Kraken proud of progress in 2nd season: 'We took a big leap this year'

The Seattle Kraken are holding their heads high despite a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday night.

"From day one, everyone's kind of written us off," veteran Jordan Eberle said. "We took a big leap this year. I don't think anyone expected us to make the playoffs, no one expected us to beat Colorado, and I'm sure no one had us to get to Game 7 here. I think obviously as a group, this is the first time we've been through this. You've got to obviously learn how to lose first and then find a way to win."

The Kraken claimed the first wild-card seed in the Western Conference this season with 100 points - a 40-point improvement from a disappointing inaugural campaign as the league's 32nd franchise in 2021-22. After qualifying for the postseason, Seattle claimed its first-ever series victory by knocking off the defending champion Avalanche in seven games.

The massive turnaround this season led to a Jack Adams nomination for head coach Dave Hakstol. He believes what his club accomplished this year is much bigger than on-ice results.

"That's a perspective that I want our players also to have - and it probably won't register home tonight - but this group also changed the landscape of hockey in Seattle," Hakstol said, per NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika. "This particular group had the guts to change the culture, the trajectory, the belief, of our franchise as well.

"That's something for later, but that hits home with me, that this group of guys did that, and at some point in time, they should look at that and take a lot of pride."

Even after an impressive showing in 2022-23, the Kraken are well positioned to improve this summer. Seattle's biggest piece of offseason business will be a new contract for star restricted free agent Vince Dunn, but the club has the financial flexibility to pay the blue-liner handsomely and still be aggressive in free agency with a projected $18.3 million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly.