Welcome to “Down on the Farm,” your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. We have a packed column this week with updates on World Junior Championship rosters, a look at the performance of goalie Nikke Kokko with the Firebirds, all of the Seattle Kraken prospect news, video, and data you could want, and our weekly game preview.
If you have a Seattle Kraken prospect–related question you’d like to see featured in a future column, drop us a note below or on X or BlueSky @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey. Let’s dive in.
Loke Krantz named to the preliminary Team Sweden roster; Team Canada roster decisions loom
Last week, we offered our predictions for which Seattle Kraken prospects could make their home countries’ WJC rosters. Since then, many nations have announced preliminary lineups, and three Seattle Kraken prospects were included—including one player who comes as a bit of a surprise.
As expected, Team Czechia announced that defenseman Jakub Fibigr has made its preliminary roster. Czechia’s roster currently sits at 26 players, one above the maximum, but it is highly unlikely Fibigr will be the final cut given his lengthy track record with the national team.
Likewise, as anticipated, Team USA announced that defenseman Blake Fiddler was on its initial roster as well. We had come around to this being a more likely outcome as the season progressed. That said, Team USA will still need to make two additional cuts from the defense group to get down to the 25-player roster. Fiddler is not a roster lock just yet.
Finally, in a surprise to me, forward Loke Krantz was named to Team Sweden’s preliminary roster. The 2025 seventh-round pick had not made Team Sweden’s U18 roster for any events in the previous two years, nor had he been involved with Team Sweden at any U20 precursor events.
Sweden is a gold-medal contender with a highly talented roster. Krantz’s inclusion caps a remarkable rise for the 18-year-old, who has also earned 12 games in the SHL this fall. Sweden’s roster stands at 26 players right now, so Krantz is not a certainty to stick, but there is now ample reason for optimism that he will see real ice time at the World Juniors—whether this year or next (when he is 19 years old).
Team Finland has not yet announced its roster, though forward Julius Miettinen and Kim Saarinen are virtual locks to be included.
Team Canada is the big one Kraken fans are likely monitoring. Reportedly, it will disclose its preliminary roster on Monday, Dec. 8. It is unlikely we will have definitive news regarding Berkly Catton’s status at that stage, however. If he is loaned by the Kraken to the WJC, that news would likely come later (and he would displace another player on Monday’s roster).
The Seattle Timesreported earlier this week that the sentiment within the Kraken organization is that Catton “likely won’t” be loaned to Team Canada. For his part, Catton indicated that he would welcome the chance to play in the World Juniors, but “[w]hatever they tell me to do, I’ll be happy to do,” Catton told The Seattle Times‘ Kate Shefte.
Nikke Kokko is keeping the Firebirds in the game
Nikke Kokko’s surface-level season statistics are not overly impressive. He has an .898 save percentage and a 3.21 goals-against average across 13 contests. These numbers represent a significant step back from his .913 save percentage and 2.26 goals-against average in his rookie AHL season last year.
Even so, from my vantage, I think Kokko is playing some of his best North American hockey to date. This season, the Firebirds’ defense is exceedingly young, lacking professional experience, and built around an offense-first profile overall.
Among all goalies with at least 10 AHL games played, Nikke Kokko has faced the second-most shots on goal per sixty minutes (31.5)—and is only a fraction behind the leader, Calgary’s Ivan Prosvetov (31.7). I suspect you could make a similar case with respect to shot-quality metrics too, though those aren’t publicly available for the AHL. My viewings lead me to believe the Firebirds goaltenders are also seeing more than their fair share of high-danger looks.
All told, Kokko is in a tough spot. Even so, he has been delivering clutch saves when the Firebirds have needed them most, en route to a personal 7-3-1 record in the early going. It’s probably not an exaggeration to say that Kokko has been the Firebirds’ most valuable player so far by stealing a few games early and allowing the Firebirds’ defense to mature.
This dynamic was most pronounced this past week when he started and won two games. He posted a shutout last Friday against the San Diego Gulls and saved 59 of 61 shots overall. This effort makes him your Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week.
As you can see in the video above, Kokko is a great athlete, moving side to side in the crease with ease while soundly leveraging his 6-foot-4 frame to fend off pucks from the butterfly position. Though other goalies in the system continue to excel as well, he remains the system’s top goalie for me.
Notes on three more Kraken prospects
Zeb Forsfjäll | F | Skellefteå AIK (SHL)
I’ve always liked Zeb Forsfjäll. His hard-working, strong-skating, defense-oriented approach in an undersized frame is easy to admire. The staff with Skellefteå certainly agreed, elevating Forsfjäll to the SHL club in a full-time role in 2022 when he was just 17 years old. Unfortunately, the SHL is not much of a developmental league, and Forsfjäll’s offense has never really had a chance to evolve. He has capped out as a gritty fourth-liner for the last few years and, as a result, his NHL prospects look fairly dim. This season, Forsfjäll was held off the scoresheet entirely for his first 21 games. He had zero goals and zero assists in that span. That struggle must have made it all the sweeter when he potted not one but two goals in game No. 22 on Saturday, Nov. 29.
Zeb Forsfjäll skjuter sin första fullträff för säsongen och dubblerar Skellefteås ledning 🚨 pic.twitter.com/7D8975PJ9a
Will Reynolds was a tools-and-projection pick early in the third round of the 2025 draft. The blueliner was young for his draft, stood 6-foot-3, could skate, and showed flashes of improved offensive play-driving late in his draft year. The offensive production is up slightly this year—his 10 points through 24 games are second among defensemen on his QMJHL team—but there is not much flash. It is the pro-projectable frame, athleticism, and defensive traits that continue to drive his appeal.
There’s still a bit more inconsistency and chaos in his own zone than I’d like to see, but this is pretty standard junior hockey fare. Ideally, I’d like to see him get a chance in a more structured environment sooner rather than later. I could imagine a third-pair, penalty-kill, puck-transporting profile if everything comes together, but there is still a long road ahead.
Carson Rehkopf | F | Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)
Carson Rehkopf has seen limited playing time of late, often skating with Coachella Valley’s “fourth line.” While the AHL does not make time-on-ice information available, I had Rehkopf for approximately eight minutes of playing time in a recent game for which I was making an “All Shifts” video. Then, in the Firebirds’ most recent game on Dec. 3, he was a healthy scratch.
From my vantage, he is searching for a difference-making edge. Usually, it’s his shot, but he hasn’t often found space to deploy it, except in limited power-play time. As an offense-first player, he has only 3 goals and 22 total shots on goal through 17 games. To get back into the lineup, Rehkopf will need to dig a bit deeper and show more compete. This is not an atypical challenge for a junior player transitioning to the pro ranks, but it is up to Rehkopf to rebound.
Kraken prospects data update
Tyson Jugnauth had four assists and was a plus-four in three AHL games over the last week. While his usage dipped over the past month at even strength, he remains featured on the power play and in overtime scenarios. As of Thursday, Dec. 4, he was second among rookie AHL blueliners in total points (13), behind only 2024 No. 7 overall pick Carter Yakemchuk.
Barrett Hall has stepped forward as a key piece for the St. Cloud State Huskies this season. He is one of only three Huskies skaters with more than eight points, and his 16 points in 14 games match his total from 33 games as a freshman and leave him just six shy of his output across 34 games last year.
While his team ultimately fell 2-1 in a shootout, Kim Saarinen did his job in his lone Liiga start of the week, stopping 21 of 22 shots through regulation and overtime.
Kokko actually appeared in all three games for the Firebirds over the last week because he subbed in for Victor Ostman for less than a minute during the Firebirds’ Nov. 29 game against Texas.
Highlight of the Week
Oscar Fisker Mølgaard was the only shooter of 14 to beat a goaltender in a thrilling Firebirds shootout win on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
The Deep Sea Hockey Games of the Week are matchups between Hall’s St. Cloud State Huskies and Ollie Josephson’s North Dakota Fighting Hawks on Friday, Dec. 5, at 5:00 pm PT, and Saturday, Dec. 6, at 4:00 pm PT. The games are available to stream with a subscription to NCHC.tv.
Tracking 2026 NHL Draft prospects: Viggo Björck
Viggo Björck is the son of longtime Swedish league professional player Jesper Björck and the younger brother of 2025 Vancouver Canucks fifth-round pick Wilson Björck. The Björck brothers overlapped briefly last season for Djurgårdens IF—a fortuitous year in which the team earned elevation from Allsvenskan to the SHL. Wilson has since moved to play hockey in North America after the draft, but Viggo remained with Djurgårdens in its new league home.
The 5-foot-10, right-shot forward has met the challenge well, despite being a smaller 17-year-old in one of the finest professional leagues in the world outside the NHL. He has three goals and four assists in 23 SHL games so far. Most draft prognosticators project that he’ll come off the board in the top 10 to 15 picks come June. Björck was named to Team Sweden’s WJC roster on Friday, Dec. 5.
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.
Here’s the good news: the Seattle Kraken scored four goals. Here’s the bad news: [gestures wildly] everything else about this godawful game.
There was a fleeting moment late in the first period when the Kraken looked like they had woken up and were going to overcome a 3-0 deficit. Eeli Tolvanen scored as a power play expired (officially, it goes as an even-strength goal, so the PP remains scoreless since… gosh, I don’t even know), and Freddy Gaudreau stripped Leon Draisaitl and scored his first as a Kraken.
FREDDY BE GOOD! 🚨
Joey robs Matt Savoie at one end after a hocus focus play creates a breakaway.
Freddy Gaudreau strips Draisaitl and scores his first as a #SeaKraken at the other end.
Seattle JUST MISSED tying it in the closing seconds of the 1st.
But from there, it was alllllllll Edmonton. The Oilers began pouring it on and didn’t stop until they had nine goals on the board, their fans were doing the wave, and it felt like the merciful final horn would never come. Connor McDavid had a hat trick, Draisaitl had four points, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Evan Bouchard each had three points, and Matt Savoie had two goals. Yuck.
Here’s how coach Lane Lambert summed it up: “Their power play scores four, we gave up a shorthanded goal when the score was 3-2, and we had an opportunity to get back into the game because we’re not aware of somebody behind us, and it ends up in a breakaway. [We made] mistakes, and I didn’t think our goaltending was great tonight. So, if you add it all up, it equals nine.”
Also, when Piper Shaw asked a seething Lambert what he says to the team after a game like this, Lambert somewhat aggressively replied, “Nothing.”
Here are Three Takeaways from an embarrassing 9-4 Kraken loss to the Oilers.
Takeaway #1: Bad night to be a Kraken goalie
Let me preface this by saying the Kraken defense—facing an extremely dangerous Edmonton offense—was the worst it’s been all season. Rushes, backdoor passes, breakaways, you name it… Seattle allowed all of it.
With that disclaimer said, I’ve always been a proponent of switching goalies early in a game when you recognize the starter is not at his sharpest. It’s not about saying it’s the goalie’s fault; it’s about giving your team a chance to reset, get a fresh-minded goalie in there before your No. 1 guy gets too rattled, and perhaps spark something for your group, especially if the backup can come in and stop the bleeding. You can see when your guy doesn’t have it from the jump. It happens, and I’ve always believed the best thing for the goalie’s psyche in that scenario is to get him out of there while the game is still within reach.
Joey Daccord and the Kraken actually got a lucky break early in this game, when Andrew Mangiapane (and the entire arena) thought he had scored, but replay showed he had hit both posts and the puck had somehow stayed out. Soon after that, McDavid got his first of three goals with a snipe at 7:17, and Vasily Podkolzin squeezed one through the wickets just 17 seconds later.
Uh oh. 2-0 Oilers. Podkolzin leaks one through Daccord, who has not been sharp so far. pic.twitter.com/x7hTmVYwoI
That’s when I would have made the change. Yes, it’s only 2-0, but Daccord had been beaten three times in a row at that point.
Instead, Daccord stayed in until the Oilers had hung five goals on him, capped off by McDavid’s second of the game, a stinker at 6:14 of the second. Daccord allowed five goals on 14 shots for a .643 save percentage.
Of course, Philipp Grubauer didn’t fare much better, relenting four goals on 18 shots for a .778 save percentage, but by the time he came in, it felt like Seattle had no chance of getting back in.
This was a bad night for everybody. Let’s hope both goalies can recover quickly from this one, because this is the kind of game that can stick with netminders for a while.
Takeaway #2: The penalty kill… My God, the penalty kill
What is up with this PK? I know the Edmonton Oilers have an incredible power play, but every time the Kraken took a penalty in this game, they could have just said, “Ok, take the goal, and let’s move on.”
In fact, on the first power-play goal against in the game, it took SEVEN SECONDS for the Oilers to win the face-off, work it from high to low and across to Leon Draisaitl, and he banged it home for his 16th goal of the season.
They made it look… VERY… easy.
Lots of talk about #SeaKraken special teams the last couple days…
“We can’t give up four power-play goals,” Lambert said. “I don’t care if it’s McDavid, whatever, but it’s not good enough.”
What’s distressing is that special teams was a huge point of focus during Seattle’s three days of practice this week. You wouldn’t have known it watching this game. I do think it’s time for a change of formation. We’ve seen them try more complicated PK systems in the past, get lit up in this area, and then shift to a simpler box. It’s past time to try something different.
Takeaway #3: Is the early-season magic fading
The Kraken got off to a nice start to their season, planting themselves firmly into a playoff spot and making us believe that their staunch defensive approach could carry them all the way to the postseason. That magic seems to have faded, as the Oilers have exposed their flaws in these two consecutive matchups in which Edmonton won 14-3 on aggregate. The Kraken have gone 0-3-1 in their last four, getting shut out twice in that stretch, and dropping out of the playoff bubble.
Of course, there are highs and lows in the course of any season, and this is certainly a low point of the campaign to date. But it also feels like an inflection point. The Kraken can find a way to stop the bleeding here, rack up a couple wins against good teams at home, and get things going back in the right direction.
Or they can keep playing like this, pile up a bunch of losses, and plummet down the airtight standings.
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.
Seattle sports fans always show up – whether it’s at Lumen Field, T-Mobile Park, or Climate Pledge Arena – fans here know how to support their beloved teams. This support stretches all over the Pacific Northwest, but in the last five years, professional hockey has been working to find its way into the fabric of the passionate sports market, first with the Kraken five years ago, and now with the Seattle Torrent.
As one of the relatively new professional teams to the area, the Kraken were met with a crowded sports landscape, but this didn’t stop fans from embracing them wholeheartedly in the early years. But it has not just been the fans that have helped the Kraken transition so well into the sports scene here in Seattle. The Kraken have accepted Seattle’s multi-team identity with open arms, and the other teams in the area have been welcoming to them as well.
While the Kraken were beginning to launch their 2025-26 season campaign, the Seattle Mariners were competing for a ticket to the World Series, and the University of Washington’s beloved Huskies were gearing up for another season of college football. With the Seattle sports world heading into one of its busiest times, the Kraken were still able to carve out moments to show their support for their fellow Seattle teams. In doing so, they were able to deepen their own roots into the city’s sports culture and build up their own identity as a team.
These shows of support are important for building the identity of their young franchise. By involving themselves more in the Seattle sports world they show the fans that they want to be a part of the legacy that is Seattle. This not only earns them the fans’ loyalty and support but sends a message of unity between the team and the place they get to call home.
One visible gesture of Seattle camaraderie came on Sept. 14 when the Kraken attended a Mariners home game. At this game, where they also debuted their third jerseys in public for the first time, captain Jordan Eberle threw out the first pitch. Following this outing, the Kraken were then spotted attending a UW Football game where the Huskies gifted the Kraken a purple and gold hockey jersey. Both of these moments signaled something greater than just team bonding: that the Kraken aren’t the only ones proud to be a part of this city’s sports community, but that everyone from fans to other sports teams, are glad they are here.
Even while on the road the Kraken managed to show off their Seattle pride earlier this season. As the Mariners squared off against the Blue Jays, the Kraken were lined up to battle against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The boys from the deep showed up in Mariners jerseys as they walked down the tunnel for game day, and the gesture was clear: it’s Seattle over everyone, even for many of the Canadians on the team (though Shane Wright opted out of rooting against his beloved Blue Jays). The Kraken went on to beat the Maple Leafs 4-3 in OT, thanks to Josh Mahura’s heroics, that game which only reinforced that spirit.
The support that the Kraken have been giving out has been returned to them. Whether its players from other local teams attending games to show support like Mariners stars Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor or neighbors taking to social media to cheer on the Kraken, it is clear that the team has achieved in building an atmosphere where community remains a big motivator. They have positioned themselves as not just newcomers but as connectors and unifiers of the city’s fanbase. This is important for a young franchise in a city that has never had a professional hockey team, and they are continuing to define their legacy every step of the way.
Now that the Torrent have arrived, the neighborly support has been even closer to the Kraken, who are sharing their arena and practice facility with the new PWHL team. Prior to the home opener for the Torrent, Kraken players wore their jerseys into Climate Pledge Arena, and several of the players also attended what ended up being a 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Frost on Friday.
Seattle has shown strong support for women’s sports, and one can assume that this latest addition will be continue to be welcomed in the same way. But small, symbolic gestures like this from the Kraken go a long way in helping to welcome the newest team into the market.
There are challenges that lie ahead for every team, but one thing feels certain: the Kraken and their intentional approach to the community here in Seattle has created waves of support across the sports market.
Welcome to the December edition of Strive for 95. The Seattle Kraken did what was needed in November and remain on pace for 95 points. The Kraken sit in the second wild card spot and have played only 24 games, tied for the fewest in the NHL with two other teams.
Seattle is on a short break and will not play again until Thursday. At that point, they will have played the fewest games of any NHL team. Having games in hand is a good thing, especially when you are already in a playoff position. All stats and standings are based on the month of November and current as of Nov. 30 unless otherwise stated.
I feel like I say it every month, but this was another roller coaster of a stretch.
November recap
The month started well with three points in the first two games. Then San Jose handed Seattle its worst loss of the season, a 6-1 defeat. Joey Daccord was pulled in that game and was placed on injured reserve days later, though the injury was believed to have happened during practice. With Philipp Grubauer and Matt Murray set to split the net, Kraken fans held their breath expecting a slide. That never came. Grubauer and Murray combined for six starts and earned nine points. Watching the Kraken stay competitive regardless of who is in net was a huge confidence boost. Grubauer finished the month with a .917 save percentage, while Murray posted a .939.
Murray was injured in the second matchup against San Jose, though, just as Daccord returned from IR. Spirits were still high, and Seattle earned five points on a four-game road swing. That is where the Kraken’s lack of scoring caught up with them as they dropped the final two games of the month in regulation to Dallas and Edmonton.
Over the last six games, Seattle scored only nine goals and was shut out twice. One shutout came against the New York Islanders on the second leg of a back-to-back. Miraculously, Daccord also recorded a shutout, sending the game to a shootout. Seattle fell 1-0, but it snapped a streak of 15 straight regulation losses in the second leg of back-to-back games. Their previous point in a second game of a back-to-back came on Mar. 21, 2024, in an overtime loss to Arizona.
Seattle posted a 6-5-3 record for 15 points in 14 games, two points under their November target. They were two points over target in October, so the overall pace remains on track for 95.
Updated tiers
As of Nov. 30, every NHL team is within striking distance of a playoff spot. Nashville sits last in the league but is only seven points out. The East is even tighter, with all teams within five points of a spot. Both the Playoff Bound and Tanker tiers were reduced to five and four teams, reflecting how tightly packed the standings have become.
Bolded teams are teams the Kraken play this month. ‘x2’ indicates the Kraken face that team twice. Up and down arrows show teams that moved between tiers.
Notes on tier movement
Atlantic Division: Tampa Bay jumped to the Playoff Bound tier after an 11-3 month and is currently on a seven-game win streak. Boston moved up after a 9-5 month that lifted them to second in the division, though they have played 27 games, and others hold games in hand. Florida and Toronto dropped from the Playoff Bound tier, with both teams four points out of a playoff spot and hovering around .500.
Metropolitan Division: Washington was the only change. The Capitals went 9-4-2 and won seven of their last eight. The push only moved them to third in the division, which is solid but not enough to justify a Playoff Bound spot with three teams right behind them and Philadelphia and Pittsburgh each holding two games in hand. Another strong month could move them back up, but for now the standings are too tight.
Central Division: Shame, shame, shame. I got it wrong last month, so this division needed a reset. Dallas, second overall in the NHL, moved back to the Playoff Bound tier. Utah fell back to earth with a 4-8-3 month and now sits one spot out of a playoff position. Minnesota rebelled against their Tankers label by going 11-1-2 and rose to the very top of the Bubble tier. Winnipeg fell to the Bubble tier with eight losses in November and arthroscopic knee surgery for Connor Hellebuyck that will sideline him four to six weeks. St. Louis moved up to the Bubble tier after earning points in 11 of 15 games. They are 0-7 in overtime and shootout games, which should even out at some point. Their negative 23 goal differential is second worst in the league, but 10 of their last 11 games in November have been one-goal contests.
Pacific Division: Anaheim leads the division with 31 points. Los Angeles has the same point total but trails in regulation wins. That is the lowest point total to lead any division, so both remain in the Bubble tier. Vegas went 5-4-5 and dropped to third, removing them from the Playoff Bound tier. With no clear front-runner, the Playoff Bound tier remains empty. San Jose continued to surprise with a 9-5-1 month and moved up to the Bubble tier.
Overtime games
A key reason for the tight standings is the surge in overtime games. Through Nov. 30, 27.9 percent of games have required overtime.
Over the last eight full seasons, the average was 22.1 percent. This season’s rate is a 5.8 percent increase. Sound Of Hockey’s John Barr found this is the highest percentage since overtime was reintroduced 42 years ago.
Through 360 games, this is the fewest # of games that have ended in regulation since the NHL (re)introduced overtime games in 1983-84. pic.twitter.com/0IjP3fLGMB
December offers Seattle its most favorable travel schedule. The Kraken will travel 5,302 miles, all within the Western Conference. Their longest trip is a four-game swing, with three of those games in California, which minimizes travel. With 13 games scheduled, the average travel per game is 408 miles, the lowest of any month. April has the fewest travel miles, but that is mainly because the Kraken play only nine games that month.
The Kraken have two sets of back-to-back games to close the month as they try to snap their 17-game losing streak in the second leg. Both back ends come against Pacific Division opponents, giving Seattle a chance to gain ground while preventing others from doing the same. In total, the Kraken play 10 Western Conference teams in December, making this a pivotal month.
Playoff Bound tier
Colorado visits Seattle for the first of three meetings. The Avalanche have been dominant with just one regulation loss all season. The target for this game is one point.
Bubble tier
With the standings extremely tight, 23 teams fall into this tier and only eight points separate them. Minnesota leads this group with 33 points. St. Louis, Florida, and Toronto sit at 25. Seattle has nine games against Bubble teams. They face eight Bubble tier opponents this month: Detroit, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Utah, Anaheim, Edmonton, San Jose, and two against Los Angeles. The target for these games is 11 points.
Tanker tier
Seattle has three games against Tanker tier teams: Buffalo and Vancouver at home, and Calgary on the road. The target is four points.
Target win percentages
With the increase in Bubble-tier teams, the target point percentages were adjusted to keep Seattle on pace for 95 points. The overall target for the month of December is 16 points.
Wrapping up
Seattle’s next game is Thursday, Dec. 4, in a rematch with Edmonton. With five teams within two points of the Kraken, they could find themselves outside the playoff picture by puck drop. They will still hold two to four games in hand over every Western Conference team, giving them a chance to climb back quickly while flying under the radar a bit.
Seattle ended the month with a shutout loss to Edmonton, but November was a solid month overall. With four days off before their next game, you can imagine the team will focus on two areas: improving special teams, which went 0-for-6 on the power play and 0-for-2 on the penalty kill, and generating more scoring chances.
The Kraken have proved they can shut teams down, allowing just 2.63 goals per game, which ranks fifth in the NHL. If they can pair that steady defensive play with a bit more scoring, they will stay on pace for 95 points. Comment below on where you think the offensive spark will come from.
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.
We were due for a week like this. I mentioned last week that I was concerned about the week ahead, and it played out exactly how I feared, as the Kraken dropped both games in regulation to the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers. Both are formidable opponents, so I knew there was a decent chance the Kraken could lose them both. That said, I’m not nearly as disappointed as I’ve been in other weeks when the Kraken actually came away with points.
Let’s start with the Stars game. Dallas has owned the Kraken in the regular season. Seattle was 2-9-2 against the Stars heading into Wednesday, with the lowest points percentage they have against any Western Conference opponent. And honestly, I just don’t remember the Kraken competing well against them, aside from the 2022-23 playoff series. Despite the loss, maybe that’s why I was so surprised to see the Kraken play as well as they did. There were long stretches where Seattle genuinely looked like the better team. Deep into the third, it felt like the game was destined for overtime, but Vladislav Kolyachonok floated an innocent-looking wrist shot from the point that went past a screening Adam Larsson, hit the post and found its way in.
Kolyachonok scores to make it 3-2 with five minutes left.
Haters are going to point out it was the second half of a back-to-back for Dallas and that they had their backup in net. All true. But with that much firepower and the lopsided history between these two teams, the game left me feeling pretty good about where the Kraken stand. It was still a disappointing result, but it reinforced that the Kraken can hang with anyone. And considering they’ve beaten Anaheim, Vegas, and Winnipeg twice already, we shouldn’t be shocked that they have that level of compete in them.
That set up a perfect trap game on Saturday against Edmonton. The Oilers were coming off an embarrassing 8–3 loss to Dallas, and when you poke the bear enough, eventually it bites back. Edmonton’s top four forwards each scored, and the Kraken were shut out. I don’t think the game was as one-sided as the score suggests, but you’re not winning many games when you get shut out. Seattle certainly had chances to get back into it, but they went 0-for-6 on the power play, including an extended 5-on-3 while down just 1–0. At the end of the day, though, it’s still a loss.
Power play challenges
Over the last 10 games, the Kraken have run at a meager 14 percent on the power play and haven’t scored a power-play goal in their last four games despite 14 opportunities, including five against Dallas and six against Edmonton. There’s no question the power play is struggling, but there were moments Saturday when they actually had stable possession and seemed to be generating shot attempts. So I spent part of my Sunday digging into the numbers.
First, I wanted to see whether they really did generate a lot of shot attempts on Saturday. The Kraken had 22 power-play shot attempts, their second-highest total in a game this season. It was also their second-highest total power-play time, so to evaluate it better, I calculated shot attempts per two minutes of power-play time. That came out to 4.29 attempts. It’s not their highest rate of the season, but it’s close.
Next, I widened the scope to see how their shot-attempt rate stacks up league-wide.
Based on the visual above, they’re sitting pretty close to league average in shot attempts per two minutes. That suggests quantity is fine, but the quality might not be there. I’ve already gone long here, so I’ll save that for another day.
Inaugural Torrent game
Hopefully you were lucky enough to make it to the inaugural Seattle Torrent game Friday afternoon. The Torrent lost 3–0 to the two-time defending Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost in front of a PWHL record 16,014 fans. The atmosphere was incredible, the arena was filled with seasoned hockey fans, new fans, kids, families, the whole thing. The Torrent came out buzzing, but the Frost got a favorable bounce late in the first and never looked back.
I have a lot of thoughts, but this feels like another huge step for hockey in the region. The kid-friendly start times and reasonable ticket prices should give more families a chance to check out a game. And I’m excited to see how having the PWHL in town boosts female participation in the sport.
There was also quite a bit of constructive fan feedback about the arena experience. I’ve got my own wish-list items too, but I also know they don’t have the budget or institutional experience the Kraken have. Let’s be patient, give feedback when asked, and see how things evolve. For a team announced five months ago, I’m honestly blown away by how much they’ve pulled off.
Other musings
In case you missed it, Jaden Schwartz is the latest Kraken player to land on IR, another significant blow. Schwartz, expected to miss six weeks, has been one of the most underrated players in franchise history, and this team will feel his absence. Before the injury, Schwartz was on the ice for about 40 percent of Seattle’s power-play time.
One silver lining: Jared McCann returned Wednesday against Dallas after missing 18 games. He brings an element this team has been missing. (Check out this pregame feature on Jared that aired before Saturday’s game.)
I’m always stunned that there’s not even a hint of suspension for a malicious elbow aimed at someone’s head, even if it doesn’t land. If the league wants to minimize concussions, make those actions consequential—not just the ones that result in injuries. I’ve held this stance forever, no matter which team is involved.
Leon Draisaitl throws an elbow at Marchment and takes EDM's fifth penalty of the game.
Marchment may have been clever by not accepting a fight. He's under the skin of the Oilers, who are more worried about revenge on him.
Big congrats to former Seattle Thunderbirds Thomas Milic and Reid Schaefer, who made their NHL debuts for the Winnipeg Jets and Nashville Predators, respectively.
Goal of the week
Nice sequence from Coachella Valley: David Goyette finds Lleyton Roed for his first of the season.
ROED KICKS US OFF WITH THE FIRST GOAL OF THE GAME AND HIS FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON!!
Julius Miettinen (EVT/SEA) – Five points in three games for Everett. He’s fifth in the WHL in points per game and a huge reason Everett is the best team in the league this season.
Zeb Forsfjäll (Skellefteå AIK/SEA) – The Kraken’s 2023 sixth-round pick scored his first two goals of the SHL season.
Zeb Forsfjäll skjuter sin första fullträff för säsongen och dubblerar Skellefteås ledning 🚨 pic.twitter.com/7D8975PJ9a
Nikke Kokko (CV/SEA) – Posted his first AHL shutout on Friday, stopping all 31 shots against San Diego.
Week ahead
It’s a light but tricky week. The Kraken head to Edmonton on Thursday, and if the Oilers win in regulation, they’ll leapfrog Seattle (although Edmonton could also move ahead with a win against the Wild on Tuesday). Seattle is just 1-5-1 at Rogers Place, and after Saturday’s win, Edmonton might be ready to go on a run… or the Swiss-cheese defense could return, and the Kraken could show the resilience they’ve shown all season.
The only other game this week is Saturday at home against Detroit. The Wings are on a bit of a skid at 0-3-1, and the Kraken already lost 4–2 to them in November. Detroit has solid special teams; Seattle… does not.
The target for the week should be two points. Anything above that is gravy. The Kraken are playing their worst offensive hockey of the season right now, and until they fix their issues, expectations should stay pretty low.
And finally…
The Kraken are still in a playoff spot and still competitive in games where they don’t have much firepower. They’re in a lull, so no one should be panicking… yet.
Am I the only one trying to keep a level head here?
After losing 4-3 in overtime in their first game ever at the Vancouver Goldeneyes on Nov. 21, the Seattle Torrent took the ice at Climate Pledge Arena for the first time on Black Friday in a midday game against the two-time PWHL champions, the Minnesota Frost. Both teams were seeking their first win of the season, having each recorded a one-goal loss on opening day.
Despite the workday (for most people) puck drop, over 16,000 fans were in attendance, shattering the previous American record for professional women’s hockey by more than a thousand. Even with a disappointing 3-0 loss, the fans showed up throughout the game, cheering to the bitter end for their new franchise and even sticking around to applaud a stick salute from the Torrent players.
Though the scoreline didn’t reflect it, the game was exciting and engaging, featuring two well-matched opponents. All the fans I spoke with, even those who had never attended a hockey game before, had a great time. They thought the team looked good, played fun, fast, and physical, and shared that they would definitely be back.
Corinne Schroeder makes a save against the Frost. (Photo/The PWHL)
Torrent vs. Frost game recap
Period 1
The Torrent started the game looking much sharper than in their 4-3 season-opening loss last week in Vancouver. Passes were connecting, and by my eye test, the Torrent enjoyed a majority of possession. Torrent goalie Corrine Schroeder made some good saves, although an unlucky deflection from a Kelly Pannek shot late in the period put the Frost up 1-0.
Period 2
Momentum shifted slightly in the second period, with the Frost increasing their time in the offensive zone. The game got a bit chippier in the second, and the Torrent had to go on the penalty kill twice, but their PK kept the Frost off the board, blocking numerous shots while Schroeder handled the rest.
Period 3
The Torrent had their chance on the power play early in the third period. Both power-play units appeared confident and in control but couldn’t get anything past Frost netminder Nicole Hensley, who was outstanding in the game.
A turnover in the neutral zone led to a second goal from Pannek. Minutes later, Grace Zumwinkle found a loose puck during another Minnesota power play to round out the Frost’s scoring. The end of the game was even more physical, with Seattle’s Megan Carter tussling with Minnesota’s Britta Curl. The two have a history; Curl was suspended for a game last season after elbowing Carter in the head. The Torrent never gave up and had some great looks late but couldn’t solve Hensley, who robbed Hilary Knight in the closing minutes. Late in the final frame, Danielle Serdachny blocked two shots to prevent the Frost from scoring on an empty net, earning herself the third star of the game.
Hilary Knight takes a shot against the Frost. (Photo/The PWHL)
Post-game thoughts
After the game, Frost forward and first star of the night Kelly Pannek, who played in a rivalry series game at CPA, spoke about playing in Seattle again and being in front of a record-setting crowd. “We knew once this market was announced they were going to have great fan support… It’s exciting to play in buildings like that; the fans are engaged, they’re loud.”
Torrent coach Steve O’Rourke spoke highly of his players’ efforts and noted their improvement since their first game. He emphasized that they played well for the first two periods and fed off the energy in the building. His team generated a “good quantity of chances, but probably not enough quality.” O’Rourke expressed disappointment with the result but felt that the team’s identity was strengthened and that they have a clear direction as they move forward this season.
Knight, who arrived at the game in a bedazzled Sue Bird jersey, understood the gravity of the moment, calling it a dream come true and a “pinch-me moment” (though, if I can be honest, I think she was most excited that Brandi Carlile was there). Knight was impressed by the team’s start, getting lots of shots on goal, and playing tough and physical. She praised the crowd’s dedication to the new team, cheering until the very end, even when the game was all but lost. “You can really ride that; it’s a huge advantage to be able to play at home when you’ve got a crowd that’s as electric as our fans.”
Seattle’s own Marah Wagner also spoke. She played in Sweden last year and made the team after a camp invite. General manager Meghan Turner spoke about her pre-game: “She’s an easy one to talk about… she came to camp prepared. Her skill set was there, but her compete was really incredible. She fit right in, didn’t look nervous, dove in, and worked hard. She embodies the identity of a competitive, hardworking group.”
Wagner was awestruck by the night. She never thought anything like this would become a reality in Seattle. Many little girls were in attendance with ‘Coach Marah’ signs, having attended her local hockey camp. Wagner is also hopeful about the Torrent’s progress. “We have been taking tremendous steps every day; we are showing up to practice and battling to the end, and we are pushing each other every day.”
Notes and notions
Injury update: defender Aneta Tejralová is still out day-to-day with a lower-body injury, while forward Jenna Buglioni is also day-to-day.
Rookie defender Lyndie Lobdell spoke to the press on Sunday after practice. Friday was her first-ever PWHL game. She credited her off-season training for her success so far this season and acknowledged her blue line teammates for helping her adjust to the team, city, and the increased speed and physicality of PWHL gameplay.
She, too, mostly had positive things to share from the game, expressing her shock and awe at looking up in CPA and seeing it filled with fans. The one thing she wanted fans to know is that she’s really nice and loves to meet people: “So if you see me, come say hi!”
The team had a more low-key practice and focused heavily on shooting and tips, obviously hoping to avoid being shut out again in Wednesday’s home game against the 2-1 New York Sirens.
