Kraken sign lone remaining restricted free agent to two-year deal

The Seattle Kraken have come to terms with their lone remaining restricted free agent.

According to a team announcement , the Kraken have signed defenseman Ryker Evans to a two-year, $4.1MM ($2.05MM AAV) contract through the 2026-27 NHL season.

The Kraken selected Evans with the 35th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Draft.

He was coming off a solid, albeit shortened, year with the WHLs Regina Pats, scoring three goals and 28 points in 24 games with a -4 rating.

The following year, again with the Pats, Evans posted an even better 14 goals and 61 points in 63 games with a +9 rating.

Evans immediately made a name for himself in the Krakens organization.

Seattle started him with their AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, in the 2022-23 season, and he responded well with six goals and 44 points in 71 games with a +19 rating.

Still, the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs put him over the top in terms of prospect rankings, scoring five goals and 26 points in 26 games with a +13 rating en route to a berth in the Calder Cup Final.

He was included on the AHL All-Rookie Team at seasons end.

Despite being on everyones radar as one of the better prospects in Seattles system, Evans transition to the NHL didnt go as smoothly as hoped.

He skated in 36 games for the Kraken in the 2023-24 season, but only mustered one goal and nine points with a -5 rating.

Still, his 54.2% CorsiFor% at even strength and 91.3% on-ice save percentage at even strength proved he was ready to play in the sports top league.

Given those indications in his underlying metrics, Evans earned a full-time spot on the Krakens roster this past season.

Finishing the season with five goals and 25 points in 73 games with a -12 rating while averaging 19:29 of ice time per game in a top-four role.

His underlying metrics dropped somewhat, but thats to be expected with twice as much playing time.

Even though Evans is a promising young two-way defenseman on Seattles roster, his only drawback is that he doesnt offer them anything different than what theyve been accustomed to in the past few years.

The Kraken only finished with one defenseman scoring more than 40 points last season (although Vince Dunn would have had he not missed time due to injury).

Evans can be a solid offensive contributor, but hes not expected to push for the 60 or even 50-point plateau.

Still, hes already beaten out Jamie Oleksiak in terms of positioning on the teams depth chart, and his spot in the lineup isnt expected to be altered by Seattles signing of Ryan Lindgren this summer.

Hell likely see his ice time grow year-on-year, especially if the Kraken begin phasing out some of their older talent..

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