Last week's opening of NHL free agency told us a whole lot about the direction the Kraken appear to be headed in the next few seasons.
In short, it's a revised three- to five-year plan to make the playoffs. Not quite "building through the draft" but also not the dramatic summer-roster infusion openly discussed last winter and spring.
Indeed, the team did not trade draft picks for NHL-ready players in Montreal two weeks ago, as general manager Ron Francis previously stated he'd be attempting. And Francis also did not use ample salary-cap space to make a splash by landing any truly marquee free agents during or since last week's opening of the signing period.
