The Kraken wrapped up the last week of games with a 1-2-0 record. The win came against a very bad-looking Chicago Blackhawks team, where the Kraken spotted the Blackhawks an early two-goal lead and then promptly rattled off six unanswered goals in the 6-2 win. The Kraken looked to implement a similar strategy in their next game against the Minnesota Wild, spotting the Wild three goals in the first five minutes. Unfortunately, that was where the game would stay until the Wild added an empty-net goal with less than two minutes left.
The final game of the week was against the Edmonton Oilers, who were missing the services of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Kraken were missing Chandler Stephenson, which forced a big shake-up of the lines.
John Hayden moved over from wing to play fourth-line center, while Shane Wright then moved up to center Jordan Eberle and Jaden Schwartz. With the Schwartz move, Jani Nyman slotted into Schwartz’s previous spot alongside Kaapo Kakko and Matty Beniers. Finally, Eeli Tolvanen moved to a line with Jared McCann and Andre Burakovsky. The final score was 5-4 Edmonton, which included an empty-net goal by the Oilers and then a 6-on-5 goal for the Kraken.
I am not going to overanalyze the games, given the context of this team’s position at this point in the season, but it seems like there have been quite a few defensive breakdowns over the last few contests. I don’t know if it’s the fact that the team is missing two true centers in the lineup or just flukey plays that lead to the breakdowns. Either way, this team is still competing, and that is all I am asking for at this point in the season. Even in the Minnesota game, the Kraken were still generating chances when they could have collapsed after going down 3-0 five minutes into the game.
Other musings
- According to Natural Stat Trick, the Kraken had more expected goals than their opponents in the games they lost last week and fewer expected goals in the game they won.
- Shane Wright’s 19:54 of time on ice during the Minnesota game last Wednesday was a career high.
- In the Kraken-Blackhawks game last Tuesday, it was the fifth time that both Matty Beniers and Shane Wright scored in the same game. They are 4-0-1 in those games.
- This is the Andre Burakovsky I remember before he got hurt in February of 2023.
André Burakovsky goes short side to make it a one-goal game 👀 pic.twitter.com/h3FGmW9v4P
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 23, 2025
- Congrats to the Wisconsin Badgers women’s team, who won an epic championship game to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State and Wisconsin have traded national titles for the last five years. Check out this rundown of this incredible game.
That feeling when you become Champions 🏆❤️#WFrozenFour x @BadgerWHockey pic.twitter.com/YRkqZ5EcbW
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 23, 2025
- Last week, I applauded the Kraken penalty kill since the trade deadline after losing two of their top penalty killers in Brandon Tanev and Yanni Gourde. Since then, they have allowed three power-play goals over eight shorthanded opportunities for a penalty kill of 63 percent. I will take the blame for jinxing them.
- The Kraken are six standings points behind where last year’s team was at this point in the season. The Kraken will need to earn 73 percent of the remaining points over the next 11 games to tie last season’s point total.
- Something to keep an eye on in the Kraken prospect world: The Seattle Kraken have two players with expiring rights on June 1. Both Kaden Hammell and Andrei Loshko will need to be signed by that date; otherwise, they will become free agents and eligible to sign with any NHL team.
- Shame! Shame! Shame! Last week, I mentioned that HV71 and Modo of the Swedish Hockey League were playing a best-of-5 series in the relegation series. Turns out it’s a best-of-7. After dropping the first two of the series, HV71 won the next three. Oscar Fisker Mølgaard and HV71 will now have two cracks at avoiding relegation.
- On Monday, the WHL announced that the Penticton Vees will be the newest WHL team and that they will be accepting applications for an expansion franchise in Chilliwack, British Columbia. The Vees were a BCHL team this most recent season and will immediately join the WHL for 2025-26. The Chilliwack franchise is expected to join the league for the 2026-27 season.
- The WHL also announced a new streaming partnership with Victory+. Games will be available for free through the platform, kicking off with the 2025 WHL playoffs this Friday.
- The 2025 NCAA men’s hockey tournament bracket is set and begins Thursday. There are no Kraken prospects playing in this year’s tournament, but there are several high-end NHL prospects which will be fun to watch. All games are available across the ESPN family. Check start times and channels here.
- The University of North Dakota fired their head coach, Brad Berry, on Sunday after 10 years with the program. I can’t help but wonder if former Seattle Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol could be a candidate to return to his alma mater and the school where he coached for 11 seasons.
- Finally, I’ve had a lot of people ask me about Seattle Kraken season ticket renewals. Usually, season ticket holders would be a couple of months into their monthly installments for next season’s tickets by now. We haven’t heard much publicly from the team since Samantha Holloway sent an email to fans in January that implied changes were coming. I don’t know much more than what has already been circulating for months—that April is when season ticket holders should expect more information.
Goal of the week
There were a couple of Kraken prospect goals I liked this week, but when I saw this goal, I knew it was the one.
OH MY GOODNESS 🤯
Bryan Rust’s second of the period is a thing of beauty!
📺: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/Eqq9xxaz3q
— NHL (@NHL) March 23, 2025
Player performance
Tyson Jugnauth (POR/SEA) – The Kraken’s fourth-round pick from the 2022 NHL Draft finished his WHL regular season with 24 points over his last 20 games. Portland’s opening-round playoff series against Prince George kicks off Friday in a four-versus-five matchup. Don’t forget you can check out WHL playoff games on Victory+.
Semyon Vyazovoy (UFA/SEA) – The Kraken selected Vyazovoy in the sixth round of their first draft back in 2021. The backup goaltender for Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the KHL stopped 34 of 35 shots across two games this week to wind down the KHL regular season. Vyazovoy finished the season with a .938 save percentage over 28 games, which was second in the league. Goalies and Russian players often take a longer path to the NHL, but Vyazovoy seems to be tracking well at this point in his career.
Joel Hofer (STL) – The backup goalie in St. Louis and former Portland Winterhawk made 50 saves on 52 shots in his two starts and wins this week for the Blues. Those wins were big for St. Louis, as they are currently in the second wild-card spot.
The week ahead
The Kraken will finish off their string of road games (they’re practicing at home on Monday before flying out again) with a game in Calgary, where they can play spoiler to a desperate Flames team fighting for its playoff life. The Kraken are 2-1-0 against the Flames this season, with all games decided by one goal. All three games were played before the trade deadline, so this should be a challenging task—but who am I kidding, all games have been a challenge this season.
On Thursday, the Kraken will return home for three of their final five home games of the season. The first game of the homestand is against the Edmonton Oilers, against which the Kraken are just 2-11-1 in franchise history. It doesn’t get any easier on Saturday, when the Dallas Stars come to Seattle for a two-game series against the Kraken, with the second game on Monday, the 31st. The Kraken are 16-15-5 at home this season, and I find myself rooting for a .500-plus points percentage at home, but that might be a tough ask given the games remaining.
What say you? Are you still watching? What are you looking for down the final stretch?
I love Monday Musings. It is well rounded for Kraken news and information.
As it was skillfully stated, with NCAA winding down, There are some talented players ready to sign since they have been eliminated. Do you have any info on whether the Kraken might sign one or two? I’ll start with Karsen Dorwart out of Michigan State and Then take a look at T.J. Hughes out of the University of Michigan. Both are big centers with 2 way skills. I would like the Kraken to add size and speed
Thanks John for the Victory+ heads up, that’s a big deal now that we can watch the WHL Games for free! Just have to put up with a little advertising. Re: still paying attention, yeah, kinda, I’ll be going to the game Thursday, hopefully we can hang with the Oilers. The Blues are crushing it right now, might be a topic of conversation on the next pod! That darn Montgomery guy seems to have them playing really well, gotta say. Props to them.
Very excited for the Victory+.
First round has Silvertips/T-Birds. Tickets for the first 2 games in Everett are already sold out or down scattered seats in several of the lower sections. I got distracted last week and my regular seat got taken so will be watching from home.
I feel bad for saying this, but I’m hoping the Kraken play competitively but get as few remaining standings points as possible. Regardless of how likely them losing is (and it seems fairly likely based on who they’re playing), they really could use a top 4 pick in this draft. I’m willing to trade being slightly more entertained for the next few weeks in exchange for one of the likely studs in this draft class (Schaeffer, Martone, Misa, Hagens). This team needs sustainable success, not to win pointless games in March/April, imo. I was on the “entertain me” bandwagon for the past month, but with the Sabres, Preds, and now Flyers also vying for 2 of the top 4 spots, the Kraken need to step down their game.
In the same vein, I’m hoping Grubauer gets some more starts. Joey hasn’t looked great since the 4 nations break anyway, and we need him rested and ready for next year.
I almost put it in the post, but I am a huge Philadelphia Flyer fan right now. I don’t really see the Sabres or Preds catching Seattle but would welcome a run from them as well.
Sabres beat the Jets yesterday! But the Flyers lost to the Blackhawks. I’m scoreboard watching, but not for the best reason. Alas.
I have to admit to frequenting tankathon.com far too often lately. Not long ago we either had the third overall spot in the lottery or were tied for third. One thing interesting is you pretty much need #3 spot to have a real strong chance at #4 or higher pick.
Unfortunately a few extra mostly meaningless wins have probably cost us an elite talent. Only bright side is the improvement has been partly driven by Kakko and Wright. Those two becoming plus players could be quite important.
I am on the bandwagon rooting for strong unlucky performances leading to losses, unfortunately it ain’t looking good at this point.
The last two times Kraken have played the Wild, this is the commentary; “Wild are missing 10 of their top players! Wild are having trouble scoring goals!” Then they always beat the pants off us. LOL. I’m not falling for that banana in my tailpipe ever again!
I’m on the same page as Boist, I wish they’d play super hard games that they lose in reg by 1. We want to see them try but…
On a frustration note; we’ve been waiting for STH info and yet still receiving survey emails wanting to know how we feel about sponsors brands! This infuriates me. I am way more likely to fill out a stupid survey on sponsors IF you’ve emailed me about your intentions for STH for next season. It’s just more insult to injury. Okay, I’m done whining.