Seattle Kraken sign Karson Kuhlman to one-year contract extension

Kuhlman was in the final year of a two-year contract with a $725,000 cap hit, a deal he originally signed with the Boston Bruins. With his new contract coming in at $825,000, he gets a $100K pay raise, the most he’s made in a season up to this point.

Kuhlman went undrafted in his eligible years, and instead played four seasons of NCAA hockey with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, even becoming the team’s captain in his final season. Afterward, the Bruins signed him to a two-year contract, and he spent three seasons between the NHL and their AHL team, the Providence Bruins.

In 2021-22, Kuhlman spent 19 games with the Bruins, scoring a goal and an assist for two points during that span. On Jan. 18, 2022, he was claimed off of waivers by the Kraken, where he spent the rest of the season. In 25 games with the Kraken, he scored two goals and six assists for eight points, finishing the season overall with three goals, seven assists and 10 points, all three either matching or surpassing his career highs.

Kuhlman has also established himself as a solid defensive play-driving forward in his brief time in the league. In his past three seasons, he has a 53.25% shot attempt share and a 54.73% expected goal share at even strength, and also has a 48.37 shot attempts against per 60 minutes and a 1.92 expected goals against per 60 minutes in the past three seasons, which are 18th and tied for ninth in the league, respectively.

Kuhlman’s contract doesn’t exactly break the bank for Seattle, but it wouldn’t have really mattered if it did, as they have over $22 million in cap space with no big names to re-sign. However, Seattle did hit it big in the draft, landing projected first-overall pick Shane Wright with the fourth-overall selection.