Statistically, the Seattle Kraken power play wasn’t horrible last season. Over the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign, it converted on 20.7 percent of its opportunities, ranking 17th in the NHL. But as the season progressed, even an untrained eye could recognize what the team was trying to do. The play became stagnant and—at times—downright predictable.
Players would get into their 1-3-1 positions, barely move their feet, and look for a pass, usually to Jared McCann, who would be sneaking down from the blue line to the top of the left circle. If that didn’t work, they’d scamper back to their positions and try again.
Now, the Kraken have a new coaching staff at the helm, and Dan Bylsma has tasked Bob Woods and Jessica Campbell with making the power play units more dynamic.
“Jess and Woody have done a great job of just giving us the tools and just giving us the options to kind of keep moving and open up plays that maybe we wouldn’t have seen before,” McCann said. “And they’re giving us some leeway with doing our own thing, too, which we like… We’re not just looking for the same plays anymore.”
We began to see this more fluid approach in the preseason when the Kraken mixed and matched NHL, AHL, and even CHL personnel on their power play chances, which resulted in an uninspiring 2-for-26 success rate.
“We’re only going to talk about the percentage, but the power play and penalty kill are factors in every game,” Bylsma added. “And that’s not just from scoring goals or keeping goals out of the net. It’s about gaining momentum for your team and creating opportunities.”
Let’s dig in to understand the updates the Kraken have made to their power play this season.
Upgraded personnel showing some flashes
Bylsma highlighted a few specific preseason power plays that looked the way he wanted them to look. These included opportunities in the last meaningless game against Edmonton, in which the team nearly scored on multiple occasions, and the final power play in Calgary in Seattle’s penultimate exhibition game. Ironically, the Kraken went 0-for-5 in that game against the Flames with the man advantage, but then came out for a sixth opportunity early in the third period and immediately converted.
On that goal in Calgary, all five players touched the puck, using a mix of exterior and seam passes. Shane Wright ultimately cleaned up a rebound for what looked like an easy goal.
In Seattle’s season-opening 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, the Kraken only got one power play opportunity, and neither of the two units converted during the two-minute advantage. But even in that small sample size, you could see what the team was trying to do, and both units came within inches of tying the game.
For that contest, the units consisted of Brandon Montour, Chandler Stephenson, Shane Wright, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Jaden Schwartz on one, and Vince Dunn, Andre Burakovsky, Matty Beniers, McCann, and Jordan Eberle on the other. We had previously assumed the Dunn-backed unit was the No. 1 power play, but Montour’s group went over the boards first on Tuesday. On paper, these two groupings present a greater scoring threat than what Seattle iced last season.
“Chan is so, so smooth with the puck, he’s such a great skater. He’s going to help us a lot on the entries, and he can make a play. He can also shoot the puck pretty well, too,” McCann said. “Monty back there adds a little level of poise, and he’s got a missile, too, obviously. You saw that in the last [preseason game] when he blew one through the goalie. So I feel like we’ve added some threats to our team, some bigger options, and it’s going to open up everybody else too, myself included.”
Regardless of which group is PP1 and which is PP2, both have so far looked notably different from last season.
More movement, more “freedom”
During that lone 5-on-4 Tuesday, there were two great opportunities to score, both of which came after stretches of strong player and puck movement. The first chance came from the Montour unit.
In the below clip, you’ll see the initial 1-3-1 setup. Montour is the “one” at the blue line, Stephenson (right halfwall), Wright (middle/“bumper” position), and Bjorkstrand (left halfwall) are the “three” in a line across the hashmarks and face-off dots, and Schwartz is the other “one” as the net-front presence. This is similar to what we saw last year and to what all NHL teams run to some degree.
In both groups, the blue line and right halfwall players act as “quarterbacks,” with the puck typically returning to them for distribution or shooting.
With 12:50 left on the clock, the stylistic change from last season becomes apparent. While last year’s team might have stuck rigidly to the 1-3-1, Stephenson shifts to the blue line, Montour moves to the left halfwall, and Bjorkstrand and Wright both push low toward the goal line. Bjorkstrand attempts a cross-crease pass to a crashing Wright, Montour reads the play and slides into the slot, and the result is a high-danger chance that rings off the crossbar.
From the PK perspective, it’s chaotic. Players are moving all around the zone, and with the numerical disadvantage, it becomes nearly impossible to stick to assignments.
“Movement is key,” Montour said. “Obviously, we’re snapping it around. You’ve got to play quick… You want to make plays and find that perfect play, but in the end, power plays are simple. You’ve got to get shots to the net and move the puck, which is what we were doing there.”
When the other unit took the ice on Tuesday, it also created confusion for the Blues killers, ending with Jordan Binnington barely fighting off a high shot from Dunn.
This group stuck more closely to the 1-3-1 formation but still showed creativity. McCann continued to act as the “climber,” starting high in the zone and looking for an opportunity to drive toward the circle. We saw this often over the last couple of seasons, to the point it became obvious Seattle was trying to get McCann the puck when he started rolling toward the net.
“I just feel like I open up other options if I’m that guy climbing because I can score coming down from pretty high,” McCann said of the theory behind the climber play. “I feel like I can get the puck to the net, and obviously, it depends on the screen, and if I can get it through the defenseman’s layer, but it’s just something I’ve always worked on.”
What’s different now is that McCann isn’t the only shooting threat. In the clip, Beniers is in the bumper position and Eberle is at the net-front. As the puck moves up the wall (11:58 left on the clock), Beniers shifts, and the Kraken overload the left side with four players (Dunn, McCann, Beniers, and Eberle).
Beniers is now in a spot we rarely saw him in last season, playing along the same wall as McCann. As expected, McCann gets rolling downhill, drawing attention from the Blues. Dunn capitalizes by finding Beniers, who walks in and shoots, putting St. Louis on the ropes. Initially, the Blues are too condensed, and then they overcompensate, becoming too spread out when the puck goes back to Dunn at the blue line. Dunn gets a great look from the top of the slot, but Binnington manages to deflect it.
**Editor’s note: How did Justin Faulk’s crosscheck to Matty’s back as the previous penalty was expiring not get called?**
Here’s the difference this season from Dunn’s point of view: “I think it’s just more freedom… We still want to be really predictable until we get into the flow of things, and then we can look to think outside the box a little bit more. But it’s nice that we don’t feel any pressure to be so stationary.
“Where guys are, they’re comfortable, and they know that if they get flipped around, they’re not running back to their spots. Everyone has the ability to play in different positions.”
Will the new Kraken power play approach work?
What we’ve seen from the Kraken power play in games and practices has been encouraging, but the results haven’t come yet. They have the personnel and game plan to confuse and challenge opposing penalty kills but need to score a couple of power-play goals to build confidence in this new approach.
Bylsma knows that improvement here is essential if Seattle wants to score more this season.
“Teams can play well by just having a good power play… some teams can,” Bylsma said. “And so the power play can establish your team game with how you operate, how they execute, and how they play.”
Has the team made enough advancement for Bylsma to like what he has seen?
“Difficult to say… That will remain a work in progress.”
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.
One of the lingering questions about what the Seattle Kraken would do after this season has already been answered. General manager Ron Francis got ahead of the game and signed goalie Joey Daccord to a five-year, $25 million contract extension (a “Daccord Accord” if you will) on Wednesday, locking the netminder in with the organization.
“Joey stepped up last season and proved his ability to handle an increased workload,” Francis said. “We’re confident he can take his game to another level, and we’re excited to have him under contract long term.”
Indeed, the Kraken are betting that Daccord will continue his upward trajectory, which elevated him to borderline No. 1 goalie status last season. The 28-year-old from Boston posted a solid .916 save percentage and a 2.46 goals-against average in his first full NHL season, while recording a 19-18-11 record for a team that finished well outside the playoff picture.
The new Daccord contract kicks in next season, following the conclusion of his current two-year deal that pays him $1.2 million annually. So, Daccord will theoretically remain with Seattle through the 2029-30 season, and he will hit unrestricted free agency at age 33.
Lots of money in the goal crease
On its own, this is a solid deal for both player and team. It’s a massive and well-deserved pay raise for Daccord, who is widely regarded as one of the best to work with in the game and has endeared himself to fans in both Seattle and Coachella Valley, where he previously starred for the Firebirds. He emerged onto the national stage last season when he pitched a shutout in the Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park on New Year’s Day, an unforgettable experience for all involved.
If you haven’t listened to our recent podcast interview with Daccord, you can check that out here, and you’ll get a feel for how he is as a person. If you didn’t love Joey before, you will after you listen to that interview.
On the ice, Daccord has developed into the player Seattle hoped for when they selected him from the Ottawa Senators in the Expansion Draft.
If Daccord were the only goaltender under contract for next season and beyond, we would be doing cartwheels in celebration of the signing. The one concern, though, is that Philipp Grubauer still has this season plus two more left on his deal at $5.9 million average annual value. So, for next season and the season after, the Kraken will be on the hook for roughly $10.9 million in cap hit dedicated to their netminders.
Now, the good news on this front is that A.) the cap is projected to go up next season, and B.) Seattle has some contracts set to come off the books, such as those of Yanni Gourde and Brandon Tanev. Will Borgen will also be a UFA after this season, but we have to think there’s mutual interest for him to stick around.
As of today, without increasing the cap, Seattle projects to have around $8 million in cap space before (potentially) re-signing Borgen and backfilling for Gourde and Tanev, who we assume will move on after this season. If the cap goes up, say, five percent, then the Kraken would project to have closer to $12 million in space.
Betting on Daccord
We know the organization thinks very highly of Joey, and this deal proves that out. Clearly, the team believes he has not reached his full potential yet, and that he will begin to take over as a true No. 1 in the next season or two.
IF he does reach the level of consistency that the front office is hoping he will, then this could prove to be a great deal. Heck, if Daccord can reach Juuse Saros-level performance, which he already statistically exceeded last season (Saros had a 2.86 GAA and .906 save percentage in 64 appearances), then this could prove to be a steal. Saros, by the way, starts a new contract next season that will pay him $7.74 million for eight years.
The fact of the matter is that the sample size of NHL experience remains small for Daccord, though, and that makes this deal a bit risky.
What do you think, folks? Do you like the five-year Daccord contract extension?
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.
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.
Weekly Podcasts: Dive deeper with insightful discussions and commentary from the Sound Of Hockey crew. Also available on Apple podcasts.
Social Media: Follow Sound Of Hockey on various platforms (Discord, X.com(@sound_hockey) for updates and engagement.
Patreon: Support Sound Of Hockey and gain access to exclusive bonus content.
Wrapping up
Congratulations on becoming a Kraken fan! You’ve now joined a passionate community that shares your love for the team.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have about hockey, the Kraken, or anything related to the team. We tend to gear most of our content on Sound Of Hockey toward more seasoned fans, but this is a safe space to discuss and learn together, so please comment below with any questions you might have. We’re excited to have you join the Sound Of Hockey family!
