The Seattle Kraken went full emotional roller coaster mode this week. It started with a convincing, though not exactly dominant, win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. Businesslike, efficient, and enough to keep the good vibes rolling. The Kraken had a two-goal lead and looked in control the entire game.
Then Thursday happened.
In what was easily the worst loss of the season, the Kraken laid a giant, smelly egg against the San Jose Sharks, getting thumped 6–1 at home by what was, at the time, the third-worst team in the league. It wasn’t just the score, it was the way it happened; mistakes up and down the lineup, lifeless stretches of play, and the kind of performance that makes you question everything. I know this because I did. Walking out of the arena, I found myself wondering: is this team actually good? Sure, every team gets blown out now and then, but when it’s my team getting blown out, I naturally take it personally.
And then came Saturday.
News broke in the morning that Joey Daccord was heading to injured reserve with an upper-body injury, an unexpected twist considering he was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. That meant Philipp Grubauer would get the nod against the St. Louis Blues. The early going was not promising. The Kraken looked sharp for the first five minutes, but a brutal turnover led to a Dylan Holloway goal, and five minutes later, a deflection off Adam Larsson’s stick on a penalty kill made it 2–0 Blues.
But this time, the Kraken pushed back. They clawed their way back to tie it in the second, showed some actual fight, and then, after falling behind again in the third, delivered one of the most dramatic comebacks in franchise history. Chandler Stephenson tied it with two seconds left in regulation, and Shane Wright sealed it in overtime with a slick finish off a beautiful drop pass from Eeli Tolvanen.
we know that’s wright 🙂↕️ pic.twitter.com/kE94Q4B0QT
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) November 9, 2025
Less than 24 hours later, the Kraken were back at it, facing the Dallas Stars on the second night of a back-to-back. Despite the quick turnaround, they brought the kind of compete level that’s become a hallmark of this year’s squad. Seattle outshot Dallas 31–24 and controlled long stretches of play, but couldn’t quite solve Casey DeSmith enough to tilt the scoreboard. A 2–1 loss stings, especially after Saturday’s emotional high, but the effort was there. And in a week defined by swings, this one at least ended with a fight.
Resilience on display?
One of the few endearing traits of last season’s Kraken squad was its knack for clawing back from two-goal deficits to steal wins, something they did nine times last season. Primarily because of a lack of opportunity, this season’s group hadn’t shown that same capability, until Saturday.
There were hints of it earlier in the season, like the gutsy third-period rally against Montreal that forced overtime, even if it ended in a loss. But Saturday’s comeback against St. Louis felt different. It was gritty, dramatic, and decisive. For the first time this season, the Kraken didn’t just push back, they finished the job.
As a fan, it’s reassuring to know this team still has that gear. It’s the kind of team that refuses to fold, even when the odds tilt hard the other way.
19-year-old Berkly Catton plays game No. 10
Berkly Catton officially hit the 10-game mark on Sunday, triggering him burning his first year of his entry-level contract. That’s a significant milestone, but it doesn’t necessarily lock him into the Kraken lineup for the rest of the season. Catton continues to flash the high-end skill that made him a top-10 pick, but he’s also shown the kind of youthful inconsistency that becomes costly when the margins are razor thin.
It’s worth remembering that burning a year of the ELC doesn’t guarantee a full NHL season. Daniel Sprong played 18 games for Pittsburgh in 2015–16 before being sent back to junior in December. Others have done that, but Sprong jumped to mind for some reason. With Jared McCann’s return looming, and assuming the injury bug doesn’t bite again, it’s fair to wonder if the Kraken might consider a similar path for Catton. Development isn’t linear, and sometimes the best move is the one that sets a player up for long-term success.
Kraken penalty kill challenges
The Kraken’s penalty kill has been a sore spot for much of the season, and the numbers don’t sugarcoat it. Seattle currently sits 30th in the league in PK percentage. But over the last five games, there’s been a noticeable uptick in execution and structure. Yes, they’ve still allowed a power-play goal in each of the last three outings, but the overall kill rate and pressure on entries have looked sharper. For a unit that’s struggled, even marginal improvement feels like a step in the right direction.
Help may be on the horizon, too. Freddy Gaudreau, who was logging the most shorthanded minutes among Kraken forwards before landing on IR, is skating again and approaching the four-week mark of his original four-to-six-week recovery timeline. His return would be a welcome boost to a penalty kill group still trying to find its rhythm. If the Kraken can pair Gaudreau’s defensive instincts with the recent signs of progress, they might finally start digging out of the PK basement.
Other musings
- Saturday night’s comeback win was the first time this season that the Kraken trailed at any point in a game and won. They also never led in the game.
- With his first NHL goal on Wednesday night against the Sharks, Ryan Winterton became the 50th player to score in Kraken history. He is the eighth player to record his first NHL goal as a member of the Seattle Kraken. Can you name the other seven?
- Eeli Tolvanen scored his first goal of the season off a rebound. That was the Kraken’s seventh rebound goal of the season. They rank third in the league in this category. Not sure how much weight this stat carries, but they were near the bottom last season. It’s another example of subtle, incremental improvement we are seeing this season.
first goal of the season? was just a matter of time. pic.twitter.com/zRmrWg0jve
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) November 9, 2025
- Faceoff possession was something the Kraken struggled with early in the season, but there has been some progress made in that part of the game. The Kraken had two faceoff goals over the weekend, which puts them at the top third of the league in this stat.
- With just one start each over the first 30 days of the season, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see either Philipp Grubauer or Matt Murray show signs of rust. Instead, both stepped up when called upon, delivering solid performances that gave the Kraken a chance to win both games.
- Saturday night marked the Kraken’s seventh overtime game of the season, tied with Montreal for the most.
- The Kraken are tied for second in points in the Pacific Division with 18. As strong a start as it’s been, they’re just two points ahead of seventh-place Edmonton. This division is tight.
- One team I’ve watched a lot lately is the Anaheim Ducks. They lead the Pacific in points and are the league leaders with 4.1 goals per game.
- The Kraken are now 0–2–0 on the season in the second game of back-to-backs. They were 0–12–0 in those games last season. Their next chance comes in a few weeks against the New York Islanders.
- Seattle Torrent forward Hilary Knight had a hat trick in Game 2 of the Rivalry Series between the USA and Canada. The Torrent were well represented in these two games with five players on Team USA and two on Team Canada. The U.S. won the first two games and will re-engage in early December.
- The Torrent open training camp on Tuesday and will head to Vancouver for two preseason games against the Vancouver Goldeneyes this coming weekend.
- Trivia answer: Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, Tye Kartye, Jani Nyman, Ryker Evans, Kole Lind, and Will Borgen scored their first NHL goals with the Kraken.
Goal of the Week
Easy one this week.
.5 seconds on the clock?! yeah, stevie’s got it 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/hfAFvLFPed
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) November 9, 2025
Player Performances
Marcus Johansson (MIN) – The former Kraken forward played his 1,000th NHL game on Sunday with the Minnesota Wild against Calgary. He only played 51 games with Seattle in 2021–22 but was a steady, reliable presence on a team not known for its steadiness.
Andre Burakovsky (CHI) – Another former Kraken is off to a great start with Chicago: seven goals and seven assists in 15 games.
Jagger Firkus (CVF/SEA) – Firkus is thriving in his second pro season with Coachella Valley, tallying 11 points in 11 games.
The week ahead
The Kraken return to Climate Pledge Arena for a three-game homestand, and while home ice is always welcome, the schedule offers little breathing room.
- Tuesday: Columbus Blue Jackets. Don’t let their record fool you, Columbus is a young and exciting team that plays with pace. They’ll be on the second night of a back-to-back, but they’re more dangerous than the standings suggest.
- Thursday: Winnipeg Jets. Always a handful and likely still salty about the Kraken’s win in Manitoba earlier this season. Expect a heavy, structured game we have come to expect from the Jets.
- Saturday: San Jose Sharks return to Seattle riding a 7–2–1 stretch and fresh off a 6–1 dismantling of the Kraken just last week. That one stung, and you can bet the Kraken haven’t forgotten.
With key players still sidelined, grabbing three of six possible points would be a respectable outcome. But if they can swipe a little extra before heading out on a four-game road trip, it could go a long way toward keeping this early-season success rolling.
So, how are we feeling after all that? From despair to delirium and everything in between, this week had it all. Drop your thoughts, reactions, or emotional damage assessments below.
It was great seeing the team dig in and play their game Saturday and Sunday, especially after the stinker on Wednesday. DeSmith played a solid game Sunday, so credit where it’s due. Losing 2-1 on a back to back in Dallas and creating multiple chances to tie things up until the last seconds…I’ll take it. Go Kraken!
Hopefully we get some good news about McCann, and It will be good to get Freddie back, though I thought Meyers played some very solid hockey filling in. It’s great to see the depth.
I thought McCann wasn’t even skating with the team at the moment. I doubt he’s returning soon.
It will be huge to get Gaudreau back. He and McCann are the two best penalty killers on the team among the forwards. I wonder how different the squad will look when both of them are on the ice.
I feel like they’ve missed out on a shorty or two with McCann out.
The reality of mediocrity is that every step forward is likely to be met with another step back. If we’re lucky.
It’s frustrating to see teams like the Sharks and Ducks take two steps forward while we are left behind.
Team A: 7-6-3, 17 points
Team B: 7-4-4, 18 points
How is Team B “left behind”?
Team A is SJ. Team B is Seattle.
An entire 16 games have gone by out of 82. With a team who is basically rebuilding with a new coach. Sharks and Ducks are having a moment but nobody’s moment last for 82 games. Just have to focus on our own path.
Monday musings:
This is year 5 of the franchise and this is the state of affairs:
1. Chandler Stephenson is firmly the 1C. The best forwards are Schwartz and Eberle.
2. Kids such as Wright, Catton and Nyman are hardly getting meaningful minutes. In other words, Development is not a focus. If Development is not a focus, what are we doing?
3. We are focusing on making the playoffs with a pretty boring and limited bubble team. This is the path to mediocrity taken by so many other mid franchises that never get anywhere but always talk about making the playoffs.
4. Talk is cheap. Creating a winner is hard. SJ e.g. has a skeleton of a team, but they have fun watching Celebrini and the other kids growing into stars in this league. The spanking SJ gave the Kraken was not a fluke, already they have a much better cutting edge.
5. Is this franchise serious about winning the cup, or is it more interested in marketing and spinning money around? Let me know so I can make a decision.
What a load of inaccurate drivel.
What a load of meaningless, factless drivel. Try to make an argument that is coherent if you want to communicate.
Summed it up accurately, including the response to the pointless comment. It’s a path that never leads anywhere, basically the Canucks. Still time to course correct
To be fair, tanking doesn’t guarantee anything. You have to get lucky in the lottery. You could end up being the Red Wings and be back to mediocrity in the end.
True — this team already had a #2 and a #4 pick. Instead of getting Eichel and Marner, we got Beniers and Wright. Cest la vie.
You have nailed it.
Looking at what the smart GMs in San Jose and Anaheim have done in the same timeframe as the Kraken have built mediocrity is very frustrating. A few posters are celebrating the current record but it feels shallow because it is not based on lasting talent. Talent is the difference maker in the NHL and young talent is what brings long-term success. To get that talent you have to draft at the very top of the draft. If you look at the top of the NHL scoring stats, it is made up almost entirely of No. 1 and No. 2 picks.
To get into a position to draft there, you have to accept a few seasons on the bottom of the league. I think those on this side of the argument accept that and are not afraid to be really bad for a while, as long as they can see how things will improve over time. There was discussion here from some that teams could not pull out of a tank but I think the Ducks, Sharks, and Hawks have been showing that is not true. It just takes a long-term vision from the hockey ops people.
I think the choices are winning right now and being a bubble playoff team or not winning now and being a long-term consistent playoff contender. If one looks across the entire talent pool of the organization, are there any prospective stars? Maybe Tier 4 on down, to use the Athletic’s system. The team must acquire some Tier 1 and Tier 2 players, so they must get into a position to draft those players by losing. Then at least there is a clear plan, which should have been the plan from day 1. It is not too late to undertake this plan to get a Tier 1 or 2 star.
This analysis seems to speak well to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FtqD0Mtf-A
“My name is Chuck Holmes. I think a new NHL franchise should be terrible for 10 years with the goal to draft #1 and #2 picks. Like when Buffalo got Jack Eichel and had Sam Reinhardt. That was awesome! It doesn’t matter those players moved on and they haven’t been to the playoffs for 15 years, while the Kraken went 3 seasons ago and made it to game 7 of the 2nd round. Despite this, I stand by my conviction that…erm…being terrible for years is considered winning in the NHL, and fans in Seattle will definitely be loyal to the team while they take a dump on purpose.”
You’re hilarious.
I might add teams like Buffalo and Vancouver also have been in the league for 55 years neither one has ever won the cup.
There is a possibility the Kraken will eventually win the cup before they win it.
Go Kraken!!!
Buffalo and Vancouver have notoriously crap owners. Ottawa did too for a long time. The point is *in fact* that those franchises, whose eternal dream is clawing themselves to playoff status, are NOT the model to follow.
San Jose and Chicago have the #1 and #2 rising young super stars on their roster, plus a lot of other promising top talent. San Jose and Chicago didn’t find them in a pack of cereals. The Kraken, on the other hand, have how many young stars – never mind superstars – incoming? In 5-6 years, which franchises will be competing for the Cup, and which franchise(!) will be happy to make the playoffs?
Buffalo nearly one the Cup except for a questionable goal, if you have been in the game that long. Vancouver should have won the Cup except the Sedin sisters allowed themselves to get out-muscled. Buffalo had some great teams with the French Connection line who could not close the deal.
The difference between winning the Cup and losing the Cup is often a single goal. Do we think Connor McDavid is a loser because he has not won the Cup yet. The Oilers lost the 2024 Cup final by one goal. So if the goal goes to Edmonton and not Florida, McDavid is a winner and not a loser?
It is all nonsense. There are years when the Cup winner is dominant but there are others years when the Cup winner, and many of the series, come down to a single goal or play. The differences can be paper thin and it does not brand teams as winners or losers if they are on the other side of close win or loss.
If you have been around hockey as long as some of the posters here, you appreciate the game more than just rooting for a single team. If you have not reached the level yet, hang around and you will eventually start rooting for the competition across the league, not just your own hometown team.
While they are putting up points, the Kraken have been unconvincing and so not the main hockey story so far this season. If Beniers, Wright, and Catton were all breaking out big, I would feel different. The more exciting hockey this year is happening in Montreal, Anaheim, San Jose, Chicago, Detroit, and Philly. The Kraken’s time is in the future, when they are carried by their young players, not their over-30s vets.
Seattle Garbage, you continue to show why you know nothing about the sport. Why don’t you tell us how many years you spent on the ice playing hockey?
The evidence is right in front of your eyes in the Ducks, Sharks, and Hawks but you refuse to accept it. Because you would rather attack other posters comments because you have no ideas of your own.
Buffalo mismanaged their talent and became the farm team for the NHL. And who was the GM there in Buffalo? Jason… Jason B… can’t remember his surname. Whoever, he did so poorly there he is probably not employed in the NHL now.
Think the fans who lived through the bad years in San Jose, Anaheim, Montreal, and Chicago are not going to come out to watch their exciting young talent? Mindless drivel, hope they recall you back to your barista job soon.
You are not cool.
Exactly. The bad teams frequently draft star players, but they rarely can keep them for long. Shout out to Ottawa Senators legends Zdeno Chara, Eric Karlsson, Mark Stone, and Marian Hossa. Oh, and Joey Daccord.
Excellent points. Best case replacing our current aging players with Kraken’s Tier4 (or worse) prospects will lead to even less-talented rosters going forward. Which will be an even slower, more excruciating rebuild that will eventually look like a teardown anyway. The way to do this more quickly would be sell off what few talented players we have in exchange for almost ready legitimate Tier 1-2 level prospects. Players like Montour, Dunn and Larsson shouldn’t be off the table.
1. I am cool with Stephenson being the 1C. Stevie since the midway point of last season has kicked ass. Yes, Jordan Eberle and Jaden Schwartz are the team’s best forwards, and they will likely leave this upcoming off-season. That is legitimately frightening.
2. Winning
3. Man, I don’t know how a guy does not find these games exciting. They are nail-biters that often end in dramatic fashion. The Kraken are bad for my blood pressure.
4. San Jose has a worse record than the Kraken, and they looked sloppy in their win over the Kraken. That just happened to be the worst performance Seattle has put on all season, like complete and utter trash. Overall it looked like a preseason game.
5. Can’t do one without the other. The team needs to make money to win, and it has to win to make money. Just ask Arizona. Or Atlanta. Or Hartford. Or Quebec. Don’t forget that Seattle is still in THAT group of hockey towns.
“…never knew winning could be so divisive. Go Kraken.”
– John Barr (last week)
I get how folks can have all sorts of different ideas about the best way to run a team. I get the idea that you can believe in tearing it down and I don’t deny there is merit to that approach. What I don’t get, however, is how you can be a fan of a team and then be actively rooting against them. That finish against St. Louis was fantastic. I was blown away by the tenacity and execution. I was also impressed by the fact they seemed to actually get overtime finally. And yet I was also convinced there would be folks on here who would be disappointed by the outcome. And sure enough, an exciting win and a game played tough against one of the league’s best teams… misery.
The Pacific is a crapshoot right now, but a month into the season the Kraken are in a playoff spot and have had good wins over tough opponents. They’ve also had some miscues… but they’ve avoided the kind of extended rough patch Utah is going through right now. All this with no expectations and a new coaching staff… and for some folks it’s all cause for despair.
And I get it. You don’t need to explain again how this team doesn’t have the top end talent or prospects to be anything beyond a bubble team. Anyone with half a brain gets the argument and it doesn’t need another rehashing. We’ve already been subjected to it after every game… win or lose. I get it. We all get it.
I don’t know how this season will turn out, but I think it would be too bad if some folks missed out on the good times because they were consumed with being right rather than enjoying the games.
Like John said, never knew winning could be so divisive.
Go Kraken!!!
Well said Daryl.
And yes…
Go Kraken!!!
This is weird…
The Ducks and the Kraken are the only two teams in the Western Conference who haven’t lost three in a row this season.
Some comments above are over the top critical but there is some real concern about the future success of this team over the next 5 years when they lose there key veterens. Lambert looks like a good coach but the limited scoring talent combined with a defense first system has Kraken near bottom of the league in scoring with little sign of changing other than a small improvement when McCann returns.
What worries me so far this season, Eberle and Schwartz have been two of there best players, are getting old, and neither may be on the roster next year. Beniers is a great 2 way player (does so many things well) but not be a big scorer. Likely 45 to 60 pt guy every year. Wright looks to have more offensive upside but will he be a point per game or more in coming years? So far not seeing that. Berkly Catton will no doubt become a good NHL player in the future but I see no signs in his play of being the high scoring star forward the Kraken desperatly need. Now putting hope in Jake O’brien to become that future star.
Overall the Kraken Prospect pool looks strong with many NHL potential players, but are there any top line players in that pool? In fairness many of these players are still young including Beniers, Wright, and Catton and they may make that big next step in coming years. But nothing in there play makes me say “Wow, its only a matter of time before they are superstars!” And they rest of the pool is a step down from those 3 except maybe O’brien.
Also tough to sign veteren star players if your not already a perrenial playoff team.
Don’t want to be negative; love the Kraken, go to games and will continue to do so but its hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you look at the big picture of this current roster and prospect pool. Appears to be a team that will continually be competitive but struggle to make playoffs thereby missing out on drafting future stars at the top of the draft.
(Note: Not critical of there draft choices, most of which made complete sense at the time. Unfortunately the 2023 draft was where they needed a top 4 pick but that was after there playoff year so selected Sale 20th who was the high ceiling but low floor (risk) player which sometimes does not pan out.)
@Norm K. I think you’ve laid out a good read on the team and some of the challenges. I think I’d depart on a few points, but I don’t deny anything you’ve laid out here.
I would start by noting that the Kraken are not, at this time, tanking… so what are they doing? I feel like some folks are convinced tanking is the only option and any other course is simply directionless nonsense, but obviously it would be incredibly simplistic to think the team does not have a plan.
As you’ve pointed out, they’ve drafted and now have a collection of young, promising players, but most will likely end up being depth pieces and none of the top of the draft picks look to be a lock as a star performer. If they don’t plan on going back year after year until they luck into a superstar, then what can they do?
Starting with those older players aging out. As you mentioned, they have a pretty good pool of prospects and there will certainly be some replacement occurring there. Guys like Eberle and Schwartz are valuable, but they’re not irreplaceable. Those players can be developed or acquired fairly readily, unlike a true top line difference maker… and that’s where the challenge is. How do they get that guy if they’re not going to tank?
Well they’re not going to trade for a No.1 center – let alone a No.2 – so they’re gonna have to go with what they’ve got down the middle. While they don’t have a Bedard or a Celebrini they may have an Aho or a Suzuki and Beniers or Wright or O’Brien may be greatly improved by who they pair them with and in what system.
So how do they get that guy, the guy to pair them with? I don’t think a team needs to be a Cup contender to make trades. Utah was able to do Sergechev and Peterka and they haven’t been in the playoffs in quite some time. They’ve also lost five of their last six. I do, however, think it helps if you’re a competitive team. If you’re in a playoff spot approaching the deadline – if you’re a buyer – you’ll have more opportunities.
Seattle was linked to Kyrou at the end of last season and it was in the Athletic today that at least one team called on him after he was scratched. Seattle would make sense. Then there’s the Robertson talk. I’m not saying either of these are likely, but that’s a path that relies on knowable transactions rather than ping-pong balls. With 18 players already signed, no big ticket RFAs next season, and $30m in cap they have the room to bring in anyone who might be available. Winning games would help.
As for the play… and specifically the scoring. I’m concerned about that too, but the problem last season was at the other end and specifically in spending too much time in the D zone. Less than 20 games in and the defense is clearly better. Hopefully they can build out some offense from here. This team – pretty much the same lineup – was middle of the league in scoring last season. The biggest concern of all… when will Joey be back.
If they can continue to develop their young players, especially their centers, and use their cap, picks, and prospects to bring in a difference maker and some other pieces, they could be well positioned to be a consistent playoff team and available to take advantage when opportunities arise.
Will it work? Maybe, maybe not… which is exactly the same answer you get when you ask if tanking will work, at least if it’s an honest answer. It’s a bit frustrating, to me, to see the team winning games and doing well and have folks rooting against them because they are so convinced they know better. It’s really a shame… and I know that is not at all what you were saying or what you’ve been doing.
Go Kraken!!!
Good comments. The “super star” thing is overrated. It would be better to have a strong all around team working together with good coaching. The operative word being “team.” One or two guys can’t do everything, as the Oilers have shown time and again when it comes down to the wire.
The Kraken, Mammoth and Sharks are separated by one point. San Jose lost their first six, Utah won seven in a row at one point… does anyone on here – me included – have any idea what they’re talking about?
There are those that are just plain Debbie Downers. Even when effort and results are going really well they will find something to whine about.