Kraken shed light on internal audit, hope to improve after disappointing season
SEATTLE (AP) — Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke gave an update to a proposed internal audit on Wednesday, saying the Kraken have talked with a number of individuals and firms about using their services in the near future. The team is looking for ways Seattle can improve as a franchise after failing to make the postseason for a third consecutive year. Whoever the Kraken decide to work with, Leiweke said, they will do so alongside general manager Jason Botterill, who is now the sole decision-maker after Ron Francis stepped down as president of hockey operations .
“He’s not threatened by it, he’s encouraging it,” Leiweke said of Botterill. “The report will land on the owner’s desk. And, it’s really not going to look just at the near term.
" Leiweke said the report will look back over the team's five year history and offer suggestions for improvement. The Kraken have only been in the playoffs once since joining the league. One area that could have used improvement this season was offense.
The Kraken scored the fifth-fewest goals and no player finished with more than 55 points. Captain Jordan Eberle led Seattle with 26 goals. “If you look at anything where we could have a big, incremental improvement,” Botterill said, “it would be just our offense.
And, creating more offense. And, a big part of that’s not just things in the offensive zone. But, it’s being sharper from a defensive standpoint.