While there were some highly memorable moments from Opening Day at Climate Pledge Arena, the outcome was more of the same for the Kraken, who still have yet to win a season-opening game in four tries (0-3-1).
The tone from new head coach Dan Bylsma and his players was markedly positive after the game, as the Kraken recognized they easily could have won against the St. Louis Blues.
“There was a lot of good. Maybe a slow start, tentative start, but just in the first period, there was a lot of good,” Bylsma said. “I think that really continued in the second period. The way to losing the game is solvable moments in the game and periods in the game.”
Indeed, there was a two-minute section of the second period when the game turned on its ear, and the Kraken went from up 2-0 to down 3-2. There was some pushback from Seattle, but not enough shot generation in the third period meant the Kraken started another season with a loss.
Here are our Three Takeaways from a 3-2 Kraken loss to the Blues on Opening Day.
Takeaway #1: A few bad minutes
This game was a scenario where the analytics matched what the eyeball test showed: the Kraken should have won. The “Deserve to Win O’Meter” on MoneyPuck.com gave Seattle a 66-percent chance of winning, and per NaturalStatTrick, the Kraken also had 66 percent of the shot quality in all situations.
It remains to be seen what kind of team the Blues will become this season, but if the Kraken play like that every night, they should win more often than they lose.
“There’s a lot of good tonight,” Vince Dunn, who scored Seattle’s first goal, said. “It’s hard for me even saying that after losing 3-2 when you’re up by two, but the first one’s out of the way. We’ve got 81 more opportunities to play well, and there’s no doubt in my mind we will bounce back from this one.”
Things started to go sideways after a scrum resulted in a Blues power play. After a zone entry, Jordan Kyrou got a step on Jamie Oleksiak, burned around the corner, and slipped it through Philipp Grubauer’s wickets.
Philip Broberg—playing his first game for the Blues after signing an offer sheet with St. Louis this summer—got vengeance for a monster Will Borgen hit by shooting from the top of the left circle through a screen, beating Grubauer.
Kyrou struck again at 15:37 of the second after an offensive-zone turnover by Oleksiak led to a Kyrou breakaway.
In all, the three goals came in a span of just 1:55 and cooked the Kraken’s goose for the night.
Takeaway #2: A generally good first performance
I generally liked what I saw from the Kraken on this night, except for that little letdown that led to Seattle’s first “L”. Bylsma told the media on Monday that it’s hard to feel confident after training camp that the team has accomplished what it needs to be ready for the regular season.
Bylsma and his players should feel good about the way they played in this game and hopefully use it as a confidence builder rather than a blocker.
“If we can manage— be able to have more maturity in our game and be able to sustain that pace for 60 minutes, we’re going to be successful this year,” Yanni Gourde said. “And I think playing fast, playing together, playing in our spots, playing predictable… When we did that during this game, I thought we did a great job at controlling the pace.”
Takeaway #3: Memorable milestones
Sure, the result was disappointing, but there were some big milestones reached in this game. First, Jess Campbell became the first woman to ever coach a regular-season NHL game. The cheer she received from the home crowd was one of those that raised the hairs on my arms—a truly special moment.
Right after Campbell was announced, Bylsma was introduced for his first game behind the Kraken bench and also got a big cheer, though perhaps not quite as loud as Campbell’s.
“I was waiting to see if the reaction to me would be as loud,” Bylsma joked when asked what he was thinking when Campbell received the huge ovation. “It wasn’t.”
Finally, there was the announcement of Eberle as captain. The 34-year-old forward earned this opportunity, and seeing him announced to the home fans as part of the pre-game festivities was a classy touch by the organization.
“I’m obviously pretty honored,” Eberle said. “To be a captain in this League is special. I like to think that with our group, we’ve got a lot of guys who’ve got Cups, guys with playoff experience, and being part of this group has been special. My family and I love this city, love the culture here, and that was part of why we wanted to be here.”
Darren Brown
Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email darren@soundofhockey.com.
The Kraken captain announcement was pushed to the absolute last possible moment before the official start of the 2024-25 season, but in the end, it was who we expected. Jordan Eberle officially became the second player in franchise history to don the “C” when he was the last player to be introduced prior to Seattle’s Opening Day game against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
“Jordan’s been a leader for our franchise since Day 1,” said Kraken general manager Ron Francis via press release. “He has the full respect of his teammates and is a tremendous role model for our younger players. Jordan’s everything you’d want in a captain.”
Eberle, 34, is in his fourth season with Seattle and follows Mark Giordano, who was Kraken captain for less than a season before being dealt at the 2021-22 trade deadline, as the only players to wear the “C.”
Said Eberle: “It’s an honor to be named captain of the Seattle Kraken. I’ve been able to learn from some great leaders throughout the course of my NHL career. I take pride in being a good teammate and mentor for teammates, and I’m humbled to wear the ‘C’ for this franchise.”
This choice comes as no surprise to us, though there were cases to be made for several other players. The three others who served as alternate captains with Eberle last season, Yanni Gourde, Adam Larsson, and Jaden Schwartz, all maintained their status as members of the leadership group. But third-year center Matty Beniers also joined that group as an “A” for the first time.
Beniers’ elevation to alternate captain does give legs to my theory that Eberle is meant to be a “bridge” captain until Beniers or (perhaps) Shane Wright is ready for the responsibility. I wrote about this theory here, so give that a read.
I’ve always been so impressed by Eberle and the presence that he brings on and off the ice. When he speaks, it’s obvious the other players on the team listen and that he is well respected in the dressing room. If you haven’t heard our recent Sound Of Hockey Podcast interview with him, give it a listen, and you will understand why he was the right choice.
Also, kudos to the Kraken organization for making the announcement in this way, in front of their home fans. It was a really special way of doing that. They held firm on this approach and kept it a secret, even as fans and media members were pestering.
Darren Brown
Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email darren@soundofhockey.com.
The Seattle Kraken season opener is here! For the first time ever, the Kraken open the season at home. And it’s a true “Opening Day” game with puck drop at 1:30 pm PT. Roster questions have been answered. Last practice skates completed. It’s time for the games to count. We’re ready to go.
So, now is as good a time as any to lock in our hot (or lukewarm) Kraken-related season predictions so that all can bask in their accuracy and glory six months down the road. It’s time for another Kraken Roundtable with the gang.
First goal of the season
Curtis Isacke: Like last year, we’re going to kick this off with a silly one: Who scores first and why?
I’ll start us off and say Brandon Montour. Sure, he only had eight goals last season, but the energy and good vibes he brought all camp seem to match the electricity of Opening Day. We know he’s a clutch performer. But scoring the first goal of the season for his new team, after hoisting the Stanley Cup in his last meaningful game, would be next level. Lock it in.
Darren Brown: Curtis, I’ll see your Brandon Montour, and I’ll raise you a Chandler Stephenson out of spite for you. For those who don’t know, Curtis hasn’t been the biggest proponent of the Stephenson signing, so I think it would be pretty funny if he gets things rolling for Seattle this year and just slams it right in Curtis’s face from the jump. The Chan Chan Man did also score the game-winning goal for Vegas with a debatable kick-in in Seattle’s first ever game in the inaugural season, so he owes Kraken fans some good feelings on Opening Day.
Blaiz Grubic: Andre Burakovsky is my pick to score the Kraken’s first goal of the season. He’s shown flashes of brilliance and is eager to rebound from a disappointing injury-riddled season. With his talent and the team’s offensive focus, I am hopeful for a strong campaign. He has looked good in the preseason and at training camp, so I am tapping No. 95.
John Barr: I was going to go with Burakovsky, but now that Blaiz has picked him, I’ll choose someone different. I’m going with Eeli Tolvanen. For the most part, he has looked pretty good in the preseason, which makes me think he had a solid offseason of training and will be ready to start on time.
Most improved player or aspect of the team
Curtis: Give us an aspect of the team that you are optimistic about or excited to see go to the next level.
Darren: I’m really interested to see how the power play does this year. It struggled mightily at times last season, and it got so stagnant. The Kraken have upgraded personnel, and they’ve been practicing a lot at being more dynamic. Getting Montour as the quarterback on the second unit makes things pretty interesting, too, because now there are theoretically two dangerous puck movers dancing across the blue line with him and Vince Dunn and lots of talent on both units.
I know they didn’t score much with the manpower advantage in preseason, but I do like where this thing is headed. If the Kraken power play units don’t click on Day 1, give them some time.
John: Goal scoring. It was Seattle’s biggest weakness last season and therefore has the most opportunity to improve. The gains will come from the entire group. I anticipate some rebounds from Beniers and Burakovsky, plus the additions of Montour and Stephenson will open up opportunities for others. Based on his preseason play, I am optimistic on Shane Wright’s contributions to light the lamp this season.
Blaiz: The Kraken’s center depth has significantly improved. Following the departure of Alex Wennberg at the trade deadline, the team struggled at center, and once Dunn got hurt on the blue line, the season was effectively over.
However, with the acquisition of Stephenson and the emergence of Wright, the Kraken have strengthened their center depth. This has forced Yanni Gourde to move to the fourth line, which is not a slight against his abilities, rather a testament to the team’s overall improvement.
Curtis: John and Blaiz both touched on this tangentially, but Wright is the biggest reason for optimism in my mind. He had a strong scoring season as a 19-year-old in the AHL last year, but beyond the points, his smaller contributions, confidence, and play speed really blossomed at that level.
We only have a few games from last year and the exhibitions this season, but I do think Wright is primed to carry over that play to the NHL level and reach the heights that some had predicted for him pre-draft. It won’t come all at once, and there will be some rough games along the way, but I’m a believer that Wright will get there.
Prospect you’re most interested to watch
Curtis: Is there a player not on the initial roster that has your eye this year? Why?
Blaiz: Eduard Sale, the 19-year-old prospect currently playing for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, is one I will be watching this year. Despite a challenging 2023-24 season, Sale impressed the Kraken brass enough to earn a longer look at training camp.
While he’s currently with the Firebirds, there’s a possibility he could be sent back to his junior team, the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, if he struggles. I’m looking for Sale to continue developing and showcase the potential that made him a first-round draft pick.
John: Sale is the same for me. I expect players like Berkly Catton and Carson Rehkopf to dominate on their respective CHL teams, but that means little until they start playing against older competition in the AHL or NHL. In my opinion, the Seattle Kraken need to take a more hands-on approach with Sale’s development. Despite his lack of production in the OHL last season, I think his time might be better spent in Coachella, under closer supervision. Of all the Kraken prospects who could return to play junior hockey this season, he looked the best in preseason games.
The criticism of Sale is his lack of drive to compete. This was true in his draft year and seemed to carry over into last season in the OHL. He can get away with it somewhat when playing against his age-group peers, but he’ll need to compete much harder in the AHL. That’s why I wouldn’t be surprised if he sticks in the AHL.
Curtis: Sale is a good pick. For all of the discussion of his stagnated development, he is slated to be the seventh-youngest player in the AHL to begin this season, according to Elite Prospects. If he can simply hold his own and stick around the roster all year, as John suggests, it will be a solid step forward.
But, honestly, you could talk me into pretty much any of the “rookie” Firebirds: David Goyette, Jagger Firkus, Ty Nelson, Jani Nyman, and Niklas Kokko all amount to must-see television for me. For now, I’ll pick Kokko. Goalies are notoriously slow to develop, but Kokko already proved he was up to the challenge (and then some) in Liiga, earning an AHL assignment at age 20. It looks like he’ll be at least the fourth-youngest goalie in that league.
Darren: I’m staying on the Lleyton Roed bandwagon. I know he’s 22 years old and therefore should look a step ahead of the other prospects being considered here, but the organization clearly likes what it has seen from the undrafted signee out of Bemidji State University. And man, he was fun to watch in his one preseason game and throughout training camp. With his speed, I think he has an outside chance to play in the NHL relatively soon.
Award the team MVP
Curtis: Whether it’s scoring goals, saves, vibes, or something else, who contributes the most to winning this year?
Blaiz: With a career-best 59 points in 2023-24 and his fifth 20-goal season, Oliver Bjorkstrand is well-positioned for continued success. During his seven years with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Bjorkstrand maintained a shooting percentage of 12.0. While his average dipped to 10.4 percent during his first two seasons with the Kraken, there’s potential for a positive regression. This could further boost his scoring numbers and increase his chances of winning the team MVP award.
Curtis: I’ll swerve here and say that if this team has a big rebound season, a major reason will be the change in mentality and approach from the coaching staff. Players have to get the goals and earn the standings points on the ice, no doubt, but we all saw a team that seemingly struggled with its confidence and identity for prolonged stretches last season. To the extent the Kraken avoid similar losing streaks this year, I think the staff will be a big reason why.
Darren: I made a hot take on the SOH Podcast that Brandon Montour will be viewed as the Kraken’s best player this season. I love what he brings to the table, and I think we’re going to see him used in so many different scenarios that the team will end up winning on his back some nights.
John: I love the thought of Bjorkstrand or Burakovsky being the team MVP, but Jared McCann has been the best Kraken player from Day 1. In a way, it’s a boring pick, but it is also likely he continues to deliver.
Predict the Kraken season
Curtis: Here is the big one. Give us your point total for the team, Seattle’s final place in the Pacific Division standings, and make a prediction on whether the team makes the playoffs. If so, how far do they go?
Curtis: Last year, I was alone among the panel in predicting the Kraken would miss the playoffs. I thought their talent level looked closer to a 90-point team once the shooting luck was stripped out. But even I underestimated just how hard the regression would hit.
This year, Shane Wright looks primed to be an important “addition.” Montour and Stephenson are upgrades over pieces the team had last year too–though I think we are too quick to forget that Brian Dumoulin and Alex Wennberg were solid players and certainly not “the problem” the last year.
“The problem” is the sliding offensive regression of an aging forward core. Jaden Schwartz, Yanni Gourde, and Jordan Eberle, to name a few, could bounce back and have Kraken-best seasons. Andre Burakovsky could stay healthy. But netting it all out, it’s more likely the contributions from the veteran group resemble last year’s production than the 2022-23 output.
Overall I think the team has improved a bit, but perhaps only into the 91-92 point range. This could be enough in a suspect Pacific Division, but I’ll predict they’re on the outside looking in for the second straight year. Every point will be important. Buckle up. It starts today.
John: The 91-92 range sounds a bit optimistic when you cross reference the national outlets rolling out their predictions. These national outlets seem to think that this season’s team is roughly inline with last season’s team. That is insane. I will peg them at 93 points, and they will jump over the Kings and the Golden Knights in the standings this season to finish third in the Pacific. Who’s going to tell me off?!?!?
Darren: I’m so hilariously optimistic sometimes. I read both of your predictions and thought, “No, no! That’s WAY too low!” I really do feel good about this group, though, especially when coupled with the bounce of a new and energized coaching staff in place. If the Kraken can stay healthy, I say they make the playoffs with 96 points and win their opening-round series before being bounced again in Round 2.
Blaiz: On paper, the Kraken have assembled their strongest roster in their young franchise history. They have the potential to be a competitive team, and if they can regain confidence in their goal-scoring abilities, they could surprise some teams.
I see the Kraken as a borderline playoff team. My prediction is they will finish with 95 points and secure fourth place in the Pacific Division. The Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings did not do enough in the offseason, and the Kraken will leap-frog them in the standings. This allows the Kraken to slip into a Wild Card spot.
Once in the playoffs, anything is possible. While I’d love to see the Kraken pull off another upset, a first-round exit is more likely given the competitive nature of the postseason.
Predict the Stanley Cup
Curtis: Finally, give us your Stanley Cup Final matchup and champion. If your crystal ball is clear enough, feel free to elaborate further. For my part, I think the West might have the three best teams overall in Dallas, Colorado, and Edmonton. The heart rejects Edmonton and, to some extent, Colorado. If I remember correctly, I had Dallas emerging from the West and defeating Carolina in the Stanley Cup Final in our pre-playoff prediction last year. Without much new to go on, I guess I’ll just double down on that prediction here: Dallas over Carolina.
Darren: I was very high on Dallas last year as well and thought it was the most balanced team in the league. I say they get over the hump this year. I’m also going to do the most ridiculous thing I can think of and say the Leafs will make the Final out of the East. They are undeniably talented, and I actually think Craig Berube cracking the whip will be a good fit for that club. I’ll go Stars over Leafs.
John: I generally hate predicting anything positive for the Pacific Division’s Canadian teams, but the Edmonton Oilers have improved offensively, and they were obviously close last season. I think they can win it all. That prediction could fail miserably if their goaltending falters, and I’d be okay with that.
The Eastern Conference seems more open than the West. The trendy picks from the last couple of years, Florida and Carolina, have both taken a step back. That leaves the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins as potential contenders. I’ll take the Rangers over the Bruins, but they’ll still lose to the Oilers in the Final.
Blaiz: Western Conference: I’m following John’s prediction and selecting the Edmonton Oilers to make a return trip to the Stanley Cup Final. They maintained a strong core, losing Warren Foegele but acquiring valuable additions like Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson to easily offset any offensive losses. Given their impressive performance last season, the Oilers are well-positioned to win the Stanley Cup this year. My dark horse pick in the West is the Nashville Predators.
Eastern Conference: Believe it or not, I agree with Darren. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been a perennial playoff failure, but with their strong offensive core led by Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander, they are always a threat. If the Leafs can remain steady in their defensive play and goaltending, with the guidance of new bench boss Craig Berube, they could make a deep playoff run and reach the Stanley Cup Final.
Welcome, new (and existing) hockey fans! As the Seattle Kraken enter their fourth season in the NHL, we at Sound Of Hockey wanted to create a primer to help fans get up to speed on the team and the game of hockey.
Team history
Seattle was awarded the NHL’s 32nd franchise on Dec. 4, 2018, and began play in the 2021-22 season. The Kraken have competed in three seasons, experiencing a mix of successes and challenges. The Vegas Golden Knights’ expansion success set unrealistic expectations, but the Kraken’s journey has been marked by ups and downs.
Season 1
After high preseason expectations, the Kraken fell well short of the playoffs in their inaugural campaign, finishing 30th out of 32 teams. In the NHL, 16 teams, the top eight from the Eastern and Western Conferences, qualify for the playoffs.
Season 2
The Kraken’s fortunes turned in their second season. General manager Ron Francis acquired Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Columbus Blue Jackets in the offseason and signed free agent Andre Burakovsky. Matty Beniers won the Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie, scoring 57 points. With a balanced approach and four offensive lines, the Kraken achieved a 100-point season, clinching their first playoff berth.
Seattle fans experienced the thrill of NHL playoff hockey for the first time, including the excitement of sudden-death overtime. In their inaugural playoff series, the Kraken pulled off a stunning upset, defeating the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Colorado Avalanche, in seven games. Facing the Dallas Stars in the second round, they pushed the series to a decisive Game 7, but ultimately fell short. The hunger for Seattle to return to the playoffs is now deeply ingrained in Kraken fans.
Season 3
This time, the Kraken’s fortunes took a turn for the worse in their third season. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, including a franchise-best nine-game winning streak, inconsistent scoring ultimately hindered Seattle’s playoff aspirations. Although they were occasionally on the cusp of a playoff spot at different times during the season, they were unable to maintain the momentum and ultimately finished out of the postseason.
Overall, the Kraken underperformed in their inaugural season, exceeded expectations in season two, and were competitive in season three but fell short of their goals.
Key players
While the Kraken have seen roster turnover, several key players from their inaugural season remain with the team. Here are some of the top performers.
Forwards
Jordan Eberle (“Ebs”)
A veteran right winger, Eberle re-signed with the Kraken prior to last season’s trade deadline for two more years. His playing experience, leadership qualities, and popularity among fans make him a leading candidate to be named captain for the upcoming season. While the Kraken have been captain-less for the last two seasons, they are the only team in the NHL without a player wearing a “C” on his jersey. “Ebs'” leadership could provide a unifying force and further solidify the team’s identity.
Jared McCann (“Canner”)
The Kraken’s franchise leader in points with 182 is renowned for his scoring ability. With his lethal shot, you want “Canner” with the puck on his stick in high-pressure situations. His offensive prowess makes him a crucial asset to the team’s success. He scored 40 goals during the 2022-23 season, a career best and Seattle franchise record.
Matty Beniers (“Matty B”)
Beniers burst onto the NHL scene with a remarkable rookie campaign, scoring 57 points and winning the Calder Trophy. However, he faced challenges in his sophomore season, struggling to replicate his early success and finishing with 37 points. Despite this setback, “Matty B” is a promising two-way center with a balanced approach to both offensive and defensive play. His recent signing of a $50 million, seven-year contract demonstrates the team’s commitment to his development and future with the Kraken. He could be the face of the franchise one day.
Defense
Adam Larsson (“Big Cat”)
Larsson, an ironman defenseman, leads the Kraken in games played in franchise history. Known for his physicality and calming presence on defense, “Big Cat” is a reliable cornerstone of the team’s blue line.
Vince Dunn (“Dunner”)
Dunn, a puck-moving defenseman and power play quarterback, has led the Kraken’s defense in points each season. Known for his two-way play and willingness to drop the gloves for his teammates, Dunn is a valuable asset on both ends of the ice.
Jamie Oleksiak (“Big Rig”)
A towering defenseman at 6-foot-7, 257 pounds, Oleksiak is the largest player in the NHL. While known primarily for his defensive prowess, “Big Rig” also likes to jump up into the offensive zone. Despite his size, he moves surprisingly quickly thanks to his long legs and can catch opponents off guard with his stickhandling. His physical presence makes him a formidable opponent, and he’s a valuable asset on the penalty kill.
Goaltenders
Philipp Grubauer (“Gru” and “The German Gentleman”)
The veteran netminder who loves horses and spends time taking care of them when he is away from the rink often elicits a resounding “Gruuuuuuu!” from the crowd for his saves. “The German Gentleman’s” stellar performance was instrumental in the Kraken’s first playoff series win against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche. The Kraken need him to be excellent this season.
Joey Daccord (“Dac”, “Joey”, “The Mayor”)
The younger of the two Kraken netminders has impressed fans with his solid performances, often earning a “Joey, Joey, Joey” chant from the crowd after making a good save. Daccord is known for his ability to handle the puck and help the Kraken exit the defensive zone. Daccord had a breakout season last year, finishing sixth in the NHL in save percentage and goals-against average. He recorded a shutout in the Winter Classic and contributed to the Kraken’s franchise-best nine-game winning streak with eight wins.
Mascot – Buoy
Although Buoy, a fun-loving troll, is not a player on the team, he is the Seattle Kraken’s mascot. While Buoy’s initial reception was divided, Buoy has since won over fans with his flowing locks, removable tooth, slight belly, and playful antics. The Sound Of Hockey crew are strong advocates for Buoy, and his endearing presence has become an integral part of the Kraken’s identity.
Nicknames
Hockey players often adopt nicknames, which are typically derived from their first or last names with an “-er” or “-y” suffix. Fans quickly adopt these nicknames, making them a common part of hockey lingo when referring to players.
Excitement for the upcoming season (2024-25)
The Seattle Kraken are buzzing with anticipation as they prepare for the upcoming season. Here are some key reasons for the optimism.
Promising young talent
Shane Wright, the highly touted 2022 fourth-overall draft pick, is poised to play his first season as a full-time NHLer. While expectations should be managed, Wright’s talent is undeniable. Combined with promising young center Beniers, these two will form a dynamic one-two punch for years to come.
Veteran acquisitions
Center Chandler Stephenson and defenseman Brandon Montour, both signed to seven-year deals, add experience and stability to the lineup. During preseason, Montour was on display showing how he can help the Kraken at both ends of the ice.
Coaching changes
New head coach Dan Bylsma, nicknamed “Disco Dan,” brings a fresh perspective and a focus on boosting offensive production while maintaining the Kraken’s strong defensive foundation. His coaching staff includes Bob Woods, Jessica Campbell, and Dave Lowry. Curtis Isacke, described what Woods brings to the Kraken, who will run the defense and the power play.
The Kraken have demonstrated a strong track record in drafting promising young players in their early years as a franchise. NHL-eligible players can be drafted when they turn 18 years old. While over 200 players are selected during the NHL Entry Draft over seven rounds, only a small handful will make the NHL the following year. Most drafted players require further development in the junior (CHL) or minor (AHL) leagues for three to four years before cracking an NHL lineup.
With just three seasons under their belt, the Kraken’s prospects are beginning to mature. To date, Matty Beniers, a first-round pick from the inaugural draft, is the only drafted player to make the team full-time. For the upcoming season, Shane Wright and Ryker Evans are expected to join the roster. Ryan Winterton, a second-round pick from 2021, is also pushing for a spot and remains a strong possibility to play in some Kraken games this year but will start the season in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Many other Kraken prospects are developing with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. This team boasts 12 players under the age of 23, providing a valuable training ground for future NHL talent. Fans can follow the progress of Kraken prospects by streaming games from both the Firebirds and their ECHL affiliate, the Kansas City Mavericks, via subscription on FloHockey.tv. Players such as Jagger Firkus and Lleyton Roed will look to take the next step in Coachella Valley this season.
Ice Hockey: Rules and play
If you are truly new to ice hockey, this section is for you. Hockey is a fast-paced sport with constant player changes on the fly. It can be a bit daunting at first, but here are some excellent resources to help you understand the rules, the play, and the role of the referees.
KING 5 Seattle’s “Hockey 101” video is an excellent starting point for understanding the basics of hockey. It covers the key rules and the flow of the game.
Key rules and concepts
Offsides: A player is offside if they cross the opposing team’s blue line before the puck.
Icing: Occurs when a player shoots the puck past the center red line and far goal line without another player touching the puck. This results in a stoppage of play, and the team that iced the puck is penalized by not being allowed to change players. Play restarts in the defensive zone of the team that committed the icing.
Penalties: Penalties are assessed for various infractions, such as tripping, hooking, slashing, and interference. Penalties result in a player being sent to the penalty box, and the opposing team plays with a numerical advantage, called a power play. Most power plays last two minutes but can be four or five minutes depending on the severity of the infraction.
The Rink: The hockey rink is divided into three zones, separated by the blue lines: the offensive zone, neutral zone, and defensive zone. The goal is located at the back of the defensive zone.
Players: Each team consists of six players on the ice at a time, five skaters and a goalie. If a team gets a penalty, they skate down a player until the penalty expires.
The NHL partnered with Snoop Dogg to create a series of entertaining videos explaining the rules of hockey. These nine videos, which take about 25 minutes to watch in total, are a fun and engaging way to learn the basics of the game.
Referees and linesmen
There are four officials on the ice during an NHL game: two referees and two linesmen. Referees, identifiable by orange bands on their arms, primarily focus on penalties and determining if goals are scored. Linesmen monitor for offsides and icing and help break up extracurricular activities. While it’s common for crowds to boo officials as they enter the ice, it’s important to remember that referees have a very hard job. The game moves incredibly fast, and they need to make split-second decisions on whether or not to make a call.
Following the play
The Sound Of Hockey Podcast has discussed strategies for understanding the fast-paced nature of hockey, which involves players regularly exceeding speeds of over 20 mph. To follow the game effectively, it’s helpful to anticipate the puck’s movement and the overall flow of play. John Barr and Curtis Isacke have suggested focusing on a single position during a game to gain a deeper understanding of the various roles on the ice.
There are five skater positions: left wing, center, right wing, left defense, and right defense, usually identifiable based on where they line up for a face-off. Curtis, also known as @deepseahockey on multiple platforms, has created YouTube videos that highlight all shifts for a specific player on the ice. This is a valuable resource for focusing on individual positions and gaining insights into their roles and responsibilities.
The videos linked above feature players who are currently part of the Kraken organization, though some of the videos show players prior to their time with Seattle, meaning they are not wearing a Kraken jersey. While watching the videos, focus on the player’s jersey number to help learn each position. Note that due to TV angles, sometimes the player of focus is not always visible.
When first learning about positional play, it’s recommended to focus on even-strength situations (5-on-5 play). You can explore power play and penalty kill strategies later. If a team is on the power play, you will see it noted on the TV broadcast’s scorebug.
How to watch the Seattle Kraken
The ultimate Kraken experience is undoubtedly watching them live at Climate Pledge Arena. Witness the energy of the crowd, the electrifying atmosphere, and cheer on your favorite team in person. If you’re unsure where to sit, check out Sound Of Hockey’s helpful Kraken seating guide.
However, we understand that attending games isn’t always an option due to cost or other factors. Thankfully, there are convenient TV and radio options available to catch the action remotely.
Living in Washington, Oregon, or Alaska?
Great news! As a Kraken fan in the Pacific Northwest, you have several ways to catch the games.
Local Broadcast: The Kraken have a new partnership with KING 5 and KONG, which will combine to broadcast 72 of 82 non-nationally televised games, all available for free over the air.
Amazon Prime: For the first time ever, Seattle Kraken games will be streamed on Amazon Prime Video for Prime members in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.
Radio Broadcast: Sports Radio 93.3 KJR FM will broadcast the games in the Seattle area. Check here for affiliates in other areas.
Friend of the pod, Chris Smith (@icethetics) has created these handy info-graphics.
No problem! You can still watch the Kraken play with an ESPN+ subscription. This service allows you to stream most out-of-market NHL games, including the Kraken. For the number of NHL games you get with this service, it is a fantastic deal.
Nationally televised games
There are 10 Kraken games scheduled to be nationally broadcast on ESPN, ESPN+, ABC, Hulu, or TNT. To watch these games, you’ll need a subscription to the appropriate channel or streaming service. The full broadcast schedule can be found here.
How to stay updated on the Kraken
Look no further! Sound Of Hockey has you covered to stay connected with the Kraken and the NHL.
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Wrapping up
Congratulations on becoming a Kraken fan! You’ve now joined a passionate community that shares your love for the team.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have about hockey, the Kraken, or anything related to the team. We tend to gear most of our content on Sound Of Hockey toward more seasoned fans, but this is a safe space to discuss and learn together, so please comment below with any questions you might have. We’re excited to have you join the Sound Of Hockey family!
We know win-loss preseason results don’t matter. I would also caution against overvaluing individual performances. The sample size is small; quality of teammates and competition vary much more widely than in the regular season; and players may be playing their first games with new teammates or trying to work on a certain aspect of their game instead of their normal approach.
That said, preseason data is all we have to go on so far, and it’s typically unavailable in aggregate form in the public sphere. So, with a healthy heap of salt, let’s take a look at the preseason performance of Seattle’s skaters and highlight a few standout areas to see what we can learn about the Kraken. Unless otherwise noted, the data was drawn from Natural Stat Trick.
Tilting the ice
Among forwards with at least 20 minutes of 5-on-5 time on ice, no one boosted the team in terms overall shot share more than Tye Kartye. We brought him up on the Sound Of Hockey Podcast as a player looking for his shot more going into his second full season. Hopefully, the preseason is a springboard for him into the regular season.
On the other end of the spectrum, the team gave up far more than it generated in terms of overall shot count when Matty Beniers and Chandler Stephenson were on the ice. As seen in the chart below, neither generated much at 5-on-5 in terms of shot quality off their own sticks, nor was the team generating positive overall shot quality share with them on the ice. These are two key players to Seattle’s success, and the team will be looking to them to start tilting the ice in the other direction once the games start counting for real.
Defensively, Brandon Montour has been delivering offense, as expected. Adam Larsson and Vince Dunn (in limited ice time) fared well, particularly defensively. The most notable performances were by Ville Ottavainen, who was an offensive boon for shot attempts, and Maxime Lajoie, who interestingly killed shots both for and against with equal measure.
When looking at individual shot quality and overall team success, Montour and Jamie Oleksiak–who quietly performs well while rarely ever being discussed–stood out. The early returns suggest this could be a very strong two-way defensive pair.
Overall, Kartye and Shane Wright drove the most offense when they were on the ice at 5-on-5. Beniers and Jared McCann struggled, though I have few concerns about McCann, given his track record.
Carrying the power play
Shifting focus to the revamped power play unit, among players who logged more than two minutes on the man advantage, no one stood out for his shot quality contributions more than Wright. He led the team with four high-danger chances on the power play, per Natural Stat Trick.
This matches the eye test from the preseason, where he was a menace down low, particularly on rebound opportunities. From my vantage, Wright should be getting heavy minutes on the first unit power-play until he proves he can’t do it.
Standout young players
While I didn’t include them in the charts above due to exceedingly small sample sizes, a couple players who only saw one game created truly excellent outcomes when they were on the ice. Nathan Villeneuve earned the goal he scored, with .54 individual expected goals created in just over 12 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time. His 2.67 expected goals per 60 minutes was by far the highest rate on the team, surpassing Kartye’s figure in three games. And no player tilted shot quality farther in favor of the Kraken than Lleyton Roed. The Kraken had almost 92 percent of shot quality share when Roed played 5-on-5.
Wow! Nathan Villeneuve with a rocket one-timer! 🚀
Bjorkstrand sets him up, and the youngster gets a pretty goal and a nice little “sheath the sword” celly. 🗡️ #SeaKraken
Team-level shot quality indicators show areas for growth
Overall, the Kraken shot quality share was solid. The team took 52.4 percent of total shot attempts and 53.6 percent of shot quality overall when playing 5-on-5 this preseason. The numbers were similar in all situations, with the Kraken remaining above 50 percent in each category.
Seattle’s special teams units are still a work in progress, though. The power play generated only 5.87 expected goals per 60 minutes according to Natural Stat Trick, which is a poor rate, significantly trailing last year’s mediocre 7.03 rate, per HockeyViz. Likewise the penalty kill struggled, conceding 8.94 expected goals against per 60 minutes, which trails last season’s 7.75 rate–again per HockeyViz. The sample size is extraordinarily small, and it is clear the team is still working on new things–particularly on the power play–so some ramp up time is to be expected. But this underscores the importance of growth on special teams if the team is going to get to where it wants to go at the end of the season.
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Anything else you’re curious about in the team’s preseason data? Drop us a note below or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey.
Curtis Isacke
Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.
It’s Nov. 19, 2022, and the Minnesota Wild are hosting the Carolina Hurricanes at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. It’s the second shift of the game. Defenseman Calvin de Haan of the Hurricanes gains control of the puck just inside his own blue line and looks to turn up the ice.
Over the course of the next 20 seconds, the puck touches eight different sticks on both teams, and no player possesses it for more than a second or two. The end result is de Haan’s partner, Jalen Chatfield, looking to re-start the process inside the Carolina blue line–neither team having gained any ground.
Was it uncoordinated chaos? A failed puck chase? It may look that way at first. But as you peel back the onion, the subtleties of team play at the NHL level start to reveal themselves.
From Minnesota’s perspective, the Wild deployed a 1-2-2 neutral zone forecheck, with the defensemen staying wide at the defensive blue line and an F3 ready to take away the center zone entry. As the Hurricanes puck carrier stayed wide, the Wild left defenseman, Jake Middleton, moved to deny a clean controlled zone entry at the blue line. The backchecking forward, Mats Zuccarello, backfills for Middleton and the right defenseman, Jared Spurgeon, skates over to cover the strong side net front.
With the puck now loose down into the corner, Spurgeon jumps on it. He attempts to break the Hurricanes forecheck with a pass up the boards (a “strong side push”). This breakout is stymied by pinching Hurricanes defender Chatfield, but with so many Hurricanes forecheckers deep in the offensive zone on the strongside, the Wild quickly reverse the puck behind the net to an alternative set breakout. That breakout is designed to bypass pressure on the weak side and get a quick transition to a controlled counter strike. However, the Hurricanes are again quick to diagnose the play and break up the exit. The puck drifts out to Chatfield.
When you break it down, it has the grace and coordination of a ballet and the tactics of a chess match. Each move met with a coordinated response. It’s disciplined and instinctual play on the ice. It’s also the product of detailed coaching.
OK, that’s great. But at this point you might fairly be asking why do we care about any of this at all? On that day–and for a period of six-plus seasons from 2017 to 2023–new Seattle Kraken assistant coach Bob Woods was the coach in charge of the Wild defense. And, as we’ll see, how his teams have played in the past can tell us a lot about how the Kraken will defend this year.
Last time, we looked at Woods’ experience and the historical performance of his defenses. In Woods’ introductory press conference, Kraken coach Dan Bylsma said, “It’s always a challenge to coach against a Bob Woods team and so you know you kind of want that on your side.”
What makes it challenging to beat a Woods defense? We found that his teams don’t win by turning the puck over (seventh-fewest turnovers forced during his Wild tenure) or ratcheting up the physicality (second-fewest hits). Even so, Woods’ Wild defenses forced the opponent to shoot from the outside, smothered opponent chances in the “house,” blocked shots, gathered rebounds, and efficiently broke out of the defensive zone.
All of this implies a defensive philosophy that guards the middle and works inside-out to the shooter with discipline. Does the tape support that? Let’s take a look at the systems Woods used in Minnesota and early returns on what we’re seeing so far in training camp and the preseason with the Seattle Kraken.
Neutral-zone forecheck
When the opponent has control of the puck in its own end and is looking toward transition, Woods’ Minnesota teams used a 1-2-2 neutral zone defensive forecheck. This is a common system. Seattle used a similar scheme under Dave Hakstol. There will be subtle differences though.
In a 1-2-2, the defense forms into three layers. A single forward at the top near the opponent’s blue line (F1), two forwards covering each half of the ice near the red line (F2, F3) and the two defensemen nearer the defensive blue line (D1, D2).
The goal of the F1 forward is to provide conservative pressure while blocking the center advance. The opponent is forced to commit to one side or the other. This funnels the play toward the F2 or F3 side, who will look to choke off the play at the red line and force the opponent to ice the puck if they can. Failing that, the forward looks to further constrict the advance toward the boards, allowing the defenseman behind to step up at the blue line and disrupt a controlled zone entry attempt.
Whichever side the opponent advances on (e.g., the F2 side in the diagram above), the backside forward (F3 in the diagram above) skates back closer to the center of the ice to take away a center blue line entry while the defensemen stay wide. This allows the backside defenseman to collapse more quickly into defensive coverage. This movement is different from most 1-2-2 schemes.
In the clip above, we see how this works in action. Minnesota’s F1, Kirill Kaprizov, advances in controlled fashion on the Hurricane in possession, forcing a commitment up the far side boards. The F2 defender, Connor Dewar, steps up between the opponent blue line and red line forcing a pass that is easy for the next layer of the Minnesota scheme, defenseman Jonas Brodin, to diagnose and force an uncontrolled dump-in entry. The backside F3, Mason Shaw, dives to the middle to cover the blue line, and the retreating backside D2 is in uncontested position to take control of the puck and break it out.
This preseason, we’ve seen the Kraken deploy this same scheme.
The system gets more conservative when the opponent is able to break the forecheck and attack through the center of the ice with speed. The team then goes to a lock-step retreating 1-2-2 to take away space for passes and the most threatening zone entry.
As we see in the clip above, this will often concede a controlled entry, but it is intended to keep the opponent to the outside and allow Minnesota to set up its defensive-zone scheme.
Defensive-zone breakout
After watching a good deal of Minnesota Wild hockey under Bob Woods and digging into the data, it strikes me that all of Woods’ defensive schemes are in service of one goal: limiting high-danger chances. Sometimes this means getting aggressive (stepping up to disrupt controlled entries at the blue line is good) but more often it means playing relentlessly disciplined (and some might say “conservative”) hockey.
This extends to the system for getting the puck out of the defensive zone under pressure. Bylsma has expressed a desire to get north quickly, but overzealous zone exit attempts under pressure carry significant risk. As Kraken fans no doubt recall from Season 1, the most dangerous turnovers come toward the middle of the ice in the defensive zone. Woods’ teams avoid the risk of these types of turnovers by defaulting to defensive-zone breakouts that use the walls. In the worst case scenario, a turnover would occur in a position that allowed the Wild to resume their defensive-zone structure.
After recovery of the puck deep in the defensive zone, the first option for the D1 in possession tends to be a pass up the strong-side boards to a support forward (F1). Ideally, the F1 is presented with two options. First, he can continue the puck up the boards, bypassing the forechecker to a second forward (F2) streaking toward the defensive blue line. Or second, he can hit the third forward (F3) who fills the middle of the ice and could take a pass up the middle for center breakout. Then, in an attempt to bolster the speed of the transition, the backside defender (D2) activates into the rush. This system has various names but is often called a “bump by” or “strong-side push.”
Here we see Minnesota attempt a strong-side push breakout along the far-side boards. Defenseman Calen Addison (No. 2) is ready to join the rush if it succeeds, but Carolina diagnoses the bump-by attempt and foils the exit.
If there is pressure on the strong side, an option available to the defenseman in possession is to reverse the puck to his defense partner below the net. Two forwards fly the zone up the backside, and the defenseman targets a pass along the boards to hit a streaking forward.
Here, the goal is to bypass aggressive zone pressure and convert into offense as quickly as possible without risking a pass through the middle of the defensive zone. This is a “reverse”/“counterstrike” variant on the strong-side wall play.
Defensive coverage high in the zone
In Minnesota, Woods utilized a man coverage scheme in the defensive zone in most situations when the puck was off the wall and above the goal line. Based on what we’ve seen in preseason games, it looks like the Kraken will not be utilizing that scheme but instead a version of a 2-1-2 zone defense that bends towards Woods’ principles. To understand what I mean by that, let’s first take a look at what Woods ran in Minnesota and then compare it to what we’ve seen from the Kraken in the preseason.
In Woods’ Minnesota man-defense scheme, a Wild player would track his check around the zone with one eye toward denying passes, but, more importantly, with the aim of staying between his check and the goal to deny clean shooting opportunities.
It sounds simplistic, but few NHL teams actually run this kind of defense because it requires mobility and defensive commitment from all five defensive skaters. The defensemen need to be comfortable tracking to the outside, and the forwards need to be comfortable at the net front, depending on offensive rotation.
In this clip, defenseman Jared Spurgeon (No. 46) ends up near the blue line in coverage. The coverage works and Carolina ends up with a low-danger chance from the blue line.
Most important to Woods’ scheme is that coverage is intentionally loosened higher in the defensive zone. The points are intentionally left relatively “open” because the defense wants to funnel the puck there for shots. When dealing with an opponent in possession near the blue line, the Wild defender stays conservative and approaches in a deliberate straight line with goal to prevent a direct slap shot.
In this clip, you see at about the three-second mark that the forwards in man coverage on Hurricanes point players have compressed down to the tops of the circles. This creates effectively a 5-on-3 scenario, where the only clean option available to Carolina is the low-to-high pass back to the point. Again, the result is a low-danger point shot.
At the end of the day, the goal of the man coverage is not necessarily to take away the puck but to suffocate chances at getting inside. High passing and cycles are fine, as long as there’s nowhere to go inside.
Fast forward to Seattle, and it appears the Kraken will not be adopting this defensive coverage wholesale. Instead, the Kraken will deploy a more conventional 2-1-2 zone defense in situations when the puck is off the wall above the goal line. Basically, the Kraken will deploy two defensemen in front of the net, two forwards (typically the wingers) high, and the center in the middle of the ice with more roving responsibility. The Kraken skaters will then pick up and defend players who come into their zones. (This is also called a “box-and-one” defense.)
We’re dealing with a small sample of preseason games, but the key similarity between schemes to me is to sag off the points and create a number advantage from the circles down in order to force the puck away from the “house” (where high-danger chances come from) and back to the points. Once the puck is on the outside, the teaching point is not to overreact and chase, but stay disciplined to keep yourself between the player in your zone and the goal. Again, opponent possession is OK, as long as the puck doesn’t get inside.
In the clip above, I believe we see (a Connor McDavid-induced) example of what not to do. The Kraken get caught extending their zone coverage too high out to the blue line, which allows for Edmonton to get the puck inside with a pass for a more dangerous opportunity.
By contrast, here, we see a more effective deployment of the condensed 2-1-2 zone coverage from Seattle that forces the puck back to the point where the shot is blocked and Seattle breaks it out of the zone.
So, we see the philosophy is the same as the man coverage scheme deployed in Minnesota. If that’s the case, why not simply use the Minnesota scheme? Three potential explanations occur to me. First, the Kraken have a few larger defensemen who may not be as comfortable or effective tracking a check in man coverage out to the blue line. (Jamie Oleksiak’s highest and best use isn’t blocking shots 40 feet from the net.) Second, the players or other members of the coaching staff may have expressed greater comfort running a zone scheme that is closer to what Seattle (and Coachella Valley) ran last year. Third, the transition into low zone coverage is a bit more streamlined coming out of the 2-1-2 zone than a man coverage. Let’s get into those coverages in a moment.
That’s not to say it’s without challenges. Philipp Grubauer gave an insightful comment on this earlier in the preseason, noting the biggest challenge for him is getting comfortable with how coverages work and shift directly in the front of the net because it affects where he can be and which players are likely to be open or available to tip the puck. “It’s getting used to screens, everybody crossing in front of you, tips. Like who is open at what time? It changed a little bit, I think, in the [defensive] zone. So for us goalies, finding a depth is really important and recognizing or reading the game and who is open at what time.”
Low/boards defensive zone coverage
When the puck ends up along the boards below the goal line, Woods’ Minnesota scheme would send the two closest into the corner with the other three covering the goal posts and the slot in a tight triangle zone coverage around the goal.
The goal is to take away the quick strike at the net front or the high-danger cross-seam pass and instead force the puck around the boards on the outside so the Wild can get back into their man coverage.
As seen in the clip above, the Kraken have run a similar system in dealing with plays in the corner and below the goal line. When the opposition is shifted almost entirely to the strong side, the defensive coverage shifts with it to leave one player net front, one in the slot, and one player further up the boards to intercept an attempted high-low pass.
Likewise, when the puck is contested along the boards above the goal line, the Kraken typically send the center first into the puck battle, potentially to be supported by the closer of the nearside defenseman or forward, with the others rotating into positions to defend the net-front and cross-seam passes.
Working toward “connected” Kraken hockey
Implementing new systems is a process that takes time–not because they’re complex, but because players need to internalize and deploy them instinctually at full game speed. For his part, head coach Dan Bylsma told the media he subscribes to the theory that habits take three weeks to form (which happens to be one day longer than the full run time of camp).
After an error-riddled preseason debut against the Flames on Sept. 22 in which the team gave up 13 high-danger shot attempts, a hoarse Bylsma said, “I think there was a concerted effort to do some of the things we’re talking about,” but “it just wasn’t on the same page. We weren’t at all connected, we weren’t doing it together, and the play was a lot like my voice as a result.”
Forward Tye Kartye was frank that the defensive coverage needed to improve. According to Kartye, this could only come from “trusting everyone [and] making sure everyone’s in their right spot.” “When everyone knows what everyone else is doing and we can all trust it… that’s how we’ll have success,” Kartye said. “It takes a couple of game situations to get into that in terms of understanding the system again and making reads again,” added Grubauer.
A week later, after the team’s game on Sept. 28, Grubauer had seen tangible progress. “Now we had some time to practice 5-on-5, the power play–which we didn’t have much time [to do] before [the first preseason game]–to get to know the system changes… So now it’s getting better.”
The player- and scheme-level defensive connectivity the Kraken had been seeking was on full display two nights later in Calgary. At 8:12 in the first period, Calgary defenseman Daniil Miromanov possessed the puck, scanning the Kraken 1-2-2 neutral-zone forecheck as he advanced.
As Calgary approached center ice, the weak-side forward (Ryan Winterton) collapsed toward the middle of the defensive blue line to take away the center drive, keeping Calgary hemmed in along the wall. This allowed Kraken defenseman Josh Mahura to step up and disrupt the blue line entry. With a loose puck to the corner, the other defenseman, Ville Ottavainen, gathered the puck and rapidly attempted a strong-side push exit.
If this all sounds familiar, it’s because we saw the Wild doing the same things in the sequence described at the very top of this post. As in that case, the Calgary forecheckers here shut down an attempted exit along the boards causing a contested puck scenario.
Here, Calgary emerges with possession, so Seattle rapidly springs into their 2-1-2 compressed zone defense. The low challenge by Ottavainen and forward Ben Meyers causes the Calgary forward to take the open low-to-high pass out to the blue line. Calgary defenseman MacKenzie Weegar receives the puck at the point, but all of the low options are covered, and Meyers rapidly advances toward the shooting lane. This leaves Calgary with only one option–a distance shot on net easily corralled by Joey Daccord.
The Kraken worked together stacking strategies to deny a controlled entry and then mitigate virtually all danger after a failed zone exit. It’s not a finished product yet, but the trust and connection is growing.
“[Woods] is new to the players and that trust and relationship… continues to be built up as training camp goes along,” Bylsma said. But Bylsma is confident it will get there quickly. “[Woods is a] great communicator, great relationship builder on defense.”
If history is an indication, Woods’ Kraken defense should be formidable once it all comes together.
Curtis Isacke
Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.
