The Kraken did more of the same on Sunday and dropped their eighth straight game, this one a 5-1 embarrassment on home ice against a Montreal Canadiens club that is last in the Atlantic Division and carries an even worse record than Seattle.
This was the second home game of the season that I personally have not attended and couldn’t watch live. My plan was to get home late, watch the replay of the game, and write Three Takeaways off of that. But when I saw the score and the reactions of our great followers on social media, it occurred to me that I really didn’t need to watch this game. I’ve seen it before. I saw it against Washington, Nashville, and Buffalo last week, and I also saw it in Arizona on Friday. (To be fair, the Kraken played a little better in that game before blowing another late lead. And I did watch the “highlights” from Sunday’s game, because I’m a sicko like that.)
So why waste my time? Similarly, why should fans waste their time and money to attend these games, when the home team isn’t even going to put forth an honest effort?
Well, I apparently wasn’t alone in these sentiments, because even head coach Dave Hakstol had seen enough and didn’t pull punches in his post-game presser.
In three years covering this team, I’ve seen Hakstol keep a level head in every media scrum he’s done. Other than Sunday night, if you didn’t watch the game and just listened to his media availability on any given night, you usually wouldn’t know from Hakstol’s demeanor whether the Kraken had just won 5-0 or lost by 10. That’s how steady he is when he talks to us.
“Every time you put this jersey on, it means a lot, and right now, we are not portraying that out on the ice.” Those are strong words from any coach, let alone Hakstol who has always (and I mean always) found a way to put a positive spin on every game, no matter how big of a steaming pile of hockey it was.
The truth is that since the Kraken blew a two-goal lead and lost in overtime to Vegas on March 12, they have been a broken group that has looked ready to hit the golf course. They have not been trying, and it was oddly refreshing to hear Hakstol call it as such on Sunday. For a group that “has a lot of pride,” as we’ve heard constantly, they have not shown it and should be ashamed of the shows they’ve been putting on for the fans that have shelled out thousands of dollars to watch them mail it in at Climate Pledge Arena.
Changes made
While we’ve watched these players glide through this losing streak, which now matches the length of the eight-game skid in November and December that helped put them in this position in the first place, we’ve been especially irked by the lack of accountability. They have seemed to have no regard for their jobs, because for most of the veterans, their positions have been etched in stone since Day 1.
With the exception of Kailer Yamamoto or Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, nobody was getting healthy scratched because there wasn’t anybody else to insert into the lineup. So, players were allowed to give half efforts and go through the motions to make it look like they (sort of) care, even though a trained eye like that of Hakstol or general manager Ron Francis can plainly see that the “pride” has disappeared.
Hakstol put his foot down publicly after the game Sunday (perhaps five games too late), and Francis followed suit, immediately calling up Ryan Winterton and Logan Morrison from AHL Coachella Valley.
We’ve said it before, but at this point in the season, we’re fine with losing. The more Seattle loses, the higher it rises in the draft lottery, so in the long run, it may be a good thing to drop some additional games down the stretch.
Besides, the Kraken are who they are, and this roster was never talented enough to make a real run at the postseason if it didn’t stay almost totally healthy, which it did not. Add to that a soft sell at the trade deadline, and any optimism we maintained at that time was misguided, but we never thought we’d see these players quit playing, and that’s a tough pill to swallow.
If you’re going to lose because you aren’t good enough, we’re fine with that. But if you’re going to lose because you aren’t trying, then changes need to be made, and Francis sent his first real message to the club with these call-ups.
If Winterton and/or Morrison draw in on Tuesday against Anaheim, who they replace in the lineup will speak volumes.
What next?
Now that Hakstol has pulled the lever of the public shaming of his team, and Francis has yanked the “call up some kids” ripcord, we’re curious to see what other mechanisms get deployed in these last few weeks of the season.
Seattle’s front office plays things close to the vest, so we can’t tell you what Francis and his staff are thinking. But it’s been clear for a while that any messages being sent to the players have not been received. So is Hakstol coaching for his job right now, or does Francis view the team’s many shortcomings as player personnel issues that can be addressed in the summer?
Darren Brown
Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email darren@soundofhockey.com.
You should watch the game, I disagree with H on this one. Yes we could have played better but truthfully we played as well as our record shows. I thought we had better effort in this game than many others that H just said nothing to see here.
I’d like to see some stats but it feels like we out chanced them 2/1, out shot them by a fairly wide margin and controlled much of the game. Should we have been better vs one of the worst teams in the NHL, maybe…. We’re not far behind.
H needs to look in the mirror and start thinking about why this team has been so random with their efforts and point the finger at himself before anyone else. If we’re going to be truly honest I’m not sure any team in the league would win that game with their goaltender letting in 4 of the first 7 shots, that was atrocious but no mention of that. I feel he was responsible and misplayed three of the four goals….. yes that can happen but we’re talking about a goalie it happens to a lot. This loss is 100% on Gru.
Burakovsky was absolutely horrible in this one, it seemed like he turned the puck over every time. Why did we pick up tuna? He should sit in the box the rest of the year, play some youth. Hopefully Evans is ok, didn’t look that serious.
I was there last night, and while the lower bowl had a lot of empty seats, the seats around us in 201 were quite full, and mostly (from conversations I overheard) with people who were new to hockey. And they were bored. It was so quiet. Even the habs fans seemed kinda bored.
It was very reminiscent of the bad games in year one. Especially grubauer letting in the first 2 shots he faced. But it was even worse because the kraken were at least kinda frisky that year. Last night they folded up shop completely after that offside challenge. It’s hard to imagine them ever coming back from down multiple goals this year because they don’t even seem interested in trying to pull it off. This year, the kraken never exploit those “score effects” we hear so much about.
I’ve gone with my wife on 6 “date night” games this year, and they have lost every single one… BY AT LEAST THREE GOALS. I went to at least 15 games each of the first two seasons, and only 2 or 3 of those were completely dismal blowout losses. Even the losses were often exciting and fun. This year, it’s been at least 7 of those — mostly on weekends! Almost like they are actively trying to repel the maximum number of new fans.
Speaking of which — they didn’t “hoist the colors” at the start of the 3rd period. We thought maybe it was because so many people had left (or not shown up) in the lower bowl that there were not enough people to hold up the flag.
On the bright side, if they keep going like this, they have a legit shot at 28th place and 8.5% odds of a Celebrini celebration. Oh yay.
Thursday they play the Ducks for the second time in three days at CPA – a lame weeknight matchup going directly against the Mariners season opener at home… that ought to be cozy.
They didn’t hoist the colors at the prior home game either.
Game was boring. I’m STH, watch all the games but I found myself drawn to my phone.
The “Hoist the Colors,” things wreaks havoc for the highly paid seats in the sections either side of where the flag ends up. I bet the renewals were lower in those sections due to everyone having to be in there seats before the display starts or missing the first few whistles of action in the 3rd period because of the pileup of people that were barred from the aisle to their seats so the cheer squad could roll up the flag and run it up the stairs with the aisle not reopening until after the first whistle.
Interesting. I was not at the prior home game (vs. Buffalo, right?). But I was at the game vs. NSH before that, and they definitely hoisted the colors that game. So if they have just ditched the ritual generally, that’s a very new thing.
There was one playoff game last year where somehow the “cheer squad” failed to pull in the flag at the usual spot, and the flag kept circulating around the lower bowl until well after the period started, surely blocking the view for quite a few folks. It was kinda funny (from upstairs).
The flag is pretty see through. The whole thing about passing it around would detract from your view, but you can see right through it.
Hakstol will probably just do the cowardly thing and scratch Kartye and Yamamoto or something. The veterans on this team have always been untouchable, even if they’ve taken huge steps back (looking at you, Gourde and Tanev).
I wouldn’t call Seattle a hockey town, which is what makes this team being unwatchable and totally non-competitive so dangerous. Most Seattleites view it as an entertainment product, as “something to do”, but when it’s not entertaining in the least, they’ll just find something else to do. When the Sonics come back in two years, they will dominate the Seattle sports scene, especially at this time of year. If the Kraken don’t have a strong fan base by then, they will be on thin ice (hey-o!). I know several people who will not be renewing their 3-year season ticket packages after this season. Re-sale prices have also plummeted. The future looks pretty bright in the minors, but I don’t think this team can afford to wait another 2-3 years before becoming competitive. Given the lack of urgency with which they operate, Francis and Hakstol’s jobs should be on the line. My sense is that Hakstol may be gone by the end of the season if this continues, and Francis will be gone next year if things don’t turn around.
Yep, many point to H’s contract but as I said before the money is a fraction of what it could cost the kraken if they keep him around. GM’s know how this works, you give the coach a trade…. Ownership gives the GM a coach swap. Did H get his trade “tuna”, not a very good one but he got it. Francis has his back against the wall or should at least, hopefully ownership is not overly patient.
Totally agree re:Burky. He oscillates between dazzling puck handler and dumbfounding turnover machine. He better turn it around next year (along with Beniers) or this team is toast.
Agreeing mostly – I think Gourde has been a complete disappointment this year (but haven’t a lot of players?) but sometimes I think Tanev is the only guy out there skating hard. Huh.
I very much agree with the statement that they cannot wait 2-3 years before becoming competitive. We need to see movement towards something better before the end of the season. Otherwise there is no momentum going into the off season. To me, that’s important.
Sure, Tanev skates hard, but he gets paid $3.5M and barely has double digit points this season. That’s not going to cut it for a team that relies on “depth”. He’s a turnover machine and he has absolutely no scoring touch. I like him on the PK, and his speed gets him a good number of breakaways, but I can’t remember him scoring on more than one of said breakaways in 3 whole seasons.
Boist…. How about 5.5 for a turnover machine? Burakovsky says hi. 😂
If this team played in Canada or in the Northeastern part of the US they would be getting ripped to shreds by the front office, the media, and the fans for how they’ve played lately. It’s one thing to get outplayed by any of the playoff teams but to get blown out of the water at home by a last place Eastern conference club is inexcusable. Root should switch over to broadcasting the Firebirds for the remainder of the year.
Played lately? Do you remember our start to the season, that’s the real reason we are in the situation we’re in. Yes their heads are down they missed the playoffs, this current slip is way more excusable then our start to the season. We got on a roll when Gru got injured…. Same as last season. Do you think we would have even made the playoffs last season if Gru didn’t get injured? This is what is frustrating, the fingers are not pointing at the right direction.
Do you remember our start to the season?
I remember… it was the same as last season, and the season before.
If you’d remember the start of the season properly, you’d also remember we were riddled with injuries to key players.
McNubb… I remember the start of the season… and also when I go back and look at the injury report… No, not “riddled” with injuries. Burakovski – as usual, Tanev – sure, bottom six – and Eberle missed a week in November. If that’s your idea of “riddled with injuries” in the NHL… whatever.
Weak sauce.
I have been saying it since day one, Hackstol has no business being the coach he was a head scratching choice from day one. The boys have just stopped playing for him, period ! nothing else. Francis should do two things 1st fire Hackstol today and insert an asst coach for the rest of the season 2nd sit every RFA and UFA that we will not sign for next year and bring up a boat load of the kids. If this losing continues it will alienate the fans going into next year and even worse create a losing culture within the organization which is very hard to dig out of.
Someone needs to tell the team that the goalie is not a target, and you can score goals if you do not hit the net. The other thing I have noticed is just how many times a pass is bobbled. If you cannot take a pass cleanly, you give the other team a chance to pressure you. This is true on the point. I do not know if it is how the pass is made or if it is how the pass is accepted but stone hands are not an NHL tool. This team sure misses Dunn but it still does not account for the team’s poor use of basic skills. I think I was lucky to miss the first period.
74 shot attempts!
Even the Canes – who are in a league of their own when it comes to shooting the puck – take less than 70 a game.
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So if this is on the players, what was behind the eight game winless streak after Thanksgiving?
I think Jordan Eberle accidentally put his finger on it in HIS post-game comments, “it the same system we’ve been playing all season”.
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Over THIS eight game losing streak, 5v5, the Kraken are 8th in the league in Corsi for (all shot attempts – goals, on net, blocked, misses) but they’re 20th in Fenwick for (Corsi minus blocked shots). One-third of their shot attempts are getting blocked.
As bad as that is, they’re also dead last in the league in high-danger shots for per 60 – DEAD LAST. The gap between them and second worst Arizona is bigger than the gap between the Coyotes and the eighth worst Red Wings.
Top ten in shot attempts but dead last in high-danger shots – and a ton of shots getting blocked.
That sounds like a team that is throwing the puck at the net and hoping “good things will happen”.
Add in Hakstol’s own comments about the poor shot selection and decisions in the overtime at Mullet – it’s not the players, it’s the coach.
The overtime problem isn’t new and apparently he’s done nothing about it. The “shoot the f-ing puck” ‘system’ isn’t new either – but when you trade away your No.2 center AND your best player is out with an injury – just doing more of what isn’t working?!?!… that’s the coach.
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I’ve been hesitant to completely dump on Hakstol because he’s done – I think – a decent job with a middling roster. I get that when you don’t have the talent, maybe you have to “lean into luck” a bit. But after that “mush-mouthed” blasting of the players and his defensive hackles as soon as a reporter in the room mentioned “37 shots, 1 goal”… this from the guy who said “don’t worry about it” after getting shutout by the Sharks. More passion, more heart? Please.
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It’s not them Dave, its you.
You’ve lost me.
Go Kraken!!!
Djdw00 very well said, to come out and throw the team under the bus is just passing the blame. Is he really firing them up or just pissing them off. It seems to me they are just playing his system like you said. And seriously to go on a rant about how poorly they played with 37 shots on goal and your goalie laying an egg!!!
I noticed his reaction to the shots on goal question as well 😂 he seemed defensive as he should I guess.
I agree with you, the entire offense seems aimless and lacks intention, which seems like a coaching issue. Sure, the personnel isn’t top notch, but their offense functioned a lot better last year (plus got some lucky results). There doesn’t seem to be any anticipatory passing or playmaking this year. These skaters are acting like they’re on a brand new team every game. They don’t know where their teammates are or what they’re going to do so they just pass it along the boards, get it to the point, float a weak wrister and hope for the best.
But the only thing I’ll add is: Grubauer strikes again. It was interesting that he wasn’t mentioned at all, and he was atrocious. So much for that .900 Sv%! Yikes.
They basically are on a new team every game, this lineup in a blender is getting old. He’s just throwing darts and looking like he has no idea how to right the ship.
According to NHL Edge, their offensive zone time is almost exactly the same this year as last. But last season they spent that time possessing the puck and keeping the defense on the ice. When folks talked about the Kraken wearing teams down last season, I think that relentless pressure in the offensive zone is where it was coming from.
This season, it seems to me, they’re spending most of that time in board battles trying to get the puck off the wall, and then as soon as they do – if they don’t lose it… shoot the puck. Puck goes the other way, opposition gets a change, and then when they do get the puck back… do the whole thing over again.
You must have reading comprehension issues which explains a lot of your awful takes. For the first. 3 months of the season we had on average 15-20 million of cap sitting in the bench. Maybe next time you want you fact check, do it right. You clearly got some weird biases and knowledge wholes
This is hard to argue with… because it’s hard to understand.
I assume you’re referring to a different thread where there was discussion about the slow start.
I don’t know what you consider the “start of the season”… but it ain’t “3 months”. Go look at Capfriendly… as I said, the first month we were missing the guy we didn’t have for almost the entire second half of last season AND fourteen playoff games, a bottom six forward, and Eberle for a week. If you’re blaming that… I’ve just gotta roll my eyes. As far as “weird biases”, if the truth is “weird”… ya got me. Also got me on reading comprehension, I have no idea what “knowledge wholes” are. Is that “complete knowledge” as opposed “knowledge halves”?
If you’re gonna take shots at folks, there’s something you should “properly remember”, “Hint:” know what you’re talking about.
Darren, thank you for abandoning the “chins up” in lieu of the more realistic report. This cannot be sugarcoated any longer. Cheers for all the great reporting!
I grew up near Philly and as such, love hating on my home town more than anyone and while this year has been a disappointment, I think losing is the best strategy right now.
They guys worked hard in the middle of the year to I’ll out of the nose dive that was the beginning of the season. They had a run and up until that Vegas loss, they were almost back in the wildcard. That obviously broke some hearts and they’ve given up.
But maybe “live to fight another one” is ok for this team this year? We’ve got some great young talent coming up (thank you GMRF) and we had a great run last year (thank you Hak). Turns out some of the roster choices hurt the chemistry this year but they were really close to last year if a few games go differently.
A few good fits and lucky bounces next year and this team could be very easily be back in the playoffs.
Capfriendly has both Winterton and Morrison on Emergency Loan…
Hmm…
No recall of #51? Mr. Wright is apparently not Mr. Right Now.
Do you really want your No.1 prospect being coached by the guy who is going to get fired after his fourth miserable start in four seasons next year?
Also, Wright only needs 3 (?) more NHL games to burn a year on his ELC. No reason to do that at this point.
I wouldn’t mind seeing #51 and his coach coming up….. we should send H to the valley. I think we will see Wright come up when he’s not in a position to burn a year. I don’t recall how many games he has available this year?
If things don’t work, strategies need to be changed. January is the time when coaches analyze to see what’s been working and not working, then they have to work the strategy to be better. If coaches don’t do that, it’s not going to work. Players need new strategies to give them momentum.
May want to go look at what happened in January, Monica. Hint: we were winning
January: 7-6
January 31st: 21-29… or if you love the loser point – 21-19-10 in the standings.
And again… if you love the loser point – January 7-5-1… the ONE being the absolutely humiliating “collapse-from-ahead” overtime loss to the Blues.
If that’s your idea of “winning”… seriously… your bar rests on the floor.
How can we get better? Very few players in the current roster are not signed for multiply years. You will not be able to trade most of them and get good return. Young players? Beiners is better than all of them and it is not enough at all. Moving from Hakstol is the only realistic way to try and change this team dynamic. Not sure it will help but i don’t see how they can really improve this team without moving from H.
One point of light on Beniers disappointing season. MacKinnon struggled for his first two years after winning the Calder. Hoping for a repeat with Beniers.