We are still six months away from the Seattle Kraken’s inaugural season, but that time is going to fly by. Those of you who are lucky enough to have season tickets will soon need to start planning your calendars for the 2021-22 NHL season.
To help you plan, I look how a typical NHL schedule would shake out for the Seattle Kraken.
NHL schedule basics
Let us start off with some basic information about a traditional (non-COVID impacted) NHL schedule. A typical schedule will have six preseason and 82 regular-season games that are split evenly with home and away games. The preseason starts in mid-September, regular season kicks off about a week into October, and the regular season ends in the second week of April. That gives us a typical home schedule of three preseason games and 41 regular-season games that runs from mid-September to early April.
NHL schedule by month
If you spread the schedule out by month, NHL teams have about 6 home games a month. Here is a look at that seasonality.
NHL schedule by weekday
As we slowly return to normal, you are likely to start re-committing to beer league hockey, book club, date nights, pick-up hockey, trivia night, hockey tournaments, etc. You might want to avoid conflicts in your schedule by looking at the most common NHL nights of the week.
You might want to avoid scheduling activities on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
NHL schedule wild cards
This data is based on the NHL schedules over the last four fully completed seasons (2015-16 through 2018-19). This does not mean it will stay consistent over the next season. There are few things that could factor into the schedule format next year.
Media partners
ESPN might have plans that could alter the schedule a bit. The ESPN deal has 25 regular-season games on the ESPN TV network (75 on ESPN+). All you mathematicians out there probably estimated that 25 games work out to be about one game a week. It is a best practice to establish a cadence for the games so people do not have to check their local listings every week to determine when hockey will be on ESPN. An example of this is how NBCSN branded Wednesday night as “Rivalry Night” on their network to create some buzz and awareness about their NHL nationally televised games. This has an interesting impact on the rest of the schedule where the league tries to clear out certain days to turn the focus onto the nationally televised game.
Back to backs
The league has made it perfectly clear that they will be returning to our normally scheduled divisions once we get through this 2020-21 temporary alignment. One thing that may stick around is the two-game series scenario. For those unfamiliar with this 2020-21 phenomenon, the NHL strategically scheduled several teams with back-to-back games in the same city to limit travel and potential COVID-19 exposure. Based on some reports, this back-to-back scenario might have some legs for sticking around and could impact the distribution of games in a week. For example, instead of a Thursday in one city, and Saturday in another, teams might play Thursday and Friday in the same city.
I hope this gives you some insight into a typical NHL schedule and what we might expect for the 2021-22 season. There has been no announcement on when that 2021-22 NHL schedule will be released, but we at SOH anticipate its release sometime in August.
Every sports fan and every sports reporter will likely always remember where they were and what they were doing on March 11, 2020.
I was in the hallway near the dressing rooms at Angel of the Winds Arena, conducting interviews with Silvertips coaches, players, and management to gauge their reaction that their last regular-season home game of the 2019-20 season was going to be played without fans.
It didn’t take long for the, uh, stuff to hit the fan.
The Silvertips were supposed to bus over to Kennewick for a tilt with the Tri-City Americans the next day. That never happened. Neither did the WHL playoffs, which was setting up for a fascinating three-way U.S. Division race between Everett, Portland, and Spokane.
Oh, how the times have changed since then.
The Western Hockey League’s U.S. Division will play its first game in 375 days when Portland and Tri-City drop the puck on Thursday for a season-opening tilt at the Toyota Center in Kennewick.
The five U.S. Division teams — Everett, Portland, Seattle, Spokane, and Tri-City — will play a 24-game intra-division schedule in their home barns. For now, there will just be a regular season and fans won’t be permitted in the building.
Here’s your guide to following the WHL’s U.S. Division this season.
Everett goaltender Dustin Wolf is the reigning WHL goalie of the year. (Brian Liesse photo)
Everett Silvertips
The Everett Silvertips were cresting when the season was spiked last March, with 11 wins in their last 12 games, and figured to be one of three heavyweights within the division — along with Spokane and Portland — ready to duke it out in the playoffs.
Despite losing key overagers forward Bryce Kindopp (Ducks prospect), defenseman Wyatte Wylie (Flyers), and defenseman Jake Christiansen (Blue Jackets), and two talented overagers Kasper Puutio (Panthers) and Michal Gut, Everett still brings back a lot of talent from last season’s team and should be one of the favorites again this season.
Forward to watch — Cole Fonstad
The overage forward and former Montreal Canadiens prospect jelled really nicely with his new team last season after being acquired from Prince Albert and figures to be one of Everett’s top playmakers up front this season, along with Gage Goncalves and Jackson Berezowski.
“Cole’s a real difference maker,” Everett head coach Dennis Williams said. “You can’t teach that creativity. You’re either born with it or you take that along with you. I expect him to be a key part of our offense like he was last year with Gage (Goncalves).”
Defenseman to watch — Gianni Fairbrother
Fairbrother, who recently inked an entry-level contract with Montreal, is a physically bruising defenseman with a mean slapshot. Expect the North Vancouver native to receive an expanded offensive role in his overage season.
“This year really gives him a role to round out his game offensively,” Williams said. “He’s going to be put in some situations on the offensive side of the puck where he can grow his game, and he’s going to be great at it.”
Goalie to watch — Dustin Wolf
This name should be familiar to most of you. The Calgary Flames prospect, a former guest of the Sound Of Hockey podcast, and reigning WHL goaltender of the year could carry Everett to a division title.
Draft prospect to watch — Olen Zellweger
Rated a ‘C’ prospect by NHL Central Scouting, the 17-year-old blueliner is only listed 5-foot-10, 175 pounds but possesses impressive playmaking abilities for a defensive prospect. He’s also lauded by the Everett front office and coaching staff for his work ethic and commitment to the sport.
“He obviously put a good summer in and if you know Olen, that’s how he is — he’s really driven and committed,” Williams said. “He lives and breathes hockey more than any player I know. I haven’t seen a player like him.”
Rookie to watch — Ryan Hofer
Hofer is a little older for a WHL rookie at 18 years old, but don’t be surprised to see Hofer contribute immediately and often for the Silvertips. He’s the younger brother of former Portland goaltender and Blues prospect Joel Hofer, who is currently playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Utica Comets.
Breakout candidate — Jackson Berezowski
Berezowski has always been a coaches’ favorite and his shoot-first mentality combined with his projected place on Everett’s top line should result in a big season for the Yorkton, Saskatchewan native, who is coming off a 36-point season in 2019-20.
Seth jarvis (above) was drafted No. 13 overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2020 Draft (Keith Dwiggin/Portland Winterhawks)
Portland Winterhawks
The Winterhawks claimed the Scotty Munro trophy last season, the award given to the team with the best regular-season record in the WHL, and are primed for another successful season, even without four key players — 2021 draft-eligible forwards James Stefan and Jack O’Brien, Red Wings prospect Cross Hanas, and defenseman Clay Hanus — loaned to the USHL and top defenseman Johnny Ludvig moving on to professional hockey.
Forward to watch — Seth Jarvis
Jarvis, a Carolina first-round pick in 2020, is fresh off a sweltering stretch with 11 points in nine games, which led the AHL at that stage. Jarvis, 18, is one of the most dynamic players in the US Division.
Mike Johnston, the Winterhawks’ general manager and head coach, is excited to see how Jarvis carries that professional experience into the WHL season.
“Seth is a great leader on our team and always a very good example on and off the ice,” Johnston said. “For him, it’s a motivational experience, but it’s what he imparts on the other players on our team.”
Defenseman to watch — Jonas Brondberg
Brondberg, a native of Denmark, is a sturdy defenseman at 6-foot-4, 195-pounds and has proven to be an adept stay-at-home defenseman at the WHL level.
Goalie to watch — Brock Gould
Gould, a Colorado Springs native, was brought to Portland in an offseason trade with Moose Jaw, mostly because of complications from Gould getting over the Canadian border for the season, according to Johnston. Gould wasn’t drafted last year despite playing in the CHL Top Prospects game and is seeking a rebound season with the Winterhawks.
Draft prospect to watch — Tyson Kozak
Kozak is a two-way forward tabbed as a ‘C’ prospect by NHL Central Scouting and is coming off a 29-point season and should see an expanded role with some key forwards gone this season.
Rookie to watch — Kyle Chyzowski
The Chyzowski name runs deep in the Western Hockey League, with several cousins that have played in the league, Kyle is the next one up. The Surrey, British Columbia native was a third-round pick of the Winterhawks in 2019.
Breakout candidate — Gabe Klassen
Klassen was productive as a 16-year-old rookie with 15 points in 30 games and is set to take on a bigger role in his sophomore season.
At 6-foot-8, Seattle’s Matthew Rempe (above, right) is one of the most imposing players in the WHL (Biran Liesse/Seattle Thunderbirds)
Seattle Thunderbirds
It’s all starting to come together for Seattle.
The Thunderbirds may still be a year away from seriously competing, but several of the young pieces acquired through trades are popping up on this year’s roster. Thunderbirds fans will have a good chance to see the future, along with a trio of recently drafted players in Henrik Rybinski (Panthers), Matthew Rempe (Rangers), and Tyrel Bauer (Jets).
“It’s definitely exciting,” Seattle GM Bil La Forge said. “In this shortened season we’ll be the youngest we’ve ever been; Our average age is 17.5, which is quite low when you consider it. But it will be exciting to see these kids get the opportunity to show what they can do and get their feet wet this year so we can really get on the ground running next season.”
Forward to watch — Matthew Rempe
Rempe shot up draft boards last season with 31 points in 47 games in his first season in the WHL and the Rangers cashed in on that upward trajectory in the sixth round. The towering 6-foot-8 center comes with a hard work rate and some burgeoning skill.
Defenseman to watch — Tyrel Bauer
Bauer is a classic stay-at-home defenseman that should have the opportunity to contribute more offensively with some key players gone from the blueline.
Goalie to watch — Thomas Milic
Milic played two games for the Thunderbirds last year, but Seattle’s third-round pick in 2018 is expected to be the franchise’s goalie for its next wave of young talent.
Draft prospect to watch — Connor Roulette
Rated as an “A” prospect by NHL Central Scouting, the 17-year-old forward is already a proven WHL scorer and playmaker and should fall in the early round of the upcoming NHL Draft.
“I think for a guy like Connor, it’s exciting to see what he’s going to do next,” La Forge said. “He’s a kid with special talent and he loves hockey so much that getting to see him in this 24-game stretch will be really exciting.”
Rookie to watch — Kevin Korchinski
A first-round pick (No. 10 overall) by Seattle in 2019, Korchinski is an adept puck-moving defenseman that should play a big part right away on the T-Birds’ blueline.
Breakout candidate — Lucas Ciona
Ciona, who is draft eligible in 2021, is coming off a 13-point season in 2019-20 and could be a handful for the division during this abbreviated season. At 6-foot-2, 205-pounds, Ciona can play a rugged physical game but chip in offensively.
Spokane’s Adam Beckman, seen above celebrating a goal, is the WHL’s reigning scoring champion (Larry Brunt/Spokane Chiefs).
Spokane Chiefs
Similarly to Portland, Spokane loaned out key forwards Luke Toporowski and Bear Hughes (a Post Falls, Idaho native) and goaltender Lukas Parik to the USHL, and key import defenseman David Jiricek will not make the trip over for the season.
But the cupboard still isn’t bare. Eli Zummack is a dynamic overager that should form a formidable forward group with Adam Beckman (Wild) and Jack Finley (Lightning).
There are some question marks on the backend and in goal for Spokane, but expect the Chiefs to score their fair share of goals.
Forward to watch — Adam Beckman
If there’s any player that can eclipse 50 points in an abbreviated 24-game season, it’s Beckman. The Minnesota Wild third-round pick is the WHL’s reigning scoring champion with 107 points last season and should be primed for a big total in one last hurrah in the WHL.
Defenseman to watch — Bobby Russell
With Ty Smith (Devils), Noah King (AHL), and Filip Kral (Czech Extraliga) all gone, Russell should play a big role this season, especially on the power play where his offensive abilities should shine.
“I think he’ll be on that first power play unit whereas before he struggled to get any power play minutes with those other guys,” Spokane general manager Scott Carter said. “I think that’s the one area that we’ll be able to see him take advantage of his skating and playmaking abilities. He’s a guy that a lot of teams were always asking me about but we always felt that Bobby had some big upside and I think this year it’s going to show.”
Goalie to watch — Campbell Arnold
The 6-foot backstop played 22 games for the Chiefs last year, posting a 2.59 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage as a frequent understudy to Parik last year. The Nanaimo, British Columbia native is coming off a torn ACL, but is 100 percent healthy, according to Carter.
“Really before he was hurt last year, before Christmas he was pushing Parik for the starting job and showing he could be a No. 1 last year,” Carter said. “He’s looked really good at camp.”
Draft prospect to watch — Graham Sward
Rated a ‘C’ prospect by NHL Central Scouting, the 17-year-old blueliner is only listed 5-foot-10, 175 pounds but possesses impressive playmaking abilities for a defensive prospect.
“I thought Graham really stepped up last year when Matt Leduc got hurt and showed what he can do,” Carter said. “He’s put on another inch and put on some weight … so he’s got more of a pro body on him and he’s going to get some big minutes with (Noah) King, (Filip) Kral, and Ty Smith gone and our euro not coming over. He’s going to play in all situations for us and I think he can be a higher draft pick than what is being reported on some neutral websites.”
Rookie to watch — Blake Swetlikoff
Swetlikoff played in 11 games for the Chiefs last season, but the third-round pick in 2018 was sent home early because of the lack of ice time available with a deep forward group. Swetlikoff could play a bigger role in his second run at the league.
Breakout candidate — Cordel Larson
Larson is hoping to parlay a 43-point campaign in 2019-20 into an even bigger season, and the opportunity should be there with Toporowski and Hughes not in the fold.
Sasha Mutala, above, returns this year after leading Tri-City with 67 points in 2019-20 (Robert Murray photo)
Tri-City Americans
The pandemic-shortened season was a precarious one for the Tri-City Americans, who shipped away key veterans Kyle Olsen and Beck Warm (Hurricanes prospect) in order to restock the cupboard after years of contending.
The Ams are still on the older side, with eight 19-year-olds to go with their overage group. That overage group includes Jack Barnes, the son of Seattle Kraken professional scout and Tri-City ownership partner Stu Barnes.
“We don’t have the elite 20-year-olds like the Jarvis’ or the Beckmans’, but I think we’re pretty deep up front and it will be exciting to see how competitive the division is,” Tri-City general manager Bob Tory said.
Forward to watch — Sasha Mutala
Mutala, a Colorado Avalanche prospect, is coming off a four-game stint in the AHL and should be the Ams go-to scorer this season. The Vancouver native put up 67 points in 62 games last season and is still vying for a professional contract from Colorado.
Defenseman to watch — Luke Zazula
The Americans paid a decent price to go out and acquire Zazula from Kamloops last season, sliding over a second-rounder and a third-rounder in 2021 for the diminutive defenseman, but the 5-foot-8 rear guard came through with 21 points in 37 games for Tri-City last season.
“I wish he was only 19 and not 20,” Tory said with a chuckle. “He was a big acquisition for us because not only is he a really good hockey player and really good leader, he’s a really exciting player to watch for fans, not only our fans but other teams’ fans. He’s such a dynamic skater and he’s a little guy that competes super hard, so he became a fan favorite for us.”
Goalie to watch — Talyn Boyko
Boyko, who is rated a “C” prospect by NHL Central Scouting, is listed at 6-foot-7 and is primed to take over the main duties between the pipes now that Beck Warm has moved on to professional hockey.
“This is Talyn’s third year with us, so obviously it’s time for him to take the reins and be the starter for us,” Tory said. “We just need him to be consistent for us, play good solid hockey, and eliminate the weak goals against. He’s a big kid and put on a lot of weight, starting to fill out his body and mature, and had a good offseason of training.”
Draft prospect to watch — Marc Lajoie
Lajoie, a “C”-rated prospect, carries a big frame at 6-foot-4, 231 ponds and already comes in with plenty of experience after playing a significant role with the Americans as a 16-year-old rookie.
“I think he’s worked really hard at getting stronger and improving his skating,” Tory said. “He’s a big guy, he’s got really good instincts, has a great hockey IQ, and played in a lot of key situations for us last year, probably more than he should have, but in the long run that’s going to help him. As a young player, he needs to have more of a physical presence, which I think he will with (more) confidence and I certainly think he’ll get some quality ice time.”
Rookie to watch — Rhett Melnyk
A second-round pick in 2019, Melnyk played in three games as an affiliate player last year, but the Edmonton native totaled some big points numbers at lower levels and should be a nice young depth piece for the Ams this season and moving forward.
Breakout candidate — Parker Bell
Ice time increased significantly for Bell as a rookie in 2019-20 as the season progressed and Bell could parlay that into an increased role for Tri-City this year.
Josh Horton is a freelance writer, former newspaper journalist, and former Western Hockey League writer for the Everett Herald and The Spokesman-Review (Spokane). He is NOT a juggler, nor is he a former professional baseball player. Follow him on Twitter @byjoshhorton.
Do you like NHL players? Are you interested in NHL players that may be available to the Seattle Kraken in July’s Expansion Draft? Would you like to know when some of those players will be on the ice for your viewing pleasure?
Then you’re in luck because this week’s Games on the Radar focuses on the Mass Mutual East Division and four teams that have NHL players available. Give them a watch, and while you’re watching, take a brief moment to close your eyes and picture them hitting the ice at Climate Pledge Arena with an ‘S’ on their chest and some sort of catchy song blaring from above.
Here are this week’s Games on the Radar:
Philadelphia Flyers versus New York Islanders
When: Thursday, 4 PM, NBC Sports, NHL.TV free game
The Flyers came into the season as a hot pick to contend. They haven’t quite done that but are in striking distance of a playoff spot despite shaky defense and goaltending. They do have interesting Expansion Draft options for the Kraken, however, and that’s all we care about right now.
Dealing with little to no cap space, the Flyers most likely will expose a veteran player who could step in and play right away. One potential to keep an eye on is Jakub Voracek whose contract of $8.25 million a year could lead Philadelphia to expose him. Voracek is a productive scorer and finding goal scoring for the Kraken in the Expansion Draft could prove difficult. His numbers are down a bit this year – with just four goals and an expected goal percentage of 41 percent – which makes his exposure more likely. He’s not the only vet that Philadelphia could expose, however. James van Riemsdyk is a veteran scoring forward who is having a big year and could fit in well with the Kraken. On defense, keep an eye on Shayne Gostisbehere who has had productive seasons in the past but has fought injuries and could be risky.
The Islanders find themselves on top of the East Division somehow, but they too have some cap constraints that could lead to tasty Kraken Expansion Draft picks. Perhaps the top player in the Kraken crosshairs is Josh Bailey. He’s 31 – which feels super young to those of us who have passed that milepost – and is a productive two-way player. If you like expected goal percentage as a gauge, his is 51 percent and Islanders goalies have a collective .944 save percentage when Bailey is on the ice which suggests he takes care of his own end. Not too shabby. A younger guy to watch is Kieffer Bellows who is on the bubble to be protected. Bellows, 22, is a former first-round pick who has yet to catch on in the NHL, although he is coming off a two-goal performance last week. The one-time Portland Winterhawk is still young, which may lead New York to protect him, but he’s worth checking out.
When watching the Islanders, you should always keep an eye on Mathew Barzal who will not be available to the Kraken in the Expansion Draft but is a dangler and worth the price of admission.
New York Rangers versus Washington Capitals
When: Friday, 4 PM, NHL Network
The Rangers aren’t all that good of a hockey team and the players the Kraken have to choose from in the Expansion Draft are not guys that will knock your socks off. So why do we care? Because they do have players who can be depth guys. The glue guys that help a team win. Every team needs them despite their lack of marquee appeal.
Brendan Lemieux is one such player on the Rangers roster. He’s 25 years old and his numbers won’t impress you, but he could be a bottom-six guy for Seattle and will chip in from time to time. Brett Howden, 22, also won’t make you jump out of your seat but he’s young and did score in junior. He has yet to find the net this year but at that age could be a guy to groom in the minors and hope to cash in. We admit this is getting a little depressing, but you could also eyeball Julien Gauthier who is a former first-round pick by Ron Francis. Again, he’s young, just 23, and the potential as a goal-scorer is there. He’s scored in the AHL and that combined with his age may lead him to be protected.
By contrast, the Capitals are a very good team and fighting for first place in the Mass Mutual East Division. It appears that most Kraken fans, based on message board comments, tweets, and all other social media have already figured out who Seattle is going to select in the Expansion Draft. That would be center T.J. Oshie. Did you know he grew up in the area? While the local tie is a fun story, is he worth a pick? He’s aging but his 19 points in 27 games is decent and he has plus-50 numbers in both Corsi-for and expected goals percentage so it appears the production is still there. If you like the local tie but prefer defense, then watch former Seattle Thunderbirds captain Brenden Dillon. He’s not going to score a lot of goals from the backend, but the Kraken could do worse than snaring a physical, shut-down guy in the Expansion Draft.
Last week, the NHL and ESPN announced a seven-year television, streaming, and media rights deal that kicks off at the beginning of the 2021-22 season and runs through the 2027-28 season. Here are the main bullet points:
25 exclusive national regular-season games on ABC or ESPN.
75 national regular-season games per season produced by ESPN that will stream exclusively on both ESPN+ and Hulu.
Half of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ABC and ESPN each season.
Exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for four out of the seven seasons.
NHL’s out-of-market streaming package, currently known as NHL.tv, will be available exclusively through the ESPN+ subscription.
Most people in the industry see this as a huge win for ESPN, the NHL, and most importantly the fans. Here is a list of 10 reasons why this NHL/ESPN partnership is a big deal for hockey fans:
1. Streaming focus. The Walt Disney company, the owner of ESPN, reached a tipping point for their direct-to-consumer streaming distribution with their big launch of Disney+. The 75 national regular-season games that are slated for ESPN+ are a clear signal that Disney is planning a big push for direct-to-consumer sports products without the burden of a complete cable package that consumers have been forced to purchase for years to access ESPN content.
2. Change agent for ROOT sports. The biggest complaint we heard from fans after the Root Sports/Kraken announcement was the lack of streaming options that came with that deal. With Disney taking an aggressive approach and making a huge investment in the NHL with streaming rights on ESPN+, this could influence regional sports networks, like Root Sports, to create streaming options sooner rather than later. I do not anticipate changes any time soon, but this will put pressure on the RSN’s.
3. Multi-network. There will be an additional TV partner here. NBC is still in the running, as is Fox Sports. So if you do not want to splurge on the $5 a month to get ESPN+ and the additional 75 games, you will be able to get more nationally televised games on the additional network. Having exposure on both networks creates more visibility for the NHL and will add to the growth opportunities of the sport.
4. Network competition. Between ESPN and the other eventual NHL network partner, there will be a healthy rivalry to outdo each other in coverage and innovation. Expect both networks to push each other for better coverage and content that will ultimately benefit the networks themselves as well as the fans.
5. NHL headed back to the worldwide leader in sports. It has been 17 years since the NHL last appeared on ESPN, and hockey fans have been bitter about the lack of coverage on the network since it left. I have fallen in that trap as well, but as the great Linda Cohn implied on our podcast, the network is not going to heavily promote a sport for which they do not own the television rights. This all changes that. We have already seen Steven A. Smith hyping the Kraken. Haters are going to hate, but having ESPN personalities talking about hockey is great for the sport.
Aaawwwwwww Sugar Crackers! Your Boy’s about to get into Hockey. Yes! HOCKEY!!! Check me out! pic.twitter.com/8Sr4ERzTjS
6. Shoulder content. There have been no commitments around additional programming, but one should expect something like NHL 2Night to go back to ESPN on game nights or move NHL In the Crease onto one of the ESPN linear channels, meaning ESPN or ESPN2. This will draw in more eyeballs from a broad group of sports fans that have ESPN on by default.
Yes, hockey fans, the iconic ESPN @NHL theme music will be back!
Composer Bob Christianson shares more on the musical piece first introduced to viewers in 1992, that still resonates with hockey fans after nearly 30 yearshttps://t.co/PvcI2nDuHupic.twitter.com/hOdPaXAeXg
7. ESPN.com. I have appreciated NBC Sports’ coverage over the years, but rarely have I felt the need to go to NBCsports.com for hockey content. I do like Sean Leahy, but I feel NBC never prioritizes its .com coverage. I find myself going to tsn.ca, sportsnet.ca, or ESPN.com instead. With the media partnership and platform of ESPN.com, I expect coverage should grow and landing on espn.com/nhl will become part of my regular routine. I should call out that friends of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast, Greg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan have done a great job with their coverage over the last few years. If you have not checked out their content, you should, as it is consistently fresh and innovative.
8. Getting the gang back together. I know I am not alone here, but I became a fan of hockey watching the NHL on ESPN. There is already some excitement building for the return of the gang on ESPN, and I am on board. Gary Thorne has already commented on his interest in rejoining ESPN. The fans are clamoring for Steve Levy and the elevated presence of hockey with Linda Cohn and Barry Melrose. I also hope the US hockey market can get more exposure to the great Ray Ferraro and Gord Miller from time to time.
9. NHL out-of-market streaming package just got cheaper. It did not get any headlines, but by moving the NHL.tv subscription over to ESPN+, the package apparently just got cheaper. There could be some price changes coming up for ESPN+, but the NHL.tv subscription usually costs about $159 per season and ESPN+ costs $5 per month, or $50 for a full year.
10. ESPN commercials. I still love these. It should be fun to see Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, and Mathew Barzal involved in some ESPN commercials of their own.
The old “This is SportsCenter” hockey commercials are great 🤣
The NHL on ESPN will be great for hockey. The exposure and innovation this deal will have on hockey will be incredible and I cannot wait for Seattle to be along for this ride.
Earlier this week there was an AP article talking about secondary scoring in the NHL. I tend to believe that the more spread of scoring you have through your lineup, the better your chances for success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I thought it might be a fun concept to dig into a bit on this week’s Data Dump Saturday. This will take a little exploring.
% of team scoring by the top three scorers
The first thing I want to look at is the percentage of goals scored by the top three scorers on each team. Secondary scoring in this analysis is scoring done by everyone else. There is some context missing from this type of analysis such as injuries, trades, etc. but this is just intended to be a directional exploratory analysis.
Boston appears to be the most dependent on their top three goal scorers while Detroit is the least dependent on their top three scorers.
Let us next look at the last three years’ conference final teams (highlighted) to see if there is a pattern relative to secondary scoring during the last regular seasons.
It would be foolish to draw any hard and fast conclusions based on this quick analysis, but it appears that teams that are more dependent on their top line tend to not fair well in the playoffs, nor do teams that spread scoring across their lineup.
Team Goal Scoring
An important point for context not shown above is the team goal scoring. If you were to look at the first graph above, you might think Detroit is doing well because they are not dependent on their top three scorers. However, Detroit is not having a great season. We need to incorporate the average goal scoring to provide additional context and to explore just a little bit more.
Now we are getting somewhere. Tampa Bay (34%), Carolina (38%), Florida (34%), and Washington (33%) are scoring a lot per game and they are getting secondary scoring with the top three scorers accounting for less than 40% of the team’s goal total. Toronto (44%) and Edmonton (43%) are scoring a lot, but are more dependent on their top three scorers. Meanwhile, Boston (50%) is not scoring a ton AND they are dependent on the top three scorers.
Again, this is just a quick exploratory analysis on the concept of secondary scoring and would need a much more thorough and complete analysis to draw any conclusions, but it is something to ponder during the playoffs.
From the hottest of scoops to the coldest of beers, Sound Of Hockey has all the latest news from the Seattle Kraken and beyond in this edition of Weekly One-Timers.
It’s been another week of somewhat significant stories around the hockey world, so sit back, relax, crack open a cold one if you can (it is Friday after all), and let’s get you caught up on what’s happening on and off the ice.
Seattle Kraken final NHL payment update
Sound Of Hockey has confirmed via email from a team representative that the Seattle Kraken have not yet made their final payment to the NHL.
In 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights signed their first free agent, Reid Duke, on March 6. This means that they would have submitted their final payment on or before that date. Astute readers would notice that we are now past that date, so the Kraken are behind the Vegas timeline.
Seattle can make no such signings until that final payment is made. This is notable because college and some European league seasons are ending. When the NCAA season concludes, there is always a clamoring by NHL teams to sign the best players that slipped through undrafted, so unless the Kraken complete that last transaction soon, there is a chance they could miss out on some of those prospects.
The team also cannot vote on issues brought to the league’s Board of Governors, such as whether or not to move the NHL Entry Draft, which has been discussed at length recently.
The payment will of course get made in due time, and it really is nothing to worry about for Kraken fans. As the team confirmed this is on schedule, though exactly where final payment falls on that schedule was not disclosed.
That last payment is the final milestone for the team to hit before real hockey transactions can begin.
Silver Bullets in Seattle
In my college days, I drank a lot of light beers. Miller Light, Bud Light, Busch Light, Michelob Golden Light, Milwaukee’s Best Light, Natural Light, something called Beer 30 Light… You know, good stuff!
For whatever reason, though, I was just never a huge fan of Coors Light.
My beer palate has become quite refined as I’ve aged, but my general dissatisfaction after a Coors Light—regardless of the blueness of the can’s mountains—remains in tact. So, you can imagine my dismay when the Seattle Kraken announced that they had come to an agreement with Molson Coors to make Coors Light the official domestic beer partner for both the team and Climate Pledge Arena.
Thankfully for hopheads like myself, there will be other options available at Kraken games, as Hop Valley Brewing—also a Molson Coors entity—will provide craftier options. Phew!
Read all about the deal and what it means for the gameday experience here.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I shall take a break to enjoy a refreshing and completely flavorless Natural Light, or as I like to call it, a naughty water.
Mainstream Kraken
Ok, now that I’ve been refreshed with an ice-cold naughty water, I’m ready to watch Steven A. Smith talk about the Kraken.
Aaawwwwwww Sugar Crackers! Your Boy’s about to get into Hockey. Yes! HOCKEY!!! Check me out! pic.twitter.com/8Sr4ERzTjS
In a peculiar way, this man shouting at us is why the NHL going back to ESPN is so important for the league. ESPN still has the ears and eyes of the sports fan, and the network has been doing its damnedest to make hockey disappear from the sports lexicon since the league took its talents to something called the Outdoor Life Network in 2005.
But ESPN, ABC, and the NHL announced a new seven-year deal this week. The agreement will bring 25 regular-season games back to those networks starting just in time for the Kraken’s inaugural puck drop, plus playoff games and NHL All-Star Games. Additionally, the out-of-market content we now stream from NHL.tv will be moved to ESPN+.
In all, the deal is reportedly worth $2.8 billion.
It still is not all that easy to find anything about the NHL on ESPN.com, though, so here’s hoping that changes as the self-proclaimed “worldwide leader in sports” re-embraces the game we love so dearly.
Now, give me Gary Thorne calling hockey, or give me death.
NWHL to award Isobel Cup after all
The NWHL’s Lake Placid bubble burst at the beginning of February, abruptly curbing the momentum that was building for the league. When that happened, most in the hockey world assumed that was the last we would see of the league and its players this season.
It was a good try, and the tournament gave the NWHL a nice moment in the sun, but the pandemic had won. It was time to head home and just wait it out until this COVID thing subsides, and then we can start fresh next season.
Wrong!
The league announced this week that it will still award the Isobel Cup to a champion, after four qualifying teams—the Toronto Six, Boston Pride, Minnesota Whitecaps, and Connecticut Whale—battle it out March 26 and 27 at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton, Mass.
One of the most disappointing aspects of the bubble (or “Whubble” as it became more commonly called) bursting was that the NWHL was on the verge of having games nationally televised for the first time ever when it was forced to shut down.
These newly announced games will be carried on NBC Sports, though, giving the league and women’s hockey another opportunity to shine on a national stage. It’s fantastic news all around.
You Don’t See That Every Day
Former Tri-City Americans defenseman, Dylan Coghlan, entered Wednesday night’s game for the Golden Knights with zero career NHL goals. He left with three.
Artemi Panarin returned to the New York Rangers after a leave of absence that began on Feb. 22. The superstar forward stepped away from the team after he was accused of assaulting a young woman in 2011 during his time playing in the KHL. The unsubstantiated allegations came on the heels of Panarin expressing support for Alexei Navalny, the leader of the opposition to Vladimir Putin in Russia.
Justin Bieber wrote a “love letter” to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Please don’t tell any of my colleagues here at Sound Of Hockey, but I kind of love it.
Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at Sound Of Hockey and the host, producer, and editor of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is an inconsistent beer league goalie who believes that five players have to make a mistake before the puck gets to him. Follow him on Twitter @DarrenFunBrown or email darren@soundofhockey.com.
It’s a super fun episode this week, as the Sound Of Hockey Podcast welcomes Seattle Thunderbirds general manager Bil La Forge.
With Bil, the guys discuss his journey to become a WHL GM. They also talk about what he looks for when scouting players, being that he has to focus on kids that are so early in their development, and what we should expect from the T-Birds in this shortened season. It’s a fun interview that is well worth a listen.
Also in this episode, the guys talk women’s hockey – specifically the return of the NWHL and the PWHPA’s Dream Gap games – and the hiring of Darryl Sutter (again) in Calgary. And of course, oodles of general NHL talk, which you will surely enjoy.
Segments include Get Off My Lawn, Bad Boys, Weekly One-Timers, and Tweets of the Week.
There are plenty of good laughs to be had in this one.
It’s a super fun episode this week, as Sound Of Hockey welcomes Seattle Thunderbirds general manager Bil La Forge.
With Bil, the guys discuss his journey to become a WHL GM. They also talk about what he looks for when scouting players, being that he has to focus on kids that are so early in their development, and what we should expect from the T-Birds in this shortened season. It’s a fun interview that is well worth a listen.
Also in this episode, the guys talk women’s hockey – specifically the return of the NWHL and the PWHPA’s Dream Gap games – and the hiring of Darryl Sutter (again) in Calgary.
Segments include Get Off My Lawn, Bad Boys, Weekly One-Timers, and Tweets of the Week.
Plus, plenty of good laughs to be had in this one.
I was warned by my Sound Of Hockey colleagues that doing this Mock Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft exercise would be challenging. Of course, I wondered how hard it really could be, but in the end, their warnings should have been heeded.
As we were going through the process of profiling all 30 teams participating in the Expansion Draft, it was relatively easy to look at most rosters and say, Here are the two or three guys I’d want the Kraken to consider.
The problem with that is when you draft the full roster, you have to build the team with players that actually fit. You must consider age and salary and more importantly position. For example, the rough draft of my roster had too many forwards and not enough defensemen, so I had some late swaps. It is not as simple as looking at which players will be available and simply picking based on how good you think they are.
All of that is meant as a way to manage your expectations of the roster that I’ve built here so that you aren’t excessively hard on me in the comments.
Like Josh Horton, I too have included a numeric confidence level (CL) with each pick in my explanations below.
Rules of the Sound Of Hockey Mock Expansion Draft
Protection lists are based on latest projections on Sound Of Hockey (Central, East, West, North).
You are allowed one UFA draft-and-sign selection. This selection should pass the sniff test of being a legitimate option (i.e. expecting to draft and sign Alex Ovechkin does not feel legitimate).
No side deals. Although we are aware that this will be a major part of the actual Expansion Draft, we don’t have enough insider knowledge about what could be done here or what the Kraken would actually try to pull off. So for the purposes of this Mock Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft, we’re keeping this off the table.
The Expansion Draft picks
Anaheim: Josh Manson (Defense) – Defense is the best option out of Anaheim. I used to think Josh Mahura was the pick here, but he hasn’t stuck in the NHL yet. If Kevin Shattenkirk ends up available, I’d consider it, but for now, I’m going with the known quantity in Manson. His minutes have been limited this season, but he missed significant time with an oblique injury and played a huge role last season. Confidence Level (CL): 5 out of 10
Arizona: Adin Hill (Goalie) – I wanted to go against the grain here, but all desert roads lead to hills, or in this case, Adin Hill. Darcy Kuemper is injured again, so Hill should get some starts for the Coyotes in the coming weeks. CL: 9
Boston: Jeremy Lauzon (Defense) – There’s a lot to like about Lauzon’s game, and I’ve seen his name occasionally written as Jérémy with not one, but two accent marks. That’s incredible! Just 23 years old, he has been playing big minutes on the blue line for a good Boston team. Nick Ritchie is the other option here, but I love the upside and multiple accent marks of Lauzon. He currently is out with a broken hand but will return this season. CL: 7
Buffalo: Tage Thompson (Center) – I’m still intrigued by the idea of signing pending UFA Taylor Hall, but he’s having a bad season, so we’ll use the UFA draft-and-sign elsewhere. Yes, I know that Thompson has fallen out of favor in Buffalo (as has the entire team), and I know it hasn’t been a good season for him. But he’s 23, he’s huge, and he was once a highly touted prospect, so it’s a low-risk gamble from a roster filled with relatively poor options. CL: 3
Calgary: Sam Bennett (Center) – Bennett has never lived up to expectations, but there is undeniable grit and talent here. Considering the alternatives in Calgary, Bennett would be worth a selection. CL: 6
Carolina: Jake Bean (Defense) – I had selected Morgan Geekie here initially, but this was one of my “too many forwards” last-minute replacements. Bean is a fine choice, though, and will instantly find a significant role in Seattle’s defense corps. Carolina has a few good options, so Ron Francis really cannot go wrong. CL: 8
Chicago: Brandon Hagel (Left Wing) – With Brent Seabrook hanging it up, Stan Bowman no longer needs a protection slot for him, so Nikita Zadorov is now most likely covered. Hagel has been very good, though, and is likely to actually be protected. The more probable options are Calvin de Haan or Lucas Carlsson, but based on the rules of this exercise, Hagel is available so I’m taking him. CL: 2
Colorado: Devon Toews (Defense) – Colorado is another roster where Francis and company cannot go wrong. Toews would be a top-pairing defenseman for the Kraken. If he ends up protected, it opens other very intriguing doors. CL: 7
Columbus: Eric Robinson (Left Wing) – The last forward protection slot in Columbus likely comes down to Robinson or Gustav Nyquist. Robinson is exposed on our list, so I’ll take him. This will be a depth selection, but Robinson plays every game for the Blue Jackets and earns regular minutes from Torts. CL: 6
Dallas: Jason Dickinson (Center) – We once thought Joe Pavelski or Anton Khudobin would be the choice out of Dallas, but Pavelski has been one of the league’s best players and will be protected, while Khudobin has come back down to earth. Dickinson can play a regular shift and chip in at least a little offensively. Perhaps he could flourish in an expanded role. CL: 4
Detroit: Givani Smith (Left Wing) – Smith was the SOH favorite to be picked from Detroit this past offseason, but alarm bells were sounded when he was sent to the AHL early on. It appears Steve Yzerman is committed to having his young players develop in the minors, though, so this shouldn’t dissuade the Kraken from picking Smith. The veteran option would be Troy Stecher, but I like Smith’s upside enough to give him a try. CL: 5
Edmonton: Caleb Jones (Defense) – I don’t love the options in Edmonton. Jones hasn’t been a big contributor at the NHL level but had good numbers in the AHL. He is also still just 23, so perhaps there’s some upside left. CL: 3
Florida: Chris Driedger (Goalie) – This is my one UFA draft-and-sign pick. Driedger has had a breakout season with the Panthers, who are contenders in the Central largely because of him. The UFA status makes me question the likelihood of Driedger landing with the Kraken, but I would love to see it. CL: 2
Los Angeles: Sean Walker (Defense) – Andreas Athanasiou was my initial pick here, as I’ve really liked his game in my viewings of the Kings this season. Alas, my roster was unbalanced, so some forwards had to go. Instead, I’ll take Walker, who plays a decent-sized role on LA’s blue line. I hope he doesn’t look like this anymore when he arrives in Seattle. CL: 6
Minnesota: Matt Dumba (Defense) – Ironically, it was Dumba who hit Walker in the face with a slap shot, creating the aftermath above. I still don’t buy that Dumba will be available in the end, but we have him exposed based on the current roster, so he’s the obvious pick. If the Wild don’t trade Dumba, my guess is that Bill Guerin will figure out a way to get Zach Parise to waive his NMC so he doesn’t have to expose Jordan Greenway or Joel Eriksson Ek. For now, I gladly select Dumba. CL: 4
Montreal: Jake Allen (Goalie) – Like how all desert roads lead to Hill, all French-Canadian rues lead to Jake Allen. I still think he needs to be in a platoon to be successful, but Allen should have some good goalie talent to share Seattle’s crease with him. I like Victor Mete as well, but Allen just makes too much sense. CL: 9
Nashville: Ryan Johansen (Center) – The Predators have two $8 million cap hits to deal with in Johansen and Matt Duchene, neither of whom is contributing enough to warrant such a high salary. But somebody will have to center Seattle’s top line, and Johansen can do that. Perhaps a change of scenery will help him bounce back to the Johansen of yore, and perhaps Francis can even get David Poile to throw in a sweetener to take this massive contract off Nashville’s books. I take Johansen over Duchene because Johansen is two years younger, and his contract expires one year earlier than Duchene’s. CL: 3
New Jersey: Yegor Sharangovich (Left Wing) – There are a few equally intriguing young players to choose from in New Jersey, but I’m going with Sharangovich. The 22-year-old Belarussian is developing nicely and seeing some top-line minutes with Jack Hughes. CL: 7
New York Islanders: Nick Leddy (Defense) – Leddy would slide right into Seattle’s top four and only has one year left on his contract after next season. A smooth skater and very reliable blueliner, Leddy feels like a perfect fit as a one of those guys that contributes for a couple years to help launch an expansion franchise, then moves along. CL: 6
New York Rangers: Brett Howden (Center) – Do I love this pick? No. Do I think there are better alternatives for the Kraken on Broadway? Also no. Howden has not been impactful this season, but he’s still just 22 and has shown promise the last couple years. CL: 8
Ottawa: Chris Tierney (Center) – Again, not the best options available in Ottawa. Tierney has gotten some top-line minutes on a bad Senators team and is a proven NHLer, though, so at the very least can help fill out the bottom six for the Kraken. CL: 5
Philadelphia: James van Riemsdyk (Left Wing) – JvR is Philadelphia’s leading scorer, so it’s hard to say if he’ll actually be made available. If he is out there, I take him because Seattle will be desperate for guys who can put the puck in the net. CL: 6
Pittsburgh: Teddy Blueger (Center) – It’s a toss-up between Blueger and Jared McCann, but Blueger could probably center Seattle’s second line, so he’s the pick. CL: 7
San Jose: Dylan Gambrell (Center) – He’s from Bonney Lake. CL: 8
St. Louis: Oskar Sundqvist (Center) – I’ve always liked Sundqvist’s game. He’s big and physical and chips in offensively. Lots to like there. CL: 6
Tampa Bay: Ondrej Palat (Right Wing) – The Lightning are another one of those where Seattle can’t go wrong when selecting from their roster. Palat is the best available player, so I’ll go with that, but if I’m Francis, I’m definitely swinging for a side deal here. CL: 8
Toronto: Justin Holl (Defense) – We used to think Travis Dermott was the pick from the Maple Leafs, but he isn’t getting as much time as I would have expected. I’ll go with the more reliable and more proven Holl. CL: 7
Vancouver: Kole Lind (Right Wing) – Gone are the days when we assumed Braden Holtby would land in the Kraken goal crease. Here are the days that we think an AHLer is the best choice from the Canucks. To be fair to Lind, though, he’s having a great season in the AHL and has oodles of upside. CL: 8
Washington: Vitek Vanecek (Goalie) – I wanted TJ Oshie, but his term and age scared me off. Vanecek is a stud. If Washington protects him over Ilya Samsonov, then Samsonov would also be a good pick. CL: 9
Winnipeg: Mason Appleton (Right Wing) – Appleton is having a bit of a break-out this year for the Jets, scoring seven goals and six assists so far. He grinds it out on the third line but plays behind some elite talent, so one has to wonder what he could bring in an expanded role. He scored a beautiful goal on Tuesday. CL: 7
I’m exhausted, and I apparently love centers. I’m too tired to try this again, though, so I’m going to hope some of my centers can play wing.
Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at Sound Of Hockey and the host, producer, and editor of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is an inconsistent beer league goalie who believes that five players have to make a mistake before the puck gets to him. Follow him on Twitter @DarrenFunBrown or email darren@soundofhockey.com.
The NHL trade deadline on April 12th will certainly bring us some exciting deals that can and will impact some teams’ Expansion Draft protection lists as well as shift some players of interest for the Seattle Kraken. Here are five teams that Seattle Kraken fans should keep an eye on as the NHL trade deadline approaches.
Before diving in, you may want to check out our latest protection projections that we completed a few weeks ago (Central, East, West, North).
Nashville Predators
The Predators are sitting in seventh place in the competitive Discover Central Division. It would take a minor miracle for the Preds to contend for a playoff spot at this point. With a relatively old core of players, they will likely be looking to shed some assets in return for draft picks to begin the rebuild process.
There are several players that could be on the trading block, but the names Kraken fans should focus on are defensemen Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis. Both are projected to be protected with Nashville probably going with the eight total skater protection scheme, rather than seven forwards and three defensemen.
It has been a popular opinion that Nashville will protect four defensemen in the upcoming Expansion Draft, which would mean they could protect only four forwards. However, if either Ellis or Ekholm is traded before the Expansion Draft, then this will enable the Predators to protect only three defensemen and seven forwards, thus limiting the options Seattle will have from Nashville.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild also have a wealth of riches on the blue line. Jared Spurgeon, Ryan Suter, and Jonas Brodin all have no-movement clauses and will be protected in the Expansion Draft. This will either leave Matt Dumba exposed or they could elect to protect him as the fourth defenseman. Protecting four defensemen would then expose either Jordan Greenway, Marcus Foligno, or Joel Eriksson Ek. The trade talk on Dumba has been quiet, but the Wild will probably do something with the right-shot offensive defenseman before the Expansion Draft. Other options would be to get one of their NMC forwards, Zach Parise or Mats Zuccarello, to waive their NMC or they could offer Seattle a decent side deal.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have a highly competitive team and could look to add some firepower heading into a battle for the Central Division against the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning and the high-powered Florida Panthers. The Hurricanes could offer up some of their youngsters like Jake Bean or Morgan Geekie that the Kraken have likely circled on their Expansion Draft board.
Jake Virtanen has been on the perpetual trade block for the last couple years. If Vancouver finally moves on from “Shotgun Jake,” you can bet on the Canucks protecting 22-year-old Kole Lind who has 8 points in 8 games for the Utica Comets, the team’s AHL affiliate. Lind would certainly be shortlisted by Ron Francis and team.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights have a pretty strong team right now and could end up being quiet in the trade market as we get closer to the NHL trade deadline. Per the Expansion Draft rules, Vegas will not be participating in the Expansion Draft this summer. We will be less interested in the players traded to Vegas and more interested in the players traded out of Vegas. Any significant player with term left that gets traded out of Vegas will either need protection by their new team or will be added to Seattle’s watchlist.
It is important to note that all trades could impact the Seattle Kraken’s Expansion Draft options in some way or another. We will be keeping an eye on all of them here at the Sound Of Hockey.
