Kraken sign Josh Mahura to two-year extension

The Seattle Kraken have signed defenseman Josh Mahura to a two-year, one-way contract, the club announced on Friday. 

His new deal, worth $1.815 million, runs through the end of the 2026-27 NHL season, and comes with an average annual value of $907,500.

Formerly of the Anaheim Ducks and Florida Panthers, Mahura played his first season with the Kraken in 2024-25, signing with the Washington State franchise as a free agent, after Florida opted not to qualify him. 

A native of St. Albert, Alberta, Mahura didn’t make the Kraken’s roster out of training camp and passed through waivers ahead of the season, before being recalled for the third game of the campaign. 

Often used as depth on the blueline, the 27-year-old played 64 games and posted nine assists, while averaging 13:45 of ice time. It was the second-most games in a single regular season of his career, having played 82 games, scoring four goals and 16 points with the Panthers in 2022-23. 

While he has played 255 career regular-season games and has 10 goals and 54 points, he also played a part on the Stanley Cup champion Panthers team of 2024-25, playing in 30 regular-season games, before being a healthy scratch for the winning playoff run. 

Initially drafted by the Ducks with the 85th pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, Mahura impressed in junior through a WHL career that included stints with the Red Deer Rebels and Regina Pats, topped by a 22-goal and 69-point season in 2017-18. 

The Kraken missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2024-25, finishing seventh in the Pacific Division with 76 points. Yet, with new head coach Lane Lambert behind the bench and a projected $19,953,454 in cap space, they will have the flexibility to improve with hopes of returning to the postseason in 2025-26. 

The 2025-26 NHL season is set to begin Oct. 7.