Free agent Devin Shore is moving onto the Seattle Kraken late in the offseason, agree to terms on a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000, the team announced on Thursday.
Shore will be plugged into a Kraken training camp roster that is full of NHL experience, but also has been looking to improve at the face-off circle. From the immediate outset and based on last season, he will help with that need. The 29-year old center won 50% of his draws in limited minutes last season, averaging 8:58 per game and on a deep Edmonton Oilers squad that finished second in the Pacific Division, two points off the pace from the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.
Shore scored a goal and added eight assists in 47 games last season, when he also skated in the AHL for the first time in seven seasons with the Bakersfield Condors on a conditioning stint. Shore added two goals and five points in five games for the Condors, and also has 32 points and 19 goals in 42 career AHL games with the Texas Stars.
The native of Ajax, Ontario will be entering his fifth NHL stop, joining the Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Dallas Stars. Across full or parts of eight NHL seasons, Shore has 135 points in 422 games, along with an assist in four Stanley Cup Playoff games.
He is expected to compete for a role in training camp, joining Kraken centers Matty Beniers, Alex Wennberg, Yanni Gourde, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, and prospect Shane Wright.
The Kraken will open the 2023-24 NHL pre-season on Sept. 25 with a split squad matchup against the Calgary Flames.