The Seattle Kraken have signed defenseman Gustav Olofsson to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 ahead of the NHL trade deadline. The 31-year-old Swede brings veteran depth to the team's blueline after strong performances in the AHL with the Kraken's affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
On March 2, 2026, Seattle Kraken general manager Jason Botterill announced the signing of defenseman Gustav Olofsson to a one-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $775,000. This move adds experienced depth to the Kraken's defense ahead of the trade deadline.
"We're happy to have Gustav under contract with our team," Botterill said. "He's been a steady, veteran presence in Coachella and brings depth to our blueline."
Olofsson, a 6-foot-2, 201-pound native of Boras, Sweden, previously played on an AHL contract with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Kraken's affiliate. This season, he has recorded 16 points (2 goals, 14 assists) in 29 games. Over four seasons (2022-26) with the Firebirds, he amassed 51 points (7 goals, 44 assists) in 151 regular-season games and served as an alternate captain.
In the NHL, Olofsson has appeared in four games with the Kraken between 2022 and 2024, contributing to a career total of 11 assists in 62 regular-season games across the Kraken, Minnesota Wild, and Montreal Canadiens. His career-high marks came in the 2017-18 season with Minnesota, where he posted eight assists in 41 games.
Olofsson's AHL career includes 131 points (20 goals, 111 assists) in 395 games with teams such as the Firebirds, Charlotte Checkers, Laval Rocket, and Iowa Wild. He earned a spot on the AHL All-Star Team in 2015-16 and set career highs the following year with six goals, 18 assists, and 24 points in 59 games.
In the playoffs, Olofsson has played 57 Calder Cup games over four postseasons, totaling 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists). He participated in all 50 of the Firebirds' postseason games from 2022 to 2025, helping the team reach the Calder Cup Finals in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, he ranked fourth among Firebirds defensemen with five points (3 goals, 2 assists) in 26 games.
Before turning professional, Olofsson played one season at Colorado College in 2013-14, recording eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) in 30 games. He spent two prior seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL, notching 24 points (2 goals, 22 assists) in 66 games.
Internationally, Olofsson won a gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship in Malmo, Sweden, where he led Swedish defensemen with five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in seven games. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the second round, 46th overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft.
The Kraken, competing in their fifth season in the Pacific Division, continue to build their roster at Climate Pledge Arena.
