The Kraken's addition of the veteran should help matters moving forward. Seattle earned only 35 wins a season ago, but perhaps Gaudreau can help them reach the next level. Seattle finished with the second worst record in the Pacific Division this past season, so climbing the standings will be the goal during the 2025-26 campaign.

Tarasov, 26, is a restricted free agent who is 10 years younger than Sergei Bobrovsky. They come from the same Siberian town of Novokuznetsk, and Tarasov’s father, Vadim, was Bobrovsky’s idol.