SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 04: Andre Burakovsky #95 of the Seattle Kraken looks on during the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Climate Pledge Arena on March 04, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
An “aggressive” off-season is underway with two trades in three days.
Forget July 1, the first day of NHL free agency. It’s not even draft week.
Seattle Kraken general manager Jason Botterill, two days after acquiring Mason Marchment in a trade with the Dallas Stars, continued his early re-shaping of the roster ahead of the 2025-26 season in an eye-catching one-for-one trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. Andre Burakovsky, a highly skilled but oft-injured winger, was sent to the Blackhawks in exchange for center Joe Veleno.
“Andre was a valuable player for our organization during the three years he was here, and we wish him and his family the best of luck in Chicago," said Botterill in a team statement.
No other draft picks or prospects were involved in the deal, and the Kraken reportedly shed the entirety of Burakovsky’s $5.5 million annual salary, which has two years remaining. When healthy, he provided the Kraken lineup with an effective blend of skill, shooting ability and size – to the point where he was the team’s leading scorer two years ago before suffering a torn groin muscle, derailing his season after 49 games.
Burakovsky, 30, again struggled with health the following year, amassing just seven goals and 16 points in an identical 49-game period, a far cry from the 22-goal campaign three years ago in Colorado which landed him the big five-year payday from the Kraken just days after he hoisted the Stanley Cup. He showed signs of rebounding last season, missing just three games, but with just 10 goals and 37 points while fading into a bottom-six forward role by the end of the year.
The Blackhawks, still looking to take their rebuild to the next level in the Connor Bedard era, add Burakovsky to the mix while sending Veleno, 25, west after acquiring him from the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline for goaltender Petr Mrazek and forward Craig Smith.
For now, he stands as the fourth center on the Kraken roster, occupied by Matty Beniers, Chandler Stephenson, and Shane Wright. A once promising first round pick by the Red Wings seven years ago, Veleno is well known for his skating ability and solid frame at 6-foot-1, touting himself three months ago as a 200 foot center useful in penalty kill and face-off duties. His role with the Red Wings bottomed out, a year removed from a career-high 12 goals and 28 points.
"We’ve acquired a young player with experience while also increasing our salary cap flexibility moving forward,” said Botterill.
Veleno has been reported as a buyout candidate even before the trade. He’s entering a contract year, earning $2.2 million, which could spread his cap hit at $795,833 this year and just $295,833 next year, according to PuckPedia.com if the Kraken choose to buy out his salary before June 30.
The move signals continued transformation of the roster, two days after the Kraken got Marchment in exchange for two draft picks. Marchment, a towering 6-foot-5 forward with an abrasive on-ice identity, comes off back-to-back 22-goal seasons in Dallas while entering a contract year, earning $4.5 million annually.
With the trade window now open for business and free agency also looming ten days away, the Kraken have $18 million in available cap space for future upgrades. They will also have to manage potential extensions for forward Kaapo Kakko and defenseman Ryker Evans, due to hit restricted free agency on July 1.