As the NHL preseason nears its conclusion, the Coachella Valley Firebirds roster is solidifying. The offseason brought significant changes to Coachella Valley, including a new head coach and a substantial roster turnover.
The Firebirds have two preseason games scheduled against the Milwaukee Admirals, both in Independence, Missouri: Oct. 4 and 5. Their regular-season home opener is set for Oct. 11 against the Bakersfield Condors. Training camp for the Firebirds started on Sept. 30, and with some AHL players spending part of that time still with the Kraken, the training camp roster has been a mix of projected ECHL and AHL players.
New Firebirds coach, Derek Laxdal, has been hired to replace Dan Bylsma, who was promoted to head coach for the Seattle Kraken. Assistant coach Jessica Campbell also joined the Kraken, leaving a vacancy that was filled by former WHL Saskatoon Blades coach Brennan Sonne. Assistant coach Stu Bickell will remain in his role.
Laxdal brings a winning mentality, boasting 15 winning seasons in 19 years as a coach. He has championship experience as both a player and a coach. As a player, he won the Calder Cup in 1990 with the Springfield Indians. As the coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings, he won WHL championships in 2011-12 and 2013-14, with the 2014 team also raising the Memorial Cup. Laxdal’s coaching career encompasses a wide range of levels, from the CHL to the NHL.
Laxdal commented on what fans can expect to see in the upcoming season, “You’re going to see a team I think that you have seen here before that competes night in, night out, competes hard on the puck. [It’s a team] that plays hard, that has great intensity and you’re going to see a little bit more skill level coming into the organization with all these young prospects.”
Roster overhaul
The Firebirds’ significant roster turnover was largely due to the veteran rule, which I discussed in July. This has opened up opportunities for Kraken prospects. There are 14 new faces on the team roster. Here’s a projected lineup for the team.
* New Firebirds for the upcoming season
David Goyette, Jani Nyman, and Lleyton Roed joined the Firebirds at the end of last season. While they gained some experience with the team, this upcoming season will be their first full campaign with the Firebirds. Therefore, they’re considered new players for the 2024-25 season in the table above.
Firebirds youth movement
The Firebirds are undergoing a youth movement as more young players, including several Kraken draft picks, join the team. This has resulted in a roster with a significantly lower average age.
A younger forward group
The forward group projected above has an average age of 23.1 years, a decrease of one full year from last season. Eight forwards are under 23, and five of these players will either make their professional debut or play in their first full year with the AHL club.
Jagger Firkus: The 2023-24 CHL overall scoring leader with 126 points, Firkus will transition to right wing this season. His size has always been a question, but his ability to succeed in his new position and maintain his scoring prowess at the AHL level will be crucial for his development.
David Goyette: A second-round pick by the Kraken in 2022, Goyette consistently improved his scoring and capped off his junior career by winning the OHL scoring race with 117 points.
Jani Nyman: Known affectionately as “Li’l Jani” by Sound Of Hockey, Nyman is anything but small. At 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, this right winger has a powerful shot and knack for finding open ice. In Liiga, Nyman finished second overall in goals scored with 26 in 48 games. This achievement is even more impressive considering it’s the fourth-most goals scored by an under-20 player in league history.
Lleyton Roed: A speedy undrafted free agent, Roed’s performance at Bemidji State earned him a Hobey Baker Award nomination. The Kraken quickly signed him to an entry-level contract. Sound Of Hockey’s own Darren Brown recently wrote a profile on Roed.
Eduard Sale: The 2023 first-round pick spent last season in the OHL where he recorded 38 points in 49 games. Given his young age and potential, it’s logical for him to join the Firebirds, allowing the Kraken organization to directly oversee his development. Coach Bylsma has praised Sale, “Being heavy on the forecheck and using the stick and feet to get there. And he’s starting to see more [opportunities on the ice].” Sale could still be returned to the OHL, but the Firebirds are giving him a look to see if he can play at the AHL level. If he can stick, it would allow the Kraken to get more of a hands-on approach to his development.
Returning youngsters Logan Morrison, Tucker Robertson, and Jacob Melanson will aim to build on their successes from last year and take the next step in their development.
Defense corps
Only three players return from last year’s defensive corps. The Firebirds also have three defensive players under the age of 23.
Ville Ottavainen: This big, 6-foot-5 defender has developed nicely. He provided more offensive punch than expected in his first year with the Firebirds, scoring 34 points. The right-shot defenseman has looked impressive in training camp with the Kraken and scored with a rocket one-timer against the Calgary Flames on Monday. He could be the first defenseman called up by Seattle if needed this season.
Ty Nelson: At 5-foot-10, 208 pounds, the sturdy Nelson doesn’t shy away from physical play. He excels at moving the puck and contributes offensively. This will be his first season in the AHL, and watching his game translate at the professional level will be something to monitor.
Charlie Wright: An undrafted free agent who signed a one-year deal with the Firebirds, Wright served as an alternate captain for his WHL team, the Saskatoon Blades. New assistant coach and former head coach of Wright and the Blades, Brennan Sonne, commented, “He’s done everything right. He’s one of the most underrated players in the league, honestly. He’s a pro, through and through. He’s meant the world to the team, as being so steady that whole time. His growth as a player, I just think it’s incredible the way he’s been able to produce offensively while still bringing what he’s great at, which is skating and his ability to shut players down.”
With this roster, the defense is getting slightly younger, going from an average age of 25.1 to 24.8. This assumes Wright (Charlie, not Shane) remains in the AHL. If he is sent to the ECHL, either Ryan Jones or Jake McLaughlin would take the final spot, raising the average age to 25.6.
However, with Cale Fleury being waived Thursday by the Kraken for the purposes of reassigning him to Coachella Valley, the defensive picture could be a little more solidified Friday if he clears.
Goaltending
The Coachella Valley Firebirds will enter the season with Ales Stezka as their starting goaltender. Stezka is the only Firebirds goalie to see preseason action with the Seattle Kraken, appearing in two games. The backup role is less certain, but Niklas Kokko appears to be the frontrunner.
Niklas Kokko / Jessica Campbell
In Kansas City, we would expect the Mavericks to start Jack LaFontaine in goal, with Victor Ostman serving as the backup.
Influx of young talent
The Firebirds roster has experienced a surge of promising Kraken prospects this season. This influx of young talent, combined with the team’s established veterans, promises a thrilling AHL campaign. While the team may have some growing pains, watching the players’ development will be a treat for fans. Firebirds games, along with those of their ECHL affiliate, the Kansas City Mavericks, are available for streaming via subscription on FloHockey.tv.
As the Firebirds gear up for the new season, expectations are high. With a younger squad and a new head coach at the helm, the team is looking to make a strong impression. Will they be able to compete for a playoff spot? Only time will tell.
Let us know your questions and predictions for the upcoming season in the comments below. You can also follow me @blaizg on x.com.
There was a lot to like from the Seattle Kraken’s 6-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers in their preseason finale at Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday—but also some reason for concern. While players like Shane Wright, Brandon Montour, and Philipp Grubauer indicated they were ready for the regular season, Jared McCann was a late scratch due to a lower-body injury, replaced in the lineup by John Hayden.
After Seattle jumped out to a two-goal lead by the 8:00 mark of the second period, things started to go sideways when Leon Draisaitl scored on the power play at 11:15, and Travis Dermott was left alone in the slot at 13:06 to make it 2-2. But the Kraken put the wheels back on with a Montour missile off a rush and a Wright snipe from the top of the circle.
“They had a few power plays and a 5-on-3 as well,” Wright said. “They scored one, and then they got the second one as well, but we stuck with it, didn’t let it bother us. And it was nice to… obviously, Monty’s goal was great… there was a little momentum, and then to be able to get a little insurance there myself is always nice too.”
Here are our Three Takeaways from Seattle’s 6-2 win over the Oilers to close the preseason.
Takeaway #1: McCann’s injury cause for (some) concern
Walking into the arena Wednesday, I was just hoping for good health for both teams. There has been a rash of nasty preseason injuries to key players around the league in the last week, and both Edmonton and Seattle had close to their full regular-season lineups going. The last thing I wanted to see was anybody getting hurt and missing real games because of something that happens in a meaningless one.
Technically, every player who started the game for the Kraken also finished it, though Jordan Eberle and Brandon Tanev each picked up bruises from pucks finding unprotected areas around their ankles and legs. But McCann, who was slated to participate, disappeared from warmups before line rushes and did not play.
All Dan Bylsma said after the game was, “Just a lower-body injury, as reported before the game, and it’s day-to-day at this point.”
That doesn’t sound too bad, and we don’t get the sense that the injury is particularly serious, but this is the first time we’ve heard Bylsma say anything other than “maintenance” in reference to a player missing time. So, it’s at least worth monitoring when the Kraken return to practice on Saturday.
Takeaway #2: Shane Wright is ready for the NHL
I also wrote about Wright’s performance in Three Takeaways after Seattle’s 4-3 overtime loss to Calgary on Monday. I thought he was one of Seattle’s better players that night, but he one-upped himself on Wednesday against Edmonton.
For his efforts against the Oilers, Wright was rewarded with two pretty-looking goals. The first came after Montour broke up a play at the defensive-zone blue line and sent Oliver Bjorkstrand on a footrace. Bjorkstrand won the race, and Wright created some spin-o-rama magic.
“Borky made a great play, just made kind of a chip to the area, and then I was able to find a little spot in the middle,” Wright said. “I just kind of tried to spin around and get it on net, and was able to go five-hole.”
Wright wasn’t done there, following up Montour’s rocket of a shot that made it 3-2 at 18:34 of the second period with a snipe of his own from the top of the right circle.
“It was great patience from Rig [Jamie Oleksiak] in the neutral zone, and a good spot from Tolvy to find me in the middle,” Wright said. “Tolvy did a great job taking the D, and I had a lot of space to walk in and was able to finish it off.”
After seeing how Wright has performed in these last couple of games, especially now that the competition has ramped up to NHL-caliber, Kraken fans should be excited about what the youngster might bring this season.
“I like his game,” Montour said of Wright. “He’s a solid boy. Obviously, he’s growing still, but he skates like the wind and gets to the hard areas. You saw that today. He had a nice one in front and a nice shot as well. So he has it all, and for a young guy coming in with confidence after a good camp, that’s going to be good for us moving forward.”
And it’s not just the goals. I’ve watched Wright closely and have seen him making little dangles and passes through defenders’ legs and under their sticks—moves a player only pulls off if he’s feeling confident. Wright is exuding confidence right now.
Bylsma has been careful to remind us that Wright is still just 20 years old, but he too is encouraged by what he’s seeing. “I just think it speaks to the maturity of his game,” Bylsma said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt or question about his skill, skating ability, or shot. But he’s gaining the confidence to show and use it more often.”
Takeaway #3: An important night for Philipp Grubauer
Speaking from experience, it’s really important for a goaltender to get a game under the belt where your performance feels solid. You’re tracking pucks well, making some saves you perhaps shouldn’t, and helping your team to a victory.
While both goalies have shown flashes of strong play at times during the preseason, neither Joey Daccord nor Philipp Grubauer had been stellar coming into Wednesday’s contest. But Grubauer showed he’s ready for the regular season, stopping 28 of 30 Oilers shots, including plenty of dangerous looks from Edmonton’s lethal power play, which had five opportunities on the night.
Grubauer said he was happy to see plenty of action in this one as he continues building toward the regular season. “The more chances they have, the better it is for us goalies to get into the game,” Grubauer said. “They have a couple of boys back there who can make plays and find some seams, and I think today was a really realistic game.”
Bylsma called it “very important” for Grubauer to have this game to close out the preseason. “I thought he was outstanding throughout the game,” Bylsma said. “The PK there at 5-on-3, and then a couple of big stops in the third. He was real solid back there for us, and it was great to see.”
Bonus Takeaway: Montour continues to impress
I promise I won’t write about Montour after every game… Unless he’s impressive in every game, which he was again on Wednesday. His goal was a thing of beauty, flying into the offensive zone and leaning into a slap shot that overpowered Olivier Rodrigue. Montour does everything well—from skating to decision-making to shooting—and he is so fun to watch.
Montour closed out the game with a goal and an assist and led all players with 23:31 of ice time.
—
The Kraken have the next two days off and will go on a bonding trip during that time. They will return to practice Saturday morning.
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 lost again Monday, 4-3 in overtime, to the Calgary Flames, who remain undefeated in their meaningless preseason games. The story of this one was Seattle’s lack of punch on the power play, which had been showing signs of promise. Thankfully, Shane Wright finally broke through with the man-advantage on the Kraken’s sixth (!!!) power play of the night, which led to a fake loser point in the fake standings.
Andre Burakovsky returned from a minor injury, and Vince Dunn got his first game action of the preseason.
Here are our Three Takeaways from the Kraken’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Flames.
Takeaway #1: Power play finally adjusts
It was frustrating to see the Kraken get power play after power play in the second period, including what should have been an extended 5-on-3 (though that was mostly negated by Wright flinging Rasmus Andersson’s stick up into the rafters of the Saddledome) and continually fail to convert.
It was even more frustrating to see 19-year-old forward prospect Samuel Honzek burn around Dunn like he was a cone and then dangle past Joey Daccord’s poke check, tucking in a shorthanded goal to make it 3-2 Flames.
While there was still plenty of player movement with the man advantage, the passing wasn’t very crisp for most of the opportunities. It seemed like the Kraken were trying to force passes through seams that weren’t there, resulting in turnovers and easy clears for Calgary.
After John Hayden drew a holding-the-stick penalty on Blake Coleman with seven seconds left in the second period, Seattle clearly addressed what was happening on the power play during intermission.
When they emerged from the dressing room, they funneled more pucks toward Flames goalie Dan Vladar and stopped forcing passes through the middle. After Vladar got bumped and lost his stick (he argued for goalie interference), Wright finally got a handle on a Burakovsky rebound and fired it in for his first goal of the preseason.
While we’ve been singing the praises of Seattle’s new and improved power play during this preseason, there’s still plenty of room for improvement. It was good to see an in-game adjustment, though.
Takeaway #2: Mixed results for Dunn, Burakovsky
The team has been markedly cautious with Dunn, who missed 23 games with injury in 2023-24, including the last seven games of the season. Before Monday, he had been a full participant in everything but had not yet skated in a preseason game.
He had some good moments where he looked fast and dynamic and nearly scored a buzzer-beater at the end of the second period, ringing a slap shot loudly off the post. He also had the second assist on Wright’s power-play goal and looked confident as the quarterback during the sequence that led to the tally.
But Dunn also had some not-so-good moments, getting torched by Honzek on his shorthanded goal and looking confused when he got caught in a partial 2-on-1 rush between Andrei Kuzmenko and Nazem Kadri in overtime. That one ended up in the back of Seattle’s net and ended the game.
Dunn led all Kraken players with 23:32 of ice time. He finished the night minus-two with one assist and one shot on goal.
Burakovsky, meanwhile, was Seattle’s best player when he last dressed for a game on Sept. 24 against the Canucks. But since then, he took multiple “maintenance” days and even donned a red non-contact jersey for a practice, raising more questions about his always tenuous health. So, it was good to see him back in the lineup, which indicates that he is fully healthy (the team wouldn’t rush him back from anything during preseason).
He didn’t look as dominant to me in this game as he did against Vancouver, but he still had an impact with the primary assist on Wright’s goal and started the play that led to Eeli Tolvanen’s marker off a beautiful Chandler Stephenson pass three minutes into the game.
Takeaway #3: A nice night for Wright
I liked Shane Wright’s game Monday. He’s looked confident and ready for full-time NHL duties throughout the preseason, but he seemed even more settled against Calgary, especially later in the game. Aside from his goal, he made several sneaky little passes that created opportunities for teammates, and he led all Kraken players with four shots on goal.
Seattle is banking on Wright to be a key contributor as a rookie this season, and this game gave me more confidence that he’s ready for that kind of role.
Bonus Takeaway: That was a sick pass by Stephenson
I don’t have much to say here, other than when passes like this work, they look really awesome. This one worked. And it looked awesome.
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 lost 5-4 to the Oilers on Saturday in what would have been a crushing and embarrassing defeat if it were a regular-season game. Thankfully, this was just a meaningless preseason contest, so none of us need to lose sleep over it.
After conceding another early goal, just like they did last Sunday at home against the Calgary Flames, the Kraken bounced back and took control for a while, even briefly holding a two-goal lead late in the second period. But they gave up the dreaded response goal just 27 seconds later, and it was all downhill from there.
Still, there are some positive signs from this team. We have yet to see a full NHL lineup iced by the Kraken, and yet they’re showing significant progress in how they are playing.
Here are our Three Takeaways from the Kraken’s 5-4 preseason loss to the Oilers.
Takeaway #1: Tough night for Grubi
So far, it’s safe to say Joey Daccord has looked better in the preseason than Philipp Grubauer. After Grubauer’s first outing against Calgary last Sunday—where he seemed to be trying to catch up to game speed—he did look better for most of the game Saturday against the Oilers. There were some strong sequences in which he challenged shooters and tracked the puck well, kicking rebounds past crashing Edmonton forwards and recovering in time to stop the second and third waves of shooters.
But there were also a couple of gaffes, especially on the game-winning goal by Raphael Lavoie—the fifth goal allowed by the Kraken netminder on that night. On that one, Lavoie was in a good shooting position, but it was an unscreened, undeflected shot that slipped right through Grubi’s wickets at a key moment in this meaningless contest. You could tell from his reaction that Grubauer knew he should have had that one.
We chatted with Grubauer after the morning skate on Saturday, and he definitely sounded like he wanted more game action to continue ramping up. He did look sharper Saturday than last Sunday, so it was mostly a step in the right direction. Hopefully his final outing of the preseason (probably coming Wednesday at home) will be sharper still.
Grubauer finished the night with 31 saves, good for an .861 save percentage.
Takeaway #2: Kraken power play shows more signs of life
Over the past few seasons, the Kraken power play has gotten so stagnant. The players didn’t move around much last season, and as the campaign progressed, it felt like things only got more predictable. However, what we’ve seen from the power play in the last couple of games has been exciting. The players are moving a lot, and it seems to be throwing off opposing penalty killers.
On this night, it wasn’t even a full NHL-caliber power play that got the job done. Instead, it was a mix of prospects and projected AHLers who whipped the puck around the offensive zone before 2023 first-round draft pick Eduard Sale got his first goal in Kraken colors.
It was a beautiful play. Brandon Biro took a pass on the left half-wall and started moving toward the net to draw defenders. He dished it down low to Ryan Winterton, who then tossed a perfect saucer pass up and over a sprawled Mattias Ekholm, dropping it right onto Sale’s tape.
The power play only converted once, but seeing production and positive signs at this stage of the preseason gives Kraken fans reason to hope for continued success with the manpower advantage during the regular season.
It’s worth noting, however, that the power play allowed a short-handed goal to Vasily Podkolzin that tied the game 4-4 in the third period. But, as the Kraken social media admins would say, it’s preseason, so that didn’t count.
I’ve previously hypothesized that the battle for the last roster spot(s) seems to be boiling down to Winterton, Ben Meyers, and John Hayden. After an outstanding game Friday against Vancouver, Winterton was right back in the lineup Saturday, as was Meyers. Hayden also returned to action after making his physical presence known in Tuesday’s game against the Canucks.
All three players had an impact on the game Saturday, with Winterton beautifully setting up Sale’s goal in the first period, Hayden driving hard to the net and getting rewarded for it in the second, and Meyers looking off Biro and scoring off a 2-on-1 in the second period, while also adding a second assist on Jacob Melanson’s tally in the first.
Who coach Dan Bylsma ultimately picks to stay with the team out of training camp remains about as clear as mud.
What’s interesting, though, is that while I’m less convinced the Kraken will make a trade to become cap compliant than I was previously, Seattle is showing it has depth players who could theoretically backfill in the lineup if a player like, say, Brandon Tanev were to be dealt. Continue to keep an eye on this battle for roster spots.
Darren Brown
Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email darren@soundofhockey.com.
As far as preseason games go, that was a fun one for Seattle Kraken fans. The team looked more in sync than it did in either of the two previous outings, and the big-ticket offseason acquisitions looked excellent in their respective home debuts. But the story of this game was the performances of a couple of youngsters looking to at least leave a lasting impression and perhaps even carve out roster spots for themselves, either now or in the near future.
Eeli Tolvanen deflected home an Adam Larsson point shot at 4:02 of the first period, Brandon Montour got a nice bounce on an ugly shot at 18:41 of the first, and Ryan Winterton got his first goal in Kraken colors at 3:45 of the second. Joey Daccord had a few adventures playing the puck but otherwise looked solid with 18 saves.
Here are our Three Takeaways from a 3-1 Kraken preseason win over the Canucks.
Takeaway #1: Brandon Montour is good
I was impressed by Brandon Montour’s game in Seattle’s 3-1 loss at Vancouver on Tuesday, but I watched that game from afar, so I perhaps didn’t get the full effect. Seeing Montour fly all over the ice live and in person on Friday was both exciting and encouraging—it shows that this team really has significantly improved in the offseason.
Montour brings multiple elements that no other Kraken player offers. Best friend of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast, Alison Lukan, often talks about “position-less hockey,” and Montour exemplifies that with how every time he’s on the ice, he seems to pop up on the puck no matter where it is.
Yes, he’s a right-shot defenseman, but that doesn’t mean he’s always playing right defense. He jumps up in the play, swings to the left, swings to the right, goes down low, stands guys up at the blue line… Basically, if he has a chance to win a puck, he’s going to go for it and rely on his elite mobility to get back if he misses.
He scored a lucky, flopping-puck goal Friday that caromed in off the back of Derek Forbort, but he could have had a couple more, including a one-timed rocket that rang loudly off the post in the third period. Because, by the way, he also has a VERY heavy slapshot.
As if I haven’t gushed about the guy enough, I do want to point out that Montour also quarterbacked the top power-play unit on this night, and—at the risk of being too hyperbolic—that group looked arguably more dynamic than any power play ever looked for the Kraken last season. The players moved, the puck moved, and dangerous chances were created.
“Nobody’s really played with each other at all,” Montour said. “So, get the confidence, we’re moving the puck, everyone can shoot on both units. We created a lot of chances, and the more we get repetitions and play with each other, the better we’re going to get.”
It was interesting hearing him talk after the game because he made it sound like he hadn’t really gotten his bearings in Seattle yet.
“I’ve only played in this rink I think two or three times, maybe, so obviously it’s nice,” Montour said. “This is my first time actually here [at Climate Pledge Arena] since we’ve been in Seattle. This is my first time kind of making this drive downtown, as well, so we’ll get used to it. I’ll have the Wayz app probably until the new year, I assume.”
Montour also joked that, coming into the arena, he had to look up where he was supposed to park his car and ask the security officer on duty how to get to the locker room.
Although Montour may have been lost trying to find his way into the Kraken dressing room, he looked very much at home on the ice. In total, Montour had 21:17 of ice time, led all players in the game with five shots on goal, was plus-2, and scored what proved to be the game-winning goal.
Takeaway #2: Chandler Stephenson also makes a good first impression
The other big offseason acquisition was center Chandler Stephenson, who made his preseason debut Friday. While the reaction to Stephenson’s contract was mixed, with the analytics community largely trashing the deal, the eyeball test told me on Friday that there’s a lot to be excited about with this player. He’s big, he wins battles along the wall, and there’s a certain quiet confidence that he exudes when the puck is on his stick.
Montour had an interesting phrase to describe Stephenson’s game, saying, “He just slows the play down so much.” What Montour means by that is when Stephenson gets the puck, he’s patient and calm and is confident enough in his skating and puck-handling that he can take his time and make the right play.
Coach Dan Bylsma shared similar sentiments. “In just a lot of areas, it’s just great to see,” Bylsma said of Stephenson. “He’s winning face-offs, his speed, his support on the ice… He’s a super intelligent player, and it showed. That’s just comforting to have on the ice from a coach. So it can get better, but it’s awesome to see him out there and awesome to see what he can do with this team.”
Stephenson had 18:35 of ice time and won 16 of 20 face-offs.
Takeaway #3: Big night for Lleyton Roed and Ryan Winterton
After the game on Tuesday, I had started to think that John Hayden and Ben Meyers were putting themselves ahead of Ryan Winterton in the competition for the last roster spot(s) out of camp. In the 6-1 Kraken loss to the Calgary Flames on Sunday, Winterton didn’t demand a spot on the team the way I thought he might.
Friday’s game was a completely different story for the 21-year-old, though, who surely has his sights set on becoming a full-time NHLer. I’m not sure how to explain it, but he looked faster and more confident in himself, and almost every time he touched the puck, he seemed to make the right play. I believe Winterton’s performance in this game put him back in contention for a coveted spot with the big club.
“It’s massive,” Winterton said of how important it was for him to have a strong game against the Canucks. “I didn’t think I played my best game in my first game [against Calgary], so to come out tonight and play better, I think was huge for me. And whatever happens, happens. I’m going to keep trying to earn my spot and stay another day every day.”
Winterton’s biggest moment of the night came when he drove to the net and got on the receiving end of a Lleyton Roed pass from the corner.
OK!! That was fun! 🚨
GREAT rush by Lleyton Roed, who sets up Ryan Winterton for the goal.
The undrafted 22-year-old free-agent signee from Bemidji State University only got 10:39 of ice time, but he made the most of it with three shots on goal and an outstanding play to steal a puck in the neutral zone, then rip around Sammy Blais and Filip Hronek and fire a hard pass toward the crease to set up Winterton’s goal.
“It was just a track back. I stripped the puck and took the D wide and just went at the net hard,” Roed said. “Got the puck there, and [Winterton] did the rest… Speed’s kind of my thing, so it’s nice to see that it translates to this level, and I can make plays as well.”
We at Sound Of Hockey have been bullish on Roed for a while, and I picked a great time to write a profile on him, just prior to Friday’s game. Since I just wrote that, I won’t go too deep into his story here, but if you want to learn more about him, give that a read.
What I will say here is that Roed was awesome on Friday. He has NHL speed and used it to burn around NHL players on multiple occasions.
“It’s the job of the young kids… if Lleyton’s young… to show what they can do, what kind of player they are,” Bylsma said. “And I don’t think there’s any question about Lleyton’s game with how he played tonight. The speed, the tenacity, he was good on the penalty kill. Every chance he got, we saw the speed and tenacity.”
Roed will probably go down to Coachella Valley relatively soon, but man, he was fun to watch on Friday, and I would not put it out of the realm of possibility to see him up with the big club at some point this season.
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.
