Three Takeaways – Kraken come close but lose to Avalanche, now losers in nine of 10

Three Takeaways – Kraken come close but lose to Avalanche, now losers in nine of 10

by | Dec 17, 2025 | Uncategorized

The Seattle Kraken gave it their all against the vaunted Colorado Avalanche and nearly came away with an unlikely victory. But in the end, Colorado’s stars proved to be too much and handed the Kraken their ninth loss in 10 games.

“I thought we played hard, like we have been,” coach Lane Lambert said. “We just can’t find a way to get it over the finish line.”

Here are Three Takeaways after a 5-3 Kraken loss to the Avalanche.

Takeaway #1: Every chance to win it

If you put this game in a vacuum and forget about the fact that the Kraken have gone 1-8-1 since Nov. 23, you’d feel great about their performance. Ostensibly, they played one of their best games of the season, going toe to toe with a team that came in with just TWO regulation losses through 31 games.

In fact, the Kraken had every chance to win this one, taking a 3-2 lead after Chandler Stephenson scored his second power-play goal in as many games at 19:24 of the second period to send Seattle into the third in the driver’s seat.

But Nathan MacKinnon did Nathan MacKinnon things, racking up two goals (one an empty-netter) and an assist in the third period to help Colorado rally back for its NHL-leading 24th win of the season.

The Avalanche converted on essentially the same play twice in a six-minute span. Both times, Cale Makar walked across the top of the zone from left to right, then passed it back across to MacKinnon in the left circle. On the first such look, MacKinnon one-timed it off Adam Larsson and in to tie the game 3-3 at 2:40 of the third.

The Kraken then got a power play AND a penalty shot after Josh Manson put his hand over the puck in the crease. They failed to convert on the power play, and Jordan Eberle hit the post on the penalty shot.

Just 26 seconds later, Vince Dunn went to the box for tripping, and the Avs struck again on the Makar-to-MacKinnon connection. This time, the puck got a friendly bounce off the end wall for Brock Nelson to bang it home.

“We made a big mistake at the end on the last kill,” Lambert said, during his very strange media availability (more on that in Takeaway 3). “We can’t make that. The power play scored for us, so, aside from the goal we gave up, which was a critical situation and a critical error, [special teams] were fine, but again, not good enough. Didn’t get the job done.”

I believe the “critical error” Lambert was referring to was Ben Meyers shading from the left side over to the right and leaving that side unprotected. Meyers also got his pocket picked by MacKinnon earlier in the sequence, which eventually led to MacKinnon’s first goal.

Takeaway #2: Nyman / Wright / Kakko

Lambert shuffled up his lines for this one, making the “top line” Eeli Tolvanen, Chandler Stephenson, and Freddy Gaudreau. That was clearly a matchup play, hoping to get three players he trusts defensively out against MacKinnon as much as possible.

He also gave Shane Wright another look between the two big Finns, Jani Nyman and Kaapo Kakko. All three looked effective against an outstanding team and were rewarded with a good, hard-working goal at 3:03 of the second period.

That’s a trio I’d like to see stick together and try to develop some chemistry. It’s high time for all three to get going, and they seem to work well together.

Takeaway #3: A strange post-game experience

The post-game experience after this one was quite bizarre, with media availability handled in an especially peculiar way. Considering that—even though the Kraken took yet another ‘L’—they played a great game, players and coaches shouldn’t have felt embarrassed or hesitant to face the media, which is generally quite fair to them in this city.

But they received extra protection on this night in a way I’ve never seen before in my five years of closely covering the organization, with Lane Lambert only fielding a few questions from a team employee and none from reporters.

To set the scene and give you a peek behind the curtain, I’ll speak personally. In addition to my Sound Of Hockey duties, I’m also the local Seattle correspondent for NHL.com. That means wearing a lot of hats on home game nights: writing the neutral game story for NHL.com on a deadline, running the Sound Of Hockey Twitter (but don’t tell anyone it’s me), and trying to ask meaningful questions of players and coaches in post-game scrums so I can complete the NHL.com article and eventually Three Takeaways here on Sound Of Hockey… dot com.

After all that, I drive home, usually around midnight, and start actually writing Three Takeaways, which takes at least an hour. If all goes well, I’m asleep by 2 a.m.

That’s all to say that I—and others in the local media corps—invest a lot into covering the Kraken and filling gaps in a sports landscape dominated by the Seahawks and Mariners. The Kraken need us.

One challenge of the NHL.com role is that I’m expected to tell the story from the perspective of the winning team, with commentary from the losing team mixed in. While I’d prefer to always go to the Kraken dressing room, a stretch like this one means I’ve been visiting the opposing locker room more often than not. Even so, I typically still make it to Lane Lambert’s press conference, where I ask at least one question. (I’d prefer to ask more, but I understand the dynamics of a shared presser and can’t always hog the mic.)

On this particular night, I went to the Avalanche dressing room, where players were understandably celebratory after the comeback win. I asked Mackenzie Blackwood what it’s like playing behind Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar just as MacKinnon walked back in from his TNT interview. Somewhat jokingly—but very much on the record—Blackwood said, “He’s fucking nasty!” while nodding toward MacKinnon. MacKinnon shouted back, “Next question!”

Blackwood then doubled down: “No, those guys are fucking unbelievable leaders, and I love to watch those guys on a nightly basis.” That unnecessary on-mic cursing got a chuckle from the room.

After that, I asked Colorado coach Jared Bednar a few questions in the hallway outside the Avalanche dressing room and then headed to the Kraken media room, where Lambert had not yet arrived. When Lambert did come in, the microphone—normally passed from reporter to reporter—was already in the hands of a Kraken employee, who asked a short series of questions. Lambert gave brief answers, and the Kraken PR representative then cut off the presser without allowing anyone else in the room to ask a question.

It was peculiar behavior and a bad look for a team desperately trying to maintain interest in a crowded sports market. I included the background on my night not to complain (I absolutely love doing all this; otherwise, I wouldn’t do it), but to illustrate how much effort goes into covering a team that has lost nine of its last 10 games and frankly isn’t earning much positive attention right now.

All that said, following the availability, it was communicated that this approach was a one-off decision and would not be repeated.

Bonus Takeaway: Brandon Montour potentially injured

The Kraken had their jump back in this game after looking sluggish on Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres. Many on the team have been sick, with Mason Marchment missing that game, and then Kaapo Kakko and Vince Dunn missing practice on Monday. All three were back in the lineup, making things feel like Seattle was inching in the right direction in terms of its many health- and injury-related issues.

But early in the third period, Mason Marchment found himself throwing gloved fists with Josh Manson.

Chaos ensued, and Brandon Montour ended up on the ice, punching Brent Burns. Montour left the game after this and did not return. Lambert did not give an update on his status.

Needless to say, the Kraken simply cannot survive adding Brandon Montour to their injured list.

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.

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10 for 10: Seattle Kraken Games 21–30

10 for 10: Seattle Kraken Games 21–30

by | Dec 16, 2025 | 10-for-10, Seattle Kraken

We’ve crossed another 10-game mark in the Seattle Kraken season. The previous installments of this series carried a tone of optimism, but if you’re looking for silver linings this time, you may want to take this one off. The 2025–26 Kraken just endured one of the roughest stretches in franchise history. The theme of this 10-for-10 is less about excitement and more about confronting the reality of what’s unfolded over the past three weeks.

If you’re still reading, don’t forget, I warned you.

Data point 1: Points percentage in the Pacific Division

10 games ago, Seattle sat third in the Pacific, just two points behind division-leading Anaheim with a game in hand. Since then, they’ve been the worst-performing team in the division, even allowing Vancouver to gain ground.

The Kraken now find themselves tied for sixth in the Pacific and five points out of the final wild card spot.

Data point 2: Goals for and against (excluding empty-netters)

Scoring has been a season-long issue, but the last 10 games have been especially brutal, with the Kraken averaging just two non-empty-net goals per game. Meanwhile, defensive lapses have led to more goals against.

With Jared McCann and Jaden Schwartz sidelined for at least two more weeks, offensive relief is nowhere in sight.

Data point 3: Special teams

Special teams have mirrored the broader struggles. In one three-game stretch, Seattle allowed seven of eight opposing power plays to convert while scoring just once on 11 opportunities.

The recent trend is slightly better: the penalty kill has stopped 10 of the last 12 chances, and the power play has clicked at 29.4 percent over the last four games.

Data point 4: Shot attempts per game

Earlier this season, shot volume was a glaring weakness. Over the last 10 games, attempts have increased—but much of that may be inflated by playing from behind.

Data point 5: Shooting percentage

More shots haven’t translated to more goals. Seattle’s shooting percentage has cratered to just 7.4 percent over this stretch.

Data point 6: High-danger chances (all situations)

The low shooting percentage is partly explained by shot quality. Seattle averages only 5.87 high-danger shots per game—the lowest in the NHL. The lone bright spot: they also allow the fewest high-danger shots against per game.

Data point 7: Defensive zone faceoffs

Chandler Stephenson has taken 44 percent of the team’s defensive zone draws this season, consistently facing the toughest matchups. This usage drags down his public analytics, since zone time isn’t factored into most models, but it underscores his importance in Lambert’s system.

Data point 8: Five-on-three power play time

Seattle has led the league with 4:44 of five-on-three time since November 23, yet they’ve failed to score. Against Utah, they squandered 1:42 of five-on-three in what was essentially a one-goal game (excluding empty-netters).

Data point 9: Goals against average (last 10 games)

While goals-against average isn’t the best measure of goalie performance, it does reflect team defense. Allowing fewer than three goals per game usually gives a team a chance to win. Seattle has hovered near that mark, though I’ve excluded the 9–4 drubbing in Edmonton as a mulligan.

Data point 10: Goals lost to injured reserve

Injuries remain the defining storyline. McCann and Schwartz—Seattle’s top two goal scorers—are both on IR. Without them, the Kraken continue to play tight, one-goal games (excluding empty-netters), but the margin for error is razor-thin.

Closing Thoughts

This 10-game stretch has been a sobering reminder of how fragile success can be in the NHL and how thin this Seattle Kraken team really is. The Kraken aren’t being blown out nightly, but the lack of scoring depth and reliance on injured stars has left them clinging to close games without the finishing power to tilt results in their favor.

The good news? The season is long, and reinforcements are on the horizon. If McCann and Schwartz return healthy, and if Lambert can coax more consistency from the special teams, Seattle still has a shot to claw back into the playoff picture but it will take an impressive turnaround. The margin is shrinking, and the next 10 games may define whether games 21 to 30 is just a stumble or the start of the collapse.

Berkly Catton through 20 games: How it stacks up with Kraken’s other first-rounders

Berkly Catton through 20 games: How it stacks up with Kraken’s other first-rounders

by | Dec 16, 2025 | Kraken, Kraken Prospects, NHL, Seattle Kraken

With Berkly Catton on the shelf for the foreseeable future, out week-to-week with an upper-body injury, it puts a pause to his much anticipated rookie season.

It was promising to see him out with a red sweater at morning skate on Sunday morning, but coach Lane Lambert said he’s still pretty far from a return.

20 games (well, 21 now) into his NHL career, the 19-year-old remains one of the youngest players in the league. Yet, it’s looking more and more like he will stay with the team for the entire season. 

There are a lot of high hopes for Catton among Kraken faithful, with many thinking his playmaking abilities would pay dividends right away for a team that has struggled to find a consistent source of offense. In certain ways he has helped in this regard, but the player who once scored 54 goals in a season in the WHL has yet to find the back of the net as a pro, so the scoring touch hasn’t yet translated.

Obviously, the first 20 games are not going to define the next 20, the next 200 or an entire career. Not all development paths are created equal, but this is a large enough sample size to begin comparing and contrasting.

So, while his season is on pause, let’s take some time to compare Catton’s first 20 games with the other two Kraken first-rounders to reach that mark: Matty Beniers and Shane Wright.

Catton’s first 20

The Kraken had the option of sending Catton back to the Spokane Chiefs for another season, where he did not have much left to prove, or keeping him in the NHL for a full year and burning a season of his entry-level contract. 

Drafted No. 8 overall by the Kraken in 2024, the decision to have him spend his first season in the pro ranks was a heavily calculated one by the front office and coaching staff, who felt it was in his best interest to stay in the NHL and learn the ropes a little earlier than normal.

Catton has experienced some ups and downs to start his NHL career. He came out of the gates hot with three assists in his first five games, including an assist in his debut.

But he went quiet over his next 15, recording only two helpers. He’s totaled 17 shots on goal so far with some quality chances, but he just hasn’t been able to finish.

He’s getting close, though, and gaining confidence along the way. Here’s one of those opportunities he had against the Islanders on Nov. 23.

Here’s another against Edmonton on Nov. 29. He seems to really like burning by teams with orange circular logos for whatever reason.

Catton has spent the majority of his young career playing on a line with Jordan Eberle and the aforementioned Wright, but he has also seen his fair share of different combinations—six in total, according to MoneyPuck. 

He was averaging a little more than 12 minutes per night, with that number fluctuating game-to-game, as it often does for players his age.

Comparing it to Wright and Beniers

Wright, drafted No. 4 overall by the Kraken in 2022, split his first 20 NHL games across three seasons from 2022-23 to 2024-2025. He spent time in the OHL, AHL and at World Juniors between his NHL debut and reaching the 20-game mark.

When he was on the ice with the Kraken during those early stints, he produced at roughly the same pace he is producing at now, totaling five goals and two assists while getting about 11 minutes a game. It took Wright until the eighth game of his career to score his first NHL goal, memorably against Montreal.

While Wright hasn’t been the world-breaker he was hyped to be during his junior career, he has still developed into a solid NHL producer, with 63 points in 124 games.

Matty Beniers, meanwhile, is much more of an outlier when it comes to early-career production for the Kraken. His Rookie of the Year award and scoring in just his second ever game underscore that point. 

Through his first 20 games, 10 at the end of the 2021-22 season and 10 in 2022-23, Beniers averaged nearly a point per game at seven goals and 10 assists. He was playing more than 18 minutes per night, a luxury that came when the Kraken were just starting out and building their foundation.

What’s to come…

In terms of production, it’s safe to say Catton’s first 20 games looked far more like Wright’s than Beniers’, although his path to 20 has been far more linear than that of Wright. While Catton is probably the most offensively gifted player of the three, it was always going to take something monumental to match Beniers’ first-year totals.

Many different factors play into these development paths. Top picks are always given plenty of runway, and Catton, like the rest of the Kraken’s first-rounders (all of whom are still under the age of 23), undoubtedly has way more time to become the player he was drafted to be. Benchmarks like these simply give context for what may come next.

So when he gets back, how do you think the next 20 games will look for Catton?

Monday Musings – Sliding down to irrelevancy?

Monday Musings – Sliding down to irrelevancy?

by | Dec 15, 2025 | Monday Musings, Uncategorized

Last week I asked whether the Seattle Kraken had hit bottom. Technically, they squeaked out a win against the Los Angeles Kings last Wednesday, but that brief moment of optimism didn’t last. Since then, they’ve dropped two straight, including an underwhelming 3–1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. It’s ugly right now, and game by game, the Kraken are playing themselves toward irrelevancy.

Goals are still hard to come by

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the Kraken are struggling to score. Over their last five games, they’re shooting an abysmal 7.6 percent. A modest bump up to their season average of 9.7 percent would have produced roughly three additional goals over that stretch. Given that most of those games were essentially one-goal affairs, those three goals could have swung multiple results.

Things got even tougher when the Kraken lost their leading scorer, Jared McCann, for several weeks during Wednesday’s game against the Kings. That injury came just six games since he returned from a five-week absence. Seattle managed to tread water during McCann’s earlier absence, but that was with Jaden Schwartz in the lineup. Schwartz has now been out for three weeks himself, and suddenly the margin for error has disappeared.

Injuries are part of the game, and the Kraken have certainly had their share this season. The challenge for a team like Seattle is organizational depth. The AHL roster is loaded with prospects, but there aren’t many players down there who are ready to step in and handle even limited NHL minutes right now. When multiple top-six forwards are missing at the same time, the cracks become pretty obvious.

Objective of the 2025–26 season

No one picked Seattle as a playoff team entering the season. ESPN and The Athletic both projected the Kraken to finish 29th overall. Here at Sound Of Hockey, we’ve been consistent that a reasonable expectation was simply to play meaningful games in March.

The Kraken’s solid start made that goal feel very attainable. Then the losses piled up, the injuries got worse, and suddenly the season has been in a spiral. And yet, despite how bleak things feel, Seattle is still just five points out of the final playoff spot. As bad as it’s been, they’re technically still on pace to be playing those meaningful games in March.

Given the current state of the roster, the path forward is pretty clear. If the Kraken can hover around .500 while McCann and Schwartz are sidelined over the next few weeks, they’ll give themselves a fighting chance once the lineup starts to stabilize.

Opportunities

With Jaden Schwartz and Jared McCann out, and Berkly Catton also working his way back from injury, several players are getting extended looks and increased responsibility. There are three players in particular who need to elevate their game.

  • Shane Wright – I wouldn’t say Wright’s game has regressed since last season, but he hasn’t looked nearly as dangerous as he did down the stretch last year. He has five goals in 30 games and is shooting 11.4 percent, a sharp drop from last season’s 25.9 percent. There’s been plenty of fan frustration about his ice time, but much of that is tied to the coaching staff’s trust in him: he’s not on the top power-play unit and continues to get protected starts with limited defensive-zone usage. These injuries should open the door for more responsibility. Now it’s on Wright to take advantage and raise his game to the level everyone expects.
  • Kaapo Kakko – Kakko’s production is largely explained by injury, and I’m willing to give him some leeway there. Coming back from two separate injuries is no small thing. That said, the Kraken badly need scoring from the wing, and Kakko has been back for seven games without looking like much of a threat. The hope is that more time and opportunity help him turn the corner over the next few weeks. Worth noting, he missed Monday’s practice with an illness.
  • Freddy Gaudreau – Like Kakko, Gaudreau’s offensive numbers are down compared to last season, largely due to injury. I’ve liked his game lately, though, especially his two-way play. He looks more comfortable and always makes the right decision. It feels like he’s starting to find his stride with the Kraken. If a few more pucks start going in for him, that would go a long way toward stabilizing this team right now.

Other musings

  • The Kraken have been generating more shot attempts lately, though some of that can likely be attributed to playing from behind more often. Shot volume is nice, but context still matters, and chasing games isn’t exactly a sustainable offensive strategy.
  • The Kraken are now 3-8-4 when allowing the first goal this season. Playing from behind continues to be a recipe for long nights.
  • Seattle had 2:22 of 5-on-3 ice time over the past week and failed to convert. They are now one of just two teams this season with more than five total minutes of 5-on-3 time without a single goal, joining Montreal in that unenviable category. Meanwhile, opponents are a perfect 2-for-2 on 5-on-3 chances against the Kraken.
  • By the definition, this is a face-off goal, yet who won this face-off?

  • Mason Marchment’s two-goal performance against Utah marked the seventh time a Kraken player has recorded a multi-goal game this season. That total is tied for 27th in the league, which says a lot about how rarely Seattle is getting game-breaking performances from individual players.
  • Jacob Melanson was recalled on Saturday and was immediately pressed into action Sunday due to illness elsewhere in the lineup. I’ve always liked his game, and while this might be a brief look, I still think he has the makeup of a regular NHL player down the road.

Goal of the week

Seattle Kraken sixth-round pick from the 2022 draft, Barrett Hall, scored this game-winning goal in the final minutes of St. Cloud’s 4–3 win over sixth-ranked Denver.

Player performances

Tyson Jugnauth (CVF/SEA) – “Juggy” had two goals and two assists in the Coachella Valley Firebirds’ 7–4 win over the Calgary Wranglers on Saturday. It was one of those nights where he was involved in everything.

Kraken goaltenders – Over four games this week, Kraken goalies posted a .914 save percentage and saved 2.2 goals above expected. They’re doing their part, and then some.

Marcus Johansson (MIN) – Former Kraken forward “JoJo” had three goals and three assists in four games this week, including a nice game-winning goal against Seattle. Of course.

The week ahead

They had to come to town eventually, and now they’re here. The 23-2-7 Colorado Avalanche visit Seattle on Tuesday at perhaps the worst possible time. Colorado leads the league at 4.0 goals per game, while the Kraken sit last at 2.47. Anything can happen in the NHL, but on paper this one is pretty terrifying.

After Colorado, Seattle heads out to Calgary on Thursday and San Jose on Saturday. At first glance, those might look like opportunities to grab some points, but the Flames have won four of their last five games, and the Sharks have taken three of their last four. There are no easy games in this league, and given how the Kraken are currently playing, these will all be tough.

Until further notice, the goal for the week should be simple: grab 50 percent of the available points. If the Kraken can hang around a .500 points percentage while waiting for McCann and Schwartz to return, they at least keep themselves in the bubble conversation. Even then, this team is going to need a real run to become relevant again, and that likely won’t happen until those pieces are back in the lineup.

Three Takeaways – Kraken misery continues with ugly 3-1 loss to Sabres

Three Takeaways – Kraken misery continues with ugly 3-1 loss to Sabres

by | Dec 14, 2025 | Uncategorized

Things are getting dire, folks. You could sense it from the moment you walked into Climate Pledge Arena on Sunday, where a big swath of fans arrived very late after the Seattle Seahawks narrowly defeated Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts. And when they did arrive, they didn’t have much reason to cheer. The Seattle Kraken dropped their eighth game out of their last nine (1-7-1) with a 3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

Of course, we’ve been here in years past, but this free fall does sting, especially given that the Kraken started their season so well and gave hope that they could be a playoff team for just the second time in their five-year history. Instead, the plummet toward the bottom of the standings continued Sunday.

After the game, I asked Chandler Stephenson, who scored Seattle’s only goal in the game, “What is the mood of the team right now?”

Sounding downtrodden, Stephenson gave a long and thoughtful answer to a relatively simple question.

“I mean, it’s tough. Obviously, it’s no fun losing. And yeah, obviously, we got a little bit of energy with the dads being here [for the recent dads and mentors trip], and it’s exciting having them here. I think it’s just… it’s a hard league. It’s hard to stay positive when things are going this way. But, I think that’s kind of the MO right now, is that [winning is] going to come. That’s kind of the hard thing is that you’re just waiting for it [to happen], and it seems like it’s kind of the same thing. The effort’s there, goalies are playing well, giving us a chance to win. Offense isn’t overly there, but the PK has been better, power play has been pretty good too as of late. So yeah, I think it’s just that everything needs to be going for us to win games right now, and we’re just going to go into the next one, and hopefully we can have some energy and have some juice and get something going here before Christmas.”

Worth noting: the next Kraken game is against the 23-2-7 Colorado Avalanche.

Anyway… here are Three Takeaways from a 3-1 Kraken loss to the Sabres.

Takeaway #1: Two bad mistakes

You generally have to score more than one goal in a game to win, but with the way things have gone for the Kraken this month, you also can’t afford to make mistakes. Seattle made two huge ones in this game, and both resulted in rush goals for Buffalo—something we almost never saw in the first (almost) two months of the season.

The first goal, which ended with a pretty give-and-go between Noah Ostman and Josh Norris at 17:09 of the first period, came off a 2-on-1 that started when Alex Tuch escaped a Jamie Oleksiak pinch and made a quick breakout pass to Ostman in the middle.

“Their first goal, our D stands in,” coach Lane Lambert said. “Our protocol is our forward has to back him up, and he doesn’t, so it’s a 2-on-1. Can’t do that. And it’s happening too often, and there’s no excuse for it. These players, the guys have to do the job that’s required.”

In this case, Jacob Melanson (more on him in Takeaway #2) was the F1 on the forecheck, and Ben Meyers was the F2. That meant Tye Kartye was the high forward—and the one Lambert was clearly implicating. Kartye got caught flat-footed at the blue line, and Ostman had a ton of speed hitting the neutral zone. Kartye was so stationary, in fact, that Meyers—who was down at the offensive-zone face-off dot when the play started coming back the other way—ended up closer to catching the 2-on-1 rush than Kartye did.

The other non-empty-net goal, scored by Tage Thompson, came off an egregious turnover by Vince Dunn in the second period. Trying to clear the zone up the wall, Dunn had his pass knocked down by Tuch, suddenly turning it into a 3-on-1 that became a 2-on-0 in tight on Joey Daccord. Peyton Krebs slid it across to Thompson, who jammed it under Daccord’s pad for the 2-0 lead.

“Obviously, the second one was a costly turnover,” Lambert said. “Right now, we have to play the perfect game to give ourselves a chance to win. And there’s mistakes here and there that are reaching up and biting us.”

I asked Lambert whether these mistakes are happening more frequently than they were earlier in the season.

“That’s a good question. No, I think that it’s just biting us a little more now. It wasn’t like we were mistake free, certainly. But right now, it’s magnified, right? Because you’re not winning, and you’re having trouble scoring goals 5-on-5, so those little mistakes get magnified.”

Takeaway #2: Jacob Melanson was a silver lining

On a night when the veterans didn’t appear to have much juice, Jacob Melanson—who found out around 3 p.m. Sunday that he would be in the lineup for his second career NHL game, replacing a sick Mason Marchment—did exactly what you’d want. He was fast, physical, relentless on the forecheck, and looked like he belonged in a depth NHL role.

On his first shift, he dumped Rasmus Dahlin in the corner, then slammed Thompson into the end wall a few minutes later, doing everything he could to get under the skin of the Sabres throughout the night.

“The way I play, I play physically, bring energy, and the easiest way you get into it is get that first big hit, and I felt much better after that,” Melanson said. “Everyone’s been welcoming and happy to have me, and I thought tonight, I brought my energy, brought my physicality, and I’ll keep bringing that when the team needs it. And I feel like I can be a big part of that.”

The nastiness in Melanson’s game is an element the Kraken don’t really have, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens with him moving forward. Though he played just 7:47, he brought a spark to an otherwise lifeless lineup. Could that earn him more time with the big club?

“I did like [his physical game],” Lambert said. “I thought it was exactly what we needed, and [he brought] some youthful energy, and certainly he finished his checks. I thought he played well.”

Takeaway #3: Something has to give

One day after a true blockbuster trade sent Quinn Hughes, one of the best defensemen in the NHL, to the Minnesota Wild, it’s fair to wonder whether the Kraken will make a move of their own to try to salvage the season. Last December, former general manager Ron Francis traded for Kaapo Kakko. That didn’t ultimately rescue the season, but it was a signal that Seattle still wanted to keep trying to compete.

One year later, the Kraken are right back in the same position. Things are spiraling quickly, and while the playoffs remain attainable, constant injuries and illnesses have exposed just how thin this roster really is.

If the Kraken don’t pull off a trade or two for forwards who can put the puck in the net, that may be a sign that they’re instead beginning the march back toward sell mode.

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.

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Down on the Farm – Ryan Jankowski talks Kraken prospects

Down on the Farm – Ryan Jankowski talks Kraken prospects

by | Dec 13, 2025 | Uncategorized

Welcome to “Down on the Farm,” your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. Last Saturday, Seattle Kraken vice president and assistant general manager Ryan Jankowski sat down with with Kraken Hockey Network for a wide-ranging conversation on Kraken prospects. We will dig into the insights he passed along, before updating Kraken prospects named to World Juniors rosters. Of course, we’ll also pass on all of the Kraken prospect news, video, and data you could want, plus our weekly game preview.

If you have a Seattle Kraken prospect–related question you’d like to see featured in a future column, drop us a note below or on X or BlueSky @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey. Let’s dive in.

Assistant general manager Ryan Jankowksi emphasizes adversity and competitiveness in Kraken prospect development

Ryan Jankowksi is the new manager at the top of the Kraken player development operation this season. Last Saturday, he joined the KHN pregame show and provided some insights into his player development priorities and early Kraken prospect impressions. While the conversation stayed fairly general—as it should—a number of interesting points emerged. You can watch the full interview below.

The most robust conversation centered on a new player development pathway that opened this year for aspiring NHL players: moving from junior hockey to play in the NCAA. (We explained the background of this change here.)

When asked about Kraken prospects Ollie Josephson and Clarke Caswell making this move this year, Jankowksi conceded “this was uncharted territory for everyone, so we weren’t sure how it was going to go. The adjustment has been there for both guys, but it’s been really positive for them because it’s another level of hockey. It’s a bit faster. It’s a little bit older. They’re adjusting very well and having success as a result.”

When asked whether the organization has encouraged its younger junior players to pursue this transition, or will do so in the future, Jankowksi said, “The one thing you have to keep in mind is they’re unsigned players.” (This is because players signed to NHL contracts are still ineligible for NCAA hockey.) “They’ve got to make the decision for themselves. We can’t really get too involved. Obviously, they’ll consult with us, they’ll ask our thoughts, but they have to do what’s best for them.”

Jankowksi continued, explaining that each development path has its advantages and disadvantages, and that the best course may be player-specific. “For us, every opportunity is a good opportunity, whether it’s staying in the [Western Hockey League] as a 19-year-old, playing a ton of minutes, being the go-to offensive guy, or making this adjustment [to college hockey]. So, at the end of the day, . . . every opportunity is different and it’s a different path for every player.”

That said, what he likes about the college option is the opportunity for young, talented junior players to experience challenge and failure earlier in their careers. “What we want to see is a little bit of adversity because there’s going to be adversity when they get to professional hockey,” Jankowski said.

As for the specific players who made the jump, Jankowski said of Josephson: “One thing that Ollie Josephson mentioned is that they don’t play as many games, so he’s had to get used to that. But over the last couple of weeks, Ollie’s taken a really nice step.” About Caswell, Jankowski said: “Clarke was able to jump in right away on a really talented Denver team and play a really good role because he is skilled, creates offense, and is a really smart player.”

When talking about other players in the organization, Jankowksi often returned to another theme: competitiveness. Of 2025 seventh-round pick Loke Krantz, Jankowksi said: “He’s been a bit of a surprise for us, but he’s done a really nice job getting himself to this point with hard work and competitiveness.”

Jankowksi said about 2024 second-rounder Nathan Villeneuve: “[He] brings a lot of physicality. He’s kind of a pit bull. He brings a lot of energy, he’s really good in the battles, he’s the team captain, so he’s bringing his team into the fight every night, which is important for [Sudbury] because they’re fighting for some wins.”

Finally, Jankowski highlighted the youth movement in Coachella Valley: “The one thing that’s different this year is there [are] so many young players. I was at a game this year where four of the defensemen had a total of nine American Hockey League games [of experience between them]. So, it’s a total shift from basically winning every night to now this path of development for the organization with young players, and they’re handling it very well. [Vice president of hockey and business operations] Troy Bodie and [Coachella Valley Firebirds head coach] Derek Laxdal do a tremendous job. You’re going to have ups and downs. You’re not going to win every game, and the emphasis is on development, but they are winning games as a part of it [too].”

O’Brien, Miettinen, Saarinen named to World Juniors rosters

As of our last Kraken prospect update, Team Canada and Team Finland had not yet announced their World Juniors rosters, but we projected forward Jake O’Brien to Canada and forward Julius Miettinen and goalie Kim Saarinen to Team Finland. In the week since, both Canada and Finland have announced their rosters, and, as expected, those players were included.

With Berkly Catton sidelined week-to-week with an upper-body injury (to his hand after blocking a shot), he is now very unlikely to join Team Canada. This may open the door to a top-nine and power-play role on Team Canada for O’Brien. I’m hopeful he gets that look, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he is used sparingly.

Miettinen and Saarinen return to the Team Finland roster after also attending last year’s event. Miettinen projects as a key all-situations contributor for the Lions, while Saarinen will likely begin as the backup goaltender. His recent solid play in Liiga may make it a closer call than it appeared a few weeks back, though.

Notes on three more Kraken prospects

Tyson Jugnauth | D | Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)

With five points in four AHL games over the last week, Tyson Jugnauth is your Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week. His ability to transport and pass the puck has shined in the open ice available on the power play or in overtime—and he is being featured in those situations. He has shown offensive play-driving skill at 5-on-5 as well, with the ability to outlet the puck, dissect the offensive zone with passes, and walk the blue line. The defensive skills are taking incremental steps too, though they remain an area for development. While older than most, he leads all AHL rookie blueliners in total points (18) and assists (14).

Nathan Villeneuve | F | Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Villeneuve’s season is flying a bit under the radar, but he is doing everything you would hope a high-drafted 19-year-old junior player would. He’s the captain and emotional leader of his team, as Jankowski mentioned, plays in all situations, and his 1.59 points per game ranks seventh in the OHL. The offensive production is encouraging for a player who has also demonstrated pro-level grit and grind during his playoff stint with Coachella Valley last season. A strong pro future is looking more and more certain for Villeneuve.

Visa Vedenpää | G | Kärpät (Liiga)

Vedenpää has not appeared in a game in nearly a month, last appearing on Nov. 15. I do not believe there is an injury involved because Vedenpää has dressed as the backup for Kärpät in each game since. It is likely that the team views him as a true backup at this stage, which is fair given his modest production this season. But it is a reminder of the development challenges that playing in a professional league overseas can present. At a certain point, Vedenpää’s development is better served by drawing regular starts at a lower level, but Kärpät believes it is in the team’s best interest to keep him as the backup.

Kraken prospects data update

Forward Ben MacDonald had a standout weekend for the Harvard Crimson, scoring one goal and adding two assists.

Logan Morrison and Jagger Firkus are tied for ninth in the AHL with 11 goals apeice.

Saarinen continued his solid play last week, posting a .920 save percentage in two starts. HPK lost both games, though, with the offense generating only two goals in those games.

With a few more solid appearances last week, Nikke Kokko edged his save percentage over .900 for this first time this season.

Highlight of the Week

With a slow-skating “assist” from Jacob Melanson, Firebirds center Oscar Fisker Mølgaard scored on a breakaway against the Calgary Wranglers on Thursday, Nov. 11.

Speaking of which, the Firebirds played two consecutive games against the Wranglers and goalie Owen Say. On Tuesday, Dec. 9, Say shut out the Firebirds on 43 shots on goal. Then, on Dec. 11, the Kraken scored five goals on 11 shots knocking Say out of the game en route to a 7-4 win. Hockey is weird like that sometimes. Hey, hey, whaddya… Say? (I’ll see myself out.)

Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week tracker

2: Jagger Firkus, Julius Miettinen, Kim Saarinen

1: Ollie Josephson, Tyson Jugnauth, Nikke Kokko, Jake O’Brien, Nathan Villeneuve, Semyon Vyazovoi, Zaccharya Wisdom

Previewing the week ahead

The Deep Sea Hockey Games of the Week are matchups between Barrett Hall’s St. Cloud State Huskies and Clarke Caswell’s Denver Pioneers on Friday, Dec. 12, at 5:00 pm PT, and Saturday, Dec. 13, at 4:00 pm PT. The games are available to stream with a subscription to NCHC.tv.

Tracking 2026 NHL Draft prospects: Ilia Morozov

The 6-foot-3 Russian-born Ilia Morozov has rapidly risen prospect rankings this year with a productive NCAA season for Miami University. At 17 years old, he leads all first-time draft-eligible college hockey players with seven goals (Gavin McKenna has only four goals). Morozov is third in total points among first-time eligibles. Corey Pronman of The Athletic had Morozov as the No. 16 overall prospect in his most recent draft rankings. Even if his stock cools a bit, his scoring ability and size makes him a likely top-50 pick.

Recent prospect updates

December 5, 2025: World Juniors Announcements, Kokko saving the day for the Firebirds

November 29, 2025: Projecting Kraken prospects to the 2026 World Junior Championship

November 21, 2025: Blake Fiddler brings intriguing tools

November 15, 2025: Firkus steps forward for Firebirds

November 7, 2025: Caden Price looks the part in pro debut

October 31, 2025: College hockey seasons under way for Kraken prospects

October 25, 2005: Mølgaard is an all-situations contributor as an AHL rookie

October 17, 2025: Tyson Jugnauth earns important role with the Firebirds

October 10, 2025: Firebirds drop the puck on the 2025-26 season

October 3, 2025: Catton makes his case for the NHL Roster

September 26, 2025: Junior seasons begin, J.R. Avon settles in

Curtis Isacke

Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.

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Three Takeaways – Kraken end six-game slide with miraculous 3-2 OT win against Kings

Three Takeaways – Kraken end six-game slide with miraculous 3-2 OT win against Kings

by | Dec 10, 2025 | Uncategorized

While an atmospheric river continues to pound the Pacific Northwest, Seattle Kraken fans can take solace in the fact that Losing Streak Camille (that’s what we began calling it on the latest Sound Of Hockey Podcast episode) has finally ended.

The Kraken rallied back in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, tying the Los Angeles Kings 2-2 on a Matty Beniers redirection with 26 seconds remaining in the third, then getting an overtime power-play goal from Vince Dunn to end a six-game skid that started with a 1-0 shootout loss at the New York Islanders on Nov. 23.

“I thought it was awesome, just the fight from our group,” Joey Daccord said. “We’ve competed so hard these last couple weeks, and it just hasn’t gone our way.”

Here are Three Takeaways from a thrilling 3-2 Kraken comeback win over the Kings.

Takeaway #1: Late-game heroics

The Kraken penalty kill has definitely gotten better now that the team has switched from the wedge plus one to a diamond formation, which seems to have eliminated the ever-present too-easy seam pass. The PK did allow one off a rush on Wednesday, though, and it came at a bad time with the game tied and five minutes remaining in the third period.

Ryker Evans took a four-minute double-minor for high sticking Corey Perry, and Anze Kopitar quickly sent Kevin Fiala on a partial breakaway, on which Fiala converted for what felt like the winning goal at the time.

But the Kraken didn’t give up. Back on the power play themselves and with Daccord off for an extra skater, Eeli Tolvanen sent a shot-pass toward the top of the crease that Matty Beniers redirected into the top corner.

“Matty’s goal, there, there’s not much to it,” Dunn said. “It’s throwing the puck where guys are going to the net, and eventually it’s going to go in for us.”

Beniers then cut hard to the net in the overtime period and drew a penalty on Adrian Kempe, which gave Seattle its seventh power play of the game. Tolvanen contributed again, laying a perfect pass into Dunn’s wheelhouse.

“It’s not anything special drawn up,” Dunn said. “It’s just taking the shot that’s there and hoping good things happen.”

The game-winning goal was Dunn’s third point of the game and Tolvanen’s second assist in just over two minutes between the third period and OT.

Takeaway #2: Jared McCann scores, gets hurt again

Jared McCann, who recently returned from a 17-game absence due to a lower-body injury, looked like vintage Jared McCann in this game and scored a power-play banger (all three goals came on the power play for the Kraken, which also gave up a short-handed goal seconds after it failed to convert on a 5-on-3, but that’s neither here nor here) to open the scoring at 3:21 of the second period.

But the play that put Seattle onto a 6-on-4 power play and led to the late tying goal also sent McCann to the locker room with what looked like another bad lower-body injury.

Goalie Anton Forsberg got caught behind the net and went scrambling to get back in his crease. When he did, his right pad tangled with McCann’s left leg and took the Kraken’s best scorer down in an awkward way.

As Seattle headed to the all-important manpower advantage on the ice, McCann was helped down the tunnel and not putting much weight on his left leg.

After McCann’s mysterious lower-body injury dragged on for much of the beginning of the season, and as Jaden Schwartz, Berkly Catton, Matt Murray, and Tye Kartye (illness) all try to work their way back from various ailments, seeing McCann go down was the last thing the Kraken wanted.

Lane Lambert did not have an update after the game.

Takeaway #3: The Kraken needed that win

During the losing streak, the Kraken genuinely played some very good games—except for the two against the Edmonton Oilers, who steamrolled them twice. They had a chance to win every other game of the stretch but found different ways to lose those.

“We’ve had some losses here, some tough losses at home, where we’ve played well,” Lambert said. “We were playing well again tonight, and I’m just happy for our players that they finally got rewarded for it, because they’ve been working.”

With the win, the Kraken stopped the bleeding in the standings, at least for now. They had quickly plummeted from second place all the way down to sixth in the Pacific Division and appeared to be headed for tank. While they remain firmly outside the bubble, they’re still just two points out with games in hand on everybody.

Now, if they want to remain competitive in the coming months, they need to use this miraculous victory as a jumping-off point to start rebuilding their belief in themselves.

Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, and McCann exiting once again makes things even harder. But at least Losing Streak Camille is a thing of the past.

Monday Musings: Is this the bottom for the Seattle Kraken?

Monday Musings: Is this the bottom for the Seattle Kraken?

by | Dec 8, 2025 | Kraken, Monday Musings, Seattle Kraken, Uncategorized

Going into Saturday night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, the Seattle Kraken were riding a four-game losing streak, capped by an embarrassing 9–4 drubbing by the Edmonton Oilers just two nights earlier. The team had been sliding down the Pacific Division standings, and it felt like one of those “must-win” games to stop the bleeding, at least temporarily. As you probably know by now, the Kraken came up short again, dropping another one in regulation despite a mostly solid effort.

They now sit sixth in the Pacific after being as high as second just two weeks ago. It feels like the team is in a full-on death spiral and drifting toward irrelevance again. But is it really that dire? No, not quite. If you’re in “must-win” territory in December, the problems run deeper than standings position.

When you sort the division by point percentage, the Kraken are actually fourth, and they’ve played the fewest games in the league. Is there reason for concern? Absolutely. But if you’d offered this position in the standings before the season started, most fans probably would’ve signed up for it on the spot.

The real anchor this week was that Oilers game, giving up nine goals, including four on the power play. That set a franchise record for most goals allowed in a single outing, and if not for a last-second Jani Nyman tally, it would’ve matched their worst-ever goal differential too. If you could magically erase that one from memory, the narrative around this losing streak would look a little different.

A sign of some offense?

For as rough as the week felt, the Kraken did show some signs of life offensively. Seven goals in two games isn’t exactly fireworks, but compare that to the two goals they mustered over the previous three games. Their 74 and 77 shot attempts against the Oilers and Red Wings, respectively, are actually their top two totals of the season.

Vince Dunn summed things up well when he talked to Piper Shaw after the 4–3 loss to Detroit: “I think we’re finally fixing the things that we weren’t doing so well, and then now we’re maybe slipping a little bit with the things that we were doing so well. So it’s about balance right now and battling through the adversity that we’re going through.”

Now, it’s only a two-game sample, so we can’t exactly call it a trend. But in a week where silver linings were scarce, the uptick in shot volume does stand out. If they can pair that with the defensive structure we saw early in the season, maybe they can pull themselves out of this skid.

Face-off possession challenges

Face-offs continue to be an issue for the Kraken, and more specifically, what happens after the actual draw. The league doesn’t publicly track post-face-off possession, so I usually use shot attempts within 10 seconds of a face-off as a proxy. By that measure, Seattle ranks 28th in the NHL with 6.7 face-off shot attempts per game, and they sit 26th in allowing face-off attempts against. Not ideal.

I am not sure if anyone caught it but several times in the Detroit game Kraken head coach Lane Lambert sent out Freddy Gaudreau and Chandler Stephenson together for a face-off to increase their chances of possession and to have a true center available in case the first one got booted out of the circle.

Other musings

  • Seattle scored two rebound goals in that same game, giving them 10 on the season, which is tied for eighth in the league. That’s one of the perks of actually getting pucks to the net.
  • The Kraken are the only team in the Pacific Division that hasn’t scored six or more goals in a game this season, something they did 10 times last year.
  • With Freddy Gaudreau scoring on Thursday, Berkly Catton is now the lone forward on the roster without a goal. The good news: he’s generated more shot attempts in his last five games than in any other five-game stretch this season. The bad news, though, is that the team announced he will miss a week with an upper-body injury. We believe the injury came on his third-period shot block against the Red Wings.
  • Catton will not be loaned to Team Canada for the World Junior Championship this month. The Jaden Schwartz injury seems to have shifted the calculus there, and plus, Catton is now injured.
  • Speaking of Schwartz… I’ll probably keep saying this for the next month, but the Kraken really miss him, especially on the power play.
  • It’s been a hot topic on this site and the Sound Of Hockey Podcast, but the penalty kill has been rough lately. Here’s a look at the numbers over the last 10 games.
  • There’s been a lot of chatter about Shane Wright’s ice time. What I do know is that it’s not as simple as “just play him more.” My hunch is that Lambert doesn’t fully trust Wright in face-off situations, and with the Kraken killing penalties more often lately, that matters. That’s speculation, sure—but it’s rooted in the data.
  • On the topic of uneducated ranting, I’m a little surprised Philipp Grubauer hasn’t gotten a start recently (he will start Monday against Minnesota). Joey Daccord has had more than a couple games where he hasn’t looked particularly sharp, and it probably wouldn’t hurt to give him a breather. Grubauer has looked good enough to at least get a turn in the net.
  • I really love Adam Larsson goals.

  • The Kraken haven’t scored the first goal in five straight games—and they’ve lost all five.
  • After a slow start to the season, the Coachella Valley Firebirds have turned things around, going 7-2-1 over their last 10. As is usually the case in the AHL, the scoring is coming from a mix of vets and young prospects. Jagger Firkus has 11 goals in 21 games, and Ben Meyers has nine in just 11.
  • Congrats to 2025 first-round pick Jake O’Brien on being invited to Canada’s World Junior camp. O’Brien leads the OHL with 45 points this season.

Goal of the week

Seattle’s 2022 sixth-round pick, Barrett Hall, scored a slick shorthanded goal against North Dakota over the weekend. He’s now up to seven goals halfway through the season, already matching his total from 2024–25.

Player performances

Ben Meyers (CVF/SEA) – Meyers had four points in three games this week and has picked up at least one point in every game he’s played for Coachella Valley this season.

Semyon Vyazovoi (SYU/SEA) – The Kraken’s sixth-round pick from 2021 posted a .913 save percentage over three games for Salavat Yulaev in the KHL last week. He has the eighth-best save percentage in the league right now and is expected to come to North America next season.

Jesse Heslop (EVT) – The Everett winger put up four points in three games this past week and is riding a seven-game point streak.

The week ahead

After back-to-back two-game weeks, things are about to get a lot busier with four games this week and nine in a 16-day stretch. By the time we hit the Christmas break, we should have a much clearer sense of what this team actually is.

Seattle faces Minnesota (Monday at home), Los Angeles (Wednesday at home), Utah (Friday in Utah), and Buffalo (Sunday at home). I’m not taking anyone lightly these days, so “easy outs” don’t exist. The Kraken have been better at home this season, though, so with three home dates, you’d hope they can snap the losing streak sooner rather than later—preferably before Sunday rolls around.

Minnesota is 7-2-1 in its last 10, but those two losses came in their most recent games against Calgary and Vancouver, so maybe they’re not quite the buzzsaw they looked like a week ago. Still, nothing is guaranteed.

Regardless of what happens Monday, getting a regulation win over LA on Wednesday would be huge. The Kings enter the week five points ahead of Seattle but have played two more games. The two teams are also among the lowest-scoring clubs in the league. I’m told someone has to score to win, so something needs to give… or maybe not.

Utah sits ahead of Seattle as well, holding the last wild card spot with 31 points—three more than the Kraken—but they’ve also played four extra games, so that cushion is a bit inflated. What could go wrong in Utah?

As for Buffalo… I genuinely don’t want to imagine losing that one, but we’ve all lived through a “no way they lose this” meltdown before, so let’s just not tempt fate. The Sabres are one of the worst teams in the league, but they’ve actually won five of their last 10, which—sadly—is one point better than Seattle over that stretch.

At this point, I’d be content with four out of eight points this week. That won’t move them in the standings, but it at least keeps them in the fight. I’ll be popping champagne if they find a way to grab six. And no matter what the results are, I really hope they can figure out the penalty kill. One kill in your last eight is, without exaggeration, a disaster.

What say you? Any predictions for the week?