Cup, which is what Vegas eventually did in its sixth season. However, they nearly pulled it off in 2018. That Stanley Cup Final will be remembered for two things. First, it was when the perennially sad Washington Capitals finally won a championship.

Second, the Caps did so by downing the Golden Knights in five games. Yes, the Golden Knights made it to the Stanley Cup Final in their first-ever year of existence. A wild first chapter to their history when one looks back at how truly awful former expansion clubs were, like the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, and Tampa Bay Lightning. On the flip side, the NHL’s new expansion draft rules meant that the Golden Knights would be the first new club to have as many good options as they did. 

At the other end of the spectrum were the Kraken. The 2021-22 season was by no means a disaster – that ’93 Senators side was epically bad. But comparing them to the 2017-18 Golden Knights would make Seattle’s maiden campaign look like a blunder – last in the Pacific Division with…