Seattle Kraken

The NHL All-Star break doesn't exactly hit in the middle of the season, but we're taking the time off to hand out grades for the "first half" of the Kraken's season.

Oliver Bjorkstrand on Saturday will become the third Denmark native to play in an NHL All-Star Game, 35 years after his father accepted an offer to play in the Danish town of Herning.

A loss to the lowly Sharks sure put a pall on the Kraken headed into the All-Star break. They will return for a four-game road trip against playoff contenders in the East.

The Kraken have taken advantage of earning a point for their OT and SO losses this season, but those "loser" points aren't a template for a return to the playoffs.

At the break, Seattle sits 21-19-10 and two points behind the final wild-card playoff spot after a shutout loss to San Jose.

While Kraken All-Star Oliver Bjorkstrand joins the fray this weekend, the rest of the team gets to scatter and relax.

As the March 8 NHL trade deadline nears, the Kraken will likely again be careful about moving anybody too integral to a standings revival.

Jordan Eberle found his scoring groove again, finding the back of the net twice in the first period as the Kraken picked up a much-needed 4-2 win against the Blue Jackets.

Eeli Tolvanen surpassed expectations for the Kraken last year and he's proven this year that was no fluke. It seems likely the Kraken will make sure he doesn't leave.

Hockey line changes may look chaotic, but there's method to getting tired legs off the ice and fresh ones back on again. Here's how the Kraken go about it.

The Blues scored with 1:29 remaining in overtime to beat the Kraken in a matchup of two hungry teams just below the playoff cutoff.

The Kraken hold steady in the latest NHL power rankings, but will their return to health mean they'll start climbing again?