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# Bobby McMann Excited to Re-Up With Kraken, Bring ‘Winning Hockey’ Back to Seattle
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/bobby-mcmann-seattle-kraken-winning-hockey-extension/
- Published: 2026-06-25T06:33:26.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-25T06:33:26.000Z
- Author: Josh Frojelin
- Tags: Analysis, Features, Kraken, Bobby McMann, Mackie Samoskevich, Jason Botterill

Checking off one of their biggest boxes as the 2026 NHL Draft approaches, the Seattle Kraken re-signed winger Bobby McMann to a six-year, $34.5 million contract on Monday as general manager Jason Botterill locked up the trade deadline acquisition for the long haul following a successful second half with the franchise.

Though the Kraken sputtered in the win/loss column after his arrival from Toronto and recorded just two regulation wins after the trade, McMann tallied 10 goals and 14 points in 18 games with the Kraken. It certainly wasn’t his fault that Seattle plummeted from a playoff hopeful to selecting seventh overall in the upcoming draft, and Botterill and the front office made it a priority to ensure he remained long term.

"Re-signing (McMann) was a priority this summer,” [Botterill said](https://www.nhl.com/kraken/news/bobby-mcmann-seattle-kraken-agree-to-terms-on-6-year-deal?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) after the signing was announced via Seattle’s team website. “He made an immediate impact in our lineup with his size, speed, and goal scoring. There's a lot to love about his game. We're thrilled he wants to call Seattle home for years to come."

By locking up the 30-year-old McMann and acquiring 23-year-old Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers on the same day, Botterill has started to assemble a decent forward core for next season and beyond. But after missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons of existence, the Kraken must continue pursuing top talent if they want to return to the postseason in 2026-27.

McMann debuted in the NHL at 26\. He never scored above half-a-point per-game before last season, emerging as a late bloomer. In a contract year, the former Maple Leafs’ winger put up 19 goals and 32 points in 60 games. He was traded to the Kraken for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick with the goal of bringing much-needed offensive punch to a team that struggled to put the puck in the net most of last season.

Looking towards the future, McMann’s impressive scoring rate with the Kraken should be expected to drop off. He posted a 17.2% shooting percentage after the trade, well above the 12.6% he held in Toronto. But he’s still an above-average shooter who nearly hit 30 goals last season between both Seattle and Toronto and even if his shot percentage regresses some, he should still be one of the team’s best options for putting goals on the scoreboard, in part due to his speed on the ice.

Per [NHL Edge](https://www.nhl.com/nhl-edge/skaters/20252026/2/skating-speed?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com), McMann had the seventh-highest max speed in the NHL last season and has been viewed as one of the fastest skaters in the league for several years running. Curiously, however, his skating prowess and good defensive results never led to a consistent penalty killing role with either the Maple Leafs or Kraken.

> Didn't see that Bobby McMann extended 6x$5.75M in Seattle. Speedy energy player with great scoring touch from outside off the rush, finishes his checks. A complementary player, not a driver. [pic.twitter.com/gXO65GXfHi](https://t.co/gXO65GXfHi?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) [June 22, 2026](https://x.com/JFreshHockey/status/2069191915048759805?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)

Ideally, McMann’s speed and scoring touch will complement Seattle’s young center duo of Matty Beniers and Shane Wright. Per MoneyPuck, his most common linemates after the midseason trade were Beniers and team-leading scorer Jordan Eberle. Together, they scored six goals and allowed six goals at 5-on-5.

In 17 games after the McMann trade, Beniers recorded only two goals and seven points. In nine games, Wright recorded only one goal but also missed time with injury, so the Kraken will need to find a way to coax better chemistry and corresponding production from those two former first round picks with the speedy veteran to reach their potential next season.

The Kraken also need 2024 first-rounder Berkly Catton to take the next step in his progression. In 66 games, the rookie forward put up seven goals and 17 points. Hopefully, improved forward depth can lead to a higher scoring sophomore season from him on the second or third line.

Perhaps a full training camp and preseason can build chemistry between McMann and one or two of these young core pieces. If there’s reason for optimism on that front, McMann’s feeling towards the team’s young players, in part, led to his decision to re-sign with Seattle.

“It’s also the younger assets they have with draft picks and players that are coming up that can be impact players in a couple of years,” McMann said. “I think that those were all convincing factors. And there’s the side of it where I’m starting to be a bit of an older player, a bit of a veteran in a league where I can somewhat fill the role on the leadership side of it. The mentorship side of it.

“That gets me excited,” he continued. “That I can have a part in shaping the organization, shaping younger players and pushing it in a direction that’s winning hockey.”

Inking McMann for the next six seasons should raise the floor for Seattle as the organization aims to return to contention, and the trade for Samokevich has the potential to lift the ceiling adding his Stanley Cup-winning pedigree. However, the Kraken still do not have the high-end, elite talent usually seen on playoff teams and the team cannot rely on internal improvements alone.

The franchise has never had an 80-point scorer. [Per David Pagnotta](https://x.com/TheFourthPeriod/status/2019220927649837302?s=20&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com), the Kraken heavily pursued a trade for Artemi Panarin last season, but to no avail. The Vegas Golden Knights have Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner. The Edmonton Oilers have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks both have elite young cores and finished above the Kraken last season.

Which still begs the question: Even with McMann and Samokevich, how will the Kraken keep up?

With $22 million in salary cap space and a top-10 pick, Seattle still has the resources to hunt for that aforementioned top-end talent, though a new contract will be needed for Samoskevich, who’s a restricted free agent next year. But with veterans such as Jaden Schwartz, Eeli Tolvanen, and Jamie Oleksiak likely to leave this offseason, Botterill will have the cap space for one or two big additions.

On the Daily Faceoff’s [Monday live show](https://www.youtube.com/live/AF7PIE6MvFc?si=3unuMVo05OtQ2ZcM&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com), Pagnotta actually linked Seattle with top unrestricted free agent Alex Tuch.

“I would expect them, if Tuch doesn’t get a deal done with Buffalo, to be fully engaged in that player come free agency,” Pagnotta said. “They’ve got money to spend, and clearly with McMann’s deal they’re not afraid to spend it. Let’s see what else they can put together, not just on the Tuch front if he hits, but also trade-wise. They want to make a big splash this summer.”

That’s not to say the Kraken only need a superstar forward this offseason. The team still needs defensively minded forwards and defensemen to improve their 31st-ranked penalty kill from last season as well, and the draft could be the pathway to helping that issue.

While other moves need to be made to get Seattle where it wants to be, McMann gives the Kraken exactly the type of player every contender needs: a fast and reliable goal scoring winger. Re-signing him and acquiring Samoskevich are good moves that should pay off for the franchise and represent strong starts to the offseason agenda, but don’t necessarily bridge the talent gap between the Kraken and the top Pacific Division teams either.

To maximize on McMann’s return and the arrival of Samoskevich, along with improved development of the young players already on the roster, Botterill will have to stay aggressive and continue seeking out ways to make substantial improvements to Seattle’s roster with the draft and free agency period looming. Based on McMann’s decision to stay put, the veteran has confidence the team will be able to do just that to get back in the right direction competing for playoff berths in the near future.