The preseason is done, and the games will count from here on out, starting with the season opener in Calgary on Thursday. It’s difficult to extrapolate many insights from a shortened preseason when only the last two games resembled NHL lineups. It’s also worth noting that one of those games, the Kraken versus Flames preseason game on Thursday night, was basically the full NHL Kraken playing against Calgary’s AHL team.
The roster is set for now
The Kraken made their roster moves on Sunday to be roster compliant for the NHL deadline on Tuesday. Unfortunately, there weren’t many tough decisions to be made because the Kraken designated Mackie Samoskevich (day-to-day) and Jake O’Brien (week-to-week) to injured reserve.
As I see it, there are five bubble players: Ben Meyers, Curtis Douglas, Ville Ottavainen, Cale Fleury, and Josh Mahura. In my opinion, Fleury and Mahura’s spots are more secure, but the team could be concerned about losing the 24-year-old Ottavainen in a possible waiver claim.
Here is how the lines look going into the season:
I don’t expect those lines to stay intact for very long, but I did like the Winterton-Catton-Wright line on Saturday night against Vancouver.
Jake O’Brien status
The Kraken’s first-round selection from the 2025 NHL Draft played the first preseason game before being classified as injured. It was only one game, but he seemed much more NHL ready than I expected. He looked comfortable with the puck and made some nifty skilled plays that showcased his potential. The scouting report on O’Brien is high-end hockey sense and excellent vision. I anticipate he will be more of a playmaker, but his timing and positioning are top notch here in his preseason goal last Saturday.
I anticipate that, once healthy, he will be sent down to Coachella Valley. It would have been nice to see him play one of the final two preseason games against some tougher competition, which would have provided a better benchmark for his game and helped us understand just how “NHL ready” he really is.
Heading into Training Camp, I expected him to spend the entire season with the Firebirds, but there could be a scenario where he gets some NHL games later in the season.
Pack mentality
I don’t think every hard hit or questionable transgression requires a response or a scrap, but I did like the pack mentality that the team showed over those last two preseason games. To prove the doubters wrong, this team needs to be better than the sum of its parts. From everything I’ve heard around Training Camp and through different media outlets, it feels like there is a deliberate effort to build a better team commitment and culture on and off the ice from the players themselves.
This shows up in that pack mentality on the ice. It’s a “you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us” type response. It showed up when newcomer Mackie Samoskevich took a hit after a shot on net last Thursday. You also saw a response on Saturday when Ryan Winterton went after Elias Pettersson after he hit Shane Wright late in the third period.
Other musings
- There are currently eight defensemen and 13 forwards on the roster. The Kraken only used eight unique defensemen but 19 different forwards all last season. Some of the guys sent down will certainly get an opportunity later this season.
- Mackie Samoskevich is currently listed as day-to-day and on injured reserve. IR indicates he is out at least a week, though IR can be retroactive to when the injury occurred. So, it’s still possible he plays the opener.
- Even if Samoskevich is out on Thursday, the Kraken will likely have five players under 24 in the lineup. That will be the most under-24 players the Kraken have suited up for a season opener in their six-season history.
- Matty Beniers seems to be taking a bigger leadership role this season. When speaking to the media, he seems more assertive and vocal when talking about the team and eager to prove the pundits wrong.
- The Kraken allowed two power-play goals against in four shorthanded situations on Saturday night. It was more like three power-play goals in those four opportunities since time expired right as Vancouver scored its fourth goal. That’s bad, and the penalty kill must improve this season, but it is way too early to freak out about the penalty kill.
- Speaking of killing penalties, Oscar Fisker Mølgaard is going to be a regular NHLer very soon. He is starting the season in Coachella Valley, but he is knocking on the door right now.
- In case you missed it, the Seattle Torrent’s first round pick “threw” out the first pitch at a White Sox game over the weekend.
USA Hockey Olympic gold medalist Abbey Murphy made the ceremonial first shot at the White Sox game 🏒 pic.twitter.com/OUYU9IWmlj
— MLB (@MLB) September 27, 2026
Player performances
Bobby McMann (SEA) – I know it is just preseason, but Bobby McMann had a goal in each of his two preseason games. During his 18-game stint with the Kraken last season, he was on pace for 47 goals over an 84-game season. I would settle for 30 this season.
Semyon Vyazovoi (SYU/SEA) – The Russian goaltender has five wins and two losses in the KHL this season, with two of those wins being shutouts. He is the Kraken’s most promising goaltending prospect in the system.
Brandon Montour (SEA) – He had two goals and an assist in his two preseason games. Again, it’s just preseason, but it’s nice to see that Monty is starting the season healthy. (Check out Darren’s interview with Monty if you want to hear what he was dealing with last season.)
Goal of the week
I love this entire sequence.
The week ahead
The regular season kicks off for the Seattle Kraken on the road with a Thursday game against the Calgary Flames and then they face the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday in Edmonton before heading home for the home opener on Sunday in another game against the Flames.
The Flames are expected to be a bottom-five team in the league, but a lot of pundits are predicting the same for the Kraken. Meanwhile, predictions for Edmonton are all over the map, so who knows what to expect from them. The Kraken are a collective 4-14-1 against the Oilers in franchise history. Their last win in Edmonton was Jan. 3, 2023.
I am not expecting much from the game against the Oilers, but it is important to get a few points from the two games the Flames. The Kraken do have a back-to-back scenario over the weekend, but so do the Flames, so no excuses.
I will settle for three points out of the three games.
And finally
I know not many people are giving this team much of a chance this season, but I think the path is there if they can stay healthy. A full season of Bobby McMann should be an upgrade over what they got last year, Samoskevich adds another scoring threat, and I’m very excited to see what Catton can do in his second NHL season. If those things break the right way, I can see this group sticking around the playoff bubble. And if they’re still in the mix come March and April, anything can happen.