“Down on the Farm” is your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. This week we’ll dig in on the 2025-26 Coachella Valley Firebirds as they prepare for their AHL season opener, while also passing along news and notes, data updates, and scouting video from across the Kraken prospect landscape. As always, if you have a 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. Let’s dive in.
Firebirds to take the ice with young, exciting roster, and lineup questions
The Coachella Valley Firebirds will drop the puck on their fourth season on Friday. Remarkably, in each of the team’s first three years of existence, the Kraken AHL affiliate’s final loss has come in the playoffs to the eventual Calder Cup champion.
In the team’s first two seasons, that success was built on a veteran lineup that ranked among the oldest in the league. Powered by proven AHL players like Andrew Poturalski, Kole Lind, and Cameron Hughes, and guided by Dan Bylsma and his staff, the team went to the Calder Cup Finals each year.
Last season was one of transition. The team integrated a new bench boss in Derek Laxdal and a number of younger Kraken drafted players, including Ty Nelson, Jagger Firkus, and David Goyette. Notwithstanding all of that change, the season was a success as the Firebirds advanced to the second round of the playoffs before falling to Abbotsford.
This year, the youth movement is complete. With a wave of drafted prospects on entry-level contracts reaching the professional ranks, the Firebirds will rank as one of the youngest teams in the AHL, if not the youngest.
Data compiled by Elite Prospects has the current Firebirds roster as the third youngest and third least experienced in the AHL. Yet, this does not account for the season-ending hip surgery for veteran captain Max McCormick. Removing McCormick from the equation, the Firebirds Opening Day average age dips to 23.04, which would be—by far—the lowest in the AHL.
The challenge ahead to repeat the team’s previous success is evident. “It is a young roster,” Firebirds vice president of hockey and business operations Troy Bodie conceded in an interview on the Fire & Ice Podcast, but “it’s a talented group.” Bodie noted “the team has drafted well,” before calling out forward Oscar Fisker Molgaard and defenseman Tyson Jugnauth as new players primed for important roles. “They’re going to be fan favorites quite early.”
The current Opening Day lineup projects to have only three players that qualify toward the five veteran player limit: Forwards Mitchell Stephens and John Hayden and defenseman Gustav Olofsson. Beyond that group, forwards Ben Meyers and Ian McKinnon figure to be influential figures, but, as Bodie conceded, leadership and high-leverage minutes are going to have to come from elsewhere too.
The team is going to lean on a group of second- and third-year players who “are going to step into highly offensive roles and important shutdown roles. We’ve been preparing for this in the last few years,” Bodie said. “It will be interesting to see how things shake out in terms of line combinations and roles, power play time.”
Just hours before Opening Night, we know more about what the roster will look like than we did a month ago, but the specific groupings will likely evolve in the early going. Here’s one potential look at how the team could line up:
The loss of McCormick is felt by the team because Coach Laxdal may like to have a veteran forward line he can rely upon in crunch time. With no other strong veteran candidate for the first-line left wing role, I moved Ben Meyers—who can play center or on the wing—up to the top line. Ideally, he’d bring his talent and savvy to the center position on the second line, and perhaps they start that way. But if Meyers does move into a wing role, at least in crucial situations, we could see rookie Andrei Loshko at center. Loshko—who played center and wing in his junior career—was utilized at center during Kraken training camp and in the Firebirds preseason game.
In this construction, the second line would trade on skill, while the third line would represent an intriguing blend of speed, grit, and goal scoring. The fourth line is not your standard grinding unit, but it is comprised of three center-capable forwards with plenty of forechecking speed on the wings. It is possible McKinnon could sub in for Goyette on Opening Night. I’d expect that McKinnon plays at least 40 games.
On the blue line, Ty Nelson seems primed for heavy usage at 5-on-5 and on special teams—particularly with Cale Fleury in the NHL for at least the season’s first month. Ville Ottavainen is more NHL ready than Nelson—he was among the last reassignments from NHL camp—but it makes sense to separate him from the team’s other best stay-at-home blueliner, Olofsson.
Jugnauth could be a newcomer in the top-four defensemen group and add a power-play role, which would make him an important player from the jump.
What are Bodie’s expectations for this young squad? “I’d like to see our players adapting to pro hockey quickly. There’s going to be some learning curve, some mistakes made along the way. I understand that.”
“I want to see our players compete, work hard, not give up an inch. Competitive nature is a non-negotiable for the Firebirds. We work hard here. That’s not something we take lightly.”
Notes on four more Kraken players
Ryan Winterton | F | Seattle Kraken (NHL)
Winterton is a player fans may have reasonably expected to slot into the top six of the Firebirds lineup discussed above. Instead, he skated with the NHL team in Seattle’s season opener, logging 12:02 time on ice, including one penalty-kill shift. Jason Botterill told Winterton he would be up with Kraken for “the foreseeable future,” so we should expect the young forward to remain on the NHL roster at least through Kaapo Kakko’s return, if not longer.
Nathan Villeneuve | F | Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
When Nathan Villeneuve left Kraken camp with an injury, the team said only that Villeneuve would miss the remainder of camp. Left to speculate about worst-case scenarios, it was a pleasant update to hear that Villeneuve will be back on the ice for his OHL team, the Sudbury Wolves, as of Friday. He will also be the Wolves’ captain for the 2025-26 season. I’m curious to see if this causes him to change his play-on-the-edge style that has led to heavy penalty minutes and a fighting-related suspension in the past.
Visa Vedenpää | G | HPK (Liiga)
Visa Vedenpää earned his first Liiga win on Saturday, Oct. 4, stopping 32 of 33 shots in a game against Kiekko-Espoo. Recognizing the moment, the team feted the young goaltender postgame. Some highlights and Vedenpää’s locker room speech were captured by the team-issued video below.
Karl Annborn | D | Västerås IK (HockeyAllsvenskan)
On Thursday, Oct. 9, HV71 loaned defenseman Karl Annborn to Västerås IK of HockeyAllsvenskan. It is likely that the team and player determined Annborn was too advanced for the Swedish U20 league, yet he could not establish himself as a regular in Sweden’s top pro league, the SHL, either. HockeyAllsvenskan is the second-level pro league in Sweden, which may be a good developmental home for Annborn at this stage. (We’ll update the schedule below to include Västerås IK‘s games by next week.)
Kraken prospects data update
Fresh off signing an entry-level contract with the Kraken, Julius Miettinen scored four goals and added three assists in three WHL games over the last week. This earns him his second-consecutive Sound Of Hockey Player of the Week.
Jake O’Brien left Brantford’s last game during overtime, but the team quickly reported that O’Brien was dealing with cramping and should not miss any additional time. O’Brien has one goal and four assists in his four OHL contests so far and should be out there for the Bulldogs tonight in their matchup with Villeneuve’s Sudbury Wolves.
Semyon Vyazovoi earned a KHL start for the second week in a row, which is good to see. Given his track record, I suspect the results will start trending in the right direction soon.
Kim Saarinen continues to perform amongst the best Liiga goalies as HPK’s clear starter.
Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week tracker
2: Kim Saarinen, Julius Miettinen
1: None
Seattle’s Finnish prospects are now four-for-four, giving the small hockey-playing nation a commanding early season lead in its quest to bring home one of the sport’s most prestigious awards.
Previewing the week ahead
We have two Deep Sea Hockey Games of the Week this week. Villeneuve’s return to the OHL lineup will come at 4:00 pm PT on Friday, against O’Brien’s Brantford Bulldogs. Should be a fun matchup of two of Seattle’s very best prospects. After that, at 7:00 pm PT, the puck drops on Coachella Valley’s AHL season. Great off-day content for a Kraken fan. Both games are on FloHockey.
Tracking 2026 NHL Draft prospects: Keaton Verhoeff
Defenseman Keaton Verhoeff is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft not named Gavin McKenna. Verhoeff played his 2024-25 season with the Victoria Royals of the WHL, scoring 21 goals—by far the most among 16-year-old WHL defensemen—and adding 24 assists in 63 games. Verhoeff will play college hockey this year alongside Kraken prospect Ollie Josephson after both enrolled at the Univ. of North Dakota following the NCAA rule change that rendered CHL players eligible. Verhoeff’s draft season starts with a home game against the University of St. Thomas.
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.
Well, how about that? The Seattle Kraken can win on Opening Night! And they did so for the first time in their relatively short history Thursday, beating the Anaheim Ducks 3-1.
Seattle overcame a painfully sluggish first period, one in which Vince Dunn opened the scoring at just 2:21 before the team went heavily on its heels for the rest of the frame.
“Besides yell at each other a little bit?” Jared McCann joked when asked what the group did to change the momentum after the first. “Honestly, I think we just kind of dumbed it down a bit. Obviously, getting used to the ice again, and all that stuff. We just tried to keep it simple.”
Eventually, the Kraken found something resembling the type of game they want to play this season—tight structure, relentless forechecking, and a commitment to details. It took a while, but they started to show it in the later stages.
Lane Lambert earned his first win as Kraken head coach, Joey Daccord saved Seattle’s bacon 31 times, and Dunn, McCann, and Mason Marchment each potted goals.
Here are Three Takeaways from a slow-starting but ultimately solid 3-1 Kraken win over the Ducks.
Takeaway #1: Ugly first period
If not for Daccord being razor-sharp early, the Kraken would have been staring at a steep uphill climb heading into the second period. Instead, while they fumbled practically every puck they touched in their end—where they spent almost the entire period—Daccord kept bailing them out and got them to the break tied 1-1.
“I think we played well, even though, I mean, the shot counter was a little lopsided at first,” Daccord said. “But I thought we played well. I thought we just found a way to battle through it as a group, and then eventually, as we started to get our legs there in the second period and then eventually dominate the third was great to see from my end.”
I may respectfully disagree with Daccord’s assessment that the team played “well” in the first 20, but things were noticeably different in the second—especially after Brandon Montour’s hustle play that we’ll get to in Takeaway No. 2.
Credit the Ducks, too, who came out… flying… under new head coach Joel Quenneville. Their jump and structure made me wonder if Anaheim might be significantly improved this season, while Seattle initially looked like it was carrying over many of the same issues from the past two years.
But give Lambert’s bunch credit as well. They stuck with it, got out of the muck, and slowly tilted the ice back in their favor as the night went on.
Takeaway #2: Montour willed the Kraken into the lead
Marchment’s goal in his first game as a Kraken was nice, but the play Montour made to set it up was even better. He chased Troy Terry from the defensive goal line to the blue line, stripped him of the puck, then blew past him and gained control again deep in the offensive zone.
Meanwhile, Marchment quietly slid into the slot, which Jacob Trouba had vacated chasing Montour. Montour put the pass right on the money, and Marchment buried it.
THE MUSH PUSH! 🚨
Mason Marchment is the beneficiary of an outstanding 200-foot play by Brandon Montour, and he pots his first as a #SeaKraken.
“That was great,” Marchment said. “Great play [by Montour]. He broke up a play, made a great play to me in the slot. I just tried to find a hole for him, and he put it right on my tape.”
Lambert has often talked about turning strong defensive plays into offense, and this was as good an example as you’ll find.
“He did exactly what, I guess, we wanted him to do,” Lambert said of Montour. “Of course, he made an elite play, so it certainly was well done from that standpoint. But the whole sequence was pretty well defended, and then you’ve got an elite player making an elite play, and that’s always nice to see.”
After Montour’s determined sequence four minutes into the second, the Kraken suddenly looked like a different team—and never really looked back.
Takeaway #3: Is Jared McCann back?
McCann’s goal may have been even prettier than Marchment’s. What looked like an innocuous play turned into a perfect sequence of execution by the top line of McCann, Jordan Eberle, and Matty Beniers, who set McCann up at the top of the crease. The puck was on and off McCann’s stick and under the bar in an instant.
The play started in the neutral zone, with Jamie Oleksiak and Josh Mahura forcing a turnover and quickly transitioning back to offense. Eberle sent a perfectly weighted cross-ice dump-in to the far corner, where Beniers had a step on Drew Helleson. He got one touch on the puck—a chop to the slot—where McCann one-timed it into the top shelf.
MCCANN CAN! 🚨
What a beautiful goal! Perfectly weighted dump-in by Eberle, Beniers one-touches it to McCann, and he roofs it.
“Beautiful,” McCann said. “I’m a very lucky guy to play with two players like that who have skill and are obviously great leaders.”
I still don’t know exactly what injury led to McCann’s procedure after last season, which caused him to barely skate during the summer and even training camp. But based on Thursday’s evidence, his shot looks as wicked as ever.
His goal totals have dipped from 40 in 2022-23 to 29 and 22 in the two seasons since. But if this performance is any indication, maybe McCann’s back on track for the higher end of his production capabilities.
It was far from a perfect night for the Kraken, who still have a lot to work on. But getting the season off on the right foot with a win felt important.
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 season kicks off, I thought it would be a perfectly productive use of my time to come up with 41 reasons to check out a Kraken home game—one for every game to be played at Climate Pledge Arena. Some reasons are serious (kind of), some are completely ridiculous, and all are valid excuses to grab a ticket, a college soda, and watch some hockey.
10/9/2025 vs ANA – Opening Night! I’ve been buzzing all week waiting for meaningful Kraken hockey that actually counts in the standings. Nothing beats that first Climate Pledge roar.
10/11/2025 vs VGK – Mitch Marner’s third regular-season game with Vegas. Still feels weird typing that sentence.
10/25/2025 vs EDM – Sure, you could come for Connor McDavid—the sixth-highest-paid player in the NHL—but that’s too easy. Instead, watch former Seattle Thunderbird Noah Philp, who made his NHL debut at 26 after taking a year off from hockey. Gritty comeback stories hit different.
10/28/2025 vs MTL – Montreal fans get weirdly defensive when I mention Shane Wright has more goals and assists than Juraj Slafkovsky in their respective first 95 games. Not our fault they didn’t draft Shane with their first overall.
11/1/2025 vs NYR – Will Borgen returns to Climate Pledge for the first time since being traded to the Rangers. Expect at least one thunderous hit to remind us what we’re missing.
11/3/2025 vs CHI – Andre Burakovsky’s back! But so is Ryan Donato, the first goal scorer in Kraken history. You’re legally obligated to cheer for him (until puck drop).
11/5/2025 vs SJS – The Sharks’ young core gave the Kraken fits last season, including those brutal back-to-back losses in November. Let’s not do that again.
11/11/2025 vs CBJ – Columbus is a sneaky fun team: a lot of young talent, plenty of chaos. Should be a good one.
11/13/2025 vs WPG – If everyone’s healthy, you’ll see two U.S. Olympians in Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebuyck. Bonus points if you can spell “Hellebuyck” without peeking.
11/15/2025 vs SJS – Most national analysts have written off San Jose this year, so let’s help them stay right about that.
11/26/2025 vs DAL – The Kraken are giving away gravy boats to the first 10,000 fans. Gravy boats!
11/29/2025 vs EDM – A 1 p.m. game on Thanksgiving weekend, perfect for bringing the family, also gives you an opportunity to take a break from leftovers.
12/6/2025 vs DET – Patrick Kane may have lost a step, but those hands still belong in a museum. Always worth watching.
12/8/2025 vs MIN – I could see Minnesota missing the playoffs this year after squeaking in last season. This game might mean something real for both teams.
12/10/2025 vs LAK – The first bobblehead giveaway of the season. Collect them all!
12/14/2025 vs BUF – Seattle is 7-1-0 all-time against Buffalo. The Kraken just seem to have the Sabres’ number, and we’re fine with that.
12/16/2025 vs COL – Cale Makar. You either love to watch him play or still hold some animosity toward him for taking out Jared McCann in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. I choose the latter.
12/28/2025 vs PHI – The Flyers might not be contenders, but seeing Trevor Zegras in a Flyers uniform after a summer trade will be interesting.
Trevor Zegras takes an ill-advised four-minute cross-checking penalty.
Strange, though, the official put his arm up on the original hit but only called 4 minutes for cross checking. 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/6RCVUI2Je4
12/29/2025 vs VAN – The Kraken went 3-0-1 against Vancouver last year, including that glorious 5–0 win in the middle of their playoff chase. Wouldn’t mind seeing a repeat of that embarrassment.
1/1/2026 vs NSH – There’s no better place to be on New Year’s Day than watching Kraken hockey. Resolutions can wait until the second period.
1/6/2026 vs BOS – Morgan Geekie.
1/8/2026 vs MIN – If the Kraken are pushing for a playoff spot, this could be a big one. Minnesota might be the team standing in their way.
1/19/2026 vs PIT – The Kids Game! Always a fun game to check out with or without the young ones in tow.
One of my favorite #SeaKraken games of the year…the KIDS GAME!!!
1/21/2026 vs NYI – If everything goes as expected, this could be Matthew Schaefer’s first game in Seattle, the first overall pick from the 2025 NHL Draft. It should also be former Seattle Thunderbird, Mat Barzal’s first game in Seattle in over two years.
1/23/2026 vs ANA – By this point we’ll know if Anaheim is a legit playoff contender or still a fun-but-not-quite-there team. Either way, Leo Carlsson might be worth watching.
1/25/2026 vs NJD – New Jersey is a sneaky Cup contender this season. If the Devils stay healthy, look out. Should be one of the better hockey nights of the year.
1/27/2026 vs WSH – There’s a real chance this is your last chance to see Alexander Ovechkin in Seattle.
1/29/2026 vs TOR – Toronto is 4-0-0 all-time at Climate Pledge Arena. They’re the only team the Kraken have never gotten a point against. When the Kraken win this one, you’ll witness actual history.
2/28/2026 vs VAN – The first home game after the Olympic break. After weeks of Olympic and junior hockey, it’ll just feel good to be back watching the Kraken again.
3/2/2026 vs CAR – With Aleksander Barkov out for the season in Florida, Carolina might be the team to beat in the East.
3/4/2026 vs STL – No idea where the Kraken will be in the standings by this point, but it’s the last game before the trade deadline. Expect some drama.
3/7/2026 vs OTT – Ottawa’s another trendy “they’ll take a step” team. Let’s make sure that step is backward.
3/10/2026 vs NSH – Remember last year when people picked Nashville to win the Stanley Cup? That was cute.
3/12/2026 vs COL – Colorado will be out for revenge after an early season loss. Too bad they’re not getting it.
3/15/2026 vs FLA – The two-time Stanley Cup champs come to town. The Kraken are a tidy 2-1-1 at home against the Panthers, so there’s that.
3/17/2026 vs TBL – This one will sting. Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand’s first game back in Seattle. It’s also my birthday, so Kraken, please win. For me.
Gorgeous passing series among the Gourde line after a Bjorkstrand steal gains possession. Tremendous work by all three skaters. pic.twitter.com/RNoMVtk6l9
4/2/2026 vs UTA – Assuming Adam Larsson keeps up his ironman pace, this could be his first home game after hitting 1,000 career NHL games. Expect a well-deserved pregame celebration for one of the OG’s.
4/4/2026 vs CHI – Chicago’s loaded with young talent: Bedard, Nazar, Levshunov, Rinzel and maybe even ex-T-Bird Kevin Korchinski will be playing for them by this point in the season.
4/9/2026 vs VGK – I hate the Golden Knights with a passion and fully expect them to be elite again this season. That’ll just make beating them even sweeter.
4/11/2026 vs CGY – Calgary’s only trip to Seattle this year. Good news for Martin Pospisil: Vince Dunn (and Kraken fans) definitely haven’t forgotten.
Calgary’s Martin Pospisil has been suspended for three games for boarding Seattle’s Vince Dunn. pic.twitter.com/txyHOXc7Rp
4/13/2026 vs LAK – Final game of the season—before the postseason, ideally. How poetic would it be to eliminate the Kings from playoff contention right here?
So, there you have it: 41 very scientific, deeply thought-out reasons to check out every Seattle Kraken home game this season. Whether you’re a diehard fan, a casual observer, or just someone who likes seeing Buoy shine a bald guy’s head, there’s always something to enjoy at Climate Pledge Arena.
And hey, beyond the theme nights and visiting stars, there are plenty of reasons to tune in every single game. You never know when you might witness Jani Nyman or Berkly Catton’s coming-out party, a random hat trick, a ridiculous comeback, or maybe—just maybe—that elusive goalie goal we’ve all been waiting for from Joey Daccord.
The wait is over—the season officially begins Thursday as the Seattle Kraken host the Anaheim Ducks on home ice. Offseason additions Mason Marchment, Ryan Lindgren, and Freddy Gaudreau will make their debuts, while new head coach Lane Lambert steps behind the bench for the first time. Goaltender Matt Murray is on the roster but likely won’t get the start on Opening Night.
National media hasn’t been kind to the Kraken heading into the season, so we wanted to take some time to talk about what gets the Sound Of Hockey crew excited for what’s ahead. Many outlets have Anaheim projected to leapfrog Seattle in the standings, making Thursday a good chance for the Kraken to send a message that they’re better than last year’s results suggest.
In preparation for puck drop, our own John Barr, Curtis Isacke, Blaiz Grubic, and Darren Brown got together to discuss a few hot topics.
What’s your biggest reason for optimism heading into this Kraken season?
Curtis: The renewed focus and urgency brought by the new coaching staff, and Lane Lambert in particular, has me feeling optimistic. The new Kraken bench boss is dialed in on the details at every practice, seemingly hanging on the correct execution of every support pass or close out. Lambert is quite calm and reflective in an interview setting, but when he’s on the ice the zeal of a drill sergeant is evident.
One could imagine his hard-charging approach wearing on a team if maintained throughout the year, but Lambert is setting the standard early, and I expect he’ll calibrate his approach as the season progresses. A fast start is imperative with the difficult opening stretch the team is facing. Lambert has me hopeful that the details will be dialed in from puck drop, and that could be the difference.
Darren: Well, hope springs eternal when a new season is on the horizon, “why not us?,” and a variety of other new-season cliches. But seriously… The front office thought the Kraken were going to be better last season, and with good reason after a couple splashy offseason signings. I also think the 2025-26 on-paper roster is–when fully healthy–better and more competitive this season than last.
So, if last season’s expected improvement actually comes to fruition now, AND the more recent tweaks to the roster help push the group forward even more, then I could get my head around a huge jump in the standings this season. I do remain cautious in my optimism, though, because I think a lot of things have to go right for this team to really compete for a playoff spot.
John: I’ve been beating this drum all summer, but the Kraken finished last season with a minus-11 goal differential. For context, teams sitting between even and plus-five in that stat make the playoffs about half the time. With a new coaching staff that seems locked in on structure and details, I think we’ll see fewer goals against—and maybe a swing into the positive. On top of that, I really like the complementary pieces the front office added over the offseason.
Blaiz: The kids are coming. It’s exciting to see Berkly Catton, Jani Nyman, and Ryan Winterton make the roster to open the season. Heading into the franchise’s fifth year, the Kraken have developed three NHL players from their own draft classes—Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, and Ryker Evans. This season doubles that total to six drafted players on the roster, including Evans, who starts on injured reserve.
The three youngsters may not stay the entire season, but each earned their spot in training camp. It’ll be great to see them get regular-season NHL ice time.
Who’s the player you think will surprise people with their performance this season and why?
Darren: How about Eeli Tolvanen? He quietly had a really impressive 23-goal campaign last year with limited power-play opportunities. If he gets more usage on the flank with the manpower advantage, I could see him sniffing around the 30-goal mark this year and commanding a big-time pay raise on his contract for next season, whether that be with the Kraken or elsewhere.
John: I’m not sure I have a clear pick for a surprise player, but let’s just say… backup goaltending. Call it blind optimism, or maybe something I just want to will into the universe. I don’t want to read too much into it, but both Matt Murray and Philipp Grubauer looked solid in their preseason games. Plus, Lambert’s defensive structure should give the backups some extra support.
Blaiz: I’m expecting big things from Shane Wright. For a while now, I’ve said Wright will eventually take over as the Kraken’s top-scoring center, and I believe this is the year. After a slow start in 2024-25, with two points (one goal, one assist) in 18 games, he was healthy scratched was sent down to Coachella Valley to find his game(shame, shame, shame). When he returned, he produced 42 points in his final 61 games, averaging 2.83 points per 60 minutes. To put that in perspective, Jared McCann led the team in that category at 2.59. I can easily see a scenario where Wright not only leads all Kraken centers in scoring but challenges for the team lead overall.
A bonus player I’ll mention is Jaden Schwartz, who led the Kraken in goals last season and has looked sharp throughout the preseason. He’s never hit the 30-goal mark in his career, but that milestone feels within reach this year.
Curtis: I’ll say Freddy Gaudreau. The least-heralded of this season’s offseason acquisitions, he should quietly make an impact from the bottom of the lineup scoring goals, killing penalties, and, perhaps most importantly of all, shepherding along some of Seattle’s young talent.
Kraken assistant general manager Alex Mandrycky told us at Sound Of Hockey Fest that Gaudreau topped the team’s internal board for a fourth-line center acquisition because he could bring more of a scoring element to that role, while also being solid defensively. The team has found most of its success historically when rolling four lines capable of scoring and, with Gaudreau, the team hopes to return to that identity.
Gaudreau’s presence also allows the team to deploy a younger player in a fourth-line role—be it Catton or Nyman—but still with an offensively capable linemate. It may not show up in the box score all the time, but I’d wager fans will look back on Gaudreau’s first season in Seattle pleased with the addition.
With a 10-game opening stretch that includes six on the road and five against 2024 playoff teams, what would you consider a successful first month for the Kraken beyond wins and losses?
John: With two significant injuries—Kaapo Kakko and Ryker Evans—likely sidelining them for the full 10-game stretch, I’d call it a success if the Kraken can grab 12 of a possible 20 points. Beyond that, I just want to see them compete every night. We’ll see plenty of backup goaltending during this run, so let’s add “solid play from the backups” to the list of success criteria.
Darren: To John’s point, I think the Kakko injury could be fairly crushing, especially considering the impact he had on Beniers after joining Seattle last season. So between the brutal early schedule and that critical absence, I’m looking for a .500 record coming out of this stretch. Anything over that is gravy and at least keeps Seattle in the conversation long enough to get hot in November and beyond.
Blaiz: With a six-game road trip early in the season, this is the perfect opportunity for the team to come together and focus on the defensive structure that Lambert keeps emphasizing. I’d love to see them finish with a winning record, but for me, success in the first month is about process. Are they defending as a five-man unit? Are they limiting high-danger chances? And are the backup goaltenders giving the team enough confidence to stay committed to their system in front of them?
Curtis: Setting aside the record, I think we need to see the team’s highly drafted young players start to assert themselves as the core players for the lines around them. There was no mistaking the Yanni Gourde line when he was out there, and I’d like to see that from Beniers, Wright, and (hopefully, optimistically) Catton.
For Beniers, that likely means a hard-working, responsible unit that is locked in on the details. For Wright, that means a group that trades on skilled plays in the most dangerous areas of the ice. As for Catton, of course, it starts with getting the ice time; then I want to see a pressure identity that forces defenses onto their heels and creates space all over the rink.
Which offseason addition (player, coach, prospect or system tweak) will make the biggest difference?
Blaiz: I’m going with the obvious one—the addition of head coach Lane Lambert. There’s been a lot of talk about structure, and I believe that will dramatically help a team with a growing young core and no true superstar talent. Lambert wasn’t shy about moving players around in preseason to get the type of play he wanted. He expects his team to play within his system, and if you’re not playing your role, you’ll move down the lineup. That kind of message is straightforward and easy to follow, which creates accountability and consistency up and down the lineup.
Darren: Would you call yourself a Laniac, Blaiz?
Blaiz: No, I’m on the Lane Train.
Curtis: Yes! Lane Train! I think Mason Marchment could be a very valuable complement to Chandler Stephenson in the top nine. The two have been attached at the hip while Stephenson has been on the ice this preseason, and it makes sense to me.
Marchment is comfortable working net front or even below the goal line in both the offensive and defensive zones. This frees Stephenson to operate more in space and from the exterior where he can dice up opposing defenses with his skating and precision passes.
Even through the neutral zone in preseason, Marchment’s presence driving the center lane allowed Stephenson several clean zone entries on the left wing that got the offense set up. He could be revelatory for Stephenson in the same way Kakko was for Beniers last season. (On that note, we have to hope Kakko returns as soon as possible. If Beniers’ line struggles in the interim, Marchment could help Beniers in much the same way I’ve described above.)
Darren: I agree wholeheartedly with Curtis. Thanks for cooking that up.
John: We’ve already mentioned him, but I’m really excited about Gaudreau. The Kraken haven’t had a right-shot center on the penalty kill in the past few seasons, and having him available for strong-side face-offs in the defensive zone should be a nice boost. That could improve the penalty kill, cut down on goals against, and ultimately help that goal differential I talked about above. It’s a subtle but smart move that fills a real need. Oh, and Gaudreau’s over 50 percent in shootouts, which doesn’t hurt either.
Let’s jump in the DeLorean and race forward to April. The Kraken have made the playoffs. What went right to get them there?
Curtis: If the Kraken are in the playoff mix, it is because the defensive identity that carried them through the Hakstol era has returned, Joey Daccord continues to prove his doubters wrong, the backup goaltending has stabilized, and the team has won a lot of 3-2 or 2-1 games.
Darren: After Ryker Evans and Kaapo Kakko return from injury right on their expected return dates, the Kraken will have stayed almost completely healthy throughout the rest of the season. While the team arguably has more depth now than last season, it also cannot withstand absences from key players, especially being that it will rely heavily on young players like Jani Nyman, Ryan Winterton, and (perhaps) Berkly Catton. The injury bug that bit early and often during training camp will have been held at bay.
John: Stinginess. The Kraken ranked 24th in goals against last season, allowing 262. If they’re going to seriously compete for a playoff spot, that number has to come down—and if it does, it’ll be a sign that the players have fully bought into Lane Lambert’s systems.
Blaiz: I think it’s a combination of everything I’ve mentioned. The players have bought into Lane Lambert’s system, the backup goaltending has stabilized, Shane Wright has taken a step forward, and the young core is contributing. Just as important, the Kraken are starting games ready to go from puck drop—something that hurt them last year.
With 13 back-to-back games on the schedule, one more than a season ago when they went 0-12 in the second leg, the Kraken need to battle through those situations and find ways to win. Spotting the league 13 games isn’t a recipe for success. If they can stay structured, get timely saves, and maintain energy throughout those stretches, that’s what gets them to April hockey.
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.
With the NHL’s regular season starting in just a couple of days, and as I begin my writing here at Sound Of Hockey, I thought it was worth adding some gravity to the first two home games of the season for the Seattle Kraken—because they feel more important than those opening games typically do.
Those two contests, against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday and the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, feel oddly critical despite the long, 82-game marathon ahead. After those matchups at Climate Pledge Arena, the Kraken immediately head out on a grueling six-game road trip against tough opponents. A couple of early wins could give them a much-needed edge before that challenge begins.
These games also give the fanbase a rare opportunity in the early part of the season to cheer on the team before two more weeks without home hockey. And after a disappointing finish last year—when Seattle placed seventh in the Pacific Division—both the players and their supporters are hungry for a positive start.
Slow starts have been the norm
From a fan’s perspective, winning those first two home games would mean seeing the Kraken start a season in a way they haven’t before. Historically, Seattle has struggled out of the gate.
Even in 2022-23—by far their best season standings-wise—the Kraken won just three of their first eight games, with two of those victories coming on the road. In 2023-24, they managed only two wins in their first eight, one at home and one away. They improved slightly in 2024-25, going 4-4 in their first eight, with two wins at Climate Pledge Arena and two on the road.
The trend is clear: fast starts haven’t been Seattle’s strong suit. And that’s without factoring in the added difficulty of this year’s schedule, which is compressed because of the Olympics. The Kraken will rarely get more than one day off between games, so setting a positive tone early is more critical than ever. That six-game road swing through Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Philadelphia, Washington, and Winnipeg will feel even more daunting if the first two games don’t go well.
A brief chance for in-person fandom in October
With new head coach Lane Lambert and several new faces on the roster, everyone hopes those first two games will show that Seattle’s rigorous training camp approach has paid off. After a long offseason and preseason, the regular season is finally here—and these home games represent the only chances fans will have to see their team in person before the Kraken disappear for weeks.
By the way, since this is my first time writing for Sound Of Hockey, I’ll also share a bit about my own fandom for the game.
For me personally, one of the things that made me fall in love with hockey was the energy inside an arena. I’ve been craving that excitement since Seattle’s season ended far too early last year.
The first hockey game I ever attended was an Everett Silvertips game, and I was instantly hooked by the incredible atmosphere. I couldn’t believe how electric the building felt—and that was just at the WHL level. What really drew me in was the passion of hockey fans, which is impossible to ignore, especially in an NHL arena. The players and fans feed off one another’s energy, creating a competitive environment that everyone in the building can feel.
Back to the Kraken: a win on the road is great—it means you’ve overcome a tough environment without much support. But a win at home is even better because it energizes the fanbase.
A hockey crowd can be one of the loudest and most electric in all of sports, thanks to the intensity already present on the ice. And because the Kraken have only two home games before heading out on the road, the energy inside Climate Pledge Arena in those matchups will be crucial in setting the tone for what’s ahead.
While the first eight games of the season aren’t make-or-break in terms of playoff hopes, starting on the right foot could mark a real shift for Seattle. As history shows, they haven’t had the best track record early on—but who’s to say that a hot start wouldn’t improve their odds?
Strong performances this week would give the team some much-needed confidence before their daunting road trip, and they’d boost fan morale, too. With that challenge looming, the Kraken must focus on these two home games first—and the fans will need to bring nearly a month’s worth of energy to Climate Pledge Arena to help push them across the finish line.
Part I had Everett Fitzhugh as the guest. Part II has Kraken assistant general manager Alex Mandrycky and Kraken ringside reporter Piper Shaw.
With Alex, the guys discuss the process of hiring a head coach, her expectations for the season, and much more.
With Piper, there’s some discussion about her role on TV, but then she hangs around to help with the week’s segments, which include Weekly One-Timers, Down on the Farm, Goalie Gear Corner, Mailbag, and What’s Good?
