SEATTLE — Why should Kraken fans be excited about the franchise’s future?

On Wednesday, I asked that question of general manager Jason Botterill and CEO Tod Leiweke, who sat facing 31 reporters, broadcasters, bloggers, photographers and videographers in a crowded room inside the Kraken Community Iceplex.

Because I don’t know if there is an obvious or convincing answer.

The franchise’s fifth season had ended with an increasingly familiar whimper six days earlier, as Seattle plummeted out of playoff position after the Olympic break. The Kraken went 7-17-2 in their final 26 galling games and finished 19th in the NHL in power play percentage, 23rd in goals against, 27th in shots, 28th in goals and 31st in penalty kill percentage. This was a team without strengths or stars.

Mid-plummet, the Kraken parted ways with president of hockey operations Ron Francis this month but will apparently retain Botterill and coach Lane Lambert. On April 9, Leiweke promised “a full, independent audit of hockey operations” but seemed to waffle on the scope and specifics of that endeavor Wednesday.

So why should you be excited about the Kraken? Why should you have faith that the future will be better than this repetitive past?

In addressing the question, Botterill cited the continued development of Seattle’s young talent, the additional depth building in Coachella Valley and the Kraken’s quartet of first-round picks in the next two drafts, which could bolster their system or be used as trade bait.

It’s true, Seattle’s prospect pool was ranked seventh in the NHL by The Athletic this month. Berkly Catton (who made his Kraken debut this season at age 19), 18-year-old center Jake O’Brien, 21-year-old winger Jagger Firkus, 21-year-old center Oscar Fisker Mølgaard and Co. remain intriguing talents.

But given the statistical stagnation of former prospects Matty Beniers, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans so far in Seattle, I need to see those seeds blossom before I believe.

As for Leiweke’s answer to the same question?

Let’s break it into three separate parts.

Part I

“When you look holistically at what this ownership group has done and Samantha (Holloway) and our other investors, we’ve done a lot right here,” Leiweke said Wednesday. “We sit in what I believe is the best training facility in the NHL. I think our arena is arguably the most beautiful arena in the world. Tonight the Torrent will play in front of a massive crowd. We’ve done a lot right here. This (on-ice product) is the most important piece to me, personally, to get this right.”

Likewise, I’ve said and written and repeated that the Kraken have done a lot right. No argument there.

But I think fans are tired of hearing about the beautiful facilities during somber season-ending news conferences. They’re tired of hearing about the quality of branding and broadcast and community outreach, while the Kraken continue to lose more than they win. They’re tired of hearing about excellent ownership or a world-class arena … when it sits empty for another April and May.

That’s crummy consolation for a fan base that should demand more.

Part II

“I’ve had a pretty good track record with being part of winning organizations,” Leiweke continued. “We have all the DNA here to be a great organization, and we are going to push hard. Our owner, Samantha Holloway, is going to have it no other way. When we talked about this sort of audit, it has drawn a lot of interest. That’s the way she wants it. We are going to examine and turn over every rock, no stone unturned, to get this team kicked into another gear.”

That sounds promising, right? The Kraken are going to turn over every rock!

Unless it means replacing Botterill, who has been here since the beginning.

Or embracing a rebuild, considering Seattle’s core appears to have collectively peaked in 2023.

No, it seems some stones may be left conveniently untouched.

When asked about the possibility of a rebuild, Leiweke countered: “I think the pieces are in place. I think our ownership feels that. We’ve got to add to those pieces.”

This is not a smearing of Seattle’s individual pieces. Jordan Eberle has been a commendable captain. Jared McCann, Vince Dunn, Jaden Schwartz and Adam Larsson are proven commodities who have pridefully represented this franchise for five seasons. Beniers, Wright, Catton and Kaapo Kakko are NHL talents still approaching their primes. Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson are Stanley Cup champions. Bobby McMann was an impact addition at the trade deadline.

Maybe with a “very aggressive” offseason, which Botterill promised Wednesday (not for the first time), the Kraken will become a contender. Maybe Seattle will trade for its first legitimate star. Maybe young pieces such as Catton, Firkus, Fisker Mølgaard, Ryan Winterton and Jacob Melanson will complement Seattle’s veterans to create something sustainable.

Maybe.

But you’ve heard this all before.

If the pieces haven’t fit for three consecutive seasons, it’s hard to imagine the right pieces are in place.

Part III

“And when you look at all the other pieces we’ve put in place, the hard, hard work of doing this, the improbability of a privately funded arena, all the way through this journey for me for the last eight years there have been doubters. But I’ve been a constant believer,” Leiweke concluded. “I believe that we’re going to get this to a good place, and I think the majority of our fans do.”

I’m not sure the majority of Kraken fans agree, and I don’t blame them.

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