After watching Seattle’s 3-0 win at Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday, I’m starting to believe that the Kraken are good and that the Nashville Predators are truly broken.
It was tough sledding to break through against a razor-sharp Juuse Saros in this game, but Daniel Sprong rang the bell for the first time since rejoining the Kraken in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 8. Brandon Montour had a goal and an assist, and Chandler Stephenson pitched in with three assists to help Seattle secure its fifth win of the six-game homestand.
“You couldn’t ask for more energy this week or the last two weeks,” Montour said. “Guys are excited to see what direction we’re going in right now.”
All five wins, by the way, came with Joey Daccord in net. Continuing his stretch of exceptional play, Daccord was rewarded with his first shutout of the season and fourth of his career, turning away 24 Nashville offerings.
Here are Three Takeaways from a 3-0 Kraken win over the Predators.
Takeaway #1: The New Guys®
Both of the big offseason acquisitions—Stephenson and Montour—and the recent trade pickup—Sprong—had huge impacts on this game.
Let’s start with Montour’s performance. I’ve made a claim a few times on the Sound Of Hockey Podcast that Brandon Montour became Seattle’s best player when he signed a seven-year, $50 million deal on July 1. His performance on Wednesday supported that argument and showcased just how dynamic he can be in all three zones.
The first highlight-reel play Montour made in the game came when Gustav Nyquist got behind him for a breakaway. Montour sprinted back, caught up to Nyquist, and got shoulder-to-shoulder with him before wrenching Nyquist’s stick up into the air. The way Montour played it without getting a penalty was a work of art.
Unbelievable play by Brandon Montour to track back and cleanly lift Gustav Nyquist’s stick on the breakaway. #SeaKraken #Preds pic.twitter.com/lmaZmOOAet
— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) November 21, 2024
Deep in the second period, with the game still scoreless, Montour took a nothing play and suddenly turned it into something, while also looping Stephenson and Sprong into the action.
Philip Tomasino tried to force a clearing attempt up the wall, but Montour knocked it out of the air at the blue line. In an instant, he sent the puck back toward the net, where Stephenson had set up shop at the top of the crease. Stephenson showed his elite patience and vision by getting Saros to commit to him and—instead of shoveling it into the netminder—dished it backward to Sprong, who was left with an easy tap-in.
[Aggressively clears throat]:
— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) November 21, 2024
🗣️ DING DONG! 🚨
Feels good to write that.
Insane pass by Chandler Stephenson, and Daniel Sprong rings the bell for the first time since returning to Seattle.
1-0 #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/sFcMAynW6J
“When Monty threw it to the net, I was more going for the rebound first,” Sprong said. “And then Stephenson went to his backhand, and in a split second, I’m like, ‘I think it might come back to me.’ So, I was just ready in case it did.”
Montour wasn’t done there, and neither was Stephenson. On their first shift of the third period, Montour dished to Stephenson at the offensive blue line and took off, even though Nashville had numbers back. Facing a mismatched 2-on-3 rush, Montour beat the Predators defenders to the far post, and Stephenson made another outrageous pass, threading it around Josi’s skate and into a perfect spot for Montour to tip it up and over Saros’ pad.
THE FULL MONTY! 🚨
— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) November 21, 2024
That’s two sick passes by Chandler Stephenson to create the two goals in this game. This time, Brandon Montour gets on the other end of it.
2-0 #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/zzScwFgabq
“As soon as [Montour] gave it to me, and ripped over the blue line, he said, ‘Yeah,’ he was calling for it,” Stephenson said. “He turned on the burners, and I just kind of delayed there for him. And so it worked out.”
After the game, Stephenson sounded a little down on himself about not scoring many goals and used the term “snakebit.” When asked if he considered shooting on the Sprong goal, Stephenson said, “Not with how things are going right now.”
So, goals aren’t going in for him, but he sure found a way to be impactful on Wednesday, as did the other “New Guys.”
Takeaway #2: Joey does it again
Daccord is quietly rising up the ranks in a lot of goaltending statistical categories, and by stopping all 24 of the shots he faced Wednesday, he improved to a .923 save percentage (good for sixth in the NHL) and a 2.31 goals-against average (eighth in the league). He’s also sixth in wins with nine and third in goals saved above expected with 7.6, according to MoneyPuck.
It’s almost sounding like a broken record when Bylsma gets asked after every game about how well Daccord is playing, but there’s no denying that he is playing exceptionally well.
This game was an interesting one because it really felt for a while like Saros was going to steal the show. But Daccord went toe to toe with the star backstop, got a little luck with a negated Tommy Novak kick-in goal and a post in the third period, and pitched his first shutout of the season.
“I was disappointed [Daccord] didn’t get the shutout in [a 3-2 win over the Islanders on Saturday], just because of how well he’s been playing,” Bylsma said. “And tonight, it was gratifying to see him get the shutout just to accent how well he’s played.”
As Daccord continues to play well, the team in front of him will only grow more confident. If the Kraken can find a way to win Saturday at the Los Angeles Kings, then look out, because this group could be in the midst of a major run.
Takeaway #3: What’s up with the Predators?
I’m not trying to take anything away from Seattle’s performance Wednesday because it was a strong top-to-bottom effort, but the lack of success for this star-studded Nashville roster this season is baffling. A team that already had superstars like Josi, Ryan O’Reilly, and Filip Forsberg added Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos over the offseason.
Yet, a quarter of the way into the season, Nashville sits at 6-11-3, just two points ahead of Chicago for last place in the Central Division. It’s a team that should be playing desperate hockey right now, and for much of the game against the Kraken, they were getting outshot by a 2-1 ratio.
I have to wonder if there are changes on the horizon for the Predators, especially when considering that they managed to get called for the rare “starting the game with an incorrect lineup” penalty and then got blanked to close out their five-game road trip with a 1-2-2 record.
By the way, on that call, Bylsma said the Kraken bench recognized during the national anthem that the guys Nashville had sent out seemed off because those players don’t normally play together. So, once the puck had dropped, they alerted the officials, and the penalty was assessed at the first whistle. You don’t see that every day.
The penalty didn’t really cost Nashville, but it did feel like a microcosm of just how out of sorts this team is right now.
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.
I wonder what the people who do not like the Stephenson signing are thinking this morning. The second and third leading scorers on the team are the new UFA guys. Have to give Francis some credit there.
I know people have been using 20 games as a metric but it still seems impossible to tell. The two upcoming stretches of games (California and December) is perhaps the better metric. How they do against the team higher than then (Kings), about equal (Ducks) and lower (Sharks) will be telling. But it is really what happens in December, when a slew of tough teams are on offer that will answer the question if they are a playoff team. Cannot play like the prior similar stretch. Need Dunn back and some scorers to ignite. Sprong? Burky? Bjorkstrand? Beniers? Tolvanen? Wright?
What a performance Stephenson put on, my goodness. His assists were masterworks. On top of that, he was going net-front looking for tip-ins (not something he is known for), and he broke up some zone entries at the blue line. When he turns it on, he is a real difference maker. It makes me look forward to the playoffs. I don’t watch enough Vegas games to know, but Stephenson seems like one of those “gets you through” guys.
Speaking of needing scorers to ignite, Burakovsky is right there. He is setting up big plays on the regular, and he looks explosive every time he gets the puck. It’s just dumb luck that is keeping the puck out of the net at this point. I get the feeling that, as soon as the first one goes in, he is going to absolutely pile them on. It’s a dam ready to break. His line with Beniers and McCann has looked excellent.
Yeah I’m one of the guys who think Chandlers signing was a bad idea…. Very good game for him last night, I’d love to be wrong but all along it’s been about the middle to end of his contract.
Daccord was on fire again, as the TNT panel said before the game and after. Your goalie needs to make the saves he’s supposed to and add in a few he shouldn’t have. That’s Joey in a nutshell, very nice he’s a Kraken. You’re not always going to stop them all just make sure you don’t let the easy ones in as it’s very deflating to the team.
Joey is leading the league with the best save percentage vs low danger shots out of all goalies that have played more than 5 games. He’s also second in the league in goals saved above expected at 10.6 (must have updated moneypuck since the wrote this). He definitely the exactly the goalie you want and can handle the puck as well as anyone.
There have been a few posters that have been complaining about how dangerous Joey is with his puck handling and should stay in net, the panel was spot on about this last night as well, having a goalie the can play the puck that well and make tape to tape passes without ringing up the boards takes away the ability for a team to dump and chase. That’s a huge part of the game and minimizing that aspect has a huge impact on the game and overall it’s worth the occasional oops.
In regards to Burky being snake bitten… he’s sitting at 27 shots on net 14 shots that have been blocked and 18 shots missing the net. Too many of his shots are not making it on net, he so often wants to make that extra move or just wait a bit before shooting for no reason. I can guarantee that a quick release is going to be much more effective than taking the time to pick the perfect shot or make the perfect move before the etc…
Just to piggy back on the puck handling thing, he was very close to getting a secondary assist on the Montour goal. That D—>O transition was facilitated by him. For most goalies, that’s a blind pass along the boards, but Joey found the open guy and down the ice they went.
“I’d love to be wrong but all along it’s been about the middle to end of his contract.”
It’s actually not about the middle to the end of his contract at all. Only people who think NHL hockey is about contract arbitrage and “weaponizing cap space” at the expense of actually having a good hockey team think that’s what it’s about.
By the way, you have no idea how Stephenson’s contract is going to play out. It’s outlandish, amateur speculation based on…nothing. What it’s all about is he (and Montour) make the team better now, and they probably make it better for some period of time into the future that none of us know.
Pointless argument, bottom line is we won’t know who’s right and wrong until year 4 at least. You have your opinion but it doesn’t make you right….. time will tell.
Actually, I am right, because Stephenson is a good player now. That isn’t “alternate facts.” That’s my point. No one, however, has any idea what the future is.
Actually you’re wrong sorry because it’s not about now. It’s about the effect the contract has on the Kraken in the future.
“ It’s actually not about the middle to the end of his contract at all. Only people who think NHL hockey is about contract arbitrage and “weaponizing cap space” at the expense of actually having a good hockey team think that’s what it’s about.”
This actually makes me laugh… I don’t think you actually understand what the long term effects could be. I’ve said this before, had we been in a situation where the addition of Chandelier would actually mean anything more then a better chance of ownership selling tickets today I’d be all for it.
You can tell me about how the caps going up, yada yada yada. What it comes down to in the and this is what matters. Will he actually be a player that we want in the lineup in 7 years…. Could he be replaced by a much younger and better player potentially making league minimum and will he be blocking a roster spot for that or some other player? We will not be able to trade him with that contract so if he’s not actually a player we want in the lineup it’s going to be hurting us big time. We would have to buy him out and have a disadvantage compared to other teams or let him eat a roster spot when we very likely could have better less expensive options. This isn’t rocket science it’s very simple and easy to understand. I’m not thinking that he’s going to be worth having in the lineup nearing the end of his contract, he’s already showing decline. Yeah he had a great game yesterday, nice to see but we haven’t seen a lot of that.
Yes it’s possible that he could be a player we want in our lineup in SEVEN years but not very likely and a very big gamble to take when guess what that time frame is very likely to be a point we are ready to go cup hunting. Seems to me like a gamble I would not want to take, it’s like mortgaging your house to go on vacation. Just painfully short sighted, a desperate move by a desperate GM.
“It’s very simple”… ya know, like checkers.
The delusion is strong with you 😅
You need to stop obsessing and wringing your hands about Stephenson’s (or any player’s) seven-year contract and educate yourself about the NHL buyout clause – the most ridiculously generous (for teams) “do-over” in all professional sports. In Stephenson’s case if he plays for Seattle for four years, and his contract were to be bought out prior to the 28/29 season, the Kraken will create ~ $4.2mm cap space for four years commencing into 28/29, followed by a ~ $2.1mm cap (for four years) hit commencing in the 31/32. Similar math would apply to buying out Montour – except the cap savings for 4 years (and the cap hit after that) would be slightly higher.
During the free agency period last summer, there were a preponderance of 6 and 7-year contracts offered to players. I’m certain the buyout clause influenced their thinking. But if you’re still concerned about $2.1mm cap hits commencing in 2031, well then you REALLY need to get over it.
Totem I don’t agree, like I said before it’s all in the timing. Right now wasn’t the time to make a long term high dollar investment. The 2M+ that’s unavailable to us could be the difference maker when it is actually the right time to be looking for that extra bump.
I don’t mind the player, I don’t mind the cap hit it’s really the term.
BTW I wasn’t the one that restated this topic… I’m not the one that needs to get over it. I could care less what Mr G thinks or you for that matter. This ending is years away and no point in picking fights over someone’s opinion especially since it’s entirely possible it’s correct.
I’d like to add to that…. My opinion aligns with the general consensus throughout the hockey world and yours does not. But yeah I’m the guy that’s wrong and you’re right 😂. Time will tell buddy, this argument won’t be settled for years so why bother having it. State your opinion fine but to go out calling me wrong when there is nothing you can prove is just plain stupid.
It is settled. He’s good now. That’s what the team needed. The future value of his contract is a moot point.
By the way, most average, “general consensus” people wouldn’t know the difference between a “good” or “bad” hockey contract.
In your world, Stephenson can have 80 pts this season, and your response will be “it doesn’t matter, because it doesn’t guarantee how he’s going to play in years 4-7.” But that completely ignores what the team needs to be good now, what the pressures on management from ownership are, and what other players cost, how they would have fit with the locker room, etc, etc etc. All the things people who get paid to do this have to think about.
I would be a little leary of the “consensus” argument. Most of those same folks had Stephenson as the “consensus” No.2 center in free agency. I think a lot of folks who do half-a-dozen things for all 32 teams are at a significant disadvantage when it comes to projecting player value and forecasting the cap… ya know, the things an NHL team actually has a group of dedicated professionals doing.
Dom Luszczyszyn at the Athletic absolutely hated the Stephenson contract. Notoriously, he also had Josh Morrissey in his “10 Worst” and “10 Best” contracts in the league… for the very same contract. I’m not saying Stephenson is going to turn out “fabulous”, I’m saying have a little skepticism about the “consensus”. They’re usually not paying attention.
I respect your hockey knowledge and insights and look forward to reading them, but your ongoing arrogance, defensiveness, posturing and accusatory tone “I don’t think you understand what the long term effects” or “My opinion aligns with the general consensus” in responses to others are becoming almost McCarthy-esq in their tone. Are you waving a blank piece of paper with “names” of “Communists” you’d like to share with us?
After twenty games… not worried. I’m not doing cartwheels, but I’m not wringing my hands either.
I think all three takeaways say something about the off-season.
The New Guys®️ seem to be working out.
Anyone who thought Francis should have waited to extend Joey should certainly be rethinking that take. Joey actually signed after game one, but it was before his first start so I’m calling it “off-season”.
Stamkos, Marchesssault, Skjei… and no center help. O’Reilly may be a “superstar”, but he’s no longer a No.1 center – especially on a team that was supposed to be a contender. Bringing in all those guys didn’t help shore up their weaknesses down the middle, and – like the signing or not – that’s what Francis did signing Stephenson. He’s not a No.1, but he’s made the Kraken stronger down the middle, where I think it matters most.
Go Kraken!!!
I’m happy to eat a little crow re: Stephenson. He had a helluva game last night. More of those please! Could it be Sprong has unlocked him?
What a goalie show that was.
You want snakebit, how about Burakovsky? He came so close to goals a whole bunch of times. Just cannot buy one right now.
Sprong and Stephenson seemed to gel really well last night, I’ll be interested to see how that develops going forward because when you combine a guy with 9s passing skill with 91s “shoot first, ask questions later” mentality you can get some real production.
Let’s also acknowledge that the only loss came against the one and only playoff contender and we were blanked. The goalie in net was irrelevant
Hey they beat Vegas!
Well is not irrelevant, you need to give Joey credit where credit is due. He’s been playing very well for the Kraken, actually is statistically one of the best goalies in the league. Yes Grubauer played a tough team this week but he also did what he always does… gave up an easy stinker of a goal. We have gotten 27 points with Daccord in net this season and 2 points with Grubauer in net and correct me if I’m wrong didn’t he give up 5 or 6 goals in his only win this season!!! and was basically bailed out by the Kraken lighting it up? It time to face reality buddy.
Ranger game; even if Kraken couldn’t create any offense, if Joey had been in net he “might” have kept the Rangers from scoring or kept it to one. Ya never know.
🤣🤣🤣 the delusion is real
Thanks for confirming your bias and ignorance. It’s funny how the Joey lovers overlook his gross deficiencies (he gives up “Joey’s” ALL the time) and are prone to ignore data they don’t like. Keep on keeping on kids. He’s really only been excellent on three of his starts. Our fanbase has so much to learn.
Apparently the Kraken coaching staff including goalie coach Steve Briere still have so much to learn as well. Joey keeps getting the starts for some reason. Usually the fans who really know what they’re talking about – like HappyHomestand – also like to point out that Grubauer is clearly the better of the two.
Kevin Woodley is another guy who apparently has so much to learn. He was just on the PDOcast praising Joey. What a fool. I can’t believe that guy even uses his real name.
You can add another to the list of folks who have so much to learn…. Jim Nill.
The Stars GM – idiot – is also part of the management group for Team Canada for the Four Nations Faceoff. Joey Daccord is actually eligible and is – according to Nill – being considered.
Go ahead HappyHomestand, tell me all about it. Tell me how Grubauer would be the absolute best netminder in the tournament if only Germany had a team… and the fact that Joey isn’t leading Team USA is all you need to know. I’m sure this is just Nill messing with division rival Binnington… right?
I agree the goalie in net against the Rangers ended up being “irrelevant”; however, that doesn’t dismiss that second goal he let in. The score should have nothing to do with making that stop.
Just saw an interesting comment from the PHR guys, saying that after firing Montgomery (was it really his fault or Sweeney’s?) that they might follow up with a big trade. They mentioned Shane Wright as a possible target, as he has been scratched for two games straight and may not be fitting in with the Kraken. Don’t know who started that rumor but I doubt it was Ron Francis.
Maybe we can swap Stephenson for Lindholm? He is a-million-and-a-half more for each of the same seven seasons… but he is seven months younger.
Sounds like a sarcastic dig at the Stephenson contract detractors like me. I never said they should have signed that Lindholm deal either. That is arguably an even worse one.
I was evident that Sprongs speed is something that the Kraken needed. Other players kept up and they played one of their better all around games of this season. However, The home stand wins are against lower teir teams and their only loss was against a top tier team, the Rangers. I have cautious optimism at the moment but they shoud be winning against teams like Nashville if they want to make a run.
While the overall point is well-taken, one of the wins was against Vegas (not a “lower tier team”).
The next game is a big one. They really need to beat LA, preferably in regulation, to show they should be taken seriously. LA is a good, but not great team, and one of the ones they are chasing.
I don’t feel like they “really need to beat LA”. I feel like they need to play well against LA. It is, to me, still a process and I think at this point they can certainly be taken seriously.
I obviously wouldn’t put them in the “contender” group, but after a setback last season, it looks to me like they may be back on track and building towards a group that can sustain success.
One thing for sure, if you’re living and dying game to game and week to week with this team, you’re probably going to be too often disappointed.
Coincidentally, in the Pacific right now, Vegas, Calgary, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Seattle and Anaheim have all won five of their last ten. It seems to me nobody in this division is running away with it.
OK, sure, “need” is a strong word. But it will be a good test and provide the biggest swing in playoff odds of any game so far — which, I know, is still not huge because it is only November. The homestand dug them out of true “long shot” territory, but a win against LAK will get them solidly into “bubble team” territory. A loss does not end the season but it knocks them back down a bit.
Earlier this month, during that awful road trip everyone was freaking out over, I looked at the rest of the month and the Golden Knights, the Rangers, and the Kings stuck out to me as the only real tough challenges on the schedule. They already knocked off Vegas, and even though they didn’t score against New York, I think they looked good in that game. As long as they have a solid outing in LA, I’ll be satisfied with the direction they’re moving.
Also, lately I’ve been hearing a lot of folks bringing up “American” Thanksgiving and the playoffs. I think it’s worth noting… last Thanksgiving the Blues and the Kraken were in Wild Card No.1 & Wild Card No.2.
I agree with Daryl. LA game is not a “must win” at this stage, but we should start looking competitive on a more consistent basis, and if the last six games are any indication, we are indexing to competitive. With new coaching staff, new players and new systems, you just want to see other teams struggling against the Kraken on a regular basis, and the Kraken gradually converting opportunities into pucks in nets, like the Stevie-Montour rush and Montour-Stevie-Sprong sequence. Could we roughly go 37-25 in the remaining 62 games (3/5 ratio, simplifying and not accounting for OT losses)? That would be ending the reg season with 95 standings points. That would probably be considered a good season my most fans.
The only game that really disappointed me so far was Ottawa. Even JT looked worn out, and he wasn’t even playing. We were totally schooled by Carolina, but they have been building for like 9 years and are probably contending for The Cup.
You’re right – Vegas is a “lower tier” team.
And certainly, how the Kraken played in the loss to the Rangers, in a back-to-back, doesn’t matter.
https://moneypuck.com/g.htm?id=2024020287
I’m very curious to see how Dunn will fit when he’s back. I feel like the players who are excelling right now are gelling with each other and the Bjorkstrand? Beniers? Tolvanen? Wright?s are somehow not getting on that train. It’s hard to describe but it seems almost like a split. What a game for Stephenson – we’ve been waiting! The team is at a really exciting point right now. I know, I know! Disaster could be looming, but let’s enjoy it while it’s here.
Unfortunately I think Evans drops back down to the 5th or 6th D man when Dunn returns I’d think. It’s kinda too bad because he’s been excellent in the top 4 and it’s definitely helping his development to be playing consistently vs the top lines.
I don’t agree with you I think Matty has been very good and is taking another step forward this season, he has some great chemistry on the top line. He could be scoring more but that will come. Hopefully Wright gets things figured out before we give up on him, not sure he’ll ever be that 1st overall pick talent but he’ll be a very good NHL player eventually.
If Sprong and Chandler click together like it’s is looking like they possibly will it could change the dynamics of other lines and could also make it easier to trade someone…. It’s interesting that Francis was talking about a possible trade or sending someone down to the farm to make cap space. It’s the first time I’ve heard that as an option from Francis himself.
Wow, if Francis is talking about moving somebody, that must mean that the timelines on Dunn’s and Eberle’s injuries are getting short, which is great to hear. Of course, the question then is who can be moved? Tanev and Gourde are likely due to their contracts, but both have been spectacular so far this season. For a team that is trying to go to the playoffs, losing either of them would be a huge blow to the team’s chances. At this point I would rather see both of them get paid than get moved. Up until recently, Burakovsky had seemed like a likely candidate earlier on, but since he joined Beniers and McCann he has suddenly looked every bit the part of a dangerous scoring top-six winger. People have been bringing up Tolvanen’s name, but his stick has not been silent on a team with a lot of quiet sticks. He also hits guys, a rare and needed skill on the team. If he is struggling at all, it would seem to primarily be because the lines that he is on are in constant flux. There is Will Borgen, again, because of his contract. He is playing well, but Mahura may have played his way into the regular lineup. Borgen is right-handed, though, and Mahura is left-handed–not a one-to-one exchange. Of the lefty defensemen, Oleksiak can play the right, but you absolutely do not want to break up that awesome thing he has going on with Montour.
Boy, I don’t know. Good luck, Ron!