What happened on the ice Tuesday should have been the story. It was a hard-fought, entertaining battle in which the underdog and heavily slumping Seattle Kraken went toe to toe with the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche, only to be undone by the superstar prowess of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.
Instead, what transpired after the game quickly overtook the narrative. In the hours following and throughout Wednesday, media members from across North America and beyond began taking notice of how the post-game press conference had unfolded.
Here’s Lane Lambert’s entire press conference. Only a team employee was allowed to ask questions tonight. #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/CCKAjHEFdz
— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) December 17, 2025
Seattle coach Lane Lambert spent about a minute on stage, during which Bob Condor, editor in chief of the Kraken’s official website, was the only attendee permitted to ask questions.
“The bottom line was it wasn’t the right call at all, and it was a mistake and would never happen again and won’t happen again,” a member of the Kraken’s communications department said.
Before Lambert had entered the media room, Condor spoke with several reporters in attendance and asked which questions they wanted him to ask, noting that he had been informed by other team staffers that he would ask all of the questions.
From Sound Of Hockey’s perspective, it was difficult in the moment to believe that this was truly how things would proceed. But when Lambert arrived, Condor retained the microphone for the entirety of the coach’s one-minute press conference, asked five rapid-fire questions that were met with notably brief responses, and then a Kraken public relations representative ended the availability without offering the microphone to other reporters in the room.
“Last night after the game, the questions that were posed to Lane during the press conference were, I guess you want to call it, funneled through Bob, who writes for the Kraken,” the team representative said. “And other reporters weren’t given the chance to ask questions in that moment, as [Sound Of Hockey] personally experienced.”
This is accurate. Sound Of Hockey was asked by Condor for questions, but for those unfamiliar with standard media procedures, this is not how post-game press conferences are typically conducted. It is a problematic approach for a professional sports organization that relies on an independent media corps to provide access, insight, and accountability.
“I feel bad for Bob, too, because we put him in a position where he’s… all I have to say, obviously, is it’s a tough position for Bob to be put in.”
Even though Condor—who was not involved in the decision but was instructed to ask all questions—solicited input from other reporters and relayed their questions, the optics of the arrangement were poor, particularly given the timing. Conducting the press conference this way created the appearance that an NHL head coach was avoiding questions from independent reporters after his team suffered its ninth loss in 10 games.
The perception of a coach hiding from the media does not fully reflect what happened, though. According to the Kraken communications department, the decision was made independently by them, and the organization maintains that Lambert was unaware of the altered plan for the availability. “Support for Lane was the basis of it, but it wasn’t because we didn’t want to give others a chance [to ask questions].”
Since then, the Kraken PR staff has engaged in damage control, reaching out to reporters who were present—and others who were not present but who contacted the team for an explanation—to offer apologies and provide context for the decision.
“It doesn’t reflect what we’re trying to do in Seattle as a new team and trying to make inroads with a new market and build relationships with media,” the team employee said. “It doesn’t represent what we’re all about, and so we’ve spent the day… we own the decision, obviously. And we’ve all made decisions we’d wish we’d done differently, and that was definitely one of them. And we spent much of last night and today connecting with— hopefully we’ve reached all the reporters who were in the room last night… There’s a long list of reasons why that just wasn’t the right call.”
It is clear the Kraken communications department is taking the misstep seriously and is remorseful for how the situation was handled.
“It’s not who we are as a communications team.”
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.
So odd.
Things that make you go hmmmm…
It says that they did it in support of LL. Why would he need this? He can answer tough questions, no?
So bizarre.
The wheels are coming off the NHL franchise. Down in the AHL on the other hand, the Firebirds continue to impress.
Here’s a follow up question: who gave the order. Not which faceless department, but who made the decision? The Kraken as an organization is on thin ice.
But still, What we have here is a failure to communicate.
That’s legit reporting on what went down; thanks. As frustrated as I am rn as a fan, I love this team – but this kindof media management is unacceptable and I expect better from the Kraken. Real fans hold the organization accountable when appropriate.
The best way to control the narrative is to actually operate like a world-class organization. Not like a bunch of noobs. What would possibly possess them to do a post game like this? Afraid of the big, bad, mean, Seattle press?? Like Darren is going to blindside Lane with some condescending or overly critical question? Sheesh!
Now to play devil’s advocate, if the Avs win the Cup, and we all watch our former coach raise it over his head triumphantly, it would be a bit fun to watch Ron F field questions on his feelings about that…
This offends me.
😂 can I go dressed as you and ask a few questions?
I dont think I’d actually want to see the interview happen. It’s just my sicko mind. But the Avs winning is a likely scenario and I’m sure folks are going to chirp seeing the coach who took us to the playoffs but then get fired now raising the Cup. Add to the mix the possibility of us being a bottom 5 team again and it’s going to be messy.
On a separate note, you ask great questions DFB and your coverage is appreciated.
The part that “offended me” (not really) was the “Like Darren is going to blindside Lane…?!” The comment didn’t stack the way I thought it would.
Ha! You’re right. Your hard-nosed, snarky rude style make NY reporters look like kittens.
Thanks for the reporting Darren!!!! Whatever the reason, these are not the actions of an organization that knows what they are doing. It’s been evident for a couple of seasons that they don’t have a clear plan. This makes it look like they’re totally winging it. Ownership needs to get it together.
Well said, sir! I agree! We don’t need an NHL team in Seattle if this is what we fans have to deal with. Good riddance!
That’s an extreme view but I’m getting a sense that you’re an extreme view kind of fan. That’s cool.
It doesn’t represent what were all about? Oh really. Tell us more about our culture and identity while your at it. Bush league is our identity at this time, from top to bottom. From management to our on ice evaluations. Hope they can turn things around for the fans.
Wasn’t there some word that kraken execs were miffed the Avs fans were louder than kraken fans?
I watch every single press conference video published by the organization. Seattle’s hockey media always shows Coach Lambert total respect. Shutting them out is stupid. Maybe Lambert was in a particularly bad mood after losing last night. But he’s an adult who has to suck it up and meet his media obligations.
Really two possibilities on how this played out.
1. They are lying their ass off and LL requested to not have to answer questions from the media.
2. The kraken organization has released just how bad he is at dealing with the press and we’re trying to do damage control.
I’m going with option 2 but who knows. If this is the reason it shows there are cracks developing with the kraken and their trust in LL. It shows that they don’t trust him with the media or would at least prefer he doesn’t answer to them, problem is it’s his job. They fully understand it’s his job and being how the Kraken just love to look good and do the right things it must truly pain them to have LL step up to the mic.
On so many levels this was just about the worst thing that could have happened to the Kraken in regards to coaching. Is Ted Lasso available, maybe he’d give hockey a try next?
Poor Nino. Still having a tantrum that he didn’t get a cookie when he showed up at Coach Lambert’s house in his rain boots and swimsuit like that stupid Stephenson kid.
Go back to you school boy antics it looks good on you. Tell me how ugly my mom is next 😂.
I thought is bring up another class act post by a truly classy five year old… a classic from RB. When you can’t say anything of substance you throw mud 😂 you truly are what’s bad about message boards, get on Reddit leave us alone.
“ I’m a season-ticket holder too, and I am not a bandwagoner. However, unlike you, I don’t receive pleasure reveling in the misery of others, or a seriously unhealthy obsession bordering on pathological with a couple of middle-aged men. And I’m sorry you’re particularly bitter right now – it must suck that you got flooded out of your bedroom in your parents basement and your cigarettes and cashews were ruined.”
Well said RB 😂
Is there any nuance in there Nino or is it all hyperbole all the time?
I’d take LL on the mic over bumbling Bylsma any day. I’d say he’s on par with Hakstol – about 90% coach speak with the occasional insight thrown in there. Not sure if Darren would agree with my ranking, but that’s been my impression after watching most post-game pressers for the last 5 years.
It’s my take, he answers questions very abruptly and short giving the impression that he doesn’t want to be there and doesn’t want to be answering questions. This isn’t all the time but it’s often enough that you get that.
I’d think everyone sees that? I mean if he was a coach with a good track record and winning history I think we’d be willing to overlook that but he’s got no history other a repeat of what he’s doing to the kraken over on the island. This isn’t just me it’s all over the internet through just about every platform that talks about the kraken. Let’s not pretend for a second that I’m the only one who thinks the LL hiring was a huge mistake. I think that sound of hockey has a much more upbeat tone then most resources you will find and people are not happy for obvious reasons.
Unless he turns this ship around quickly and gets over his willingness to get our young players into the game more and also kicks the offensive game up a little it’s going to end in Seattle much the same as the island.
I can’t see them firing him until the offseason so he’s got a little time. I feel that any LL firing would also involve clearing out the front office and sending RF packing. You only get so many coaches before it’s your turn.
This is a very big game tonight I’d say it probably the biggest game of the season so far for the kraken, it’s basically a must win. I’m sure we will come out hard, I’m very hopeful that LL doesn’t go back to sitting the Wright line for big stretches of the game. They are giving us more offense than most of the lines and we obviously need offense.
Thank goodness for the Torrent. A winning team that has the league’s point leader!!!
Hey on a side note anyone know or have heard anything from Totem for life? I know he’s older and hasn’t been on for a while, hope he’s doing well.
Read the comments from Three Takeaways following the game against Chicago on November 20th.
It’s just weird because as fans we were all really impressed with the effort against Colorado despite the result. It makes me think there is a mismatch between the way the fans and organization currently view the product on the ice.
Speaking of the Torrent…almost 10,000 in attendance on a Wednesday night is awesome. Seattle’s enthusiasm for women’s sports is amazing.
Jake O’Brien cut from Canada’s WJC team.
Wheeler at the Athletic was talking about him being on the bubble yesterday. He was also saying Catton is still a possibility but with all the injuries Seattle has I don’t know that they can spare him.
We could definitely spare him if it’s the best option for his development, it’s not like we’re winning the cup this year. An outlook past this season is essential.
I was expecting Carter Bear to be the cut, since he was a bit of an off-the-radar invite to camp.
Absolutely zero knocks against Bear because he’s a fantastic player, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Yzerman or someone else in the Red Wings organization was able to do some influencing with Hockey Canada.
Feeling a little conflicted over the decision, but I think my Tips loyalty wins over here.
I don’t consider our Seattle media to be anything close to being aggressive about getting information. The Kraken doing this was such a strange move because I don’t think even the reporters outside the org, like Darren and others, are forceful or aggressive with their questions. We still don’t know why this was done. Maybe Darren or someone else can ask the organization about what made them make this decision? Even if it was a bad one.
Skipping media interviews entirely would have been a better move than this in my opinion.
i wonder if this being a national game had anything to do with it. were there national reporter there? if so I wonder if this was just a poorly worded e mail along the lines of “we will have more press today so to speed things up lets get all the questions from the reporters “
Hey Darren, good news and bad news. Good news — you got a link in the Athletic’s weekly power rankings! Bad news — Kraken were dead last in the ranking. This article was linked at “oh no.”
The quote:
32. Seattle Kraken, 12-13-6
Last week: 27
Sean: 32
Dom: 32
The three words that best describe you are as follows
And I quote
“Stink, stank, stunk”
— Also “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”
On Nov. 22, despite a goal differential of minus-1, the Kraken were 11-5-5. Now look at them. At least they’re not making any bizarre, unforced P.R. mist — oh. Oh no.