Seattle Kraken photo gallery – Training camp Friday
All photos are taken by Brian Liesse and are property of Sound Of Hockey. They may not be re-used.
Kraken training camp notebook: Checking in with Jared McCann, Shane Wright scores game winner
With a new contract and now a new number, Kraken forward Jared McCann is excited for a new season.
McCann switched from the number 16 he wore last season to number 19, which he wore in junior hockey with the Soo Greyhounds and in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He says there’s no superstition behind it, it’s just a number he’s always liked, and with last year’s trade of Calle Jarnkrok — who wore it last season — the number was up for grabs.
“Favorite number since I was a kid,” he said Friday after coming off the ice at the Kraken Community Iceplex for Day 2 of training camp. “When it came available, I just thought ‘you know what, I want to go back to my roots,’ and so I picked it.”
Like many of Seattle’s returning players, McCann says the vibe around the team is different this season with the core knowing each other, the city, and the system already.
“I feel good, feel comfortable,” McCann said. “But still trying to show the coaching staff that they made the right decision. I’m gonna work as hard as I can every day.”
The decision in question was the Kraken pulling the trigger on extending McCann’s contract midway through last season. He was taken in the Expansion Draft from the Toronto Maple Leafs and was scheduled to be a restricted free agent this summer.
But he turned in a career season and led the Kraken in scoring while setting personal highs in goals (27), assists (23), and points (50). The team rewarded him by locking up the 26-year-old for five more years at $5 million a year.
Those numbers bring along with them some high expectations to repeat the season he just turned in.
“Everybody says I’ve got a lot of pressure, but I put the most pressure on myself,” McCann said. “I know, sometimes I gotta ease up a little bit on myself because I know I can do it. I know I can be a good player.”
It’s early in camp, but after two days, McCann played on a line with Yanni Gourde at center and Jordan Eberle on the opposite wing. That line looked good, but it’s too soon to say if it will stay intact through the start of the season. Still, don’t be surprised if the trio gets a run in a preseason game or two.
McCann and Gourde didn’t play together much last season, but did connect toward the end.
“I think 10 games, we had some really good success together,” McCann said. “So [Kraken coach Dave Hakstol] liked what he saw so we’re just gonna try to keep it going.”
The line performed well in Thursday’s scrimmage and Friday during drills.
After shifts they could be seen conversing on the bench, talking about how best to attack on the next go around.
“He is a fast skater, he’s got a tremendous shot and it’s really fun to play with him.” Gourde said. “He does the right plays everywhere on the ice. It’s really nice to play with a guy like that and we’ve got to find some chemistry and a little bit of a routine to help each other out on the ice but so far, it’s been fun.”
Whether he remains on the training camp line or ends up playing with other guys, McCann should slot into the Kraken’s top six this year.
McCann played center for most of last season, although he moved to the wing near the end, including during his stint on Gourde’s line.
He’s back on the wing so far in camp and doesn’t seem to have any center envy.
“I’m comfortable wherever,” McCann said. “I got some open looks playing with Yanni. He’s a great player and creates a lot of space, especially getting pucks back on the forecheck. We work well together.”
There are expectations that McCann will be in the top six, and it’s a unit of forwards that is suddenly a lot deeper and skilled after offseason moves that brought in Andre Burakovsky via free agency and a trade with Columbus that netted Oliver Bjorkstrand.
For the players this summer, watching their team add on was motivating.
“We made some great, great moves this offseason,” McCann said. “And obviously we got Bjorkstrand in a trade that was a steal. We signed Burakovsky and he’s won two Stanley Cups. We’ve got a couple other guys too. We’re very excited to go.”
Kraken get physical
The temperature was turned up at training camp Friday. Not the actual temperature; the rink was still cold all throughout the day. But Hakstol amped up the physical plays. There were numerous drills designed to create puck battles along the wall, and there was hitting.
It’s something the coach wants the team to improve.
“That’s one area of competitiveness of our entire group, and we can raise that level,” Hakstol said. “Part of that happens in training camp. You’re always respectful of your teammates, and you want to make sure that you’re being intelligent and smart about it the first couple days of camp for sure. But, that’s one focal area, to continue to raise the physical competitiveness as a group.”
Shane Wright’s first ‘big’ NHL moment?
It was an early scrimmage that’s ultimately meaningless, but the Kraken rookie came up big in the afternoon’s finale.
Wright’s Team White was clinging to a late 1-0 lead when the Blue squad pulled goalie Philipp Grubauer for the extra skater and tied the game with just over a minute left.
In the waning seconds, Jaden Schwartz stole a Blue outlet attempt and slid the puck to his right onto a speeding Wright’s stick. Wright took a couple of strides and fired a top-shelf wrist shot that eluded Grubauer and gave Team White the win with about 20 seconds left on the clock.
“It’s pretty cool, obviously, even if it’s just a little game like that,” Wright said. “You want to win and to be able to score and help my team win is pretty cool. So yeah, I felt really good.”
Wright is attempting to prove that he’s ready for the NHL at 18 and had a good showing on Friday. Scoring a dramatic, scrimmage-winning goal doesn’t earn him a spot, but it went a long way towards showing he belongs.
“That’s the play that a lot of people will remember about the scrimmage today,” Hakstol said. “I remember a whole lot more. His practice today was competitive. He was physically strong and competitive. He continued to play with good pace.”
Being able to stay with the NHL pace and show a physical strength will ultimately dictate where Wright plays this season.
If he can handle it, he’ll play the full season with the Kraken rather than be sent back to the Ontario Hockey League. In his first game-like atmosphere, he looked the part.
“It really felt like I was moving well, like I was competing, making plays out there,” Wright said. “It was definitely a lot faster than the captain’s skates and more of a game situation for us too. But overall, really a lot of fun and I think I did pretty well.”
Sound Of Hockey Podcast Ep. 206 – Featuring Eddie Olczyk and Nick Olczyk
Seattle Kraken training camp is here, so the timing is right for a SUPER-SIZED episode of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast, featuring two outstanding guests. This week, the guys talk to father/son dynamic duo Eddie and Nick Olczyk simultaneously, live and in person from Kraken Community Iceplex. During the very unique interview, the guys get the lowdown on how Eddie landed with the Kraken, Nick’s memories from his jump to broadcasting for the Blackhawks, and some very fun stories along the way. You will LOVE this interview.
The show doesn’t stop with the interview, though, as this is a great episode from top to bottom. Get a report from Kraken rookie camp, a recap of a fun on-ice media hockey clinic, and an update on the latest Kraken news. John, Andy, and Darren also discuss this recent training camp preview from soundofhockey.com and predict how the roster might shake out.
After the interview with Eddie and Nick, the episode shifts to Goalie Gear Corner, Weekly One-Timers, and Tweets of the Week.
SUBSCRIBE! ENJOY! REVIEW!
Kraken training camp notebook: Schwartz and Tanev return, Bjorkstrand shows well
SEATTLE– Kraken hockey was back on the ice Thursday as the team kicked off training camp at the Kraken Community Iceplex.
Not only was the team back to prepare for the franchise’s second season, but so were forwards Brandon Tanev and Jaden Schwartz. Two key players who missed significant time last season due to injury, both were on the ice Thursday and each guy looked healed, rested, and ready to go.
“Feel good, excited to be here and get it going,” Schwartz said. “It’s a lot different [this year], just more comfortable with each other, more comfortable with the city. Kind of know the routines and just getting to know the guys more I think is the most important thing.”
Schwartz injured his wrist in a game against Philadelphia in late December and returned to the lineup March 5 for a game versus the Washington Capitals. But he suffered a different injury at the end of the month and did not return for the remainder of the season.
The second injury was undisclosed, and he was still feeling the effects at the team’s closing interviews in May.
“All I can say is there were a lot of tests done and doctors went down some different paths,” Schwartz said Thursday. “I got good help and I feel like it could help me a lot this year. So, I feel good.”
He ended the season playing in 37 games while scoring eight goals and 23 points.
Tanev burst out of the gates for Seattle last year, quickly becoming a fan favorite for his hair-on-fire style of play and scoring nine goals in the first 30 games. He appeared on his way to easily breaking his career mark of 14 scores that he set in 2018-19 playing for the Winnipeg Jets.
But he never got there as a knee injury sidelined him, and he would miss the final 52 games of the season.
“It took a little bit time learning to do things that had come so easily,” Tanev said. “Once you’re back on the ice, there with your teammates and back in the city of Seattle, you’re excited to be back here for training camp.”
While he would probably admit to having some rust, he looked like Brandon Tanev during an afternoon scrimmage Thursday. There were no massive hits, but he skated fast and the energy level seemed to rise when he was on the ice.
“I liked the way he dove back in,” Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. “He was playing through traffic. That’s a good first step for him and a good day one. He brings a little bit of energy everywhere he goes, so it’s good to have him back in the room.”
A healthy Schwartz will give Hakstol another offensive weapon at the top of the lineup and allow him to form some big lines. Schwartz took part in the morning workouts, but his group did not yet scrimmage; that will happen Friday.
Watching Schwartz, he showed no ill effects and appeared to be going full bore and flinging wrist shots with ease.
“He’s the kind of guy who fixes any line you put him on,” Hakstol said about Schwartz. “You put him on a line and that line is gonna find success. The way he goes about his business is a little bit under the radar, but it’s for sure not within our group inside of this room. The things that he does out there to generate possession, and more importantly, generate offense off that possession are really important. He’s a hell of a competitor.”
Both Tanev and Schwartz were set up to be contributors to the Kraken attack last season, but we never had a chance to fully realize the potential. Seattle hopes that’s a different situation this year.
“Our expectations are a lot higher,” Schwartz said. “We want to start off with taking it one day at a time here and have a good camp… We got a new team this year, we got a lot of new players, and we got a lot better over the summer. I think each guy’s hungry.”
Bjorkstrand debuts
Acquired in the move of the summer for the Kraken, the former Columbus Blue Jackets winger was on the ice for the first time for an official team-sanctioned skate.
In the afternoon scrimmage, he was on a line centered by Matty Beniers with Ryan Donato on the opposite wing. The trio looked good, but before people start coming up with clever nicknames for the line, be cautioned that it’s early and the scrimmage only included half the team’s roster.
Still, day one was good, and Bjorkstrand even found the back of the net as his squad won 2-0.
On his linemates for the day, Donato and Beniers, Bjorkstrand said, “Good skaters, move the puck well, and the offensive skills are there. I think us as a group, if we’re together, we just have to make sure we finish and play both ways.”
Friday’s camp will feature the second group of players scrimmaging, and we’ll get our first look at first-round pick Shane Wright in “game” action, as well as free agent addition Andre Burakovsky.
Battles and narratives to consider as Kraken open training camp
It’s here! It’s here! Seattle Kraken training camp has arrived! Earlier this week, we got a look at the rookies in the organization with a two-day precursor to the main event. But now the rubber meets the road, as the veterans officially join the action Thursday.
There were several key pieces added to the organization during the offseason, and with turnover comes narratives, as players compete for roster and lineup spots.
Here are some of the players, battles, and narratives to keep an eye on in Kraken training camp.
Roster battles
At the end of every NHL training camp, a handful of players gets placed on waivers by every club as front offices try to send guys through to their respective AHL affiliates. After the acquisitions made by Seattle this offseason, there are more NHL-caliber players in the fold than there are roster spots, so something has to give.
The Kraken will have to expose some NHL-level talent to waivers prior to the season opener. Who stays, and who goes?
Forwards
Throwing a wrench into the plans of at least a fringe player or two is the arrival of Shane Wright, who has a good shot at making the roster as an 18-year-old. We will talk more about him in a bit, but just know that we do expect him to take up a roster spot, at least to start the season.
Brandon Tanev and Jaden Schwartz are also back and have looked good in unofficial captain’s practices, so by our count, we see 14 forwards that we expect to more or less be locks for the initial roster, barring injuries. Those players are Matty Beniers, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Andre Burakovsky, Ryan Donato, Joonas Donskoi, Jordan Eberle, Morgan Geekie, Yanni Gourde, Karson Kuhlman, Jared McCann, Schwartz, Tanev, Alex Wennberg, and Wright.
Those are all the forward spots the team has available, and that would mean four full lines plus two healthy forward scratches. The team typically carried one extra forward and two extra defensemen last season, but we expect that to change this season.
With all this in mind, if everything goes according to plan, there really are no spots for guys like Kole Lind, John Hayden, Alexander True, or Daniel Sprong, who is in camp on a professional try-out. We would also lump into this group Andrew Poturalski, who has been a prolific scorer in the AHL but has never gotten a real chance in the NHL.
Things never go according to plan, though, and even if all the regulars stay healthy through training camp, somebody will eventually miss time at some point during the season. So if spots don’t open for bubble players immediately out of camp, those guys will want to leave a positive impression to put themselves in line as the first call-ups.
Sending down a guy like Lind, who has upside and performed well in his end-of-season stint with Seattle last year, would be risky, as he could certainly be claimed by another team that’s willing to keep him in the NHL.
Defense
Similarly, the Kraken have more defensemen than they can fit on their NHL roster, though there is a spot up for grabs. We expect Vince Dunn, Adam Larsson, Jamie Oleksiak, Justin Schultz, and Carson Soucy to be shoo-ins, and Will Borgen stuck with the big club throughout the entire 2021-22 season, despite minimal playing time. So, pencil him in for the sixth spot.
But what about Cale Fleury, offseason signing Michal Kempny, and rookie Ryker Evans? Fleury is valuable as a right shot and did a good job for the Kraken at the end of last season. Kempny is a veteran that worked his way back from a series of horrific leg injuries and in 2021-22 played 15 games for the Capitals and 24 games for the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Evans had an awesome training camp before last season, then went back to the WHL’s Regina Pats and had a stellar campaign there, notching 61 points in 63 games.
Evans, 20, would benefit from time in the AHL, so it’s probably an uphill battle for him to make the club at this juncture, but we could see Kempny or Fleury filling that seventh spot on the blue line.
Goalies
At first glance, the Kraken goal crease feels solidified going into training camp. Philipp Grubauer is the bona fide No. 1, and with Chris Driedger recovering from a torn ACL, the team went out and acquired Martin Jones on a one-year, $2 million contract this summer.
BUT… but… what about our good friend, Joey Daccord? We bring him up because for him to get to Coachella Valley at the end of camp, he will have to clear waivers. Does the team want to risk losing him?
At the end of last season, general manager Ron Francis indicated that Daccord would have a chance to make the team, but that was before Jones was signed. The smart bet to stick with the team is on Jones and his $2 million contract, but do pay attention to how Jones and Daccord perform in camp and in their pre-season outings.
Other narratives
Shane Wright’s impact
Wright will remain a storyline throughout at least the first part of the regular season. Assuming he performs even reasonably well, we think he will break camp with the Kraken. The tricky thing here is that if Seattle doesn’t think Wright is ready to produce this season, or if he has a slow start out of the gates, he can be sent back to the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs without burning a year of his entry-level contract. The team just has to make that decision prior to Wright playing in his 10th NHL game.
Thinking a few steps ahead, it would be a shame if, say, Lind gets waived and claimed by another team out of camp, then Wright plays nine games and goes back to the OHL. That is a real possibility and something to monitor as things develop.
The other thing to consider here is that Wright plays center, as do Beniers, Wennberg, Gourde, and Geekie. That’s too many centers, so somebody will have to slide to the wing. Lines will certainly shift around a lot during the course of the season, but do keep an eye on which of Gourde, Geekie, and Wright are lining up in the middle during pre-season.
New arrivals
It will be fun to see Burakovsky and Bjorkstrand in action for the Kraken. Those were two huge adds for Seattle this offseason, and getting a glimpse at how coach Dave Hakstol might employ them will be worth the price of admission for the pre-season games they play.
Familiar faces
Tanev and Schwartz are both back and looking healthy, which is a huge boost to a Kraken club that slumped mightily after losing those players in the inaugural season. The group is much deeper with those two players available, plus Burakovsky and Bjorkstrand, meaning forwards that were in Seattle’s top six last year will be able to play down the lineup in third- and fourth-line roles this season (again, assuming good health).
On paper, the Kraken stand to be much better this year if they can keep their core players from getting hurt.
Training camp gets underway Thursday with on-ice sessions starting at 9:40AM at Kraken Community Iceplex. The team’s first pre-season game will be Monday against the Edmonton Oilers at Climate Pledge Arena.
Goalie Gear Corner – Volume II
Alright, we admit, we’re way overdue here. We once had grand plans of making Goalie Gear Corner a regular article here on soundofhockey.com, but having an actual hockey team to cover got in the way. Still, it’s the most wonderful time of the year—goalie gear season—so there’s no better time to dust off the old gear-rating abilities and do some ogling. Making these proceedings even more enjoyable, we have some great new gear from Kraken goalies to discuss, which we especially appreciate since we’re able to get in-person looks at their setups.
Without further ado, it is with great pleasure that we finally present to you this second installment of Goalie Gear Corner, in print form.
[AIRHORN! AIRHORN! AIRHORN!]
Goalie Gear Corner
Aaron Dell – San Jose Sharks
At this point, it’s just getting ridiculous with Aaron Dell. After leaving the San Jose Sharks following the 2019-20 season, Dell spent the last two seasons bouncing around between Buffalo, New Jersey, Binghamton, and Rochester. And while he hasn’t had the most memorable seasons since departing the Bay Area, his gear has only gotten better as he has aged.
Now he’s back with the Sharks, and while his previous San Jose setup was our favorite Sharks look ever, he may have one-upped himself with his latest look from Brian’s.
Even at rest, these pads look like they’re moving. It’s like how if you look at a spinning wheel for a while and then look at Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night, the painting appears to be in motion. It’s the same thing here, but on goalie pads. And yes, we just compared goalie pads to one of the great masterpieces of all time. It’s a stunning look, and the cut-and-sew technique that Brian’s continues to employ remains second to none in terms of graphics.
What makes this setup almost perfect is the dorsal fin, ominously rising out of the blocker and catcher. Outstanding setup.
Overall grade: A
- Color scheme? Beautiful.
- Graphic? Truly unique.
- Overly busy? Oddly no, even though there’s a lot going on here.
Magnus Hellberg – Seattle Kraken
When the Kraken signed Magnus Hellberg around the start of free agency, we had a feeling there might be something special coming on the goalie gear front.
Hellberg, in his brief stint with the Detroit Red Wings, had worked with Brian’s to put together an outstanding setup that incorporated Detroit’s winged wheel logo to perfection. Taking a scheme of just two colors and a logo that hasn’t changed in almost a century and turning that into a beautiful, modern gear design is no easy feat.
Give Hellberg and the designers at Brian’s the runway of a newly designed deep-sea brand, with a wide color palette, and you just know there’s magic coming. Sure enough, this absolute stunner was the result.
The setup uses a whopping five colors and gives the illusion that each piece of equipment is its own mythical sea beast, without being too “on the nose” with the octopus look. It also subtly works in hints of the actual Kraken logo, though that logo has been stretched and adjusted to fit the pads.
Oddly, our favorite part of these pads might actually be the way Brian’s worked their B-star logo right into the Kraken’s “eye.”
Just unreal. We got our first in-person glimpse of Hellberg’s gear on Tuesday, and it truly is dazzling.
Overall grade: A
- Incredible use of Seattle’s many colors.
- Not too “on the nose” with the Kraken logo, yet there’s no question what team Hellberg plays for when you look at his gear.
- Ridiculous level of detail.
Seth Eisele – Lake Superior State University
This is pretty cool from former Wenatchee Wild and current Lake Superior State Laker, Seth Eisele.
It’s very much an “if you know, you know” setup, paying homage to the King, Henrik Lundqvist. In the earlier years of his career, Hank wore TPS gear, from the brand formerly known as “Louisville TPS.” That brand is no longer one of the foremost goalie gear companies, hence Eisele borrowing one of Hank’s looks but putting it on CCM pads. Lundqvist wore two different versions of pads that looked just like this but in Rangers’ red, white, and blue.
The Minnesota license plate on the chin of the mask is also a nice personal touch here for the Minnesota native.
Overall grade: B
- We like the subtle homage.
- Colors are pretty and crisp, but the setup lacks detail when comparing it to the previous two.
- Good job of keeping it clean, yet still colorful.
Martin Jones – Seattle Kraken
Another newly acquired netminder for Seattle released pictures and video of his new Kraken mask on Monday, and it is quite sharp.
Painted by Eye Candy Air, the mask reminds us a bit of the mask Chris Driedger wore for most of last season with its white base color and blue accent stripes. The detail is intense here. We especially love the subtle red Kraken eyes on the side.
We also got a first-hand glimpse at Jones’ pad setup on Tuesday from True Hockey, which is mostly plain white, but has Kraken-colored accents on the outer rolls and across the base. The pads and gloves are nothing to write home about, but we do like the look as a whole. It’s a fresh take on the True setup, which isn’t known for much graphic customization, compared with other manufacturers.
Overall grade: B+
- The mask is nice. Great detail, but it also looks good from afar.
- Pads are nothing special, but we’re suckers for outer roll details.
- Squeaky clean look.
Tyler Palmer – Victoria Royals
Our last entry on this installment of Goalie Gear Corner is a new CCM setup for Victoria Royals netminder Tyler Palmer.
The “print the team logo on the pads” bit has certainly been played out in recent years, but there’s something extra sharp about Palmer’s setup here. We can’t say with 100 percent certainty why this feels sharper than other similar setups, but we think it has to do with the play on the stock graphics that come standard on CCM E FLEX gear. We generally like that look of the E FLEX anyway, but Palmer’s setup takes it and adds some pizzazz.
So, in general, we really like this look, which will soon be coming to a WHL arena near you.
Overall grade: A-
- It’s not the most creative look, by any means, but we like the mix of stock graphics with team imagery.
- Blue, black, and white just play well together.
Kraken rookie camp notebook: The Circus, Shane Wright, and competition
SEATTLE — The Kraken’s future was back on the ice Tuesday at the Kraken Community Iceplex for Day 2 of rookie camp. The rookies will get a day off Wednesday before the full team kicks off the club’s second-ever training camp on Thursday.
Seattle’s 2022 second-round pick Jagger Firkus is back in Seattle, and while he knows he most likely won’t make the NHL roster this season, he’s soaking up the atmosphere and everything that NHL camp has to offer.
“I feel more confident, that’s for sure,” he said. “Any time coming down to camp you always go back with more confidence. I think that’s one big thing I took away from development camp and just kind of learned from what the staff and what other people who are trying to teach me and I think I did a good job.”
Firkus is an entertaining player who was nicknamed the “Firkus Circus” for his flashy play and goals scored in junior hockey with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League.
Though he was in Seattle at the Kraken practice facility this summer, the newness and eliteness of the building is still something that he is getting used to.
“Every time I see it, it catches me off guard,” he said of the facility. “And the staff here. They’re all unbelievable. They just want to help you and support you. It’s really good to be a prospect and know that everyone at the next level is willing to help you and willing to support you to get [there].”
Firkus will eventually be returned to Moose Jaw for what should be a good season for him. He’s coming off a 36-goal, 80-point season which resulted in him being drafted. Not only will he be better, but he’s a year older and with NHL camp experience.
He’ll benefit from playing on a strong Moose Jaw team with good players such as 2023 NHL Draft prospect Braden Yager. On Tuesday Moose Jaw opened as 10th on the CHL initial rankings – the Seattle Thunderbirds were ranked third.
“It’s a very exciting team, a really deep team, a really tight team,” Firkus said of the Warriors. “We have a good coaching staff. We want to win at all costs and I think that’s kind of what we’re going into this season with.”
For now, Firkus will head into the main Kraken camp and test his skills against the veteran NHL players on the roster. He may even get into one of the team’s preseason games next week. Then he’ll head back to junior and look for a deep playoff run.
All the while, he’ll keep improving and keep getting stronger – he says that he’s weighing in at 158 pounds, which is a couple of pounds above where he was at the draft.
“I just want to prove that I got better throughout the months that I wasn’t here,” Firkus said. “ I think I’ve had a good camp so far. So hopefully moving forward, I can keep getting better and better.”
Shane Wright’s quest for the NHL is underway
Seattle’s top draft pick in 2022 is looking to crack the lineup at 18 and play NHL hockey this season. He’ll see a jump in the competition on Thursday when the full team is on the ice for training camp.
He’s been in town a few days and took part in the unofficial captain’s skates with a number of the vets already.
“It felt pretty good,” Wright said. “I think that if I’m competing, if I’m skating, I think that I can play at that level. I can make plays with those guys. Obviously, they’re a lot stronger than me, they’re a lot bigger than me, so I think that’s definitely something that I’ll have to adjust to a lot. I think that if I can get that speed down, I can get that compete down to the level those guys are. I think I’ll be able to compete there.”
Wright said he increased his workout intensity this summer knowing he’d be attending an NHL training camp with a shot at making the roster.
One advantage that Wright has is a Kraken roster with a number of players who made the NHL at a young age and have been through what he’s about to attempt. That includes players like Jared McCann, who played in the NHL at 19, and Adam Larsson, who like Wright was the fourth overall pick and played in the NHL at 18 the following season.
“There are a lot of guys on the team that have numerous years of experience in the NHL and have been there, done that with almost anything that has to do in the NHL,” Wright said. “ Anytime you can brush shoulders and talk to guys like that and pick their brains, it’s pretty cool. For me, having guys like that to talk to is pretty cool.”
Competitive drills Tuesday
If there was a theme for Tuesday’s camp it was to compete.
The team started with a possession drill where four players, two-on-two, would play in a small area on the ice and try to carry the puck over a red line at each end. It was cramped quarters and required skill in passing and skating.
There was a bit of controversy as Wright appeared to get the puck over the line, but a late back checker looked to knock it off his stick. Matty Beniers gestured that it didn’t count but he was overruled by the coaches.
Later in the day, the players split into two teams and formed a semi-circle around the goal. They took turns skating in on goal in an attempt to score. The winning team – in this case the team in the white jerseys – won, meaning the blue team had to do push-ups on the ice.
Kraken rookie camp notebook: Ryker Evans ready, Beniers and Wright faceoff
The Seattle Kraken open their second-ever training camp on Thursday, so Monday at the Kraken Community Iceplex, the day belonged to the future as the team’s first rookie camp got underway.
On the ice were most of Seattle’s prospects including Matty Beniers and Shane Wright. The one notable absence was 2021 third-round draft pick Ryan Winterton who is recovering from an injury he sustained last spring. The Kraken confirmed that Winterton would not be joining training camp this season.
Most of the rookies on the ice will be sent back to their amateur clubs for further development or to the American Hockey League’s Coachella Valley Firebirds. The on-ice session was led by Firebirds head coach Dan Bylsma to gain some familiarity with his future charges.
Ryker Evans hopeful for NHL shot
One rookie who has an outside shot of opening on the Kraken roster is defenseman Ryker Evans. Selected in the second round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Evans is coming off a superb season with the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats. In 63 games with Regina, the almost-21-year-old scored 14 goals, 47 assists and 61 points.
“Had a bigger role with the team,” Evans said of his final year in junior hockey. “It was a lot more fun. I got more reps, and it allowed me to work on my game, allowed that to develop. Going into my last year was mostly just me playing for that contract and allowing me to show my skills and all that kind of stuff. It was a big weight lifted off my shoulders last season.”
That relief came in April when the Kraken signed him to an entry-level contract.
At the end of last year, he was sent to Charlotte as the Checkers prepared for the Calder Cup playoffs. He did not appear in any games but got to practice and get a taste of what the pro hockey lifestyle was about.
This summer, the focus turned to preparing for a strong show at Kraken camp.
“My goal is always to come in here and prove myself as to why I belong on the team and how I can help,” Evans said. “So, now it’s just time to show it and that was my preparation throughout the summer.”
Evans says he worked on his shot – he emphasized that he always works on his shot – as well as strength and patience with the puck to allow him to create space. Among the throng of rookies Monday, he was noticeable, although the day was mostly saved for drills and no real scrimmages.
It’s the second training camp for Evans who was also at the summer’s development camp. The familiarity has been helpful.
“It’s a lot easier this year,” Evans said. “I know a lot of the staff and the people here so it’s a lot more comforting to come in here and I kind of know the routine.”
What is a first for Evans is how long the summer lasted. The WHL is already in its preseason games, and in the past he would have already begun training camp.
Evans said this summer was the first time in six years he stayed at home this late. His father runs a skills camp in Calgary which allowed him to get on the ice.
One treat this summer for Evans was being able to see the Stanley Cup. His family has long been friendly with Cale Makar’s family, and they all celebrated Makar’s day at home with the Cup he won with the Colorado Avalanche. The big question was whether Evans touched it.
“No, I can’t do that,” he said, following the tradition of not touching hockey’s biggest prize until you win it.
Whether he cracks the Seattle roster or starts in the AHL, this will be a big transitional year for Evans. No longer will he live with a billet family in junior hockey where his meals are prepared for him. This year he will be a professional hockey player on his own.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “You kind of gotta grow up pretty quick. But no, it’ll be fun. I know how to cook breakfast and like chicken and rice, but that’s about it.”
Ryker, along with his chicken and rice, will be a player to watch as the preseason progresses. He’ll get plenty of time to show his skills and prove he’s ready. Will he do it?
Matty Beniers and Shane Wright compete
Both of Seattle’s top young centers were on the ice Monday and found themselves head to head on more than a few occasions, especially during one-on-one drills. Wright showed off some defensive prowess by knocking the puck loose from Beniers on consecutive chances.
“It’s fun to have him out here,” Beniers said. “Because after practice he’s always wanting to work on stuff, and we bounce off each other with ideas and he just likes to have fun. He likes to work hard and think I’m kind of the same way, so it works.”
Beniers looked ready on Monday, skating with poise and putting his skill on display. He says that he’s added 10-12 pounds of muscle this season to better prepare him for what will be a tough first full pro season.
“I think it’ll be a lot tougher this year,” he said. “And you gotta be ready for it. Hopefully, it’s not as bad, not as tough as it sounds.”
Mystery goalie and the circus is back in town
Kraken second-round pick Jagger Firkus is back in camp after a strong showing in the summer development camp. The sparkplug is always worth keeping an eye on, and it’s expected that he will get playing time in the preseason games that are coming up.
He’s off to a good start scoring goals, having been in training camp with the WHL Moose Jaw Warriors. Firkus has already played in two preseason games with Moose Jaw, recording three goals and five points in two games.
In goal Monday was a goalie wearing No. 1 with no name plate. There is no such goalie on the roster, and there was speculation as to who he was. Even members of the Kraken communication team were not sure who the mystery goalie was. The prevailing rumor going around was that the Kraken didn’t have enough rookie goalies available for camp so they grabbed a guy who plays recreational hockey locally.
Storylines for week one of Seattle Kraken Training Camp
We made it through the long and dull summer in Seattle, a period otherwise known as the NHL offseason. The kick-off of rookie camp is a special time for us hockey sickos, and we are here for it. On Sunday, the Seattle Kraken announced their training camp rosters with Monday and Tuesday dedicated to the rookies on the squad and the main camp starting Thursday. We are seven days away from the first preseason game against Edmonton at Climate Pledge Arena, so we thought now would be a good time to look at some storylines to monitor for Training Camp. Here’s what to keep an eye on in week one.
Centers
With the selection of centerman Shane Wright in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the Kraken have a positional challenge to consider. Add Wright to the quiver of Matty Beniers, Alex Wennberg, Yanni Gourde, and Morgan Geekie, and now the club has five centers for only four spots. One of them will center the fourth line and another will need to move to wing. Lines can and will change a lot during the season, but it will be interesting to see who is getting the reps at center in the first few days of camp.
Who advances from rookie camp?
It is safe to say that Matty Beniers and Shane Wright are locks to move on from rookie camp to the main camp, but the bigger question is who else will stick around for a bit longer? Safe money is on Ryker Evans, the Kraken’s second-round pick from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, who had an excellent season with Regina in the WHL. After Evans, it is a bit of a toss-up. Undrafted forward Ty Kartye signed an entry-level deal with the Kraken in March and could be one of the players to move on to the big camp at the end of the week. Another candidate could be 2021 fifth-round draft pick Jacob Melanson. He tends to fly under radar but put up 35 goals in 54 games in the QMJHL last season. Advancing from rookie camp to the main training camp does not mean the player is destined for the big club any time soon, but it might signal the potential these prospects have for reaching the NHL.
Eyes on Wright
Seattle’s coveted first-round pick from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Shane Wright will undoubtedly get a lot of attention. We think he will be given every opportunity to make this team, but it is far from guaranteed. Wright will need to prove he belongs in order to stay with the team all season. The coaching staff expects all the players to buy into their two-way game, and there is no doubt that Wright plays that style. But can he play that style in the NHL at 18 years old? Interesting to note, Cole Sillinger of Columbus was the only player taken in the 2021 draft to play the full 2021-22 season in the NHL.
The Killer B’s
If you are lucky enough to attend training camp in person, you will get to see reps and reps of the same drill. This enables you to focus in on individual players and compare them to each other doing the same drill. Keying in on Beniers for individual drills will be something special to watch, as his creativity and skill should be on full display. This will also be the first time we get to see offseason acquisitions Oliver Bjorkstrand and Andre Burakovsky up close and personal in Kraken jerseys. Bjorkstrand and Burakovsky have amazing shooting capabilities, and seeing them fire pucks in volume at practice should be a treat. A Bjorkstrand, Burakovsky, and Beniers line does sound cool, but it is premature to think it will happen or stick for the long term.
Tanev and Schwartz
Brandon Tanev and Jaden Schwartz were having productive seasons in 2021-22 before being sidelined by injuries. In Tanev’s case, he had season-ending knee surgery after a freak play against the Edmonton Oilers in mid-December. Schwartz’s diagnosis was never disclosed, but he was in and out of the lineup throughout the second half of the season. In both cases, the fanbase should be hopeful they return to pre-injury form. Both have been skating at Kraken Community Iceplex, and early reports are that they look good. Training camp should be a little more telling of where both those players stand in the recovery process.
Those are just a few of the storylines to watch throughout training camp this week. Keep any eye on SoundOfHockey.com and our twitter account all week for various reports from training camp as we ramp up to the start of the season.
Sound Of Hockey Podcast Ep. 205 – Featuring Alex Mandrycky
Seattle Kraken Training Camp is almost here, and who better to talk to in the waning days of the offseason than Kraken assistant general manager Alex Mandrycky?!
John, Andy, and Darren interviewed Alex at Kraken Community Iceplex on the same morning the news of her promotion to AGM got announced. So, it’s a bit of a celebratory conversation, but it also has plenty of substance. From offseason moves to the future of Mandrycky’s role, it’s a conversation that you will enjoy.
Aside from the interview, there’s some Kraken news to discuss, as the guys get you ready for the new season. Plus, a WHL update and signings around the NHL.
After the Mandrycky interview, the guys shift to segments, which this week feature Goalie Gear Corner, Weekly One-Timers, and a surprise Let’s Get Quizzical.
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