Ex-Penguins forward Jared McCann thrives as the Kraken's 1st star

Just around the corner, in 2071, the Seattle Kraken franchise will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Presumably, an opulent ceremony will be staged to celebrate everything of note in the first half-century of the Kraken.

Dignitaries of all types will be on hand including, presumably, a 75-year-old Jared McCann.

After all, the ex-Penguins forward will always be the first in a lot of areas for the Kraken, who entered the NHL in 2021.

First player to record a 40-goal season.

First player to record 100 career points.

First player to sign a contract extension in franchise history.

And so on.

McCann laughs at the idea of being a septuagenarian shuffling onto the ice to be acknowledged for some long-forgotten milestones.

But he recognizes the opportunity he has been given with the expansion franchise and what it has done to invigorate his career, which seemed to be stuck in neutral during previous stops with the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers and Penguins.

“It’s just so cool,” McCann said. “I’ve been through some difficult times in the league. Had to work my way up. Obviously, changing around, being traded, it’s definitely difficult. To find a home in Seattle and get the opportunity to play — obviously (general manager Ron Francis) believed in me and gave me a contract — to have that, it’s hard to put into words. My career could have been something different if it went the other way. I’m very thankful.”

A lot of things could have been different had the Penguins hung on to McCann as the NHL’s expansion draft approached in 2021.

The Penguins were allowed to protect 11 players. They chose forwards Teddy Blueger, Jeff Carter, Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Kasperi Kapanen, Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust as well as defensemen Brian Dumoulin, Kris Letang and Mike Matheson and goalie Tristan Jarry.

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Forward Jared McCann spent parts of three seasons with the Penguins.

By rule, the Penguins had to automatically protect Crosby, Letang and Malkin per the parameters of the no-movement clauses in their contracts. And with Crosby and Malkin expected to miss time entering the 2021-22 season due to injuries, they opted to hang on to established centers Blueger and Carter.

But they didn’t expose McCann.

They actually traded him before things got that far.

With the NHL’s salary cap ceiling remaining flat at $81.5 million because of the harsh economic realities brought on by the pandemic, then-Penguins general manager Ron Hextall moved McCann, then 25, and his $2.94 million salary cap hit to the Maple Leafs in exchange for forward prospect Filip Hallander and a seventh-round draft pick in 2023 in a deal July 17, 2021.

Four days later, the Maple Leafs, as guided by general manager Kyle Dubas — today the Penguins director of hockey operations — allowed McCann to be drafted by the Kraken.

“It was really strange,” McCann said when the Kraken visited PPG Paints Arena on Jan. 14. “It was a kind of a weird time. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I got a phone call the day they told me that I was getting traded. I was at a buddy’s condo. I had no idea I was going to be non-protected. I figured I was a young player. I thought that was the direction most teams were going to go, protect the young guys. … But it worked out for me. Going to Toronto there for 72 hours, I heard from some people that I hadn’t heard from in probably 10, 15 years. It was pretty cool. I had (former Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe) reach out and call me. It was awesome.

“It was definitely stressful. I wouldn’t say it was an easy time to deal with. My wife and I were just trying to figure out what was going to happen, if I was going to be in Seattle or Toronto or if I was going to be on the move again. It was definitely a difficult time, but it worked out for me.”

McCann’s on-ice success led to off-ice security.

After leading the first-year franchise in scoring with 50 points (27 goals, 23 assists) in 74 games during the 2021-22 season, McCann agreed to a lucrative five-year deal with a salary cap hit of $5 million during the 2022 offseason.

Much of that success is based on just having opportunities with the Kraken that he didn’t have elsewhere, particularly with the Penguins.

Capable of playing either left wing or center, McCann was usually pinned at a lower station on the depth chart with the Penguins, who were blessed with a handful of luminaries at center (Crosby and Malkin) and two reliable goal-scoring threats at left wing (Guentzel and Jason Zucker).

“I feel like that happens a lot around the league,” said McCann, who never scored more than 14 goals in his three seasons with the Penguins. “I got most of my opportunity in Pittsburgh when some injuries happened. It was amazing playing with Sid and (Malkin) and all of those guys. … It was a learning experience. It’s something that I try to bring to the Kraken, just that leadership. … I talk to the younger guys about what sets Sid apart from everybody else. I’m so thankful for my time (with the Penguins). The experience was amazing.”

The Kraken’s success has been limited since entering the NHL. The franchise has reached the postseason only once (2023) in its three full seasons. As for the current campaign, the team has a 21-25-3 mark and is battling to stay within gravitational pull of a playoff spot.

For whatever limited success the Kraken can boast of this season, McCann has been a major driver of it. In 49 games this season, he leads the team with 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists).

Seattle goal!

Scored by Jared McCann with 02:05 remaining in the 1st period.

Assisted by Shane Wright and Yanni Gourde.

Colorado: 1
Seattle: 1#SEAvsCOL #GoAvsGo #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/vRJ2fF3N6o

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) December 23, 2024

What has led to him being the guy for the Kraken over these four seasons?

“It’s a combination of a bunch of things,” said Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, another former Penguin. “Obviously, Jared, he’s put a lot of work in. His skill speaks for itself. He’s really embraced his role here. He’s really brought chemistry with guys on the team. Him and (injured forward Jordan Eberle) have really good chemistry. Something that other guys can look up to and rely on is just his confidence, his knack for the net and his willingness to do the little things to score and get better.”

McCann would prefer the Kraken get much better and give him something significant to celebrate. In the meantime, he’s grateful for the chance to be the franchise’s first star.

“It’s been amazing for me,” McCann said. “I feel like I’ve gotten a great opportunity to show I can be a top player on a team and contribute offensively. I try to continue to do that.”