Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn sustained an injury during the team’s 6-4 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 17. Dunn has since been placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR). Per the Sound Of Hockey Twitter intern, “Vince Dunn just went down the tunnel. He took an awkward fall on his last shift and looked uncomfortable on the bench.” That happened with about five minutes remaining in the first period.
Vince Dunn just went down the tunnel. He took an awkward fall on his last shift and looked uncomfortable on the bench. #SeaKraken
While Dunn played the second period, he did not play a shift in the third. Head coach Dan Bylsma described the injury as a mid-body issue and initially said his removal from the game was “precautionary.” But Dunn was later placed on LTIR, retroactive to Oct. 17, meaning the earliest he can return is the Nov. 12 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. As the team’s top-pairing defenseman and power-play quarterback, his absence will be felt on the blue line.
Following the Kraken’s 2-1 overtime win against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 19, in which Dunn did not play, he was seen walking stiffly in the background of a Sportsnet After Hours interview with Kraken captain Jordan Eberle. The full interview with Eberle is worth watching, though it’s unrelated to Dunn’s injury.
While I’m not a medical professional, it’s clear from the video that Dunn is experiencing discomfort while walking.
LTIR primer
Long-term injured reserve (LTIR) is an NHL mechanism that allows teams to temporarily exceed the salary cap. To be eligible for LTIR, the injured player must be expected to miss at least 10 games and 24 days. When a player is placed on LTIR, the team receives cap relief equal to the injured player’s annual average value (AAV) minus the amount of available cap space the team has.
For example, if a team has a player with a $5 million AAV and $1 million in free cap space, the team can exceed the salary cap by up to $4 million while the player is on LTIR.
It’s important to note that LTIR relief does not accrue and cannot be saved for future use. The LTIR pool is only available while the player remains on LTIR. Once the player is healthy, the team must be cap compliant again, and LTIR relief is no longer accessible.
How this affects the Kraken
In the Kraken’s case, Dunn’s $7.35 million AAV and the team’s minimal cap space of just $4,286 (yes, that’s four thousand, not four million) resulted in an available LTIR pool of $7,345,714. This amount is calculated by subtracting the Kraken’s free cap space from Dunn’s AAV.
The LTIR pool is money the Kraken can spend, but it’s important to remember that this pool is temporary. The Kraken can use the LTIR pool to recall players from the Coachella Valley Firebirds, which they did when they brought back defenseman Cale Fleury on Oct. 21. This pool provides roster flexibility by allowing the Kraken to add players up to the 23-player limit as needed. However, it is not intended for the Kraken to sign a $7 million player to replace Dunn. Before Dunn’s injury, the Kraken were limited to a 21-player roster due to their tight cap situation, and that limitation will continue once he returns.
The #SeaKraken have recalled defenseman Cale Fleury from Coachella Valley.
Additionally, the team has placed defenseman Vince Dunn on long-term injured reserve (retroactive to 10/17). pic.twitter.com/JLVUBs4bSz
It is interesting that the Kraken have yet to recall a forward from Coachella Valley, even though they have the LTIR pool available to use. There are a couple potential reasons for this:
The Kraken may be waiting until their upcoming road trip to Montreal on Oct. 29, as they are currently in the midst of a five-game homestand.
The next player called up from Coachella Valley might be a younger player whom the Kraken want to continue getting playing time in the AHL rather than having be a healthy scratch.
On a recent Sound Of Hockey Patreon Mailbag podcast episode, there was a question about who would be the next forward called up to the Kraken. Here were the selections:
Ryan Winterton (Darren)
Jacob Melanson (John)
Ben Meyers (Curtis)
Other possibilities include John Hayden, Logan Morrison, and Lleyton Roed. If you would like to support Sound Of Hockey and gain access to special Patreon-only content, sign up here.
Cale carousel
Cale Fleury was with the Kraken for two days before being reassigned back to Coachella Valley on Oct. 23. He was recalled again on Thursday morning. We believe the purpose of sending Fleury down is to pause the clock on his NHL waiver eligibility. Players who have previously cleared waivers can play in up to 10 NHL games or remain on an NHL roster for 30 days before needing to clear waivers again. By sending Fleury down, the Kraken can extend this 30-day window. This move could indicate that Dunn’s recovery is expected to take longer than 30 days, or it could just be that the team is trying to get as much time with Fleury at the NHL level as possible before they have to put him on waivers again.
Defense without Dunn
During the 2023-24 season, Dunn missed 23 games due to injury. Seattle’s record during that span was a dismal 6-15-2. While this year’s team is better equipped to absorb his absence, Dunn’s absence remains significant.
Brandon Montour, a puck-moving defenseman, will run the top power-play unit and bring his offensive punch to the Kraken attack. Ryker Evans, who has made significant strides this season with five points (two goals, three assists) in the first seven games, will quarterback the second unit. Additionally, Josh Mahura has slotted to fill the hole on defense and provides stability and experience.
While Dunn’s injury is not ideal, the Kraken’s defense is in good hands with the additions of Montour, Evans, and Mahura. This combination of the three players can contribute offensively while maintaining a strong defensive presence.
Trade implications
While Dunn’s injury has created temporary salary cap flexibility due to the LTIR pool, it has also reduced the perceived urgency for the Kraken to make a trade to be able to roster more than 21 players. However, general manager Ron Francis has remained calm and not rushed a deal that would negatively impact the team.
Through the team’s early success and the temporary LTIR pool, Francis now has an extended window to assess possible trade options while maintaining the ability to call up players as needed. Any trade leverage other NHL GM’s perceived to have over the Kraken has been significantly reduced.
While the LTIR pool provides some breathing room, it’s important to note that it’s still a temporary solution. Once Dunn returns from injury, the Kraken will need to be cap compliant. Therefore, any trades made will need to ensure Dunn can be activated when fully recovered.
Sound Of Hockey’s own John Barr recently wrote about the cap, injuries, and potential trade candidates like Brandon Tanev and Yanni Gourde. Defenseman Will Borgen is another possible candidate for trade. These three players get pulled into trade rumors only because they are all in the last year of their contracts. Freeing up any of their AAV’s would give the Kraken the cap space needed to go up to the 23-player roster limit when Dunn returns.
Gourde and Tanev have been playing exceptionally well so far this season, which could increase their trade value. However, at the same time, they are part of the reason for the early success of the Kraken, so perhaps Seattle simply continues to operate with minimal flexibility even when Dunn comes back.
Dunn’s injury creates a challenge
While injuries are never a positive occurrence, Vince Dunn’s injury has presented the Kraken with a challenge, and they are making the best of it. The LTIR pool has provided temporary salary cap flexibility, allowing the team to maintain a competitive roster and explore potential trade opportunities with less urgency. This gives the Kraken the advantage of being more selective and patient in their decision-making.
If you have any questions, thoughts, or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments below, or reach out to me on the X @blaizg.
Welcome, new (and existing) hockey fans! As the Seattle Kraken enter their fourth season in the NHL, we at Sound Of Hockey wanted to create a primer to help fans get up to speed on the team and the game of hockey.
Team history
Seattle was awarded the NHL’s 32nd franchise on Dec. 4, 2018, and began play in the 2021-22 season. The Kraken have competed in three seasons, experiencing a mix of successes and challenges. The Vegas Golden Knights’ expansion success set unrealistic expectations, but the Kraken’s journey has been marked by ups and downs.
Season 1
After high preseason expectations, the Kraken fell well short of the playoffs in their inaugural campaign, finishing 30th out of 32 teams. In the NHL, 16 teams, the top eight from the Eastern and Western Conferences, qualify for the playoffs.
Season 2
The Kraken’s fortunes turned in their second season. General manager Ron Francis acquired Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Columbus Blue Jackets in the offseason and signed free agent Andre Burakovsky. Matty Beniers won the Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie, scoring 57 points. With a balanced approach and four offensive lines, the Kraken achieved a 100-point season, clinching their first playoff berth.
Seattle fans experienced the thrill of NHL playoff hockey for the first time, including the excitement of sudden-death overtime. In their inaugural playoff series, the Kraken pulled off a stunning upset, defeating the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Colorado Avalanche, in seven games. Facing the Dallas Stars in the second round, they pushed the series to a decisive Game 7, but ultimately fell short. The hunger for Seattle to return to the playoffs is now deeply ingrained in Kraken fans.
Season 3
This time, the Kraken’s fortunes took a turn for the worse in their third season. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, including a franchise-best nine-game winning streak, inconsistent scoring ultimately hindered Seattle’s playoff aspirations. Although they were occasionally on the cusp of a playoff spot at different times during the season, they were unable to maintain the momentum and ultimately finished out of the postseason.
Overall, the Kraken underperformed in their inaugural season, exceeded expectations in season two, and were competitive in season three but fell short of their goals.
Key players
While the Kraken have seen roster turnover, several key players from their inaugural season remain with the team. Here are some of the top performers.
Forwards
Jordan Eberle (“Ebs”)
A veteran right winger, Eberle re-signed with the Kraken prior to last season’s trade deadline for two more years. His playing experience, leadership qualities, and popularity among fans make him a leading candidate to be named captain for the upcoming season. While the Kraken have been captain-less for the last two seasons, they are the only team in the NHL without a player wearing a “C” on his jersey. “Ebs'” leadership could provide a unifying force and further solidify the team’s identity.
Jared McCann (“Canner”)
The Kraken’s franchise leader in points with 182 is renowned for his scoring ability. With his lethal shot, you want “Canner” with the puck on his stick in high-pressure situations. His offensive prowess makes him a crucial asset to the team’s success. He scored 40 goals during the 2022-23 season, a career best and Seattle franchise record.
Matty Beniers (“Matty B”)
Beniers burst onto the NHL scene with a remarkable rookie campaign, scoring 57 points and winning the Calder Trophy. However, he faced challenges in his sophomore season, struggling to replicate his early success and finishing with 37 points. Despite this setback, “Matty B” is a promising two-way center with a balanced approach to both offensive and defensive play. His recent signing of a $50 million, seven-year contract demonstrates the team’s commitment to his development and future with the Kraken. He could be the face of the franchise one day.
Defense
Adam Larsson (“Big Cat”)
Larsson, an ironman defenseman, leads the Kraken in games played in franchise history. Known for his physicality and calming presence on defense, “Big Cat” is a reliable cornerstone of the team’s blue line.
Vince Dunn (“Dunner”)
Dunn, a puck-moving defenseman and power play quarterback, has led the Kraken’s defense in points each season. Known for his two-way play and willingness to drop the gloves for his teammates, Dunn is a valuable asset on both ends of the ice.
Jamie Oleksiak (“Big Rig”)
A towering defenseman at 6-foot-7, 257 pounds, Oleksiak is the largest player in the NHL. While known primarily for his defensive prowess, “Big Rig” also likes to jump up into the offensive zone. Despite his size, he moves surprisingly quickly thanks to his long legs and can catch opponents off guard with his stickhandling. His physical presence makes him a formidable opponent, and he’s a valuable asset on the penalty kill.
Goaltenders
Philipp Grubauer (“Gru” and “The German Gentleman”)
The veteran netminder who loves horses and spends time taking care of them when he is away from the rink often elicits a resounding “Gruuuuuuu!” from the crowd for his saves. “The German Gentleman’s” stellar performance was instrumental in the Kraken’s first playoff series win against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche. The Kraken need him to be excellent this season.
Joey Daccord (“Dac”, “Joey”, “The Mayor”)
The younger of the two Kraken netminders has impressed fans with his solid performances, often earning a “Joey, Joey, Joey” chant from the crowd after making a good save. Daccord is known for his ability to handle the puck and help the Kraken exit the defensive zone. Daccord had a breakout season last year, finishing sixth in the NHL in save percentage and goals-against average. He recorded a shutout in the Winter Classic and contributed to the Kraken’s franchise-best nine-game winning streak with eight wins.
Mascot – Buoy
Although Buoy, a fun-loving troll, is not a player on the team, he is the Seattle Kraken’s mascot. While Buoy’s initial reception was divided, Buoy has since won over fans with his flowing locks, removable tooth, slight belly, and playful antics. The Sound Of Hockey crew are strong advocates for Buoy, and his endearing presence has become an integral part of the Kraken’s identity.
Nicknames
Hockey players often adopt nicknames, which are typically derived from their first or last names with an “-er” or “-y” suffix. Fans quickly adopt these nicknames, making them a common part of hockey lingo when referring to players.
Excitement for the upcoming season (2024-25)
The Seattle Kraken are buzzing with anticipation as they prepare for the upcoming season. Here are some key reasons for the optimism.
Promising young talent
Shane Wright, the highly touted 2022 fourth-overall draft pick, is poised to play his first season as a full-time NHLer. While expectations should be managed, Wright’s talent is undeniable. Combined with promising young center Beniers, these two will form a dynamic one-two punch for years to come.
Veteran acquisitions
Center Chandler Stephenson and defenseman Brandon Montour, both signed to seven-year deals, add experience and stability to the lineup. During preseason, Montour was on display showing how he can help the Kraken at both ends of the ice.
Coaching changes
New head coach Dan Bylsma, nicknamed “Disco Dan,” brings a fresh perspective and a focus on boosting offensive production while maintaining the Kraken’s strong defensive foundation. His coaching staff includes Bob Woods, Jessica Campbell, and Dave Lowry. Curtis Isacke, described what Woods brings to the Kraken, who will run the defense and the power play.
The Kraken have demonstrated a strong track record in drafting promising young players in their early years as a franchise. NHL-eligible players can be drafted when they turn 18 years old. While over 200 players are selected during the NHL Entry Draft over seven rounds, only a small handful will make the NHL the following year. Most drafted players require further development in the junior (CHL) or minor (AHL) leagues for three to four years before cracking an NHL lineup.
With just three seasons under their belt, the Kraken’s prospects are beginning to mature. To date, Matty Beniers, a first-round pick from the inaugural draft, is the only drafted player to make the team full-time. For the upcoming season, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans are expected to join the roster. Ryan Winterton, a second-round pick from 2021, is also pushing for a spot and remains a strong possibility to play in some Kraken games this year but will start the season in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Many other Kraken prospects are developing with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. This team boasts 12 players under the age of 23, providing a valuable training ground for future NHL talent. Fans can follow the progress of Kraken prospects by streaming games from both the Firebirds and their ECHL affiliate, the Kansas City Mavericks, via subscription on FloHockey.tv. Players such as Jagger Firkus and Lleyton Roed will look to take the next step in Coachella Valley this season.
Ice Hockey: Rules and play
If you are truly new to ice hockey, this section is for you. Hockey is a fast-paced sport with constant player changes on the fly. It can be a bit daunting at first, but here are some excellent resources to help you understand the rules, the play, and the role of the referees.
KING 5 Seattle’s “Hockey 101” video is an excellent starting point for understanding the basics of hockey. It covers the key rules and the flow of the game.
Key rules and concepts
Offsides: A player is offside if they cross the opposing team’s blue line before the puck.
Icing: Occurs when a player shoots the puck past the center red line and far goal line without another player touching the puck. This results in a stoppage of play, and the team that iced the puck is penalized by not being allowed to change players. Play restarts in the defensive zone of the team that committed the icing.
Penalties: Penalties are assessed for various infractions, such as tripping, hooking, slashing, and interference. Penalties result in a player being sent to the penalty box, and the opposing team plays with a numerical advantage, called a power play. Most power plays last two minutes but can be four or five minutes depending on the severity of the infraction.
The Rink: The hockey rink is divided into three zones, separated by the blue lines: the offensive zone, neutral zone, and defensive zone. The goal is located at the back of the defensive zone.
Players: Each team consists of six players on the ice at a time, five skaters and a goalie. If a team gets a penalty, they skate down a player until the penalty expires.
The NHL partnered with Snoop Dogg to create a series of entertaining videos explaining the rules of hockey. These nine videos, which take about 25 minutes to watch in total, are a fun and engaging way to learn the basics of the game.
Referees and linesmen
There are four officials on the ice during an NHL game: two referees and two linesmen. Referees, identifiable by orange bands on their arms, primarily focus on penalties and determining if goals are scored. Linesmen monitor for offsides and icing and help break up extracurricular activities. While it’s common for crowds to boo officials as they enter the ice, it’s important to remember that referees have a very hard job. The game moves incredibly fast, and they need to make split-second decisions on whether or not to make a call.
Following the play
The Sound Of Hockey Podcast has discussed strategies for understanding the fast-paced nature of hockey, which involves players regularly exceeding speeds of over 20 mph. To follow the game effectively, it’s helpful to anticipate the puck’s movement and the overall flow of play. John Barr and Curtis Isacke have suggested focusing on a single position during a game to gain a deeper understanding of the various roles on the ice.
There are five skater positions: left wing, center, right wing, left defense, and right defense, usually identifiable based on where they line up for a face-off. Curtis, also known as @deepseahockey on multiple platforms, has created YouTube videos that highlight all shifts for a specific player on the ice. This is a valuable resource for focusing on individual positions and gaining insights into their roles and responsibilities.
The videos linked above feature players who are currently part of the Kraken organization, though some of the videos show players prior to their time with Seattle, meaning they are not wearing a Kraken jersey. While watching the videos, focus on the player’s jersey number to help learn each position. Note that due to TV angles, sometimes the player of focus is not always visible.
When first learning about positional play, it’s recommended to focus on even-strength situations (5-on-5 play). You can explore power play and penalty kill strategies later. If a team is on the power play, you will see it noted on the TV broadcast’s scorebug.
How to watch the Seattle Kraken
The ultimate Kraken experience is undoubtedly watching them live at Climate Pledge Arena. Witness the energy of the crowd, the electrifying atmosphere, and cheer on your favorite team in person. If you’re unsure where to sit, check out Sound Of Hockey’s helpful Kraken seating guide.
However, we understand that attending games isn’t always an option due to cost or other factors. Thankfully, there are convenient TV and radio options available to catch the action remotely.
Living in Washington, Oregon, or Alaska?
Great news! As a Kraken fan in the Pacific Northwest, you have several ways to catch the games.
Local Broadcast: The Kraken have a new partnership with KING 5 and KONG, which will combine to broadcast 72 of 82 non-nationally televised games, all available for free over the air.
Amazon Prime: For the first time ever, Seattle Kraken games will be streamed on Amazon Prime Video for Prime members in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.
Radio Broadcast: Sports Radio 93.3 KJR FM will broadcast the games in the Seattle area. Check here for affiliates in other areas.
Friend of the pod, Chris Smith (@icethetics) has created these handy info-graphics.
No problem! You can still watch the Kraken play with an ESPN+ subscription. This service allows you to stream most out-of-market NHL games, including the Kraken. For the number of NHL games you get with this service, it is a fantastic deal.
Nationally televised games
There are 10 Kraken games scheduled to be nationally broadcast on ESPN, ESPN+, ABC, Hulu, or TNT. To watch these games, you’ll need a subscription to the appropriate channel or streaming service. The full broadcast schedule can be found here.
How to stay updated on the Kraken
Look no further! Sound Of Hockey has you covered to stay connected with the Kraken and the NHL.
Weekly Podcasts: Dive deeper with insightful discussions and commentary from the Sound Of Hockey crew. Also available on Apple podcasts.
Social Media: Follow Sound Of Hockey on various platforms (Discord, X.com(@sound_hockey) for updates and engagement.
Patreon: Support Sound Of Hockey and gain access to exclusive bonus content.
Wrapping up
Congratulations on becoming a Kraken fan! You’ve now joined a passionate community that shares your love for the team.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have about hockey, the Kraken, or anything related to the team. We tend to gear most of our content on Sound Of Hockey toward more seasoned fans, but this is a safe space to discuss and learn together, so please comment below with any questions you might have. We’re excited to have you join the Sound Of Hockey family!
After a disappointing 2023-24 season, the Seattle Kraken organization made important changes to its leadership structure. On the one hand, the Kraken brought in two big-ticket free agents in Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour–advertising both for their on-ice exploits but also their leadership and experience winning Stanley Cups.
On the other hand, the team shook up the coaching staff by dismissing bench boss Dave Hakstol and allowing his top assistants Paul McFarland and Jay Leach to depart. Into their places stepped Dan Bylsma, Jessica Campbell, and Bob Woods–along with an expanded role for holdover assistant Dave Lowry.
Jordan Eberle told Sound Of Hockey that this year’s group has “a different vibe.” “New coaching staff, some new players added. All in all, a new re-energized group.”
That said, the coaches aren’t exactly unknown quantities, having coached in the organization at the NHL or AHL previously. Ryan Winterton noted that it’s been an easy transition on the players mentally because “You know all the drills already.”
The only exception is Woods–the coach the team has tabbed to lead the Kraken defense and power play unit. Woods has experience coaching alongside Bylsma, but is a fresh voice for the players with his own coaching style and schematic preferences.
So, I wanted to take a look at Seattle’s one true outside coaching hire this past offseason. I dug into the data and film from Woods’ recent six-plus-year tenure with the Minnesota Wild, and a couple things stand out right away about how he got his defenses to play.
First, his defenses limit high-danger chances with ruthless efficiency. Woods’ teams stay disciplined to the inside protecting the “house,” and are more than willing to concede outside possession and high-low passes to the point that result in low-percentage chances. No team forced teams into worse-quality shots on a per-shot basis than the Wild. This is a credit to the Wild players, of course, but it is also by their coach’s design. I’ll explain further below.
Second, his teams play fundamentally sound, error-free hockey. The Wild prioritized structure over aggressiveness, but when the opponent slips up or takes a poor shot, the defense moves the puck out of harm’s way effectively–limiting rebound chances, avoiding defensive-zone giveaways and botched puck retrievals. All of this adds up to a defense that was not only annually above-average, but by some shot quality metrics the best in the league during Woods’ tenure.
Without further ado, let’s get into Woods’ experience and how his defenses have performed. In a Part II post, I’ll get into the schemes Woods has used, and what it can tell us about how the Kraken will play this coming season.
Woods is a hockey lifer and championship performer
Woods, a native of LeRoy, Saskatchewan, grew up playing junior hockey in Western Canada. In his draft season, Woods was a point-per-game defenseman for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, and the New Jersey Devils selected him in the 10th round of the 1988 NHL Draft.
He spent parts of the next three years with New Jersey’s AHL team, the Utica Devils, before settling in as mostly an ECHL player after that. Ultimately, he would total 164 AHL games and 644 in the ECHL, but he never broke through to play even a single NHL game.
As his career progressed later, Woods admits he started shifting his thinking about his hockey future: “Hockey was always a big part of my life, and it’s something I had a lot of passion for,” he said in his introductory press conference to local media. “Once you get later in your career you start thinking about what the future looks like, and I knew I wanted to stay involved with hockey.” Thus, during the 1997-98 season–while still playing defense for the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks of the ECHL–he added a new role: “assistant coach.”
The next year Woods began a career-defining partnership. He landed with the ECHL’s Mississippi Sea Wolves as a player-assistant coach under head coach Bruce Boudreau. That team ended as 1998-99 Kelly Cup champions, but perhaps more important to Woods was the relationship he built with Boudreau and just how much he learned about coaching: “I got to be with Bruce there which was a nice start. I learned a lot from him [in addition to] the coaches that I played for,” Woods explained. (Woods also played under Barry Trotz and Gerard Gallant, among others.)
Though Boudreau left the Sea Wolves after that championship season, Woods stayed on as a player and assistant coach for two more campaigns before finally hanging up the skates after the 2000-01 season. He could still play–he led the Sea Wolves in scoring his final season–but he had a new opportunity with the team: head coach.
Woods helmed the Sea Wolves for five seasons–an important time when he developed all aspects of his coaching. “At that level, you have your hands on everything. You do a lot of different roles and you learn to be pretty efficient [delivering your message],” Woods said in an interview with KJR Radio.
With that experience in hand, Woods left the ECHL in 2005 to reunite with Boudreau as assistant coach for the Hershey Bears. The collaboration was again immediately successful. The two reached the pinnacle of AHL success, a Calder Cup, in Year 1. (Woods had earlier won the Calder Cup with the Bears as a player in the 1996-97 season.)
The partnership continued for another season-plus until Boudreau was hired as coach of the Washington Capitals midway through the 2007-08 season and Woods stepped into the head job for the Bears.
As it turns out, the 2008-09 season was Woods’ only full season as an AHL head coach, but it was a memorable one, with Woods and Hershey again hoisting the Calder Cup at season’s end.
From there, Woods climbed into the NHL ranks, taking an assistant job on Boudreau’s Capitals staff (alongside Dean Evason) in the 2009-10 season. After the Capitals fired Boudreau and his staff midway through the 2011-12 season, Woods moved with Boudreau to Anaheim, where they coached together for another couple of years.
In 2014, Woods left Boudreau’s staff to take a job as general manager and head coach of the WHL Saskatoon Blades. He held these positions for two years until he got a call from then-Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma with an invitation to coach the defense and power play for Buffalo during the 2016-17 season.
“This was too great of an offer to pass up,” Woods said at the time. Referring to Bylsma specifically, Woods said, “It’s a chance to work alongside a Stanley Cup winning coach who also coached in the AHL. It’s an example I’d love to follow.”
Unfortunately for Woods and Bylsma, their Buffalo stint ended after that season. Back on the open market again, Woods found his way back onto a Boudreau staff, now in Minnesota.
Woods would end up coaching defense and the penalty kill unit for the Wild for the next six-plus seasons–even through a transition in head coach from Boudreau to Evason during the 2019-20 season. Woods’ time in Minnesota ended on Nov. 27, 2023, with the team’s firing of Evason.
When Bylsma and the Kraken contacted Woods this summer, it seems it was an easy decision for Woods to reunite with his former colleague. “[Bylsma has] such a passion for the game,” Woods said. “He’s got a lot of knowledge for the game. He’s very detailed. He’s a guy that makes it fun to come to the rink. You know, it’s not a grind. You’re grinding, but you’re having fun doing it.”
Perhaps most significantly, Woods saw that he’d have an important voice in building the next Kraken contender. “[Bylsma] gives you a voice. I thought that was the thing for me [in Buffalo] is he really allowed me to be able to have more to say and more involvement and just grow as a coach. I just took it from there [and] it just helped me grow.”
Woods’ NHL defenses have been disciplined and productive
How have Woods’ NHL defenses fared under his voice? While he hasn’t been able to replicate his minor league championships yet, his NHL defenses have consistently ranked among the league leaders in just about every important metric during his time in the league.
During Woods’ six full seasons in Minnesota (2017 to 2023), his teams ranked seventh in goals against at even strength, and 11th in goals against overall. That track record is solid, but his teams’ performances get really impressive when you try to sort through luck and goaltending effects and focus on shot quality only.
According to HockeyViz and Evolving Hockey, Minnesota’s even strength and penalty kill units were above average in suppressing opponent shot quality every season during Woods’ tenure.
Add it all up, according to Evolving Hockey the Wild were the best team in the NHL at suppressing opponent shot quality at even strength (2.05 xGAA per 60 minutes) during Woods’ six full seasons. For its part, MoneyPuck has the Wild third during this timeframe (2.28 xGAA per 60 minutes), just narrowly behind Dallas and Boston.
How have Woods’ defenses accomplished this success? A few areas stand out. From 2017-23, Woods’ Minnesota teams:
Avoided defensive-zone turnovers (fewest giveaways in the league).
Efficiently recovered and broke out pucks (second best in avoiding “botched” defensive zone retrievals in 2022-23, according to All Three Zones).
Prioritized defensive structure over aggressiveness and physicality (seventh fewest takeaways; second fewest hits).
Eliminated the second-chance opportunities (second fewest rebound attempts against and fewest rebound goals and expected goals against).
Maintained shooting-lane coverage (ninth in blocked shots).
Most importantly, his Wild teams forced their opponents to shoot from the exterior. I’ll get into how his schemes are designed to achieve this outcome next time, but the numbers are extreme. No team in the league suppressed shot quality on a per-shot basis better than the Wild. Let’s break it down.
Woods’ Minnesota Wild teams gave up the fewest total 5-on-5 shot attempts that MoneyPuck categorized as “high danger.” On the other hand, the team conceded 10th most “low-danger” shot attempts.
Unlike the Bruins or Hurricanes, who aggressively tried to kill all shot types, Minnesota’s design was clear–protect the middle and concede the distance shot, which is unlikely to threaten. Then, clean up the rebound and break the puck out of the zone. This is further evident if we compare opponent shot quality with total shots against. Most teams appear along an apparent trendline, but the Wild under Woods were an outlier. They were willing to live with some shots provided they won the shot quality war.
Indeed, Evolving Hockey has the Wild conceding by far the lowest-quality chances on a per-shot basis in league. How extreme was the result? The difference between the Wild and the second-place team, Boston, was larger than the difference in average per-shot quality between Boston and the 26th-place team, Winnipeg, in this metric.
MoneyPuck is again slightly more conservative on the Wild defense but still puts Minnesota atop the league in limiting both high-danger shot quality and overall average per-shot quality.
HockeyViz creates shot heat maps that show where teams create or allow shots. From a defensive perspective, blue is good (it indicates the team is allowing fewer shots from that area of the ice than average) and red is bad (it means more shots). The more intense the color, the greater the impact, good or bad.
Minnesota’s defensive heat maps during Woods’ tenure show the unmistakable common trend we found in the data above–fewer dangerous chances in the slot; more from outside. (Note that the 2023-24 heat map only covers the time when Woods and Evason were still coaching the Wild.)
Of course, we should be cautious to avoid allocating all of the “credit” for this success to Woods. Head coaches have the last word on systems and philosophies, of course. But the consistency in the results across multiple head coaching administrations (Boudreau, Evason) does underscore Woods’ role.
More importantly, we cannot discount that the Wild have good players, particularly on defense. Indeed, the team’s performance limiting high-danger chances the year before Woods arrived (the 2016-17 season) and during the partial season after Woods’ firing were pretty similar to the results above. On the other hand, that sample around the margins of Woods’ tenure is much smaller than the six-plus seasons of excellence described above.
Furthermore, talent alone does not always equal production, particularly defensively. When introducing Woods in July, Bylsma hinted that Woods had the benefit of good players in Minnesota, but framed Woods’ ability to connect with star players as one of the coach’s strengths. “Bob has coached . . . some pretty big-named [defensemen] and [has been] able to establish a relationship with those guys and get them to play their best.
“I think [the] good thing about Bob is you’ve seen him do it with lots of different types of [defensemen] in the game. Carlson, Fowler, Suter, Spurgeon, they’re all in different spots. They’re all different players, [and Woods has] been able to establish a relationship with all those players and get them playing their best.”
Woods’ adaptability, attention to detail, and the relentless efficiency of his defensive approach made the Minnesota Wild very difficult to beat the last seven seasons. How did he draw up his defenses and what can we expect in Seattle? We’ll turn to those questions next time.
Woods’ resume coaching the power play is short but positive
Bob Woods wasn’t responsible for coaching the power play unit during his time in Minnesota. Instead, he coached the penalty kill and did so effectively. Minnesota was above average in suppressing opponent shot quality when the Wild were on the PK in every full season Woods was there before slipping in his final partial season before his firing.
Woods last coached an NHL power play alongside Bylsma in Buffalo, and he also did that with strong results. Woods’ power play unit was first in the league in goals scored per 60 minutes and ninth in expected goals per 60 minutes. These results stood in marked contrast to the team’s even strength offense (not coached by Woods), which checked in at 28th (third worst) in 5-on-5 goals per 60 minutes and 24th (seventh worst) in expected goals per 60 minutes.
Again using HockeyViz visuals, we can see that the power play was more effective at generating high-danger chances (darker yellow) relative to average than the even-strength offense, which struggled to create shots overall.
Woods’ year in charge of the power play also stands in contrast to the seasons before and after his tenure. According to HockeyViz, Buffalo’s power play unit was 10 percent above average at generating shot quality in Woods’ 2016-17 season, but below average in shot quality in both the 2015-16 and 2017-18 seasons.
That said, again, there is no denying that Woods was working with talent on the ice. There were elite offensive talents in Buffalo, including Jack Eichel. But in his introductory press conference, Woods was quick to downplay the need for a singular offensive talent to run a power play: “I don’t think you have to have the superstars [to succeed on the power play]. It definitely helps and creates that little bit more threat, but I think if you have five guys out there on the same page with a mission and a plan I think you can create a lot of good opportunities.” That work has begun in Seattle.
As mentioned, I’ll return with a follow-up post shortly that gets into the defensive schemes Woods deployed in Minnesota to achieve the results described above. I’ll also touch on what we’ve seen in the preseason and what we can expect from Seattle moving forward.
Do you have any other questions you would like to see addressed? Drop a note below or contact us X, formerly known as Twitter @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey.
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.
It’s here! Seattle Kraken training camp is here! The summer has somehow felt simultaneously way too long and way too short, but the players being back in action is always a welcome sight. There’s a certain optimism and excitement that comes at this time of year, when we see how players have progressed from last season and start to piece together how things might look for Kraken v4.0 when the campaign begins in earnest on Oct. 8.
While the Opening Night Day lineup appears to be mostly set (assuming good health… knock on wood!), there will be plenty of storylines to monitor from Thursday onward. Here are five such storylines we will be watching closely.
Storyline #1: Who fills the last roster spot(s)?
Seattle has several players who will be vying for the last spots on the roster. Whether there is regular playing time—or even cap space (more on that in a moment)—available for those individuals remains to be seen.
At first glance, it does seem the Kraken have 12 forwards locked into roster spots, along with six defensemen and two goalies. Take these line combos with a grain of salt, but this is how we would envision the Kraken Opening Day lineup if the season were to start tomorrow:
Jared McCann // Matty Beniers // Jordan Eberle Andre Burakovsky // Chandler Stephenson // Oliver Bjorkstrand Eeli Tolvanen // Shane Wright // Jaden Schwartz Tye Kartye // Yanni Gourde // Brandon Tanev
Vince Dunn // Adam Larsson Jamie Oleksiak // Brandon Montour Ryker Evans // Will Borgen
Philipp Grubauer Joey Daccord
This would give the Kraken a full lineup, but there are always extra players to consider to create competition and to slot in for injuries or illnesses. If the team opts to keep a full 23-man roster, then there is space for (most commonly) two more forwards and one more defenseman.
Several names we consider to be in the running for those last spots include, but are not limited to, forwards John Hayden, Ryan Winterton, and Ben Meyers, and defenseman Josh Mahura. There’s always a chance that somebody comes into Kraken training camp and blows the doors off to demand a spot on the roster, so we’ll keep our eyes peeled to see if anyone starts to emerge that we weren’t expecting.
Worth noting, Winterton joined Wright as one of the two “veterans” at rookie camp who did not travel to the Rookie Faceoff tournament or participate in the last practice on Tuesday. This could indicate Winterton has an inside track to the roster. Even so, it’s always debatable whether it’s better to keep a young player like Winterton with the roster or send him down to the AHL if it appears he won’t get much playing time with the big club.
The answer to that debate could hinge on whether the Kraken escape camp without injuries. Either way, the battles for these last few spots should be fun.
Storyline #2: How does Seattle solve its salary cap crunch?
As our own John Barr explained last week, the Kraken are in a salary cap pickle. Although it seems there are 20 players who are “locks” to make the roster, those 20 would leave space for only one more minimum contract before the team hits the upper limit of the salary cap. To be able to keep at least one extra forward and one extra defenseman around, which is absolutely necessary in the long run, the front office will need to find a way to shed some dollars before the end of Kraken training camp.
Barring a big injury, and unless there’s some serious voodoo coming from assistant general manager Ricky Olczyk, we still think it’s likely that one of the 12 in-the-lineup forwards will be traded.
Storyline #3: How do Shane Wright and Matty Beniers look?
Wright appears destined to make the Kraken out of camp. He has nothing left to prove at the AHL level, and he showed at the end of last season that he can be an impactful NHL player. But how will he fare over the course of a full NHL season?
It will be fun to see how Wright stacks up against NHL competition during preseason games and how he’s utilized by new head coach Dan Bylsma. We believe he will be put in a position to succeed, with good linemates around him, but he still needs to perform. Does Wright take full advantage of the opportunity and leave no doubt in the minds of the coaching staff and front office as to where he belongs this season?
Meanwhile, Beniers is looking to bounce back after a somewhat disappointing sophomore season. He will enter camp noticeably stronger than how he ended 2023-24, which can only be a positive. Will he look a little sturdier on the ice in camp? Will he be able to fight through tight checking this season?
Storyline #4: How do things look under Dan Bylsma?
Speaking of Bylsma, we’re also excited to see how different this camp looks compared to the previous three with Dave Hakstol at the helm. Bylsma is known to bring a balance of fun and seriousness, and training camp can often feel intense, especially for bubble players and youngsters looking to leave a lasting impression.
Hakstol always seemed to lean into that tension to create more competition in Kraken training camp, but we expect there will be plenty of moments of levity over the next few weeks with Bylsma steering the ship.
We’re also intrigued to see how things look in preseason games. Though the personnel used in these games, especially the first few, won’t resemble an NHL lineup, we should start to see how Bylsma wants the team to play, who he expects to skate together initially, and how he intends to use newcomers Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson.
Storyline #5: Which other young players start knocking on the door?
Past training camps have been where we started to realize how good some of the team’s prospects were. Players like Carson Rehkopf and David Goyette have had memorable performances that made us think they could be players for the Kraken within a couple of years.
Which other young prospects will show glimpses that get us thinking they could be close to reaching the NHL? Who has progressed the most this offseason?
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 are reportedly signing veteran right-shot defenseman Adam Larsson to a four-year contract extension worth an average annual salary cap hit of $5.25 million. The deal was first officially reported by Frank Seravalli, though Larsson’s defense partner, Vince Dunn, seemed to have the real scoop.
Larsson, 31, is entering the last season of his current contract, so this new deal will kick in starting in 2025-26 and will keep the “Big Cat” in deep sea blue through the 2028-29 campaign.
A native of Skellefteå, Sweden, Larsson has played 13 seasons in the NHL and has been a rock on the blue line for Seattle since Day 1 of the franchise. In fact, he has appeared in every Kraken game except one this past season when his daughter was born.
He isn’t known for his scoring, but he has contributed 76 points (20-56=76) during his time with Seattle. He has also led the team with 22:57 average time on ice per game over that period and proudly dons the deepest undershirt “V” in franchise history.
*adding a signature Lars deep v neck shirt to our wish list for santa*
Skating on the top pair, Larsson’s reliable stay-at-home style has allowed Dunn to flourish as an offensive threat. One has to wonder how much of an impact Larsson has had on Dunn’s progression as a player.
Why the extension makes sense
I personally like this term for Larsson and think it should age well based on his style of play. As we have mentioned a few times on the Sound Of Hockey Podcast, we had a hunch he wanted to stay in Seattle beyond this season. He was one of the players who chose to be here before the Expansion Draft, signing as a free agent before the Kraken selected him from the Edmonton Oilers. And, since then, every indication from him has been that he’s genuinely enjoyed his time here.
Giving a player entering the later stages of his career a four-year deal always carries some risk, but Larsson has been remarkably durable since arriving in the Pacific Northwest. A player like Larsson doesn’t rely as heavily on speed as others, so even if he loses a step over the next few years, he should still be an effective defender and can simply move down to a lower defensive pair.
As for the salary, his current deal pays him $4 million per year. It’s a significant raise to $5.25 million, but a deserved one that kicks in when the salary cap is expected to rise. One thing that concerns me slightly is that the Kraken are starting to commit a lot to players in their 30’s, with Brandon Montour, Chandler Stephenson, and now Larsson combining for more than $19 million during the course of Larsson’s contract. But that’s a concern for another day.
The captaincy plot thickens
I recently made my case for naming Jordan Eberle as captain of the Kraken, seeing him as a bridge captain until Matty Beniers or Shane Wright is ready to take the reins. But Sound Of Hockey’s own John Barr has been gently beating the drum for Larsson to get the “C” this summer, accurately predicting this extension several weeks ago. I recall him stating that he expected the Kraken to sign Larsson to a new deal, followed by naming him captain.
Well, the first step in John’s prophecy is now done, and I suddenly feel less confident in my prediction that Eberle will become the next captain.
Will it be the Big Cat after all?
Regardless, in honor of the extension, let’s enjoy this incredible Big Cat hype video from last season.
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.
Seattle’s defense got a significant upgrade this offseason. Brandon Montour, fresh off a Stanley Cup win with the Florida Panthers, signed a hefty seven-year, $50 million contract with the Kraken on the opening day of free agency. This commitment is underscored by a no-trade clause for the first three years, which then transitions to a modified NTC for the remainder of the deal. Let’s delve into Montour’s playing style and what Kraken fans can expect from their newest defenseman.
Montour’s offensive prowess
Montour’s offensive prowess is a cornerstone of his game. Over the past two seasons, he’s amassed an impressive 106 points in 146 games, with a career-best 73-point campaign in 2022-23. His ability to move the puck and generate offense from the back end is a significant upgrade for the Kraken.
Seattle’s previous reliance on a dump-and-chase style can be improved with Montour’s puck-moving ability, which will allow for more controlled entries and smooth transitions. His right-handed shot will complement the team’s existing defensive corps, and his ability to jump into the rush while maintaining situational awareness will add a new dimension to their offensive attack. The smooth-skating defenseman excels at starting the breakout with quick passes to get the puck moving up the ice. Here are a few clips of Montour making the first pass.
Shot selection
Adam Larsson has led Kraken defensemen in shots since the team’s inception with 392. Montour easily eclipses that mark, with 563 shots during the same time frame. This penchant for shooting will be welcomed by the Kraken.
As illustrated in the provided heatmaps (source: MoneyPuck), Montour’s shots are primarily concentrated at the point, but he’s not afraid to move around the ice and take shots from various angles. His ability to generate a high volume of shots, especially from long range, will be instrumental in creating scoring opportunities by generating rebounds and deflections.
Montour’s familiarity with the 1-3-1 power play strategy, a system also utilized by the Seattle Kraken, played a role in his shooting habits. This formation often anchors the power play quarterback at the point, which aligns with Montour’s primary shooting location.
Overall, Montour’s shooting style and offensive instincts make him a valuable addition to the Kraken’s blue line. His ability to generate shots and create scoring chances will be a key asset for the team as they strive for success.
Defensive abilities
While Montour is primarily known for his offensive contributions, he also possesses solid defensive skills. He’s positionally sound, adept at breaking up plays with his poke check, and effective at clogging passing lanes. Contrary to what his offensive reputation might suggest, Montour plays a more conservative defensive style, prioritizing his positional responsibilities over unnecessary offensive ventures.
Montour’s defensive play is heavily influenced by the systems implemented by the Florida Panthers. Through careful observation, it’s evident that Montour adheres to specific assignments in various zones, minimizing risky plays and prioritizing defensive responsibility.
Offense zone defense
Whilst playing defense in the offensive zone, Montour primarily occupies the point position. He’s quick to exit the zone once the puck is controlled by the opposing team, demonstrating his conservative approach to defense.
When the opponent contests but does not control puck along the boards, Montour does not hesitate to pinch and apply pressure to the opposing winger, aiming to regain possession. However, he’s always mindful of maintaining proper coverage, ensuring that a forward is in position to cover defense and limit odd-man rushes.
Here are a few clips of Montour pinching to maintain puck possession.
Given the Kraken’s similar defensive strategies, Montour’s familiarity with these tactics should allow him to seamlessly integrate into the team’s system.
Defensive zone
In the defensive zone, his home is in front of the net and in the corners. He is constantly scanning the ice for potential threats. Communication is key, and the right-shot defenseman can be seen during play talking to his teammates and pointing to opponents to ensure defensive coverage.
While Montour isn’t known for delivering heavy hits, he’s adept at using his body to separate the puck carrier from the puck and subsequently retrieving it. Once he gains possession, his puck-handling skills come into play, allowing him to quickly move the puck to a teammate and ensure his team keeps control.
The fast-paced nature of hockey often leads to odd-man rushes, and Montour’s poke check is a valuable asset in these situations. His ability to anticipate passes, combined with his willingness to sacrifice his body to block shots, makes him a formidable defender. Here are some clips of Montour’s poke checks.
The power play quarterback
Montour’s contributions extend beyond even-strength play, as evidenced by his league-leading average of 4:05 of average power play time per game over the past two seasons. While his goal production on the man advantage has been modest (four goals in two years), he’s established himself as a top distributor, ranking fifth in the NHL among defensemen with 46 power play assists during the same timeframe.
His role as a power play quarterback revolves around facilitating puck movement and creating scoring opportunities. The addition of Montour provides the Kraken with a formidable one-two punch alongside Vince Dunn, who will surely quarterback the other unit. Sharing the workload could potentially lead to a decrease in Montour’s power play time, as both he and Dunn will command plenty of opportunities.
It’s worth acknowledging the dip in Montour’s power play production during the 2023-24 season, coinciding with the emergence of Sam Reinhart and his 57 goals. Reinhart playing the bumper position, coupled with the Panthers’ strategy of cycling the puck low, limited Montour’s direct opportunities for assists. Check out this clip of a textbook Panthers power-play goal.
If the NHL counted third assists, Montour’s season totals would have definitely been higher. Regardless, Montour remained a valuable contributor to one of the league’s best power plays. The Florida Panthers power play was the fourth best in the NHL over the last two years, scoring 126 goals.
Montour’s experience and puck-moving abilities will be a significant asset for the Kraken’s special teams unit.
Coming back from injury
Following a tough Stanley Cup Final defeat to end the 2022-23 season and subsequent surgery to repair a torn labrum, Montour missed the first 16 games to start 2023-24. Despite returning to action and averaging 23:13 of ice time, Montour struggled to regain his pre-injury scoring touch during the early stages of the season. He was limited to 11 points in the first 36 games.
However, as the season progressed, his play began to show signs of improvement. Over the final 30 games, he demonstrated a significant uptick in production, averaging .73 points per game. This is equivalent to a 60-point pace for a full season. This surge suggests that Montour has fully regained his strength and confidence, and it bodes well for his potential in Seattle.
There is a lot going on in the following visualization (source: HockeyViz). What these graphics show is when Montour is on the ice, how do all the Panthers perform as a team? The image on the left is the 2022-23 season, and the right image is the 2023-24 season.
Here are my three takeaways from this data.
The top left heatmap for the 2023-24 season shows when Montour is on the ice, the even-strength offense heavily favored to Montour’s side of the ice.
The bottom left heatmap for the 2023-24 season shows very few shots are coming from the right side, indicating strong defense.
The top right heatmap shows Florida’s power-play shots. In the 2022-23 season, a bigger portion of the team’s shots were from the point than in 2023-24. That could be due to team strategy and Sam Reinhart’s team-leading 27 power-play goals.
Montour will boost the Kraken
Brandon Montour’s addition to the Seattle Kraken is a significant boost to their already strong defensive corps. The Kraken were already a top-10 team in goals against (232) prior to Montour’s arrival, and his presence will only further solidify their defensive foundation.
Beyond his defensive contributions, Montour’s offensive abilities offer the potential to enhance the Kraken’s scoring capabilities. His skillset aligns well with the team’s strategy, and his presence on the blue line will undoubtedly make them a better team.
Kraken fans can eagerly anticipate seeing Montour in a Kraken jersey when training camp begins on Sept 19. If you have any comments or questions, please leave them below. You can find me on the X at @blaizg.
