The Seattle Kraken spent the last couple days back in the friendly confines of Kraken Community Iceplex for the first time in three weeks, following a lengthy 4 Nations Face-Off break that led into a three-game road trip.
There have been several interesting nuggets from their late-week practices, including Yanni Gourde continuing his progression toward a return from sports hernia surgery (he skated in a red non-contact jersey Thursday but was a full participant on Friday), Tye Kartye heading to Coachella Valley on a conditioning loan, and Nikke Kokko remaining with the big club as he enjoys what is expected to be a relatively brief first stint in the NHL.
I also caught up with Jared McCann for the first time since he broke his scoring drought with a game-winning goal against the Florida Panthers last Saturday and gained some insight into his mindset during the slump.
We have all that and more in this Kraken Notebook.
McCann’s confidence returning
McCann leads the Kraken in scoring this season with 43 points, tallying a respectable 15 goals and 28 assists in 60 games. But considering he was in a league of his own as Seattle’s most reliable goal-scoring threat for his first three seasons in deep sea blue—amassing 96 goals in that span—he’s off the pace we expected heading into 2024-25.
Before he took Adam Larsson’s saucer pass and ripped it past Sergei Bobrovsky at 7:03 of the third period against the Panthers, he had notched just two goals in the previous two months, both of which came on empty nets. His confident finish to secure Seattle’s 2-1 victory in the Sunshine State was a breath of fresh air for fans, players, and coaches alike.
“I mean, I hadn’t scored in a while before that, so it was good to kind of get the confidence back,” McCann said. “Obviously, I’ve just got to keep shooting the puck. I’ve hit probably three or four posts the last couple of games here, so they’ve got to go eventually.”
Players are keenly aware when things aren’t going their way, and McCann knew he had been gripping his stick too tightly.
“It sucks, but I’ve been through it before with, obviously, other teams. I’ve been through droughts before, but I’m just trying to contribute in any way I can, whether it’s setting somebody up or generating offensive-zone chances. You don’t always have to score. I just try to contribute as much as I can.”
Even though he hasn’t been scoring at his usual clip, McCann is on track to set a career-high in assists. However, he insists he hasn’t changed his approach.
“I still feel like I’m a shoot-first guy, but I do think there were opportunities last year where I could have passed the puck a little bit more. But [Shane Wright’s] been doing well for us, and we’re just trying to get him the puck as much as we can right now.”
Head coach Dan Bylsma is encouraged by McCann’s recent play, pointing to his 14 shots on goal in three games since the break as a sign the 28-year-old winger could be regaining his scoring touch.
“I think it’s just good to see him get a goal there, but better to see him underlining his game with being a pointed shot guy, not just a shot from distance, not just flippers on net,” Bylsma said. “Where they’re coming from and the quality of those shots are huge indicators for his game.
“He’s shown a history of scoring in a lot of different ways, and that’s the focus, the process, and that’s why getting the result and the game-winning goal in Florida was big.”
SOH creating drama in the room
When McCann spoke about being productive despite his goal-scoring struggles, he unsolicitedly praised linemate Wright’s performance and mentioned trying to set him up as much as possible.
Meanwhile, McCann’s other linemate, Andre Burakovsky, was sitting nearby, listening in. This is key context for what happened next.
I asked McCann if he was excited about Jordan Eberle’s recent return from a serious pelvis injury that had kept him out since Nov. 14 and if he hoped to play with him again—without considering that reuniting McCann and Eberle would mean splitting up McCann and Burakovsky.
McCann replied, “I hope so. It’s up to the coach, but he’s been grinding the last couple of weeks—”
At that point, Burakovsky interrupted and jokingly berated McCann for completely writing off his current linemate. I won’t repeat what Burakovsky said since I wasn’t interviewing him directly, but he gave McCann a hard time for confirming he wanted to play with Eberle. It led to a good chuckle between McCann and me before he continued discussing Eberle.
“No, it’s just, [Eberle’s] been grinding the last couple of weeks here, and obviously he’s been working really hard to get back into game shape. And the last couple of games here, obviously, we haven’t been playing our best, but he’s a big part of our team. We’re just happy to have him back.”
Kartye partye in Coachella Valley
We suspected a move was coming with Tye Kartye, and the team confirmed it Thursday, sending him to the Coachella Valley Firebirds for a conditioning stint.
The 23-year-old winger hasn’t played since Feb. 8. Although Mitchell Stephens had already been sent down to the AHL, Kartye hasn’t been used much at center, so even with Stephens’ demotion, there wasn’t a clear path to playing time for Kartye.
By sending him down on a conditioning loan, the Kraken do not have to expose him to waivers, and he can remain with the Firebirds for up to 14 days. His salary still counts against the cap, though.
This seems like an ideal scenario for both the Kraken and Kartye. He needs playing time, and we’ve seen him dominate at the AHL level before. Hopefully, this stint gives him a confidence boost for when he returns, perhaps after the NHL Trade Deadline, when he could be relied upon more.
Gourde getting closer
Gourde, widely viewed as a trade candidate ahead of the March 7 deadline, is inching closer to returning from hernia surgery that has sidelined him since Jan. 2. On Thursday, he wore a red non-contact jersey and participated in the first half of practice. By Friday, he graduated to full participant, though he was rotating with recently recalled Ben Meyers on the fourth line.
Bylsma said Gourde is unlikely to play Saturday against Vancouver, but I’m predicting he’ll be ready to go Tuesday when the Minnesota Wild visit.
Trade deadline chatter heating up
As the NHL Trade Deadline approaches, players inevitably start thinking about their futures. Even those hoping to join a contender must face the reality that they could be packing up and moving to a new city with new teammates, coaches, and staff at a moment’s notice.
I’ve sensed it in the dressing room, too—plenty of chatter is happening behind the scenes, and players who could be moved are well aware of their situations.
“It’s hard not to think about that stuff, realistically,” McCann said. “We obviously haven’t had our best year, and at the end of the day, it’s a business, and [the front office] has to do what they have to do if it makes the team better.”
McCann himself has been through a deadline deal and understands its impact.
“I’ve been traded on the deadline, and it obviously sucks picking up and moving, but it’s just part of the business.”
Bylsma also acknowledges how much this time of year weighs on players.
“It’s part of being a pro,” he said. “And it’s something you have to… go with it. Go with the controllables, and go with what you can control, and stay focused on playing your best hockey, and let the cards fall when they fall.”
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.
The Seattle Kraken returned to action over the weekend following the 4 Nations Face-Off break, splitting a pair of games against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
On Saturday night, the Kraken edged out the Panthers in a tight 2-1 win. Captain Jordan Eberle made his return to the lineup after a lengthy absence due to a pelvic injury back in November. Despite the extended break for the team, the Kraken looked sharp, with Joey Daccord delivering a strong performance in net. Shane Wright recorded assists on both Kraken goals, scored by Kaapo Kakko and Jared McCann.
Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t go as well, with the Kraken falling 4-1. While the Kraken didn’t generate many quality scoring chances, they also didn’t concede many. Seattle is now 0-9-0 in the second game of back-to-backs, making them the only NHL team without a point in that situation this season.
Return of the captain
Eberle looked solid in his return, especially considering the long layoff and the challenge of coming back from such a unique injury. He logged 14 minutes of ice time on Saturday, primarily in a fourth-line role, with 57 seconds on the power play in the first period. He registered two shots on goal and, more importantly, helped stabilize the fourth line, giving the other three lines more rest between shifts.
In the previous 10 games, Tye Kartye and Mitchell Stephens averaged less than nine minutes of ice time per game, while Brandon Tanev, the other fourth-liner, averaged under 13 minutes. With Eberle back, Coach Dan Bylsma was able to rely more on the Tanev-Eberle wing pairing, occasionally double-shifting Shane Wright to center the fourth line. This provided a more dynamic fourth-line threat compared to a Tanev-Stephens-Kartye combination. While it’s hard to measure the direct impact, in a close 2-1 win, even small advantages can make a big difference.
Eberle played just under 12 minutes on Sunday and had two notable turnovers. While his timing might take a few more games to fully return, the early signs are promising.
4 Nations Face-Off: Quick thoughts
The 4 Nations Face-Off was a hit, not only among die-hard hockey fans but also with casual viewers. I heard from several non-hockey-fan friends and coworkers who tuned in and loved the USA-Canada games. The gold-medal game between the USA and Canada drew 9.25 million viewers in the US—the largest audience for an NHL-sanctioned game. For context, last year’s Stanley Cup Final Game 7 between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers had 7.66 million viewers.
The tournament also introduced some creative elements worth considering for the NHL:
Three-Point System: The 4 Nations used a system where regulation wins earned three points, overtime or shootout wins earned two, and overtime or shootout losses earned one. This setup could encourage teams to take more risks late in regulation to secure a full three points, especially in tight playoff races.
10-Minute 3-on-3 Overtime: While extending overtime might reduce shootouts, research suggests the current system may not need much tweaking.
New Camera Angles: The tournament featured fresh perspectives, including cameramen on the ice after goals, new in-game angles, and a referee cam. While still needing refinement, these innovations show promise.
the on-ice camera for goal celebrations is such a nice addition to 4Nations… hope to see this in the postseason pic.twitter.com/4POY7hGcwY
Brandon Tanev played 16:19 against Florida on Saturday—his highest ice time since Dec. 10—including 2:26 in the final five minutes.
The Kraken are now 5-2-1 all-time against Florida but 1-6-1 all-time against Tampa Bay.
Joey Daccord’s win on Saturday was his 20th of the season, marking a career high.
Jani Nyman continues to impress, leading all AHL rookies with 23 goals. I expect we’ll see him with the Kraken later this season.
Prospect Berkly Catton reached 100 points in the WHL over the weekend. While he’d benefit from a more competitive setting next season, the NHL-CHL development agreement limits his options to either the NHL or the WHL. There’s a chance he could make the Kraken roster, which would make this a non-issue.
For context on Catton playing in the NHL next season, only six players from the 2023 NHL Draft have played more than nine games in the NHL this season.
The Kraken won two coach’s challenges over the weekend: goalie interference on Saturday against Florida and an offside call on Sunday against Tampa Bay.
Berkly Catton (SPO/SEA): The top Kraken prospect is riding a 12-game multi-point streak, with eight points over three games this weekend.
Nathan Villeneuve (SBY/SEA): The 2024 second-round pick had five points in his last three games. Despite flying under the radar, he’s a physical forward with 55 points in 47 games for the Sudbury Wolves.
Shane Wright (SEA): Wright tallied three points over the weekend and has 12 points in his last 10 games.
The week ahead
The Kraken play just two games this week, both against Western Conference teams vying for a wild-card spot. They’ll wrap up their road trip against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday before hosting the Vancouver Canucks at home on Saturday.
St. Louis has struggled lately, going 3-5-2 in its last 10 games, while Vancouver is clinging to the final wild-card spot but dropped two regulation games over the weekend. Though the Kraken are out of playoff contention, they have a prime opportunity to play spoiler.
Trade deadline looming
As much as the focus should be on the ice this week, the NHL Trade Deadline is just 13 days away, and speculation is heating up. Under GM Ron Francis, the Kraken have historically made moves close to the deadline, so big changes may not happen until next week.
Darren Brown put together a solid primer on the Kraken’s trade deadline approach. I’ve mentioned it before, but I still think an extension for Yanni Gourde could be in the cards. The Kraken need a fourth-line center next season, and if the two sides can find common ground, it would be a smart move to keep him in Seattle.
If you have thoughts or reactions to anything in this post or anything Kraken-related, let me know in the comments section below!
Getting called up to the NHL is supposed to be a thrilling moment for a player who has worked his way through various levels of Czech pro leagues and then spent just over a season in the American Hockey League.
With Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer temporarily out of the lineup because of an “unfortunate accident” at his home in November, 27-year-old Aleš Stezka got the second call-up of his career. With Grubauer unavailable, Stezka was needed to back up Joey Daccord for Seattle’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 12.
On the evening of Nov. 11, Stezka flew from Coachella Valley to Seattle, arriving late at night. He picked up a rental car and drove to his downtown hotel around midnight, where he parked in the hotel garage and made the seemingly innocuous decision to leave his gear inside the vehicle.
“I checked the car like three times [to see] if somebody could see the bag from the outside,” Stezka recalled. “And I used my light on the phone, and I couldn’t see in because I had very dark windows.”
Assuming his gear was safe in the hotel garage, Stezka went inside to get a few hours of sleep, knowing he would be back early in the morning to begin his gameday preparations. But when he returned to the car, he immediately recognized that something was amiss.
“I found out at like 6:30 a.m. I came to the car, because that’s a gameday, I wanted to be at the rink a little bit earlier to figure out everything,” Stezka said. “I came to the car and saw the broken window, and I was just like, ‘F**k!’
“I don’t know if the guys used lights, something special [to see in], but they just broke the window, take my hockey gear. They left the sticks in the car, just took the bag.”
The brazen smash-and-grab theft was especially disappointing for Stezka because it was still relatively early in the season, and all his gear was new. This included his Firebirds/Kraken combo mask that he had just unveiled three weeks prior. His bag also contained backup gear, including a second mask, a second pair of skates, and a second catch glove and blocker.
“It was actually crazy, because I never think it can happen, you know? And I just came to Seattle very late. I came to the hotel, like, 30 minutes after midnight. And I was [going to] wake up at something like 6 a.m., so I just parked at the hotel parking garage. But it’s my fault. I just left the stuff, left the hockey bag in the car.”
A gameday scramble
Fortunately for Stezka and the Kraken, he still had his equipment from the 2023-24 season, which he spent entirely with the Firebirds. There was just one problem with him wearing that set for the game later that night: some of that gear was 1,000 miles away in Coachella Valley.
When Stezka realized what had happened, he immediately got in touch with the Kraken to let them know about the incident. With Seattle’s game against the Blue Jackets looming in just 12 hours, head equipment manager Jeff Camelio and director of team services Brennan Baxandall sprang into action.
“I found out at 7 a.m. that his gear was stolen, and we instantly started trying to figure out how we were going to piece gear together to get him on the ice for that night,” Camelio said. “So luckily, we had [some of his old gear] from training camp, so that worked out. We had an old chest protector that he used, old pants, basically just outfitted him with all the old equipment that we could, and then we had some stuff actually flown in from Palm Springs that he had just switched out of.”
What they didn’t have was Stezka’s old pads, gloves, and mask, so they tagged Firebirds assistant equipment manager Justin Sommer to fly from Palm Springs with those items.
“Jeff, Baxy, and everyone around helped me a lot to fix the problem,” Stezka said. “They called the guys in Coachella. Our equipment guy [for the Firebirds], he just flew before the game with the old gear from last season.
“It was easier because that’s my old gear, but I feel so bad… I feel so bad because I had pretty new gear in [the bag].”
**Editor’s note: The gear shown in the above tweet is the gear that was stolen; the photo was taken a few days prior to the incident, during Stezka’s first of two call-ups in quick succession. The header photo is from last season and shows the replacement equipment he used in the game against Columbus.
It was an overwhelming situation for Stezka, who went from being excited to be part of the NHL roster, trying to fit in and quietly go about his business, to being smack-dab in the middle of a chaotic problem that required mountains getting moved on his behalf.
“It was my second call-up ever… I’m a new guy, and everything around that. But the guys helped me a lot here in the locker room too, [saying], ‘Don’t worry, just be ready for the game, and the guys will help you with everything.’ I was very grateful for them.”
Indeed, Stezka’s old gear did arrive in time for him to back up Daccord for the game, though perhaps his setup wasn’t quite as aesthetically pleasing as he had hoped after he replaced his shiny new duds with a beaten-up set from the previous AHL season.
“Jeff did a good job. He called Shifty, he sent him the mask, and Shifty did it in like one week, he did a new mask,” Stezka said. “And he’s a beauty. He helped me a lot, sending me every detail, and I’m very happy to work with him.”
Goalie gear thieves remain at large
One might wonder what would possess somebody to steal a set of custom gear fit for a 6-foot-4 professional hockey goalie, especially considering that it has his name embroidered on it and should be easily spotted as stolen goods.
But that question remains unanswered, as the gear still has not been recovered.
“[The Kraken] talked to the police, I talked to the hotel manager as well, but the gear still [hasn’t been] found,” Stezka said. “Me and my wife—I know Jeff, too, and the team—we’re trying to watch the goalie markets, the black markets, anywhere you can sell gear, but nothing.”
Stezka still feels terrible that the incident happened and (perhaps unfairly) blames himself for not bringing the equipment into the hotel with him that fateful night. But he also learned from the experience.
“I learned you never, never, never leave your stuff in the car… Shit happens, but I feel very bad because it’s a lot of money for a team, and I’m very glad for everyone who helped me on both sides.”
Added Camelio: “This was the first time I’ve had a whole set of goalie gear stolen. So this was a first for me in 25 years.”
If you happen upon a set of pro-spec True goalie gear with “Stezka” stitched into it, and/or a custom Aleš Stezka Firebirds/Kraken mask, please contact your local authorities.
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.
The Kraken split a pair of games over the last week: a solid but not dominant 3-0 win against Nashville and a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday afternoon. If you had asked me last week whether I would be happy with a split in those two games, I would have said yes. However, there’s something about that Kings game that leaves me disappointed. It was an excellent benchmark to assess how good this Kraken team really is, especially after appearing to turn the corner with a 5-1-0 homestand.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say the Kraken played poorly, but they might not be good enough to compete with teams like the Kings in the standings for the entirety of the season. I say this knowing full well that they beat the top team in the division, the Vegas Golden Knights, just two weeks ago. Maybe it’s a bit of recency bias, but the lackluster performance on Saturday leaves me questioning where this team is headed. With four games against weaker opponents this week, we might not have a clearer answer until the Kraken roll through their New York swing, with a Carolina appetizer.
Do the Seattle Kraken have a scoring problem?
As the Kraken struggled to generate any legitimate scoring chances against the Kings on Saturday, I started to realize there might be a serious goal-scoring issue that feels eerily similar to last season’s team. The Kraken are averaging 2.8 goals per game, which is lower than at this point last season. Over the last 10 games, they are averaging just 2.3 goals per game—the fourth lowest in the league. The absence of Vince Dunn and now Jordan Eberle certainly doesn’t help, but that can’t be the only factor dragging down the team’s scoring. Let’s take a closer look.
Shots and shooting percentage
To better understand the scoring challenges this team faces, let’s examine their shot volume per game and shooting percentage to determine whether it’s a volume issue, a quality issue, or both.
It turns out it’s a bit of both. The Kraken have one of the lowest shooting percentages in the league and rank in the bottom third in shots on goal. Of course, not all shots are created equal, so to assess this further, we need to consider shot quality.
Shot quality
To evaluate shot quality, I analyzed the NaturalStatTrick.com team game logs, focusing on the average number of high-, medium-, and low-danger shots per game.
The Kraken rank sixth lowest in high-danger shots per game and second lowest in medium-danger shots. This mix of lower-quality shot attempts likely contributes to their poor shooting percentage. Unfortunately, I don’t have any specific suggestions or solutions for generating more high-danger chances, but hopefully, the team figures something out soon.
Other musings
Expect to hear a lot about the milestone of U.S. Thanksgiving in the NHL. Historically, around 80 percent of the teams in a playoff spot at U.S. Thanksgiving end up making the playoffs. Unfortunately, that didn’t help the Kraken last season, as they were in a playoff spot at that time but didn’t make it to the postseason.
I love the Thanksgiving week schedule, especially with two home-and-home sets against division rivals.
Speaking of U.S. Thanksgiving—without cheating—five Americans have played for the Seattle Kraken this season. Can you name them?
The Kraken’s power play has been the worst in the league over their last 10 games.
Like many of the keyboard coaches on the internet, I think it’s time for Shane Wright to return to the lineup.
Daniel Sprong’s 18 minutes and 36 seconds against the Kings marked the most ice time he has played in a single game during his 86 appearances for the Kraken.
The penalty kill has also been struggling lately, operating at 75 percent compared to the league average of 80 percent.
Following college hockey out west is a challenge, but did you catch Arizona State’s men’s hockey team sweeping top-ranked Denver in Denver this weekend? Denver had a 21-game winning streak coming into the series. I’ve always believed ASU could become a college hockey powerhouse someday.
The World Junior Championship camp rosters should be announced in the first week of December for the tournament starting later that month. The Kraken could have up to seven players invited to various camp rosters.
As many of you know, Joe Thornton’s number was retired by the San Jose Sharks over the weekend. I’ve always been a huge “Jumbo” fan. The weekend was filled with great Thornton stories, but none better than the one shared by his former teammate, Doug Murray. I’ve always believed the best way to evaluate an athlete’s character is by their actions when no one is looking. Thanks to Doug for sharing that story.
Player performances
Alexander Wennberg – The former Seattle Kraken center has tallied two goals and three assists over his last four games with the San Jose Sharks. This Saturday will mark Wennberg’s first game back at Climate Pledge Arena. Joey Daccord – Joey is having an outstanding season, posting a 4-1-0 record with a .945 save percentage over his last five starts. Carson Rehkopf – The 2023 second-round Kraken draft pick recorded a hat trick over the weekend. Expect to see him on the Canadian World Junior team.
We circled this week on the schedule as soon as it was released, with four division games against two of the weaker teams. It’s an excellent opportunity to gain ground in the standings, but neither the Anaheim Ducks nor the San Jose Sharks should be taken lightly. Both teams have been playing better recently, and in the NHL, any team can beat any team on any given night.
Anything less than four points out of a possible eight would be a major disappointment, but the target should be six. It’s crucial to bank as many points as possible now because December features the toughest stretch of games the Kraken will face this season.
As we close the chapter on a tough five-game road trip, and the team prepares for a six-game home stand starting Friday night, it seems like a good time for a first look at macro trends in the Seattle Kraken play data. We’ll start with team-level information before highlighting Kraken player-level results. The goal here is to trigger further thought and inquiry, rather than deep dive in any particular area. Any one of these data sets could be an entire article. Unless otherwise noted below, the data is from Natural Stat Trick or NHL Edge.
Before getting to it, it is important to note that the Kraken have played just 14 of 82 games. This is a solid sample (17 percent of the season) but still on the low end for drawing meaningful conclusions. For example, analytics outfits like Evolving Hockey tend to publish their models only after accruing 15 to 20 games worth of data. I think there is plenty we can learn here, but let’s keep the salt shaker on the table for now. Particularly with a new coaching staff, it is quite possible this picture shifts in important ways by the time we do another one of these check-ins around the 30-game mark. OK, let’s dive in.
Seattle Kraken lag in the standings and shot quality metrics
It may be “early” in the data world, but the first 14 games of the season have had very real consequences for Seattle’s playoff prospects. Sure, as of Nov. 7, Seattle is only “four points out,” but five teams separate the Kraken from that last wild card spot—several of which have games in hand on Seattle.
On a standings points percentage basis, Seattle is fifth-worst in the league and third-worst in the conference. And this position is fully “earned” because, as of now, no team has fared worse in generating overall shot quality than the Seattle Kraken at only 41.69 percent expected goals for (xGF).
For those requiring a bit more explanation, expected goals (xG) is a metric that estimates the likelihood of a shot attempt resulting in a goal based on shot location and type. Expected goals for percentage (xGF %) compares a team’s total “xG for” with “xG against.” For example, if a team has taken three shots worth .1 xG total and given up one shot worth .05 xG, the team’s xGF% is calculated .1/(.1+.05) = 67%.
Seattle’s poor xGF% is likely overstated somewhat by the amount of time Seattle has played with the goalie pulled in recent games. That said, even if the fairer figure is slightly more generous to the Kraken, the team’s expected goal share would still be near the bottom of the league.
Seattle’s struggle has been both on offense and defense. On a production basis, Seattle’s 2.79 goals scored per game ranks 21st in the league, and its 3.21 goals against per game also ranks 21st. Pivoting back to shot quality, Seattle has been well below average generating quality looks for itself and in suppressing opponent shot quality.
The chart above does not separate out performance on special teams, so it is worth a short detour to look for takeaways on those units. As shown below, Seattle has been slightly above average in drawing penalties, but slightly below average in converting those opportunities into goals.
As for the penalty kill, the Kraken are taking more penalties than average and suffering the commensurate consequences, conceding more goals with a player disadvantage than average.
These substandard real-world results may be a bit “lucky” and present an artificially rosy picture of the team’s performance, though. In terms of shot quality, we see that Seattle is below average in creating quality looks on the power play and perhaps the worst in the league in preventing opponent shot quality on the penalty kill. The goalies may be the team’s best penalty killers so far.
Kraken skater data reflects broader team struggles
Shifting focus to individual data, there are few true “positive” indicators in light of the team’s overall weakness. Nonetheless, there is plenty of interest when evaluating how the coaching staff has deployed the players and in comparing the players against each other. First, let’s take a look at overall deployment and individual offensive engagement (via shot attempts).
Brandon Montour has been a workhorse on the blue line—leaned on all the more heavily with Vince Dunn out for the last 10 games. Despite missing the Toronto game, he still leads the team in ice time by a wide margin. Chandler Stephenson stands out as the only forward deployed as much as any of the top-four defensemen. As we will see in a moment, the coaching staff certainly views him as an all situations stalwart.
The data shows Stephenson doesn’t shoot much—but we knew that already. It is more notable to see Shane Wright so low in total shot attempts too. The team should consider putting him back in a better line context to get more out of him and the offense overall. (Worth noting, Wright was back with Oliver Bjorkstrand and Eeli Tolvanen at practice on Thursday.)
What explains Josh Mahura and Tye Kartye’s light overall usage? As shown below, Mahura and Kartye have not found a home on special teams. (Given the penalty kill unit’s struggles to create pressure, I wonder whether there may be an opportunity to incorporate Kartye’s aggression there. He has practiced as a penalty kill forward.)
Speaking of deployment, NHL data reports provide information on a player’s “zone starts”—meaning the zone (defensive, neutral, or offensive) where the puck was when the player jumps on the ice. With enough sample size, this can provide insight on coaching preferences. Is the play pinned in the offensive zone? Send out Player X because he can keep the offensive pressure up. Need to win a key defensive-zone draw? Tap Player Y because he can win face-offs and defend.
In the chart below we see that no player is deployed in a more difficult ice position context than Adam Larsson (followed by Brandon Tanev, Yanni Gourde, and Jamie Oleksiak). On the other extreme, we see Josh Mahura (and would see Cale Fleury if he met the games played minimum) as players “sheltered” with many more offensive-zone starts.
Beyond this “zone start” stat, NHL Edge now gives us another layer of information by providing data on the time each player spends in each zone. This allows us to compare a player’s zone starts against his time spent in each zone to get a rough understanding of whether he is—on balance—maintaining/improving his team’s ice position or losing ice position. For instance if Player Z was deployed in the offensive zone 70 percent of the time but nonetheless spent 55 percent of his time in the defensive zone, we could conclude that he contributes to substandard play driving the puck toward the opponent’s goal (a negative “ice position” impact).
Setting aside neutral-zone starts and time, we can compare the ratio of offensive- to defensive-zone starts (horizontal axis on the chart below) against the ratio of offensive- to defensive-zone time on ice (vertical axis). Indicative of the team’s overall struggles, only two players have spent more time in the offensive zone than the defensive zone—Montour and Mahura. This is to be expected for Mahura since he’s deployed so much more in the offensive zone. This is not so for Montour, who sees only a 45.2 offensive-zone start percentage. Beyond Montour, the players indicated in blue also move play back toward offense, while the players indicated in red have had the opposite impact.
Turning from deployment to goal-scoring production and Natural Stat Trick‘s shot quality metric, we see that the two leading scorers on the team, Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann, are not there by accident; they also lead the team in expected goals. Matty Beniers is third on the team in shot quality, earning almost exactly his three goal total. The fourth-ranked skater on the team is a somewhat surprising one—Brandon Tanev. That said, Tanev has always been able to create transition looks. The challenge for him is handling and finishing those chances.
Next let’s take a look at the team’s overall scoring (via goals scored for percentage) and shot quality share (via expected goals for percentage) with each player on the ice. Across a big enough sample, if a team is not generating surplus goals or quality shots with a player on the ice, it tells you about that player’s offensive and defensive contributions beyond just the box score.
As of Nov. 6, the Seattle Kraken have only one player with a 5-on-5 xGF% above 50 percent—Shane Wright. Everyone else is underwater in that shot quality metric. That said, usual suspects Brandon Montour, Jordan Eberle, and Jared McCann have been able to drive positive real-world goal impacts. That group is joined by Ryker Evans, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Matty Beniers as the “plus” players on the team.
At the other end of the spectrum, Stephenson and Andre Burakovsky have struggled to contribute to goals and shot quality. (That said, I should note that these two combined for perhaps their strongest effort in the team’s last game against Colorado. So there may be a glimmer of optimism there.) Eeli Tolvanen’s on-ice impacts have been weak too, but he does have four goals, so he’s contributing in that department.
Finally, NHL Edge data also allows us to supplement the “eye test” with a quantifiable measure of how “fast” a player is playing at even strength. In the early going, Shane Wright has topped Matty Beniers as the team’s player who skates the fastest average speed. He also has the fastest individual burst on the team this season at 22.54 miles per hour. The chart below pairs that speed data with shot attempts each player has taken off the rush. It’s no surprise that the four centers skate the fastest on average, since the center has to cover all 200 feet of the ice and often needs to push harder to get to the appropriate spot.
For the Kraken, rush offense and play speed have not been closely correlated. To the contrary, of the four players to take four or more rush shots, three are defensemen. This also implies that much of Seattle’s rush success to date has been due to the activation of defensemen (and, perhaps, a result of other teams sleeping in coverage).
The goalies perform differently but have been solid overall
Lastly, shot location data provides some interesting insight regarding the contrasting production of Seattle’s goaltenders.
Joey Daccord has drawn eight of 14 starts, posting a .915 save percentage and 2.75 goals-against average. According to Natural Stat Trick‘s metric, he has saved 4.8 goals more than expected in his starts, which is sixth-best in the league. He’s done it by being a brick wall on shots he “should” save. His save percentage on shots Natural Stat Trick classifies as “low danger” is .991, best in the NHL among all goalies with at least four starts. He has saved 4.16 more goals than an average goalie on these types of shots. By contrast, his high-danger save percentage is slightly below average at .767. He has allowed approximately two more high-danger goals than average on these shots. This confirms the “eye test” that high-danger cross-seam passes have been the best way to beat Joey early on.
Philipp Grubuaer has six starts, with a .876 save percentage and 3.27 goals against average. His -3.08 goals saved above expected is below average, but there may be reasons for optimism. His save percentage on high-danger shots is .795. This is actually better than Daccord’s mark and approximately league average. He has also been solid with his rebound control early in the season, allowing approximately two fewer rebound shot attempts per game than Daccord. In contrast, he has struggled on low-danger shots, posting a save percentage of only .909 on those shots. There may be some bad puck luck or luck with screens affecting his early season numbers. Only time will tell whether this weakness on perimeter shots persists.
Curtis Isacke
Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.
*Editor’s note: This is not a new article. This is the same seating guide that was published in December, 2023, but it has been updated with some new information for the 2024-25 season.
The admittedly biased answer to the question of where to sit at Climate Pledge Arena (CPA) is section 3, row L, seats 1-2—my season seats! But the real answer is that there isn’t a bad seat in the house. No matter where you’re seated in CPA, you’ll have a great view of the ice and a fantastic game experience.
For the 2024-25 season, we’ve refreshed this guide with the following updates:
Updated ticket pricing to reflect standard admission rates.
Added a Tips and tricks section, featuring discounted student tickets and a bathroom line navigation hack.
The King 5 broadcast desk has a new home in the Space Needle Lounge.
The Red Alert band has been dissolved, and references to the band have been removed.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through each major section in CPA, highlighting the pros and cons of each area to help you find your perfect seat.
How to use the Kraken seating guide:
If you’re unsure where to begin when choosing your seats, you’re in the right place! The Kraken seating guide below will help you find your ideal spot. Use the table below, and click the link in each area for an overview of each section.
Consider these key factors as you choose:
Budget
End seats vs. side seats (do you prefer being behind the net or seeing the action from the sides?)
Proximity to the action vs. full-ice perspective
Section benefits and amenities
Reviewing each of these factors will help you zero in on the sections that best suit you and your group for an unforgettable game experience.
Budget
Ticket prices at CPA vary widely, with face-value seats starting around $50 and going up to $750. This Kraken seating guide breaks down seating into approximate price ranges, with most options falling between $100 and $250. These prices reflect standard admission rates, as resale prices fluctuate based on factors like team performance, the opponent, and the game night. Typically, expect lower prices for a Tuesday game against a struggling opponent and higher prices for a Saturday night matchup against a top team or Original Six team.
End seats vs. side seats
As in any sport, seats closer to center-ice (field, court, or pitch) tend to be the most desirable. In hockey, protective netting behind each goal keeps those powerful slap shots from hitting fans. When sitting at the ends of the ice, you’ll be viewing through this netting, which, while noticeable at first, often fades from perception during the game. Along the sides of the ice, you’ll have an unobstructed view, as no netting is present. Watching from the sides offers a left-to-right view of the action, while end seating provides an up-and-down perspective. Keep in mind that when sitting at the ends, the action feels distant when at the opposite end but intensely close when in front of you.
Proximity to the action vs. full-ice perspective
This choice comes down to personal preference. Sitting higher up gives you a view of the entire rink, making it easier to see plays and strategies unfold. Being closer to the ice immerses you in the speed and intensity of the game as players battle it out near your seat. Both options are exciting, but for newcomers, sitting higher can offer a broader perspective and better understanding of the game—and usually at a lower price.
Benefits and amenities
Most amenities are available in the club sections. Club seats feature options like exclusive food, club-specific restrooms, mixed drinks in your seat, and private entrances to CPA. The private club restrooms are a notable perk, as restroom lines outside the club areas are generally longer, especially during intermissions.
Going to your first game?
If this is your first game, you can’t go wrong with any seat—just choose a spot within your budget and get ready to enjoy the experience. I recommend arriving about an hour early to check out the team store and watch the warmups. Take a stroll through a few sections you might consider for future games to get a sense of how they compare to your seats.
If you’re reading this seating guide, you might also be a new fan of the Seattle Kraken. Sound Of Hockey has you covered with our Seattle Kraken: New fan’s guide – 2024 edition, helping you get up to speed on your new favorite team and sport.
Just want a quick Kraken seating recommendation?
Just get me in the building?
Opt for the 200 Level. Aim for sections opposite the press box—like 224, 225, 226, 201, 202, 203, and 204—rather than 211-217. In the higher rows (H and above) of 211-217, the “Twins” (dual scoreboards) are obstructed by the pressbox. Although there are TV screens for provided for these rows, seeing the scoreboards is part of the experience.
Best mix of value and views? There are a few great options
Kraken-shoot-twice sections in red, Visitor side (Kraken-shoot-once) sections in black
00 Lower Bowl
All lower bowl sections at CPA are numbered 1-26. Entrance to CPA is on the upper level, with an escalator ride down to the lower bowl, which is considered the main concourse (LL2). This level includes The Lair (team store) and the Living Wall. Sections 3-12 are on the Kraken’s offensive side, where they shoot twice per game, while sections 16-25 are on the visitor’s side, where the Kraken-shoot-once. The arena has two club areas: the Symetra Club (sections 26, 1, 2) and the WaFd Club (sections 13-15).
These sections sit right on the face-off dot within the offensive zone and are the only non-club, Kraken-shoot-twice sections in front of the goal line. Positioned as close to the club areas as possible without being in them, they provide a fantastic view. A railing separates these sections from the club seats on the side closer to center ice, making it impossible for people to enter or exit from that side—a benefit for those seated along the railing, as they won’t be interrupted during the game. Sections 16 and 25, on the visitor-shoot-twice side, mirror sections 3 and 12.
View from “Kraken-shoot-twice – corners” section (Photo/Brian Liesse)
The corners are rumored to be a favored vantage point for hockey scouts evaluating minor and junior players. While the Kraken-shoot-twice end is viewed through protective netting, the opposite end offers a mixed view. Seats in the first 10 rows are around $210-$240, providing a close-to-the-action experience. These corner sections offer a balanced blend of side and end perspectives. Sections 17, 19, 22, and 24 on the visitor-shoot-twice end mirror sections 4, 6, 9, and 11.
Unless you’re within a few rows of the glass, your view in these sections will always be through protective netting. Most seats are around $180, with row C (on the glass) closer to $285-$350, and rows D-J approximately $220-$240. Note that row C is the front row in these sections, offering direct glass access. It’s a popular spot to watch the visiting team warm up. If you arrive during warm-ups, feel free to join the crowd along the glass for a closer view, then settle into your seats once the crowd clears. Sections 20 and 21, on the visitor-shoot-twice end, mirror sections 7 and 8.
The top of most lower bowl sections features bar seats.
Pros:
These seats offer a great view of the ice at the lowest price in the lower bowl.
The elevated bar stools have seat backs and are not connected to the floor, so you can stand during the game if you prefer.
A small table in front of you provides space for food and drinks.
Cons:
You won’t have a view of the Twins (dual scoreboards), but there are TV screens mounted for viewing replays. Some extra stats on the Twins aren’t shown on the TVs, but it doesn’t not take away from the enjoyment of the game.
Your view may be blocked if the people in front of you stand during an exciting moment, though most fans remain seated during the game.
Getting in and out of these seats can be a little awkward, but it’s manageable.
Both Symetra Club and WaFd Club offer similar experiences, located on opposite sides of the ice. Symetra Club is on the same side as the player benches, while WaFd Club is on the penalty box side.
Buying club seats is about two things: premium seats and added benefits. Located between the face-off dots, with the most expensive seats at center ice, they provide an unimpeded view of the game without the need to look through protective netting.
Each club has its own private area with exclusive food and drink options, as well as bathrooms reserved for club ticket holders. Additional perks include the ability to have mixed drinks in your seat, coat check, larger, more cushioned seats, and occasionally a free appetizer spread. There are also a limited number of bar seats in the club sections (sections 1, 15, 26), which offer the same benefits and are priced around $195. For more on bar seat experiences, see the lower bowl section.
Pros:
Premium seat views and exclusive benefits.
The Yeet the Fish tradition, where plush fish are thrown into the stands after Kraken wins, typically end up in lub sections since there is no protective netting.
Season ticket holders get a 25 percent discount on concessions.
Cons:
Expensive pricing.
Access to the club areas requires scanning your ticket each time you enter, meaning your friends without club tickets are not allowed to join you in the club area.
The Loge Level is located at street level, meaning when you enter CPA, you’ll already be on the correct level. Sections numbered in the 100s are considered the Loge Level. The following sections are included in this area:
101-104, 111-114 – Kraken-shoot-twice side, sections range from center-ice to the corners.
115-117, 124-126 – Visiting team side, sections range from center-ice to the corners.
105-110 – Kraken-shoot-twice end of the ice.
118-123 – AMEX Club, visiting team end of the ice.
The Loge Level provides excellent views of the entire ice surface from any seat. With a steeper sightline compared to the lower bowl, you’re able to get a good perspective of the action. However, if you find yourself behind a taller person, it can be challenging to see clearly. Overall, these seats offer great sight lines for an immersive experience.
These seats run along the sides of the ice and are not obstructed by the protective netting. Pricing is comparable to lower bowl seating. Row A ensures you have an unobstructed view, although a metal-topped protective glass barrier might slightly interfere with your sightline. Being higher up, these seats offer a broader perspective of the game, allowing you to see plays develop more clearly. However, they feel a bit farther from the ice compared to the lower bowl.
Pros:
Great views of the ice to see plays development.
Easy access from CPA entry points, allowing for a quick exit after the game.
Cons:
Pricing is similar to lower bowl seats, so not much of a discount.
The concourse can feel narrow and congested during intermissions, as it serves both the 100 and 200 Levels.
Bathroom lines can be long, contributing to the congestion.
The steeper sight lines may result in people blocking your view if they lean forward, so don’t be surprised (or offended) if someone asks you to lean back.
Bar seats (~$130):
Bar seats on the Loge Level offer a full view of the Twins and a great perspective of the ice. However, the narrow walkway (~four feet) behind these seats means you’ll experience people walking behind you during the game.
These seats offer great value while still providing an exceptional view of the ice. If you’re familiar with the EA Sports NHL video game series, the view here is similar to the classic up/down perspective. The sections span both the 100 and 200 Levels. There are three price points in this section: Row A (~$150-$200), middle rows (B-H, ~$110-$125), and upper rows (J-P, ~$85-$95). For reference, row H aligns with row A of the 200 Level.
All views from these sections are through the protective netting.
Pros:
There is not a bad seat in this area, and these seats deliver on value and view.
Easy access to the Alaska Airlines Atrium, making it simple to get in and out of CPA.
Cons:
The seating is at the same level as the Twins, so you may occasionally find yourself watching the game on the Twins if you are not paying attention.
Food and drink options are limited to small stands, and lines can get long.
Bathroom lines can be an issue in this section as well.
Despite being in the 100s, many of the seats are at the same height as the 200 Level.
These seats are a mirror of the Loge Level Kraken-shoot-twice end of the ice seats (Sections 105-110), with a few notable differences:
Located on the visitor-shoot-twice end of the ice
Sections extend lower than the Loge Level, with row A in line with the suite level
Rows A-C offer larger seats similar to the Symetra/WaFd Club seats
Row F is in line with Loge Level row A; row N is in line with 200 Level row A
Private entrance for AMEX Club members
Access to the AMEX Club, from other parts of the arena, is via the suite level
Private food and drink options available
Private bathrooms for club members
This section is all about the extra perks balanced with the cost. The height in this section ranges from as low as the suite level to as high as the 200 Level, offering three price points:
Row A-C (~$220-$250)
Middle rows (D-P, ~$160-$195)
Upper rows (Q-V, ~$130-$150)
Pros:
Extra benefits over regular seats, including private food and drink options.
Mixed drinks allowed in your seats.
Private bathrooms and a private entrance for club members.
Cons:
Price can be steep for the additional perks.
While getting to the main sections of CPA is not difficult, being located on the suite level can create some separation from the rest of the arena, which can make it a little harder to get to other areas of the arena.
The 200 Level sections run along the sides of the ice. Sections 201-204 and 224-226 are on the players’ bench side, while Sections 211-217 are on the same side as the penalty boxes and the press box. These sections offer the best value, providing a good view of the ice at a lower price point than other areas in the arena. Row A, being the front row, will be the most expensive (~$150-$170) in these sections.
It’s important to note that the higher seats on the press box side are positioned behind the press box. While you can see the full ice surface, you won’t have a clear view of the Twins (dual scoreboards). Instead, you’ll see TV screens mounted on the back of the press box.
The 200 Level offers an excellent vantage point to watch the game, with views that allow you to follow the play as it develops. Access to this level is the same as where you enter CPA. Like the Loge Level, you may encounter some congestion in the concourse and bathrooms during intermissions. If it’s your first time at CPA or you’ve never explored the main level (lower bowl), be sure to take a walk down to see The Lair (team store) and Living Wall.
The 200 Level offers upper-deck seats with a full view of the ice. Sections 201-204 are located on the Kraken-shoot-twice side, while Sections 224-226 are on the visitor-shoot-twice side.
Pros:
Great value with excellent views at the lowest price.
Seats are near the entry points, making it easy to exit CPA quickly before the fans in the lower bowl have time to take the escalator back to the street level.
Full view of the Twins (dual scoreboards).
Cons:
Hallways can get congested, and bathroom lines are often long.
Steep sight lines can be challenging; people leaning forward or tall individuals may block your view, though you can usually shift left or right in your seat to find a clearer view.
These sections mirror the 200 Level players’ bench side but with a key difference: Rows F and above are positioned behind the press box, which blocks the view of the Twins (dual scoreboards). To address this, TV screens are installed so you can still see what’s displayed on the Twins, similar to the bar seats in the lower bowl.
You’ll have an unobstructed view of the ice without the protective netting in your line of sight for the entire game. However, the press box design does slightly muffle the arena’s sound, creating a subtle sense of separation from the crowd. Occasional movement in the press box gangway may also distract you from the game. If you prefer a view of the Twins, aim for rows A-E, which are below the press box.
Pros:
Cheapest seat option at CPA with a clear view of the ice.
Although not specifically designed for this, these sections are not as loud, so if crowd noise is a concern, this might be a section to try.
Cons:
Concourse congestion and long bathroom lines.
The press box can be a minor drawback if seated in row F and above, as it blocks the view of the Twins.
While CPA offers excellent views from nearly every seat, these seats rank lower in value due to their pricing. Originally, they were intended as 21+ seating with exclusive access to the Space Needle Lounge. However, now that the lounge is accessible to all fans, the premium pricing for upper-deck seats feels less justified. These sections sit above Sections 105-110 and can only be accessed through the Space Needle Lounge.
Pros:
Space Needle Lounge stays relatively empty during games, so it’s easy to grab a drink and enjoy it in your seat.
These seats flank “The Deck,” where in-game announcements and prize contests happen. Buoy, announcers, and occasional celebrities frequent The Deck, making it easier to get pictures and interact with them from here.
Bathrooms on the Space Needle Lounge level are easily accessible from these seats, allowing you to avoid long lines.
The King 5 Broadcast desk has a new home here, where you can watch Alison Lukan and Ian Furness during intermissions.
Offers a bird’s-eye view of the ice.
Cons:
The high price is steep for upper-deck seating, especially since the lounge, bathrooms, and broadcast desk are now open to all fans.
These seats are the ultimate experience for glass-level viewing. Accessed via elevators to the event level (LL4), Cove seating requires ticket holders to show their tickets when exiting the elevator, as this level also houses the players’ locker rooms. While there are no food vendors on this level, food and drinks can be ordered directly to your seat via mobile phone—a convenient perk that means you don’t have to leave your seat, even mid-period.
Buoy, the team mascot, often visits the Cove sections, making it easy to get a photo. These seats provide an up-close, intense view of the action at your end of the ice, but views of play at the opposite end are limited, often requiring you to check the Twins (dual scoreboards). However, the Twins are almost directly above, so you may need to crane your neck or look to the opposite side for a clearer view.
Cove seating locations
Cove 4 and 11 – On the Kraken-shoot-twice side. Cove 4 is beside the visiting team’s bench.
Cove 17 and 24 – On the visitor-shoot-twice side. Cove 24 is next to the Kraken bench, allowing views of players heading to their dressing room during intermission.
Cove seating overview
Each Cove has two rows: Row AA (~$530-$750) and row BB (~$430-$550). Row AA seats are on the glass, offering the closest proximity to the action. However, row BB, can give you a hard time viewing the ice, as the seats are usually not elevated, so you are looking through people in row AA. There is an exception to this in Cove 11, where row BB seats 1-10 are elevated.
Pros:
Unmatched view of the action directly in front of you—ideal for any hockey fan to try at least once in their lifetime.
Food delivery directly to your seat.
Best location to watch warm-ups and potentially catch a souvenir puck from players.
Cons:
Limited view of action at the far end of the ice.
Row BB can have obstructed sight lines from row AA.
If you’ve made it this far in the guide, you’ve probably noticed a trend: bathroom lines can get long in many sections. Here’s a tip I learned from an interview with the Seattle Kraken Ice Breakers: ice scrapes happen during TV timeouts, and there’s a set schedule for them. The first stoppage after the 14:00, 10:00, and 6:00 minute marks of the period gives you two minutes before play resumes—just enough time to sneak out for a quick bathroom break. For the full schedule details, check out the Ice Breakers interview.
Student Rush
The Seattle Kraken are working to make NHL hockey more accessible by offering last-minute tickets to students. Tickets cost $35 for upper bowl seats and $55 for lower bowl seats. To be eligible, you’ll need to register, and more information can be found on nhl.com.
Conclusion
My goal is to encourage fans to attend as many games as possible and feel confident about their seating choices. I hope this guide helps you find a seat you’ll truly enjoy. Having experienced each area firsthand, I can confirm—there’s no bad seat in the house!
