In a game that had a little bit of everything, the actual Seattle Kraken — the majority of whom will be in the lineup come Opening Night — took down the Calgary Flames 4-3 in a shootout Thursday night at Climate Pledge Arena.
And despite most of the lineup being regulars, the Kraken let the Flames, who played with a group of largely inexperienced players at the NHL level, hang around.
It would be more concerning if it wasn’t the preseason. But good news, everyone! It is still preseason!
Here are Three Takeaways.
Takeaway 1: Shaking off the rust
For most of the Kraken roster, this was the first game they had played together in over five months. The first couple of periods of the night, the rust was apparent. But with the games in the preseason not counting in the standings, Kraken head coach Lane Lambert would rather have the mistakes and growing pains come now versus when the games count.
“A lot of guys on our team hadn’t played a game for quite a while, and it showed,” Lambert said. “I thought we got better and a little bit more connected in the third, but for the most part, a lot of stuff that we’ve been talking about in Training Camp about playing with speed and putting on pressure, we establish that tonight the way we want to. So, we will continue to build.”
Ryker Evans’ charge down toward the goal late in the third period tied things up before Matty Beniers and Berkly Catton helped win it in the shootout. Evans recognized the importance of a game like this in creating early chemistry and helping lessen the corrosion, even if it’s against a team without many NHL regulars.
“They came out to play, and we’re just getting their feet under us,” Evans said. “It was good to get the cobwebs off there. I think by the second period, especially the third, we kind of started to play our game. But it’s always good to get the first one out of the way.”
Takeaway 2: Chippiest of chippiness
It doesn’t matter if it’s the preseason; if you’re a Seattle Kraken player, chances are you HATE seeing the red, white and yellow jerseys of the Calgary Flames. While people might go with the logical Vancouver or Vegas as their biggest rivals, I’d venture a guess Calgary’s pretty high on that disdain list for many players in the Seattle locker room.
Trying to describe the chippiness in the second period is a tall task, but let’s give it a shot.
It all started with the Kraken on the power play, of all things. Flames defenseman Chase Harrington caught Mackie Samoskevich with a hit up high that sparked a skirmish towards center ice. Samoskevich was slow getting up off the ice, though he looked fine through the rest of the game.
Then, an awkward hit by Flames center Sam Morton on Chandler Stephenson spurred Vince Dunn and company to respond.
The talk of the night, though, has to be Ville Ottavainen and his sucker punches of Flames left-winger Brennan Othmann. Othmann, who had two assists on the night, also checked him hard during Sunday’s game in Calgary.
Chaos ensued thereafter. Ottavainen is a player who’s on the cusp of making the team out of Training Camp, but for Lambert, he didn’t have trouble with how he responded.
“I didn’t mind it,” Lambert said. “Othmann ran him in Calgary with a high hit and got kicked out of the game. So, really good job by Otto to respond to that. I don’t have a problem with that at all.”
There were 16 total penalties in the second, totaling over 40 minutes of box time. Getting it all out of the way now seemed to be the messaging.
“Not a bad thing for sure,” Lambert said, joking there was everything but a 5-on-3 power play or 4-on-4 to go off of tonight. “It was a good opportunity to take a couple of looks at a couple of things that we’ve been talking about.”
Takeaway 3: Mackie Samoskevich making an immediate impact
It’s no secret the Kraken have needed a spark offensively, especially with its top line. The Kraken got a little sneak peek of what Mackie Samoskevich could potentially bring to that group.
He was quick with his up-ice rushes and tried a lot of leading passes. We saw some of that Michigan Wolverine chemistry with Beniers tonight, too.
“It was fun,” Beniers said. “He’s got a lot of speed. He’s got a lot of skill. He makes a lot of plays. So I thought we worked well together out there and had a lot of speed coming up the ice together.”
When the Kraken cut the deficit to 3-2 in the third period courtesy of a Brandon Montour laser beam, Samoskevich was the one that stripped the puck from a Flames attacker in the neutral zone, then immediately turned up ice to create the forechecking opportunity that led to the goal.
“He’s got speed coming up the ice, and we have to continue to use that,” Lambert said. “I thought he did a really good job on Montour’s goal. We just need to keep using his speed.”
The Kraken weren’t as far away from a playoff spot last season as their final standing might suggest. Yes, there were plenty of frustrating nights, and the brutal home stretch where they couldn’t seem to get out of their own way. But they were still hanging around the playoff race into March despite injuries, a league-worst penalty kill, and an offense that struggled to score consistently. Making the playoffs this season doesn’t require a miracle. It just requires a handful of reasonable things breaking in Seattle’s favor.
Here are five reasonable things that need to go right for the Kraken this season.
Stay healthy
This feels like the obvious one, but it also might be the most important. Over the last few seasons, the Kraken have dealt with more than their fair share of injuries. Every team goes through it, and “next man up” sounds great in theory. The problem is that Seattle simply hasn’t had the kind of NHL-ready depth that allows a team to absorb multiple significant injuries without feeling the effects.
Last season, Kaapo Kakko, Brandon Montour, Jaden Schwartz, and Jared McCann all missed time. In the cases of McCann and Montour, both players ultimately played through injuries that impacted their effectiveness even when they were in the lineup. If you want an idea of what Montour was dealing with, Darren’s recent one-on-one with him is worth a watch.
One thing that has stood out during Training Camp so far is that both McCann and Montour appear healthy and are fully participating. That may not sound like much, but it is already a better starting point than a year ago.
The Kraken don’t need perfect health. No team gets that. They just need their best players available for most of the season.
The young guys need to take meaningful steps
Player development isn’t always linear, and the Kraken are banking on several young players taking the next step in their careers this season. Berkly Catton is at the top of that list. Given the options available to him last season (NHL or WHL, but not AHL), sticking with the Kraken was probably the right place for him rather than another year in Spokane. While I wouldn’t describe his season as a struggle, there were stretches where finishing chances proved difficult. Even so, he consistently showed flashes of the high-end skill that made him one of the organization’s most exciting prospects.
The encouraging part wasn’t necessarily the production. It was how often the talent was apparent. There were plenty of moments where Catton created offense, made plays in tight spaces, and demonstrated that his skill set can translate to the NHL. The Kraken don’t need Catton to become a superstar this season. They just need him to be more comfortable, more confident, and a little more productive than he did a year ago.
The same general principle applies across the roster. Whether it’s Catton, Shane Wright continuing his ascent, or younger players solidifying everyday roles, Seattle needs its internal improvement to supplement its offseason additions.
The new guys need to fit in immediately
A year ago, one of the biggest disappointments was Mason Marchment. The Kraken acquired him to add offense and a bit of nastiness, but the fit never really materialized. At various points of his brief stint in Seattle, he looked disconnected from the flow of the lineup, and the production wasn’t there. By mid-December, Seattle had moved on.
That situation serves as a reminder that acquiring talent and successfully integrating talent are two different things. This year’s newcomers need to be different. The biggest name in that group is Mackie Samoskevich. Samoskevich arrives from Florida with plenty of upside and the possibility of flourishing with a larger role than he may have received with the Panthers. The Kraken don’t need him to lead the team in scoring, but if he can hit the 20-goal mark, that would provide a significant boost for a team that finished 28th in goals scored last season.
I’m also including Bobby McMann in the “new guy” category, even though he appeared in the final 18 games of last season. McMann was an immediate fit. He scored 10 goals in those 18 games and seemed comfortable instantly. Of course, expecting that pace over a full season would be unrealistic. Maintaining a 47-goal pace is something reserved for the league’s elite scorers, but if McMann can give the Kraken 25 to 30 goals over the course of a season, that changes the complexion of the lineup.
Remember, the Kraken have had exactly one 30-goal scorer in franchise history: that was Jared McCann’s 40-goal campaign during the magical 2022-23 season. Finding another legitimate scoring threat would go a long way toward helping an offense that has frequently struggled to generate enough goals.
The penalty kill has to improve
There is no way around this one. The Kraken finished 31st in the NHL with a 72.2 percent penalty kill last season. It started poorly, stayed poor, and consistently hurt them throughout the year. If there was a whiteboard in the coaches’ offices this summer listing priorities for 2026-27, improving the penalty kill had to be at the top of the list.
What makes the situation particularly frustrating is that the margins were already so thin. The Kraken lost 24 games by one goal last season, excluding empty-net goals. That was the seventh-highest total in the NHL.
You don’t need a dramatic special teams turnaround to swing a handful of those results. Even a modest improvement could mean a few extra wins, which would mean several additional standings points. And a few additional standings points could be the difference between meaningful hockey in April and another early offseason.
The penalty kill doesn’t need to become elite. It simply can’t remain near the bottom of the league.
Take it personally
Professional athletes love finding motivation. Sometimes it comes from a playoff loss. Sometimes it comes from being overlooked. Sometimes it comes from a perceived slight.
The Kraken should have plenty of material to work with. We don’t need to rehash the entire Jason Robertson saga, but the Kraken, its fans, and the city itself absorbed more than a few shots this summer after Robertson turned down a deal that reportedly would have paid him $15 million per season. The specific reasons for Robertson’s decision were never disclosed. Maybe it was about competitive outlook, maybe it wasn’t, but either way, the narrative quickly became that Seattle wasn’t a desirable destination and wasn’t a team worth betting on. That’s the kind of thing a locker room should remember.
Beyond that, national media projections have been largely dismissive of the Kraken heading into this season. Despite remaining in the playoff race into early March last year, despite making changes to the roster, and despite playing in a division that arguably got weaker over the offseason, many preseason predictions have Seattle finishing near the bottom of the standings once again.
We shall see if those projections are correct or not. Not that outside opinions decide games, but players have a way of finding motivation wherever they can. And few things are as motivating as proving people wrong.
Final thoughts
None of these things are particularly outrageous. The Kraken don’t need career years from a bunch of players. They don’t need everything to break perfectly in their favor.
They need reasonable health. They need growth from their young players. They need their additions to fit. They need a competent penalty kill. And they need to embrace the idea that almost nobody believes in them.
If those five things happen, the Kraken should find themselves right back in the playoff conversation. And this time, they might just stay there.
We’ve reached the dog days of the hockey summer, when general managers and other members of NHL front offices pack up and head to their respective cottages. During this period between the quieting of free-agent signings and the start of training camps in September, very little—like, practically zero—business historically gets done between franchises. It’s a time when teams begin to look relatively “set” as they head into the next season.
Much like last summer around this time, I find myself still waiting for news of the big offseason acquisition from the Seattle Kraken, realizing that with every passing day, such a blockbuster becomes less and less likely. I recall asking my co-hosts on the Sound Of Hockey Podcast, John Barr and Curtis Isacke, during this period last summer if it was possible the Kraken would actually head into the 2025-26 season with effectively the same roster as the year before. Surely, they wouldn’t run it back, right?
John predicted that was exactly what they would do, and indeed, that’s ultimately what Seattle did. Once this quiet pocket on the hockey calendar arrived, it became clear that Mason Marchment would remain the biggest get of last summer… and we all know how that turned out.
Now, following big promises being made at end-of-season press conferences, it’s looking like the Kraken—after acquiring Mackie Samoskevich, re-signing Bobby McMann, letting Jaden Schwartz, Jamie Oleksiak, and Eeli Tolvanen walk, and taking a painfully public rejection from Jason Robertson—could be all but done altering their roster for next season.
Seattle crumbled in spectacular fashion after the Olympic break in 2025-26 and finished well outside the playoff bubble. After that collapse, it was clear that personnel improvements were needed to get the Kraken into the postseason conversation for 2026-27. Has that happened? Or have they actually gotten worse this offseason?
Improvement or decline?
Whether general manager Jason Botterill has actually improved his club this offseason is hard to say. He was smart not to blow a bunch of his abundant cap space on marginal free agents, but the trade market didn’t work out the way many of us expected and hoped.
On paper, the Kraken lost three veteran players in Oleksiak, Schwartz, and Tolvanen, assuming Tolvanen’s time in Seattle is done. At this point, the 27-year-old Finn remains an unsigned, unrestricted free agent, so he could theoretically return if the Kraken wanted him back. But we will assume here that the Goodship Tolvy has sailed.
To backfill those departures, Seattle added only Samoskevich and 6-foot-9 depth forward Curtis Douglas. What all that amounts to is essentially a wash in terms of offensive production.
Now, Samoskevich could be a great fit. He played down the lineup in his first two full NHL seasons with the Florida Panthers and averaged just 14:28 of ice time last season. At 23 years old, a reunion with his old University of Michigan buddy, Matty Beniers, coupled with an opportunity to play true top-six minutes, could result in a nice boost from his 31 points (15-16—31) in 2024-25 and 32 points (12-20—32) in 2025-26. There is real upside there.
Is the young Samoskevich better than a 34-year-old Jaden Schwartz? I would say yes, although Schwartz was one of the few players in deep sea blue who was consistently willing to go to the dirty areas. Still, call it a slight upgrade from an older veteran to a younger, speedier winger just reaching his prime.
The other piece to remember is that after McMann’s acquisition at the NHL Trade Deadline, Schwartz ended up playing way down the lineup, dropping as low as the fourth line on some nights. Not only did he seem ready to move on, but his fit in the lineup had also become muddied after his return from a scary facial injury—he was clipped in the face by a skate on March 7—that kept him out for a month late in the season.
Schwartz was a good soldier and an impactful player from Day 1 of the franchise, but it was time for the Kraken to let him walk.
As for a Tolvanen replacement, that will almost surely have to come from within. Assuming no other trades before the start of the season, Botterill is banking on young players like Ryan Winterton, Jacob Melanson, Berkly Catton, and others in the system to take additional steps. He has said publicly that he does not want to add a bunch of depth players to block the youngsters out of the lineup.
On the back end, Oleksiak certainly had his fair share of detractors within the Kraken fanbase, so many folks were fine to see him head across the border to sign with the Vancouver Canucks. I, too, got frustrated with Oleksiak’s long stretches of non-physically imposing play—he could truly be a dominant and scary defensive force if he wanted to—but I always thought he was a bit underappreciated by fans. He played hard minutes, blocked shots, and used his long reach to make it difficult for opponents to get to the front of Seattle’s net.
Oleksiak’s role and Lane Lambert’s trust in him certainly eroded as last season went on, though, so it was time for him to move on. What concerns me is that there isn’t an obvious “shutdown” defensive replacement waiting in the wings. It looks like one of Cale Fleury or Josh Mahura will get a more regular role in 2026-27, after each played 23 games for the Kraken last season.
The Bobby McMann X-factor
McMann’s impact on this team’s outlook is perplexing. He ended up being an incredible acquisition for Botterill, potting 10 goals in just 18 games as a Kraken and totaling 29 goals in 78 games between Toronto and Seattle. Botterill said his main priority this offseason was extending McMann, and he was able to bring the speedy winger back for six years at a reasonable $5.75 million annual cap hit.
But why did the Kraken spiral into a pit of misery after McMann arrived? It certainly wasn’t his fault, but something happened after the Olympic break that caused nearly every other player in the room to lose confidence.
Perhaps the summer will give those players an opportunity to reset and clear the negative vibes that were permeating through the dressing room in the closing weeks of the season. And perhaps having McMann around from the start will give him a chance to play some winning hockey in Seattle for a change, something he has yet to experience.
Outstanding business
There are still rumors floating around that the Kraken could be looking to add a player before the start of the season, and let’s not forget that the Shane Wright situation has not been resolved. He has requested a trade and remains on the Kraken roster at this point. Meanwhile, we’re heading into the final seasons of Jared McCann’s and Vince Dunn’s respective contracts. Trading either or both still makes sense, but it feels like we’re past that point in the offseason.
By the way, McCann still posted 20 goals despite ongoing injury woes that limited him to just 52 games in 2025-26. Assuming he is here for the full season (and he did have a procedure done immediately following the end of the season, so perhaps he gets back to full health), could we see a bounce-back campaign from him as he looks for one more big payday?
I say all this as a reminder that it is not set in stone that this is how the Kraken will begin the season. But if I had to guess, this is how the lineup will look on Opening Night.
How to feel about Seattle’s chances
I’ve mostly felt pessimistic about the way things have gone for the Kraken front office this offseason, most notably with Robertson’s rebuff and Wright’s trade request. But I also remember that this team was firmly in a playoff spot at the beginning of February before faceplanting down the stretch.
So, while that pessimism gnaws away at the front of my mind, I also can’t help feeling little tinges of optimism in the back of my mind that perhaps this young group will learn from what caused things to go sideways late in the year. Maybe Lambert can get them to believe in themselves again, and those painful lessons of 2025-26 will help the players see it through and reach the postseason.
That does feel like a long shot, though, doesn’t it?
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.
As the Coachella Valley Firebirds enter their fifth season, they will continue embracing a youth movement, with the roster expected to add five new Kraken prospects.
Bear in mind that the AHL is a developmental league and limits how many veterans teams can dress. I outlined the full details of the veteran rule in a previous article.
Here is a quick overview:
Development players: Skaters who are under 25 as of July 1 or have played 260 or fewer qualifying professional games.
Veteran players: Skaters who are at least 25 as of July 1 and have played more than 260 qualifying professional games.
Teams must dress at least 12 development players and no more than six veterans.
Goaltenders are excluded.
The rule applies to the gameday lineup, not the full roster.
In previous seasons, teams could dress up to five veterans and one veteran-exempt player, a designation that applied to skaters with 261 to 320 qualifying professional games. Beginning in 2026-27, that designation will be removed, allowing teams to use all six non-development spots on veterans.
How the Firebirds’ 2026-27 roster is shaping up
Overall, the veteran rule should not be a factor for the Firebirds this season, as only three players under contract, John Hayden, Mitchell Stephens and Gustav Olofsson, currently qualify as veterans. Coachella Valley rostered four veterans last season, but Max McCormick’s season-long injury limited the active group to three.
Forwards
Red text means the player is entering his first full year with the Firebirds.
The Firebirds look to add four young forwards this season, led by 19-year-old Jake O’Brien and followed by Julius Miettinen, Nathan Villeneuve, and Ryden Evers. While the CHL, AHL, and NHL have not officially announced that 19-year-olds can play in the AHL this season, Elliotte Friedman reported that the leagues were nearing an agreement.
Nathan Villeneuve (Photo/Brian Liesse)
Julius Miettinen (Photo/Brian Liesse)
Adding these forwards creates an intriguing question: Who leaves the lineup to make room? The Firebirds currently have 17 forwards under contract, and while the AHL does not limit roster size, finding enough playing time for everyone will be more difficult. With only 12 forward spots available each game, Coachella Valley must determine how to handle five extra forwards.
Healthy scratches – Players who do not make the lineup could watch from the press box, with one or two forwards likely falling into this category each night. While competition can push prospects to improve, development players also need opportunities to play and grow.
Kansas City Mavericks – Struggling or crowded-out players could join the ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks to receive more playing time, with two or three forwards potentially going there. There could also be a rotating group of players that fluctuate between the ECHL and AHL, so do not be surprised if some familiar names end up in Mavericks jerseys at some point this season.
Opportunities with Seattle – Several Firebirds forwards have seen limited NHL action or appear close to earning a call-up, including Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, Jani Nyman, Jagger Firkus, and Logan Morrison. Each could find himself in a Kraken sweater at some point, though Seattle’s forward group is already crowded, meaning those chances will likely come when injuries create openings.
The Curtis Douglas question
The Kraken also signed 6-foot-9 forward Curtis Douglas, whose destination remains unclear, though he could stay in Seattle as an extra forward. Douglas is not shy about dropping the gloves and could work his way into the lineup depending on the matchup. If he lands in Coachella Valley, he would qualify as a veteran under the new rule, having played 310 qualifying professional games, which previously placed him in the veteran-exempt category.
Defense
Alexis Bernier will join the Firebirds after spending much of last season recovering from ACL surgery. After his delayed start he helped the Chicoutimi Saguenéens win the QMJHL championship.
Alexis Bernier (Photo/Brian Liesse)
With eight defensemen under contract, meaning at least two will sit each game, unless one is sent to Kansas City. You can expect that all eight will start the year in Coachella and see how the lineup shakes out before any move to the ECHL is made. Right-shot defensemen are sought after in the NHL and in the bunch the Kraken have five prospects right-shot defensemen. This could lead to a defenseman having ot play on their off side.
Red text means the player is entering his first full year with the Firebirds.
For now, I have included Gustav Olofsson as under contract in the AHL, but he is an interesting case. Originally, the Firebirds signed Olofsson to a two-year AHL-only contract good through the 2026-27 season. In March 2026, the Seattle Kraken signed Olofsson to a two-way contract through the end of 2025-26 season. I will continue working to confirm Olofsson’s contract status, but I believe he remains under an AHL contract. Thanks to user phiFiFoFum for pointing this out. UPDATE: Gustav Olofsson signs a one-year AHL contract with the Coachella Valley Firebirds for the 2026-27 season.
While the defensive group continues to develop in Coachella Valley, it seems unlikely that any of these prospects will secure a full-time NHL role this season. Tyson Jugnauth and Ty Nelson led Firebirds defensemen with 45 and 35 points, respectively, with Jugnauth finishing third among all team skaters in scoring during his rookie AHL campaign. Ville Ottavainen offers a different dimension as a shutdown defenseman and, at 6-foot-5, brings the size NHL teams value.
Goaltending
Little has changed in goal, as Nikke Kokko and Victor Östman are expected to split the crease again for Coachella Valley. Östman started 36 regular-season games last season compared with Kokko’s 35 (Kokko missed time with an injury) and posted a .906 save percentage, slightly ahead of Kokko’s .901.
However, when the playoffs arrived, Kokko became the clear No. 1 option, starting 12 postseason games while Östman started only one, clearly showing which goaltender the Firebirds trusted most. Look for Kokko to take a larger share of the starts this season.
A change behind the bench
The Firebirds will also have a new assistant coach, as Stu Bickel left the organization to become head coach of the Iowa Wild.
Scott Ford was hired to fill the vacancy on head coach Derek Laxdal’s staff after Ford spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Wrapping up
As they did last season, the Firebirds will lean heavily on prospects and could once again have one of the youngest rosters in the AHL, if not the youngest.
This promising group reached the Division Finals during the 2025-26 Calder Cup Playoffs, and continued success would bode well for the Kraken. Another winning season would allow their prospects to develop while playing meaningful minutes in competitive games. Much of last season’s core remains in place, and the newcomers will increase competition for playing time while creating an environment that pushes everyone to improve.
As the Kraken strive to become more competitive at the NHL level, the Coachella Valley club should be an exciting, high-tempo team to watch this upcoming season.
Comment below with any questions or thoughts on the Coachella Valley roster.
Blaiz Grubic
Blaiz Grubic is a contributor at Sound Of Hockey. A passionate hockey fan and player for over 30 years, Blaiz grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an alumni of Washington State University (Go Cougs!). When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about hockey, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter or getting out on a golf course for a quick round. Follow @blaizg on BlueSky or X.
The NHL released its schedule last week for the upcoming 2026‑27 season, which means it’s time for my annual tradition: digging into travel distances, back‑to‑backs, and identifying any appetizing road trips on the schedule.
Even before the schedule dropped, we already knew two big wrinkles were coming. First, the Kraken will play two games in Helsinki, Finland against the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes as part of the NHL Global Series. Second, the league is officially expanding the regular season from 82 to 84 games. More hockey is never a bad thing, but more hockey also means more miles, more wear and tear, and more opportunities for chaos.
Let’s dive in.
Looking at the travel schedule
Historically, Pacific Division teams dominate the league in total miles traveled. That’s just life on the far edge of the map. But this season, something unusual is happening: Central Division teams will actually travel more on average than Pacific teams. As I do every year, I exclude the Global Series travel to have fair comparables to all teams in the league.
Central teams will average 47,037 miles traveled per team while Pacific teams will average 46,004 miles per team.
Even when removing the Helsinki trip entirely, the Kraken still land near the top of the league in total miles traveled. Only the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights will log more sky time.
The league’s shift from 82 to 84 games adds roughly 2,000 miles of travel per team on average. For Seattle, the increase is even steeper: 4,484 additional miles compared to last season.
Minnesota gets the biggest bump of all, 10,195 more miles this season than they traveled in 2025‑26.
Back-to-back scenarios
Analyzing back‑to‑backs meant a lot more last offseason, when the Kraken were coming off that unforgettable (in the worst way…as in worst in the league) 0‑12-0 record on the second night of back‑to‑backs. It was one of those stats that became more demoralizing as the Kraken attempted to break the streak, the later the season went on.
Thankfully, the 2025‑26 season brought a bit of redemption. Seattle went 5‑6‑2 in those second‑night games, still not great, but the 12 standings points they earned were a massive improvement over the zero they banked the year before. Progress is progress.
This season, the Kraken once again have 13 back‑to‑back sets, the same number they had last season. But adding some context: last season, 13 was in the bottom third of the league because the Olympic break compressed everyone’s schedules. This season, with a more normal calendar (plus the added two games), 13 back‑to‑backs actually lands Seattle in the top third of the league.
A quick glance at the home schedule
As a season ticket holder, I always like to get a feel for the home rhythm of the season. And once again, the Kraken’s home schedule leans heavily on weekend hockey.
10 Saturday home games
9 Tuesday games
7 Thursday games
If you’re someone who plans your fall and winter around Climate Pledge Arena, this year’s cadence should feel familiar. I will spend a lot more time going through the home schedule in the fall.
Early road‑trip candidates
I try to hit two or three road games every season, and I’m still working toward my long‑term goal of seeing the Kraken play in every NHL rink. If you’re thinking about traveling this year, here are a few trips that caught my eye.
Calgary (October 1 or October 30)
This is the final season the Flames will play in the Saddledome, and if you’ve never been, it’s worth the pilgrimage. The building is a relic—quirky, outdated, and full of charm you just don’t find in modern arenas. I’ve seen the Kraken play there before, but I’m tempted to go one more time before the doors close for good.
The season opener on Oct. 1 is the most convenient option. You could even tack on Edmonton on Oct. 3 before hustling home for the Kraken’s home opener on the 4th.
Detroit → Washington → Philadelphia (October 9–13)
I’ve seen NHL games in both DC and Philly, but never the Kraken in either building. With no snow to worry about, this early‑season swing is appealing.
Oct. 9 – Detroit
Oct. 11 – Washington
Oct. 13 – Philadelphia
I was hoping for a Detroit matchup that lined up better with the college hockey schedule—Yost or Munn in a big rivalry game is still on my bucket list—so I’ll be skipping the Wings this year. But DC and Philly remain strong candidates.
Helsinki, Finland (November)
The only November road trip worth mentioning is the Global Series, and my flights are already booked. If you’ve ever wanted to combine Kraken hockey with international travel, this is the year.
This mid‑December stretch is a choose‑your‑own‑adventure depending on your PTO situation.
Dec. 15 – Nashville
Dec. 17 – Columbus
Dec. 18 – Pittsburgh
Dec. 20 – Denver
I’m skipping this one—Pittsburgh is the only arena I haven’t hit, and I’m saving my budget for other trips—but if you’re considering it, Nashville is one of my favorite NHL cities, and Columbus is underrated both as a destination and as a hockey environment.
Vegas (January)
There’s a Saturday Kraken–Golden Knights matchup in January. If you enjoy Vegas, this is an easy recommendation. Even as someone who doesn’t gamble much, I still enjoy catching a game there.
New York City Triple (January 23–26)
Three games in four days against all three NYC‑area teams. It’s tempting, but New York in January is… New York in January. I may look elsewhere.
Toronto → Montreal → Ottawa (Early March)
This is the trip that really jumped out to me. I saw the Kraken in Toronto last season and had an incredible time. This early‑March stretch offers:
Mar. 3 – Toronto
Mar. 4 – Montreal
Mar. 6 – Ottawa
All in a relatively warmer month, all in great hockey cities. Aspirational fans could tack on Boston, which remains one of my favorite NHL road cities: walkable, historic, and usually with a college game worth catching.
Final thoughts
Those are my early impressions of the 2026‑27 Kraken schedule. Between the Global Series, the expanded season, and some genuinely fun road‑trip opportunities, there’s a lot going on in this upcoming season’s schedule.
What about you? Any road trips you’re eyeing this season?
Welcome back to Friday Film Room, our summer Seattle Kraken prospects series here at Sound Of Hockey. In these posts, we’ll pass along gameplay video, data, and analysis of two prospects in the Kraken organization—one 2026 NHL Draft pick and one other under-24-year-old player in the organization. The plan is to have a new post weekly until Seattle Kraken players are back on the ice this fall.
If you have prospect questions, I hope to do one more mailbag column this summer as well, so send those along. And, while I do have a tentative schedule sketched out through training camp, if you have a Film Room request, please do let us know below or on social media at @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey.
Chase Reid | Right-shot defenseman | 18 years old | 6-foot-2.5 | 194 lbs
Summary: Chase Reid is a smooth, well-rounded defense prospect who “looks the part” and can reasonably be projected as an NHL No. 1 defender at his ceiling. His game is built around high-end skating, hockey sense, transition defense, and offensive skill.
Reid creates advantages on nearly every touch. He is calm with the puck on his stick, surprising and deceptive with his passes, exits, and other puck movements, and intelligent when pressing the play through the neutral zone or activating in the offensive zone. He can manipulate forecheckers in his own zone, make pro-level breakout passes, and attack space with pace. His shot is a weapon, and he has the ice vision to manage a power play at the NHL level. His defensive stick and transition gap control are standout defensive elements.
While his defensive-zone reads, offensive creativity, and compete can still become more consistent, and his physicality could hit another level yet, his loud tools and overall professional blend gave him one of the highest ceilings in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Reid is right-shot defenseman wearing the white No. 25 jersey.
Strengths:
High-end processing speed and hockey sense in all situations allow him to play with his head up and anticipate movements all over the ice.
Almost always composed under pressure and rarely appears rushed.
Exceptional four-way skating with outstanding mobility, edgework, agility, and recovery speed.
Outstanding retrieval habits, remaining poised while absorbing pressure and scanning options over his shoulder. Excellent ability to manipulate forecheckers through delays, shoulder fakes, look-offs, weight shifts, and deception.
Exceptional overall puck management with very few forced plays or turnovers at the OHL level.
Consistently creates offensive advantages by drawing defenders before moving the puck.
Complex passing skills, with outlets, stretch passes, slip passes, no-look set-ups, and cross-seam passes all on tape.
High-end transition defenseman who consistently drives controlled exits and entries and will continue to the net front on combination plays if unchecked.
Dynamic and usually responsible offensive activations make use of his skating and stick skills.
Heavy, accurate point shot that he gets through traffic consistently and uses to score, create shot-passes, and generate rebounds.
Outstanding rush defender with gap control, excellent stick positioning, long reach, and lateral mobility.
Strong defensive processing, particularly in transition, routinely stepping up early, taking away the middle, and killing entries before they develop.
Consistently wins puck battles and shows the ability to separate opponents from the puck along the boards at the junior level.
Does not shy away from physical engagement, finishing checks, and pinning opponents.
Supports plays off the puck intelligently to make himself an outlet option.
Played in all situations, including the power play, penalty kill, and reduced-player situations in the OHL.
Steep development trajectory over the last two years.
Weaknesses:
Isolated backward skating could still use development and did not stand out versus his peers at Rookie Camp.
Developing physical strength is a priority and could improve his defensive presence and elevate his skating game even more.
Scoring production in the OHL wasn’t exceptional considering his skill level and in comparison with recent high-end blueliners like Zayne Parekh, particularly considering Reid’s heavy power-play usage.
Defensive-zone coverage against sustained offensive-zone cycles was spotty at times.
Can lose defensive coverages when defending the weak side or net front.
His defensive compete also waned at times, particularly late in shifts; sometimes he needed a more decisive play-killing effort earlier in a shift and allowed himself to get hemmed in the defensive zone on tired legs.
Overly aggressive activations and step-ups sometimes left space for the counterattack behind him.
Backchecks and off-puck pace could be stronger at times.
Will force the play offensively at times rather than sticking to the schemed plan of attack.
There were times when he would defeat a junior defender with his skating and puck deception and create a decisive advantage but would not maximize the opportunity; there could be another gear to his offensive creation that he has not reached.
System rank: Reid is the No. 1 Prospect in the Seattle Kraken organization and the team’s best chance at a homegrown star.
Notes: Reid will move on from the OHL to play for the Michigan State University Spartans this season. In addition to a projected top-of-the-lineup role against a higher level of competition, Reid will also have access to premier off-ice strength and training support at Michigan State. Due to his NCAA commitment, do not expect Reid to sign an NHL contract in the short term. We’d wager that Reid plays two seasons at Michigan State and joins the Kraken in spring 2028 after his sophomore season ends.
Eduard Šalé | Left-shot winger | 21 years old | 6-foot-1 | 174 lbs
Summary: Sale is a skilled offensive winger with NHL-caliber shooting, passing, stickhandling, and puck-control abilities. He excels as a creative playmaker, particularly through deceptive east-west passes, quick touch plays, and offensive-zone distribution.
His size and offensive toolkit suggest middle-six upside. When he’s playing his best, Sale looks like an NHL player. But his overall impact in North America has been limited by inconsistent pace, engagement, and off-puck influence. He relies heavily on skill plays but struggles to maintain possession through pressure, which limits his versatility and ability to manipulate defenders. His defensive impact and puck-retrieval ability are limited. Though his calm, cool demeanor can be deceiving, he must develop a stronger motor and a more reliable two-way presence to become an NHL contributor.
Sale is the left-shot forward wearing No. 12 in white.
Strengths:
Standout passing skill with the ability to make creative plays through layers of defenders, particularly when given space.
Strong finesse and deceptive stickhandling and puck-control ability.
NHL-caliber shooting ability, particularly from scoring areas and power-play setups.
Good offensive instincts in sustained-zone possessions, especially as a connector and set-up player.
Consistently able to execute one-touch passes and other quick distributions to teammates in motion.
There were flashes of improved competitiveness in 2025-26, including driving the net and playing through contact.
Pro-level frame and physical tools that provide long-term upside.
Has shown the ability to elevate his game internationally, suggesting he could have the necessary “it” quality.
Weaknesses:
Low motor and inconsistent pace limit Sale’s overall impact and ability to influence games; he needs to improve his compete level, urgency, and shift-to-shift consistency.
Relies on finesse skill plays without a backup avenue for positive contributions through effort, checking, or defensive impact.
Play strength and puck protection skill are adequate at best.
Needs greater physical engagement; rarely uses his size effectively in contested situations.
Struggles along the boards turning battles into possession.
Inconsistent off-puck habits and awareness; sometimes looks lost in coverage.
Too predictable in his offensive attacks due to a lack of difference-making speed, compete, or strength.
Point production, while reasonable for a young player in the AHL, has not pointed toward an NHL future.
Has not earned more than a low-minutes, bottom-six role for much of his time in the AHL.
System rank: Top-20.
Notes: Many of the positives in Sale’s scouting profile are vestiges of his prior junior and international successes. In the AHL, Sale has just not been engaged or impactful enough off the puck on a night-to-night basis. And he has not been dominant enough with the puck to justify those other weaknesses. Sale is moving into the long-shot category at this point. He is still young enough to make a development leap. Absent that, though, he projects to get a few NHL looks based on pedigree and then ultimately return to Europe for a productive career. This is shaping up to be a make-or-break season for Sale in North America.
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.
