Kraken's Bjorkstrand On Consistent Roll, Powering Seattle's Offense In Recent Games

The Seattle Kraken have four wins in their past six games – and one of the key reasons for their improved play of late is the performance of veteran right winger Oliver Bjorkstrand.

The 29-year-old Bjorkstrand has generated four goals and six points in his past three games -- including two goals in Seattle's recent win over Boston -- giving him 11 goals and 22 points in 30 games this season. And Bjorkstrand has been a consistent contributor in his past 11 games, producing at least one point in nine of those games. Now, Seattle hasn’t won all of the games Bjorkstrand has put up at least one point in, but at a time where the Kraken need all the help they can get on offense, receiving regular help from Bjorkstrand in terms of point production is welcome indeed.

Bjorkstrand’s $5.4-million salary is not insignificant, and the fact it runs for another season following the current season means Bjorkstrand will likely be a Kraken for the foreseeable future. But if he continues on his current pace, Bjorkstrand will finish the regular-season with 29 goals – which would set a new career-best total for the Danish winger. His current career-best is 28 goals, which was set as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2021-22. And Bjorkstrand is on pace for 58 points, which would come within one point of his 59-point total from 2021-22.

Bjorkstrand isn’t regarded as a cream-of-the-crop-level competitor, but the Blue Jackets don’t need him to break franchise scoring marks for him to be effective. If he can be a player who chips in with a solid amount of offense while playing a decent defensive game, Bjorkstrand will be a worthwhile investment of time and salary cap space.

Related: Bjorkstrand Scores Two Goals As Kraken Defeat Bruins 5- In Seattle.

Perhaps next season, when he’s in the final year of his current contract, Bjorkstrand will be a candidate to be traded. But he’s still relatively young, and if he can continue as a consistent contributor on offense, the Kraken will have no good reason to deal him away.

Bjorkstrand is now an important player on this Seattle team, and his improved production of late is reason enough for the Kraken to hang onto him for the foreseeable future.