As the season kicks off, I thought it would be a perfectly productive use of my time to come up with 41 reasons to check out a Kraken home game—one for every game to be played at Climate Pledge Arena. Some reasons are serious (kind of), some are completely ridiculous, and all are valid excuses to grab a ticket, a college soda, and watch some hockey.
10/9/2025 vs ANA – Opening Night! I’ve been buzzing all week waiting for meaningful Kraken hockey that actually counts in the standings. Nothing beats that first Climate Pledge roar.
10/11/2025 vs VGK – Mitch Marner’s third regular-season game with Vegas. Still feels weird typing that sentence.
10/25/2025 vs EDM – Sure, you could come for Connor McDavid—the sixth-highest-paid player in the NHL—but that’s too easy. Instead, watch former Seattle Thunderbird Noah Philp, who made his NHL debut at 26 after taking a year off from hockey. Gritty comeback stories hit different.
10/28/2025 vs MTL – Montreal fans get weirdly defensive when I mention Shane Wright has more goals and assists than Juraj Slafkovsky in their respective first 95 games. Not our fault they didn’t draft Shane with their first overall.
11/1/2025 vs NYR – Will Borgen returns to Climate Pledge for the first time since being traded to the Rangers. Expect at least one thunderous hit to remind us what we’re missing.
11/3/2025 vs CHI – Andre Burakovsky’s back! But so is Ryan Donato, the first goal scorer in Kraken history. You’re legally obligated to cheer for him (until puck drop).
11/5/2025 vs SJS – The Sharks’ young core gave the Kraken fits last season, including those brutal back-to-back losses in November. Let’s not do that again.
11/11/2025 vs CBJ – Columbus is a sneaky fun team: a lot of young talent, plenty of chaos. Should be a good one.
11/13/2025 vs WPG – If everyone’s healthy, you’ll see two U.S. Olympians in Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebuyck. Bonus points if you can spell “Hellebuyck” without peeking.
11/15/2025 vs SJS – Most national analysts have written off San Jose this year, so let’s help them stay right about that.
11/26/2025 vs DAL – The Kraken are giving away gravy boats to the first 10,000 fans. Gravy boats!
11/29/2025 vs EDM – A 1 p.m. game on Thanksgiving weekend, perfect for bringing the family, also gives you an opportunity to take a break from leftovers.
12/6/2025 vs DET – Patrick Kane may have lost a step, but those hands still belong in a museum. Always worth watching.
12/8/2025 vs MIN – I could see Minnesota missing the playoffs this year after squeaking in last season. This game might mean something real for both teams.
12/10/2025 vs LAK – The first bobblehead giveaway of the season. Collect them all!
12/14/2025 vs BUF – Seattle is 7-1-0 all-time against Buffalo. The Kraken just seem to have the Sabres’ number, and we’re fine with that.
12/16/2025 vs COL – Cale Makar. You either love to watch him play or still hold some animosity toward him for taking out Jared McCann in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. I choose the latter.
12/28/2025 vs PHI – The Flyers might not be contenders, but seeing Trevor Zegras in a Flyers uniform after a summer trade will be interesting.
Trevor Zegras takes an ill-advised four-minute cross-checking penalty.
Strange, though, the official put his arm up on the original hit but only called 4 minutes for cross checking. 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/6RCVUI2Je4
12/29/2025 vs VAN – The Kraken went 3-0-1 against Vancouver last year, including that glorious 5–0 win in the middle of their playoff chase. Wouldn’t mind seeing a repeat of that embarrassment.
1/1/2026 vs NSH – There’s no better place to be on New Year’s Day than watching Kraken hockey. Resolutions can wait until the second period.
1/6/2026 vs BOS – Morgan Geekie.
1/8/2026 vs MIN – If the Kraken are pushing for a playoff spot, this could be a big one. Minnesota might be the team standing in their way.
1/19/2026 vs PIT – The Kids Game! Always a fun game to check out with or without the young ones in tow.
One of my favorite #SeaKraken games of the year…the KIDS GAME!!!
1/21/2026 vs NYI – If everything goes as expected, this could be Matthew Schaefer’s first game in Seattle, the first overall pick from the 2025 NHL Draft. It should also be former Seattle Thunderbird, Mat Barzal’s first game in Seattle in over two years.
1/23/2026 vs ANA – By this point we’ll know if Anaheim is a legit playoff contender or still a fun-but-not-quite-there team. Either way, Leo Carlsson might be worth watching.
1/25/2026 vs NJD – New Jersey is a sneaky Cup contender this season. If the Devils stay healthy, look out. Should be one of the better hockey nights of the year.
1/27/2026 vs WSH – There’s a real chance this is your last chance to see Alexander Ovechkin in Seattle.
1/29/2026 vs TOR – Toronto is 4-0-0 all-time at Climate Pledge Arena. They’re the only team the Kraken have never gotten a point against. When the Kraken win this one, you’ll witness actual history.
2/28/2026 vs VAN – The first home game after the Olympic break. After weeks of Olympic and junior hockey, it’ll just feel good to be back watching the Kraken again.
3/2/2026 vs CAR – With Aleksander Barkov out for the season in Florida, Carolina might be the team to beat in the East.
3/4/2026 vs STL – No idea where the Kraken will be in the standings by this point, but it’s the last game before the trade deadline. Expect some drama.
3/7/2026 vs OTT – Ottawa’s another trendy “they’ll take a step” team. Let’s make sure that step is backward.
3/10/2026 vs NSH – Remember last year when people picked Nashville to win the Stanley Cup? That was cute.
3/12/2026 vs COL – Colorado will be out for revenge after an early season loss. Too bad they’re not getting it.
3/15/2026 vs FLA – The two-time Stanley Cup champs come to town. The Kraken are a tidy 2-1-1 at home against the Panthers, so there’s that.
3/17/2026 vs TBL – This one will sting. Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand’s first game back in Seattle. It’s also my birthday, so Kraken, please win. For me.
Gorgeous passing series among the Gourde line after a Bjorkstrand steal gains possession. Tremendous work by all three skaters. pic.twitter.com/RNoMVtk6l9
4/2/2026 vs UTA – Assuming Adam Larsson keeps up his ironman pace, this could be his first home game after hitting 1,000 career NHL games. Expect a well-deserved pregame celebration for one of the OG’s.
4/4/2026 vs CHI – Chicago’s loaded with young talent: Bedard, Nazar, Levshunov, Rinzel and maybe even ex-T-Bird Kevin Korchinski will be playing for them by this point in the season.
4/9/2026 vs VGK – I hate the Golden Knights with a passion and fully expect them to be elite again this season. That’ll just make beating them even sweeter.
4/11/2026 vs CGY – Calgary’s only trip to Seattle this year. Good news for Martin Pospisil: Vince Dunn (and Kraken fans) definitely haven’t forgotten.
Calgary’s Martin Pospisil has been suspended for three games for boarding Seattle’s Vince Dunn. pic.twitter.com/txyHOXc7Rp
4/13/2026 vs LAK – Final game of the season—before the postseason, ideally. How poetic would it be to eliminate the Kings from playoff contention right here?
So, there you have it: 41 very scientific, deeply thought-out reasons to check out every Seattle Kraken home game this season. Whether you’re a diehard fan, a casual observer, or just someone who likes seeing Buoy shine a bald guy’s head, there’s always something to enjoy at Climate Pledge Arena.
And hey, beyond the theme nights and visiting stars, there are plenty of reasons to tune in every single game. You never know when you might witness Jani Nyman or Berkly Catton’s coming-out party, a random hat trick, a ridiculous comeback, or maybe—just maybe—that elusive goalie goal we’ve all been waiting for from Joey Daccord.
The wait is over—the season officially begins Thursday as the Seattle Kraken host the Anaheim Ducks on home ice. Offseason additions Mason Marchment, Ryan Lindgren, and Freddy Gaudreau will make their debuts, while new head coach Lane Lambert steps behind the bench for the first time. Goaltender Matt Murray is on the roster but likely won’t get the start on Opening Night.
National media hasn’t been kind to the Kraken heading into the season, so we wanted to take some time to talk about what gets the Sound Of Hockey crew excited for what’s ahead. Many outlets have Anaheim projected to leapfrog Seattle in the standings, making Thursday a good chance for the Kraken to send a message that they’re better than last year’s results suggest.
In preparation for puck drop, our own John Barr, Curtis Isacke, Blaiz Grubic, and Darren Brown got together to discuss a few hot topics.
What’s your biggest reason for optimism heading into this Kraken season?
Curtis: The renewed focus and urgency brought by the new coaching staff, and Lane Lambert in particular, has me feeling optimistic. The new Kraken bench boss is dialed in on the details at every practice, seemingly hanging on the correct execution of every support pass or close out. Lambert is quite calm and reflective in an interview setting, but when he’s on the ice the zeal of a drill sergeant is evident.
One could imagine his hard-charging approach wearing on a team if maintained throughout the year, but Lambert is setting the standard early, and I expect he’ll calibrate his approach as the season progresses. A fast start is imperative with the difficult opening stretch the team is facing. Lambert has me hopeful that the details will be dialed in from puck drop, and that could be the difference.
Darren: Well, hope springs eternal when a new season is on the horizon, “why not us?,” and a variety of other new-season cliches. But seriously… The front office thought the Kraken were going to be better last season, and with good reason after a couple splashy offseason signings. I also think the 2025-26 on-paper roster is–when fully healthy–better and more competitive this season than last.
So, if last season’s expected improvement actually comes to fruition now, AND the more recent tweaks to the roster help push the group forward even more, then I could get my head around a huge jump in the standings this season. I do remain cautious in my optimism, though, because I think a lot of things have to go right for this team to really compete for a playoff spot.
John: I’ve been beating this drum all summer, but the Kraken finished last season with a minus-11 goal differential. For context, teams sitting between even and plus-five in that stat make the playoffs about half the time. With a new coaching staff that seems locked in on structure and details, I think we’ll see fewer goals against—and maybe a swing into the positive. On top of that, I really like the complementary pieces the front office added over the offseason.
Blaiz: The kids are coming. It’s exciting to see Berkly Catton, Jani Nyman, and Ryan Winterton make the roster to open the season. Heading into the franchise’s fifth year, the Kraken have developed three NHL players from their own draft classes—Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, and Ryker Evans. This season doubles that total to six drafted players on the roster, including Evans, who starts on injured reserve.
The three youngsters may not stay the entire season, but each earned their spot in training camp. It’ll be great to see them get regular-season NHL ice time.
Who’s the player you think will surprise people with their performance this season and why?
Darren: How about Eeli Tolvanen? He quietly had a really impressive 23-goal campaign last year with limited power-play opportunities. If he gets more usage on the flank with the manpower advantage, I could see him sniffing around the 30-goal mark this year and commanding a big-time pay raise on his contract for next season, whether that be with the Kraken or elsewhere.
John: I’m not sure I have a clear pick for a surprise player, but let’s just say… backup goaltending. Call it blind optimism, or maybe something I just want to will into the universe. I don’t want to read too much into it, but both Matt Murray and Philipp Grubauer looked solid in their preseason games. Plus, Lambert’s defensive structure should give the backups some extra support.
Blaiz: I’m expecting big things from Shane Wright. For a while now, I’ve said Wright will eventually take over as the Kraken’s top-scoring center, and I believe this is the year. After a slow start in 2024-25, with two points (one goal, one assist) in 18 games, he was healthy scratched was sent down to Coachella Valley to find his game(shame, shame, shame). When he returned, he produced 42 points in his final 61 games, averaging 2.83 points per 60 minutes. To put that in perspective, Jared McCann led the team in that category at 2.59. I can easily see a scenario where Wright not only leads all Kraken centers in scoring but challenges for the team lead overall.
A bonus player I’ll mention is Jaden Schwartz, who led the Kraken in goals last season and has looked sharp throughout the preseason. He’s never hit the 30-goal mark in his career, but that milestone feels within reach this year.
Curtis: I’ll say Freddy Gaudreau. The least-heralded of this season’s offseason acquisitions, he should quietly make an impact from the bottom of the lineup scoring goals, killing penalties, and, perhaps most importantly of all, shepherding along some of Seattle’s young talent.
Kraken assistant general manager Alex Mandrycky told us at Sound Of Hockey Fest that Gaudreau topped the team’s internal board for a fourth-line center acquisition because he could bring more of a scoring element to that role, while also being solid defensively. The team has found most of its success historically when rolling four lines capable of scoring and, with Gaudreau, the team hopes to return to that identity.
Gaudreau’s presence also allows the team to deploy a younger player in a fourth-line role—be it Catton or Nyman—but still with an offensively capable linemate. It may not show up in the box score all the time, but I’d wager fans will look back on Gaudreau’s first season in Seattle pleased with the addition.
With a 10-game opening stretch that includes six on the road and five against 2024 playoff teams, what would you consider a successful first month for the Kraken beyond wins and losses?
John: With two significant injuries—Kaapo Kakko and Ryker Evans—likely sidelining them for the full 10-game stretch, I’d call it a success if the Kraken can grab 12 of a possible 20 points. Beyond that, I just want to see them compete every night. We’ll see plenty of backup goaltending during this run, so let’s add “solid play from the backups” to the list of success criteria.
Darren: To John’s point, I think the Kakko injury could be fairly crushing, especially considering the impact he had on Beniers after joining Seattle last season. So between the brutal early schedule and that critical absence, I’m looking for a .500 record coming out of this stretch. Anything over that is gravy and at least keeps Seattle in the conversation long enough to get hot in November and beyond.
Blaiz: With a six-game road trip early in the season, this is the perfect opportunity for the team to come together and focus on the defensive structure that Lambert keeps emphasizing. I’d love to see them finish with a winning record, but for me, success in the first month is about process. Are they defending as a five-man unit? Are they limiting high-danger chances? And are the backup goaltenders giving the team enough confidence to stay committed to their system in front of them?
Curtis: Setting aside the record, I think we need to see the team’s highly drafted young players start to assert themselves as the core players for the lines around them. There was no mistaking the Yanni Gourde line when he was out there, and I’d like to see that from Beniers, Wright, and (hopefully, optimistically) Catton.
For Beniers, that likely means a hard-working, responsible unit that is locked in on the details. For Wright, that means a group that trades on skilled plays in the most dangerous areas of the ice. As for Catton, of course, it starts with getting the ice time; then I want to see a pressure identity that forces defenses onto their heels and creates space all over the rink.
Which offseason addition (player, coach, prospect or system tweak) will make the biggest difference?
Blaiz: I’m going with the obvious one—the addition of head coach Lane Lambert. There’s been a lot of talk about structure, and I believe that will dramatically help a team with a growing young core and no true superstar talent. Lambert wasn’t shy about moving players around in preseason to get the type of play he wanted. He expects his team to play within his system, and if you’re not playing your role, you’ll move down the lineup. That kind of message is straightforward and easy to follow, which creates accountability and consistency up and down the lineup.
Darren: Would you call yourself a Laniac, Blaiz?
Blaiz: No, I’m on the Lane Train.
Curtis: Yes! Lane Train! I think Mason Marchment could be a very valuable complement to Chandler Stephenson in the top nine. The two have been attached at the hip while Stephenson has been on the ice this preseason, and it makes sense to me.
Marchment is comfortable working net front or even below the goal line in both the offensive and defensive zones. This frees Stephenson to operate more in space and from the exterior where he can dice up opposing defenses with his skating and precision passes.
Even through the neutral zone in preseason, Marchment’s presence driving the center lane allowed Stephenson several clean zone entries on the left wing that got the offense set up. He could be revelatory for Stephenson in the same way Kakko was for Beniers last season. (On that note, we have to hope Kakko returns as soon as possible. If Beniers’ line struggles in the interim, Marchment could help Beniers in much the same way I’ve described above.)
Darren: I agree wholeheartedly with Curtis. Thanks for cooking that up.
John: We’ve already mentioned him, but I’m really excited about Gaudreau. The Kraken haven’t had a right-shot center on the penalty kill in the past few seasons, and having him available for strong-side face-offs in the defensive zone should be a nice boost. That could improve the penalty kill, cut down on goals against, and ultimately help that goal differential I talked about above. It’s a subtle but smart move that fills a real need. Oh, and Gaudreau’s over 50 percent in shootouts, which doesn’t hurt either.
Let’s jump in the DeLorean and race forward to April. The Kraken have made the playoffs. What went right to get them there?
Curtis: If the Kraken are in the playoff mix, it is because the defensive identity that carried them through the Hakstol era has returned, Joey Daccord continues to prove his doubters wrong, the backup goaltending has stabilized, and the team has won a lot of 3-2 or 2-1 games.
Darren: After Ryker Evans and Kaapo Kakko return from injury right on their expected return dates, the Kraken will have stayed almost completely healthy throughout the rest of the season. While the team arguably has more depth now than last season, it also cannot withstand absences from key players, especially being that it will rely heavily on young players like Jani Nyman, Ryan Winterton, and (perhaps) Berkly Catton. The injury bug that bit early and often during training camp will have been held at bay.
John: Stinginess. The Kraken ranked 24th in goals against last season, allowing 262. If they’re going to seriously compete for a playoff spot, that number has to come down—and if it does, it’ll be a sign that the players have fully bought into Lane Lambert’s systems.
Blaiz: I think it’s a combination of everything I’ve mentioned. The players have bought into Lane Lambert’s system, the backup goaltending has stabilized, Shane Wright has taken a step forward, and the young core is contributing. Just as important, the Kraken are starting games ready to go from puck drop—something that hurt them last year.
With 13 back-to-back games on the schedule, one more than a season ago when they went 0-12 in the second leg, the Kraken need to battle through those situations and find ways to win. Spotting the league 13 games isn’t a recipe for success. If they can stay structured, get timely saves, and maintain energy throughout those stretches, that’s what gets them to April hockey.
Blaiz Grubic
Blaiz Grubic is a contributor at Sound Of Hockey. A passionate hockey fan and player for over 30 years, Blaiz grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an alumni of Washington State University (Go Cougs!). When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about hockey, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter or getting out on a golf course for a quick round. Follow @blaizg on BlueSky or X.
The preseason is officially in the books, and Opening Night is practically here. It’s the best time of year—hope is high, the standings are clean, and nobody’s been mathematically eliminated yet. The Seattle Kraken come into this season looking to bounce back, clean up their defensive play, and maybe (just maybe) surprise a few of those national pundits who’ve already written them off. But as always with this team, there are plenty of storylines to watch.
Here are 10 questions we’re asking as the Kraken dive into the 2025-26 campaign.
How many games does Berkly Catton get this season?
Berkly’s made the roster—for now—which was almost expected after his strong camp and preseason. The real question is whether he sticks around past the nine-game mark that would burn a year of his entry-level contract. Does he earn a full-time NHL spot at 19 or head back to Spokane for more seasoning? Either way, it will be fascinating to see how long he stays with the big-league team. He’s been practicing as an extra the last few days, so we’re guessing his NHL debut will have to wait beyond Thursday’s game against Anaheim.
How does Lane Lambert’s system impact the goals against?
The 2024-25 Kraken were not exactly defensive stalwarts, allowing 3.2 goals per game—24th in the NHL. Compare that to 2.83 in 2023-24 (eighth-best), and you see how much they regressed. Enter Lane Lambert, known for his structure and defensive discipline. If the team buys in, the Kraken could tighten things up significantly, which is essential if they want to hang around the playoff race.
How do they manage the goalies?
The Kraken are rolling with three goaltenders to start the season, which is… unconventional. With a jam-packed October, it makes some sense, but come November, things lighten up. Joey Daccord was probably overworked last season, so finding a better rotation will be key. How Lambert and company juggle this trio, while keeping everyone sharp, will be one of the early season intriguing storylines.
The Seattle Kraken are one of six teams currently carrying three goalies to start the season.
Matty hasn’t quite matched his rookie production since that stellar debut season. He scored 20 goals last year, respectable but a step back from the 24 he netted as a rookie. With Kaapo Kakko sidelined early, Beniers will need to drive more offense on his own. He’s still young and plenty talented, but this could be the year that defines what kind of player he’s going to be long-term. He’s been skating on a familiar line with Jared McCann and Jordan Eberle lately.
What changes are going to be made to the pregame show?
Alright, this one’s for the in-arena diehards. After more than 150 games at Climate Pledge Arena, I still make it a point to catch the full pregame show—and every season it gets a refresh. The Kraken’s production crew always finds new ways to top themselves. What surprises are they cooking up this time?
Who re-signs and who moves on?
The answer to this question probably depends on whether the Kraken are still in the playoff hunt come late February. Four key forwards—Jaden Schwartz, Jordan Eberle, Eeli Tolvanen, and newcomer Mason Marchment—are all on expiring deals. That group combined for 80 goals last year. Expect at least one or two to be re-signed, but the rest could be valuable trade chips if the postseason looks out of reach.
Does Jared McCann bounce back?
McCann’s 22 goals last year weren’t bad, but they were his fewest as a Kraken in any single season. He played through an injury that required offseason surgery, which likely explains some of the dip and may have been related to him missing a good chunk of training camp. Don’t expect another 40-goal explosion like 2022–23, but a healthy McCann hitting 30 again feels realistic, and it would go a long way toward stabilizing the Kraken’s scoring.
How do the Kraken control zone entries against?
One of last season’s biggest frustrations was how easily opponents gained the Kraken’s defensive zone. Too many clean entries led to too much time defending—and too many goals against. This issue was glaring on the penalty kill, where Seattle often looked a step slow. Lambert’s emphasis on structure should help here, but it’s going to take commitment from all five skaters.
Who plays in the Olympics from the Kraken?
Philipp Grubauer (Germany) and prospect Oscar Fisker Mølgaard (Denmark) are the only real locks for February’s Olympic tournament. Kaapo Kakko has a solid shot at making Finland’s roster (though his broken hand doesn’t help those chances), while Eeli Tolvanen could sneak in with other injuries to Finland’s roster. Brandon Montour (Canada) and Joey Daccord (USA) are in the extended pools, but both would need blistering starts to the season to make the final cut.
Will we get a return of Seattle Kraken depth scoring?
In 2022-23, the Kraken could roll four lines that could all hurt you. That team had 13 players with double-digit goals and one of the most balanced attacks in hockey. Over the last two seasons, that spark faded. This season, with new additions Frederick Gaudreau and Mason Marchment plus rookies Jani Nyman and Berkly Catton, Seattle is hoping to bring back that “anyone can score” identity. Can they rediscover that magic? We’ll find out soon enough.
Wrapping it up
Every season brings its fair share of questions, but this one feels especially juicy. Between a new coach, a hungry young core, and a few “prove-it” veterans, the Kraken are a fascinating team heading into 2025-26. Whether they surprise people or struggle again, it’s bound to be an entertaining ride.
What about you? Any burning questions you have about this 2025-26 Seattle Kraken team?
With the NHL’s regular season starting in just a couple of days, and as I begin my writing here at Sound Of Hockey, I thought it was worth adding some gravity to the first two home games of the season for the Seattle Kraken—because they feel more important than those opening games typically do.
Those two contests, against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday and the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, feel oddly critical despite the long, 82-game marathon ahead. After those matchups at Climate Pledge Arena, the Kraken immediately head out on a grueling six-game road trip against tough opponents. A couple of early wins could give them a much-needed edge before that challenge begins.
These games also give the fanbase a rare opportunity in the early part of the season to cheer on the team before two more weeks without home hockey. And after a disappointing finish last year—when Seattle placed seventh in the Pacific Division—both the players and their supporters are hungry for a positive start.
Slow starts have been the norm
From a fan’s perspective, winning those first two home games would mean seeing the Kraken start a season in a way they haven’t before. Historically, Seattle has struggled out of the gate.
Even in 2022-23—by far their best season standings-wise—the Kraken won just three of their first eight games, with two of those victories coming on the road. In 2023-24, they managed only two wins in their first eight, one at home and one away. They improved slightly in 2024-25, going 4-4 in their first eight, with two wins at Climate Pledge Arena and two on the road.
The trend is clear: fast starts haven’t been Seattle’s strong suit. And that’s without factoring in the added difficulty of this year’s schedule, which is compressed because of the Olympics. The Kraken will rarely get more than one day off between games, so setting a positive tone early is more critical than ever. That six-game road swing through Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Philadelphia, Washington, and Winnipeg will feel even more daunting if the first two games don’t go well.
A brief chance for in-person fandom in October
With new head coach Lane Lambert and several new faces on the roster, everyone hopes those first two games will show that Seattle’s rigorous training camp approach has paid off. After a long offseason and preseason, the regular season is finally here—and these home games represent the only chances fans will have to see their team in person before the Kraken disappear for weeks.
By the way, since this is my first time writing for Sound Of Hockey, I’ll also share a bit about my own fandom for the game.
For me personally, one of the things that made me fall in love with hockey was the energy inside an arena. I’ve been craving that excitement since Seattle’s season ended far too early last year.
The first hockey game I ever attended was an Everett Silvertips game, and I was instantly hooked by the incredible atmosphere. I couldn’t believe how electric the building felt—and that was just at the WHL level. What really drew me in was the passion of hockey fans, which is impossible to ignore, especially in an NHL arena. The players and fans feed off one another’s energy, creating a competitive environment that everyone in the building can feel.
Back to the Kraken: a win on the road is great—it means you’ve overcome a tough environment without much support. But a win at home is even better because it energizes the fanbase.
A hockey crowd can be one of the loudest and most electric in all of sports, thanks to the intensity already present on the ice. And because the Kraken have only two home games before heading out on the road, the energy inside Climate Pledge Arena in those matchups will be crucial in setting the tone for what’s ahead.
While the first eight games of the season aren’t make-or-break in terms of playoff hopes, starting on the right foot could mark a real shift for Seattle. As history shows, they haven’t had the best track record early on—but who’s to say that a hot start wouldn’t improve their odds?
Strong performances this week would give the team some much-needed confidence before their daunting road trip, and they’d boost fan morale, too. With that challenge looming, the Kraken must focus on these two home games first—and the fans will need to bring nearly a month’s worth of energy to Climate Pledge Arena to help push them across the finish line.
Here we go! The Seattle Kraken’s Opening Night roster is officially set, with the team making its final cuts on Sunday. John Hayden cleared waivers to get to the Coachella Valley Firebirds, while Ville Ottavainen and Oscar Fisker Mølgaard were also assigned to the AHL affiliate. With Kaapo Kakko and Ryker Evans beginning the season on injured reserve, Seattle now sits at the 23-man roster limit, keeping one extra forward, one extra defenseman, and three goalies.
In this Kraken Notebook, we’ll examine where some of the young players (and Cale Fleury, who is not exactly a “young” player anymore) fit into the mix, and we’ll hear from Joey Daccord about what it meant to him and his family to have his number retired by Arizona State University over the weekend.
“The kids” will play a big role
Seattle’s front office has maintained since the end of last season that it wanted to improve the roster over the summer while also leaving opportunities for young players to break into the NHL lineup.
Indeed, the Kraken kept Jani Nyman and Berkly Catton—something that always seemed likely from the start of training camp—while Ryan Winterton played his way into the conversation and ultimately secured a roster spot with a two-goal exclamation mark in the preseason finale against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.
While these players’ inclusion on the Opening Night roster doesn’t guarantee they’ll stick around for the entire season, it’s significant to be part of this initial group. And even for players like Fisker Mølgaard and Ottavainen, simply reaching the final round of cuts is noteworthy.
“It means a lot because you’re in the final stages here,” head coach Lane Lambert said on Sunday. “And let’s be clear, this is an NHL season, which is 82 games. It’s an Olympic year, which condenses those 82 games, and you’re going to need players. There’s a lot of games in a short period of time, and so anyone who’s here at this point in time… it bodes well for them, for sure.”
Exactly how the remaining young players will be used remains to be seen. 19-year-old Catton took a step in the wrong direction in his final preseason game, getting called for three separate stick infractions and turning the puck over multiple times. 22-year-old Winterton, meanwhile, took another step forward with his strong performance, and Nyman has apparently landed in a fourth-line role.
Since that final exhibition, practice lines have given us a clearer idea of how Lambert plans to deploy his youngsters early on.
Try to limit your outrage when Catton is a healthy scratch early in the season. Staying with the Kraken is valuable for his development, even if it means primarily practicing with the team and only getting into occasional games.
It’s also notable to see Winterton slotted on a third line with Mason Marchment and Chandler Stephenson. The winger clearly made major strides in his offseason training, and after knocking on the door in previous years, he’ll now look to prove he belongs in the NHL full time.
This is the time for Cale Fleury
On the back end, an opportunity has emerged for 26-year-old Cale Fleury to finally stick in the NHL—at least for a while.
With Evans out for at least the first month and Brandon Montour’s status still uncertain (he did not skate Sunday, and Lambert said he remains day to day as he recovers from a procedure to remove a bursa from his ankle), Fleury has made the roster.
“I think he’s shown himself very well in camp,” Lambert said. “First of all, he’s done a pretty good job on that second unit power play in the absence of [Vince] Dunn and Montour overall. He’s shown me the ability to defend, and he is at his best when he keeps it simple and moves pucks. And I think he’s had a pretty good training camp.”
Fleury knows this is a pivotal moment in his career—one where he needs to seize the opportunity and prove he belongs as a full-time NHL defenseman.
“As far as how it’s been the last few years, it’s just been close, but not there,” Fleury said. “And I’m at the point in my career where I need to be there. Like, if I’m down [in the AHL] again, it’s just— it’s not where I want to be. So for me, I just need to continue to be consistent and show that I can compete at this level each and every night.”
Fleury added that he significantly changed his body composition this offseason, adding lean mass to help him better handle the grind of an NHL season and the type of role he’s expected to play—which differs from his top-pairing duties in Coachella Valley.
“The role that I would play in the NHL is a lot of defending hard against bigger, heavier guys on the bottom line. So just trying to improve speed by improving strength.”
It appears he will be leaned upon in the first month of the season to help Seattle through its injury woes.
Joey’s big night at ASU
Over the weekend, Joey Daccord was honored before an ASU game against Penn State as the first player in the history of the program to have his jersey number retired.
The images circulating on social media of Daccord and his family traveling to and from Tempe were remarkable—the entire crew made the trip from Seattle and back on a private jet. It was a whirlwind weekend, but that was the only way Daccord could fit the ceremony into a packed schedule that also included a Kraken team-bonding getaway to Port Orchard, Wash., the night before.
“We got back from [the team bonding trip] around one o’clock on Friday afternoon, and my flight was at 2:30,” Daccord said. “So I just raced home, grabbed my stuff, my clothes, my jacket, and picked up my parents, my family, my brother and all my friends, and we went right to the airport. And then, I got back around midnight.
“Arizona State hooked it up. They sent a plane to come get me, which was great. I kind of told them, ‘Hey, the only way this is gonna work is if I can be back to practice the next day.’ There’s no commercial flight at midnight to come back to Seattle, so they made it happen. I really appreciated them taking care of me and my family, so that was sweet. Great, great travel experience.”
Daccord has never been shy about his love for ASU. Since completing his third season as the program’s starting goaltender—when it was still in its infancy as a Division I team—he’s never missed an opportunity to share his passion for the school and its hockey program.
Back in the building where his foundation funded “Dacs’ House,” a suite for families of children undergoing medical treatment, Daccord and his family stood on the ice for a pregame ceremony and watched as his number was raised to the rafters of Mullett Arena.
“I never really envisioned [having my number retired],” Daccord said. “When I did my official visit, Coach [Greg] [Powers’] vision for me was I was gonna go there, I was gonna help the team kind of get to where the university and the program wanted to be, and he was like, ‘You’re gonna come here, you’re gonna sign in the NHL, play in the NHL, and one day we’re gonna retire your jersey.’ So just over 10 years later from my official visit, having that moment kind of come full circle, the chills when it was happening… Just a really special night.”
Darren Brown
Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email darren@soundofhockey.com.
The preseason is done, and we’re just days away from the season opener at Climate Pledge Arena on Thursday night, when the Seattle Kraken take on the Anaheim Ducks.
Every season starts with a sense of optimism, and this one is no different. With seemingly every media outlet down on the Kraken’s playoff chances, Seattle should come into the year with a chip on its shoulder and a “prove them wrong” mindset.
I’m not saying this is a no-doubt playoff team, but I do think they’ll be more competitive than pundits are giving them credit for. One of the biggest challenges last season was defensive structure, and the arrival of new head coach Lane Lambert should help tighten that up. The Kraken also made some subtle but strategic moves this offseason, acquiring Mason Marchment and Frederick Gaudreau, along with free-agent signings of defenseman Ryan Lindgren and goaltender Matt Murray. None of these moves are flashy, but each one addresses a specific need.
The return to depth scoring?
One of the keys to success for the Kraken this season will be rediscovering the depth scoring they had in 2022–23. That season, Seattle was one of just six teams with six or more players scoring 20-plus goals. During 2024–25, four teams hit that mark—and all four made the playoffs. There’s nothing magical about the 20-goal threshold, but it’s a solid indicator of depth scoring.
In fact, the Kraken’s 2022–23 success went deeper than just their top scorers. Beyond their 20-goal players, another seven skaters had 13-plus goals that year.
To see how Seattle’s current depth stacks up against the Pacific Division, I did a quick analysis. I looked at each team’s current roster, summed total goals over the past three seasons, and divided by total games played to get an average goals-per-game rate. I filtered out anyone with fewer than 50 games over that stretch, then isolated the top 12 forwards and top six defensemen for each team to visualize potential depth scoring.
The chart below gives a quick snapshot of where each Pacific team’s goals are likely coming from by using the players’ historical scoring rates as a proxy:
This is a simple analysis, but it highlights how the Kraken are light on elite goal scoring (the “dark red” tier) yet well stocked in the middle tiers. Collectively, their roster averaged the fourth-most goals per game (3.201) in the division over the last three seasons. The blank cells indicate players with fewer than 50 NHL games during that span—guys like Berkly Catton, Jani Nyman, and Ryan Winterton.
Berkly Catton has made the team… for now
One of the biggest preseason questions was whether Berkly Catton would make the roster and play more than nine games, the threshold for burning a year off his entry-level contract. Step 1 was simply being on the roster at the NHL’s deadline, and as one of 23 players who made that cut, he’s cleared that first hurdle.
Catton has shown flashes that he can play at the NHL level. He looked terrific in the preseason game against Calgary, but also had a rough outing against Edmonton, taking three penalties in the first period and committing a couple of turnovers. The talent is clearly there, but the jump from junior to the NHL is huge, and he’ll need time to adjust to the pace and physicality. He’s still learning, but every shift he plays this season is another step toward becoming a cornerstone piece for Seattle’s future.
It’s worth noting how rare it is for a 19-year-old rookie to play a full NHL season. Last year, only two did: Matvei Michkov (26 goals, 37 assists) and Will Smith (18 goals, 27 assists). If Catton sticks and produces at Smith’s level, that would be a massive success.
Other Musings
The Kraken trimmed the roster to the NHL-required 23 players on Monday, meaning Catton, Nyman, and Winterton have made it, for now. The team isn’t required to stay at 23, though.
The real intrigue will be how those three slot into the lineup. At least one should dress on Thursday.
Fun fact: Ryan Winterton has played the most NHL games of any third-round pick from the 2021 Draft.
Frederick Gaudreau scored in the shootout last Monday. He’s a shootout dynamo, converting 52.6 percent of his career attempts, the best on the Kraken and fifth-highest in the NHL.
Seattle’s 2025 first-round pick, Jake O’Brien, was injured in the final 20 seconds of Brantford’s game against Windsor on Saturday and needed help off the ice.
In case you missed it, Joey Daccord had his jersey retired by Arizona State University. Watch here.
The much-anticipated PWHL schedule dropped earlier this week, with PWHL Seattle’s home debut set for November 28 (Black Friday).
Only four home games in October! That must mean it’s road trip season.
The AHL kicks off this week, and Coachella Valley’s young roster is packed with Kraken prospects. This should be a fun Firebirds season to keep tabs on.
Julius Miettinen (EVT/SEA) – The newly signed Kraken prospect was on fire this weekend, posting four goals and three assists in three games.
Kim Saarinen (HPK/SEA) – The Finnish netminder and Kraken prospect is off to a strong start in Liiga, going 4-0-3 with a 1.82 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.
Ryan Winterton (SEA) – It’s only preseason, but Winterton impressed with two goals in the finale. He might slot into the fourth line, but don’t expect it to be a “traditional” grinding fourth line. He has also skated on the third line in recent practices, with Jani Nyman on the fourth.
The week ahead
The Kraken open their season at home with two great matchups: the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday and the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
With Joel Quenneville back behind the bench in Anaheim and a promising young core, the Ducks are expected to take a step forward this year. Both teams want to be in the playoff hunt come April, so even though it’s just one game, this matchup matters for early division positioning.
Saturday’s tilt with Vegas will be a real test. The Golden Knights are, in my opinion, the best team in the Pacific and maybe the entire NHL. It’ll be fascinating to see how the Kraken’s depth and Lane Lambert’s system stack up against Vegas’s firepower.
And finally…
A huge thank you to everyone who came out to Sound Of Hockey Fest over the weekend, and to all of our incredible guests. I’m constantly blown away by this community’s passion; it’s what keeps us inspired to do what we do here at Sound Of Hockey.
Good morning! 🌞 What a weekend!
The first part of our Sound Of Hockey Fest live recording is out, featuring @TheVoiceFitz.
Everett did a heel turn early on, but man we had some laughs.
Welcome to “Down on the Farm,” your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. This week we’ll cover the latest prospect news from Kraken training camp, as well as the week that was for Kraken prospects playing in junior leagues and overseas. For our feature this week, we reviewed every shift from Berkly Catton’s five preseason games to evaluate where he stands in his quest to become an NHL regular. Let’s dive in.
Catton proves he is ready for NHL time, but must continue to develop
Though the Kaapo Kakko injury likely ended any conversation on whether Berkly Catton will make the NHL roster to begin the year (he will), Catton has been very active this preseason attempting to show that he is ready for a full-time NHL role. From my perspective, there has been far more good than bad.
Catton began camp playing center where he showed the speed necessary to traverse the rink end-to-end, getting low in support in the defensive zone before joining or leading the rush the opposite direction. This is an important trait for a center in new coach Lane Lambert’s system, which asks a lot of its centers defensively. From the center position, Catton was all over the ice hunting the puck. He won more than his share of puck battles and was undaunted physically even if he wasn’t able to body defenders away from the puck due to his stature.
Offensively, Catton regularly set up his teammates with crisp, pinpoint passes to take open ice in transition or for shots in the offensive zone. There were shades of rookie Shane Wright in Catton’s passing game where Catton would rush a no-look feed not realizing he had another split second to make a more accurate pass. As with Wright, this is correctible with repetitions at pro pace.
Similarly, Catton was overly aggressive at times, particularly with east-west passes along the offensive and defensive blue lines. The NHL game is all about speed and pressure, and those plays could lead to bad turnovers as opponents scout and key in on it. Taking the simpler north-south play more often and trusting his puck possession skill a bit more will help him there.
In transition, Catton is one of Seattle’s best players already with the pace, puck handling, and vision to dice up opposing forechecks and get into the offensive zone with possession. This was even more notable when he was playing on the wing in the latter portion of the preseason. At the wing position, Catton is more likely to find himself high in the defensive zone when a turnover occurs, and this gives him a chance to create breakaway chances or other transition advantages (as he did early in the Vancouver game, see below).
Catton has a quick release on his shot and good offensive instincts to get to the scoring areas where he can find rebounds, deflections, or passes from his teammates. That said, the shot is not particularly hard or pinpoint by NHL standards right now. This is something that a 19-year-old player can continue to develop.
Most concerning from an NHL perspective is his instinct to tie up an opponent with his stick after losing a puck battle. We talked about this as something that showed up in his junior games. It was particularly glaring in the team’s final preseason game when he took three minor penalties on plays of this kind. Put simply, that cannot happen. Catton will be off the team if he’s taking penalties with regularity. The solve for Catton is in more conservative body positioning that protects against a breakaway, even if he loses some advantage in a puck battle, and in trusting his feet more defensively. He can catch just about anyone if he’s skating.
Kraken reassign 20 players to the AHL, waive Meyers and Stephens
Last Saturday the Kraken reassigned forwards J.R. Avon, Jagger Firkus, David Goyette, Justin Janicke, Andrei Loshko, Ian McKinnon, Jacob Melanson, Logan Morrison, Carson Rehkopf, Lleyton Roed, and Eduard Sale, defensemen Lukas Dragicevic, Kaden Hammell, Tyson Jugnauth, Ty Nelson, Gustav Olofsson, and Caden Price, and goaltenders Nikke Kokko, Jack LaFontaine, and Victor Ostman to the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
All of these players could be reassigned to the AHL directly without waivers because they were either signed to AHL contracts (Janicke, McKinnon, Olofsson, and Lafontaine) or waivers-exempt. Melanson is the only player in this group that I thought had a legitimate chance at the Opening Night roster. I still believe he has a shot to play NHL games this year if he can keep pushing.
On Thursday, Oct. 2, the team waived forwards Ben Meyers and Mitchell Stephens for the purpose of reassigning those players to the AHL. If no other teams claim them, they will join the Firebirds too. Waiver claims will be reported at 11:00 am PT on Friday, Oct. 3. Meyers and Stephens are top depth players who will play in the top-six for Coachella Valley and should see NHL games at some point during the year.
[Author’s Note, Fri, Oct. 3, 2:00 pm PDT: Meyers and Stephens cleared waivers and will report to Coachella Valley.]
Within the last week, the team has also placed injured forward Kaapo Kakko (out six weeks) and defenseman Ryker Evans (out six-to-eight weeks) on injured reserve, which opens their rosters spots for other players.
These moves, along with one more noted below, leave the team with 26 players in camp for 23 spots. Forwards Oscar Fisker Molgaard, Ryan Winterton, and Jani Nyman, and defenseman Ville Ottavaien, could all be reassigned to the AHL without waivers. Forwards John Hayden and Tye Kartye, defenseman Cale Fleury, and goalies Matt Murray and Philipp Grubauer would all require waivers to be reassigned. One or both of the backup goalies will stick to begin the year. (I suspect the answer will be “both.”)
It’s also worth reminding that Catton cannot go to the AHL because of his age and the CHL/NHL transfer agreement that bars 19-year-old CHL players from the AHL.
Notes on three more Kraken players
Max McCormick | F | Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, the Coachella Valley Firebirds announced that the team’s first and only captain, forward Max McCormick, would miss the season with a hip injury. This is a difficult blow for the AHL club, both from a leadership and production perspective. McCormick had a knack for getting to the goal front and producing when the Firebirds most needed it. The team made it to the Calder Cup Finals both years McCormick was healthy and in the lineup for the AHL playoffs before faltering without him last year.
The Kraken television broadcast mentioned John Hayden as the captain of the Firebirds during a preseason contest earlier this week. It would be a worthy title for Hayden, assuming he’s not needed on the NHL roster to begin the year.
Nathan Villeneuve | F | Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
In addition to the AHL reassignments noted above, the team also reassigned injured forward Nathan Villeneuve to his junior team, the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL, leaving Catton as the only 18- or 19-year-old junior-eligible player still in camp. While Villeneuve was always a long shot to remain with the team after camp, the injury was a disheartening development for a young player who was pushing for the second-straight camp displaying some pro-ready aspects of his game. Instead, he’ll look to finish his junior career on a high note before turning pro after his OHL season ends.
Julius Miettinen | F | Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Julius Miettinen missed all of Kraken camp with an upper-body injury, but he was back in the lineup for the Everett Silvertips right away, and he made an immediate impact. He scored twice and added an assist in last Friday’s game against the Wenatchee Wild. After adding another assist on Saturday, Miettinen is your Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week.
[Author’s Note, Fri, Oct. 3, 2:00 pm PDT: Miettinen’s new week is off to a good start too, with the Kraken announcing that they have signed him to an entry-level contract.]
Loke Krantz also had a case for player of the week, scoring two goals and recording an assist in his only game for Linkoping HC U20. The degree of difficulty involved in tallying three points immediately after missing a few weeks with an injury tipped the scales in Miettinen’s favor, though.
Beyond Miettinen, Jakub Fibigr, Jake O’Brien, Blake Fiddler, and Will Reynolds also returned to their junior lineups last weekend. Fibigr, O’Brien, and Fiddler wasted no time getting on the scoresheet.
Semyon Vyazovoi returned to the crease for Salavat Yulaev Ufa for the first time in more than two weeks. The raw results were not spectacular (five goals against on 37 shots), but it was good to see him back in net and playing a full game for the first time this season. He’ll look to build on this performance moving forward.
Kim Saarinen continues to draw regular starts for HPK and perform well. He was 2-0-1 this week with a 1.99 goals-against average. Among all Liiga goalies with at least five starts, Saarinen is first in GAA (1.79) and second in save percentage (.912).
Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week tracker
2: Kim Saarinen
1: Julius Miettinen
Seattle’s Finnish prospects are now three-for-three, though you could argue the Swedish Krantz was unjustly denied this week.
Previewing the week ahead
Barrett Hall and St. Cloud State kick off their NCAA season today, Oct. 3, against Augustana University. Zaccharya Wisdom will likely debut for his new NCAA team, Western Michigan University, next Thursday, Oct. 9, against Ferris State University.
The Deep Sea Hockey Game of the Week is a matchup in Sweden’s U20 league between Krantz’s Linkoping HC and Karl Annborn’s HV71. Annborn had been playing up with the senior HV71 team, but he was absent from the senior lineup on Thursday, Oct. 2, which could indicate he’s back with the U20 team. If so, we’ll get our first Kraken prospect head-to-head game of the 2025-26 season.
Tracking 2026 NHL Draft prospects
If you’re here, you likely have an affinity for following players who will be the next stars of the NHL game. We recently published our preseason 2026 NHL Draft watchlist. Consensus top prospect Gavin McKenna will make his NCAA debut for Penn State University on Friday. You can watch the game on NHL Network or the NHL YouTube page.
If you have a prospect-related question you’d like to see featured in a future column, drop us a note below or on X or BlueSky @deepseahockey.
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.
The Seattle Kraken wrapped up their preseason schedule with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. Winning and losing doesn’t matter much in preseason, but it’s still nice to finish with a winning record at 3-2-1. This game also marked the end of training camp. The team will have the next two days off for team-building activities before returning to practice Saturday in preparation for the regular-season opener at home against the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 9.
Here are Three Takeaways from a 4-2 Kraken win over the Oilers.
Takeaway #1: Special teams
The Kraken special teams got plenty of work in this one. In the first period alone, there were eight penalties, four for each team. The period ended 3-1 in Seattle’s favor, and all three Kraken goals came on special teams. Josh Mahura and Eeli Tolvanen scored power-play goals with blasts from the point, while Ryan Winterton added a shorthanded tally after intercepting a poor pass by Edmonton goalie Calvin Pickard below the goal line and wrapping it into an open net. Tolvanen’s goal came during a 5-on-3. Jaden Schwartz provided the screen on both of the power-play goals by Mahura and Tolvanen.
Seattle’s penalty kill technically gave up just one power-play goal on five Edmonton attempts, including some 5-on-3 time. However, the Oilers’ second goal came seven seconds after a penalty expired, showing there’s still work to do in cleaning up those situations. Last season, Seattle occasionally allowed goals just after a kill or power play, an area that could still use improvement.
Berkly Catton had a rough night, spending time in the box for three stick penalties. Coach Lane Lambert said, “He’s not the only one who took stick penalties and hooking and this and that. We just have to clean that up overall, as a group.”
Takeaway #2: Slow start in the second
Seattle jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and almost looked like they expected Edmonton to fold. After the Oilers scored late in the first and started the second on the power play, momentum shifted. The Kraken struggled to clear the zone, and Edmonton cut the deficit to one. Joey Daccord held strong as Seattle adopted a bend-don’t-break approach for about 10 minutes before regaining some offensive push.
On one hand, it was good to see Seattle weather the storm, but this is not a formula for consistent success. Coach Lambert noticed the lack of spark and shuffled the right wingers, moving Tolvanen, Winterton, and Jani Nyman around. The change worked, and Seattle began generating chances again, finishing the period ahead 3-2.
Nyman hops up with Schwartz and Wright and nearly cashes in, but Pickard outwaits him. #SeaKraken still holding a 3-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/hqiJsFbhvt
For a guy battling for one of the final roster spots, Winterton definitely left a solid final impression in the minds of the front office and coaches on Wednesday. The 22-year-old winger had two goals, including a shorthanded tally, despite getting just 10:07 of ice time. His second came early in the third to restore a two-goal cushion. Off a slick feed from Freddy Gaudreau, Winterton corralled the pass on his backhand, shifted to his forehand, and lifted it over Pickard’s glove. These were the first goals of the preseason for the 22-year-old forward.
Winterton started the night with Schwartz and Shane Wright, but with so many early penalties, he rarely played with them. He later settled in alongside Tye Kartye and Gaudreau, and the trio clicked well. Asked if he got what he wanted from shuffling the right wings, Lambert replied, “I did out of Winterton.”
Winterton earned first-star honors and yeeted the fish after the game.
Looking ahead to the regular season
There are still roster decisions to come, but preseason is in the books. Now, the focus shifts to the regular season and hopefully getting a couple key players back from injury in time for the meaningful games. Despite dealing with injuries, Seattle finished with a winning record (3-2-1), and all three goaltenders turned in solid performances. Adding Matt Murray provides extra competition in the crease, which should help push everyone.
Nyman didn’t score Thursday but saw time with Wright and Schwartz, where he looked comfortable and got some scoring chances. He consistently gets into scoring positions, but he seems to need a playmaker to set him up.
How do you think this preseason went for the Kraken? Are you more or less optimistic about the upcoming season? Comment below.
Blaiz Grubic
Blaiz Grubic is a contributor at Sound Of Hockey. A passionate hockey fan and player for over 30 years, Blaiz grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an alumni of Washington State University (Go Cougs!). When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about hockey, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter or getting out on a golf course for a quick round. Follow @blaizg on BlueSky or X.
With CHL seasons now underway, junior hockey leagues across the world are back on the ice for games. That means it’s time to publish our annual “preseason” NHL Draft watchlist. Several public scouting and analysis resources have published lists with a handful high-end players to watch. We’re digging deeper, giving you a list of 200 first-time eligible and 100 re-entry candidates for you to follow as the season progresses.
The “Data Score” approach
This is not a traditional scouting assessment of prospects. Instead, as in years past, we built our watchlist using quantifiable data only. Think of it as a supplement to the scouting and analytical work on prospects being published by other sources like Elite Prospects. It can be revealing in its areas of agreement or disagreement with the work of traditional scouting services.
What does our data-only analysis involve? As I have done in years past when looking at NHL Draft prospects (or NHL-affiliated prospects), I have organized this player list by “Data Score”—a rough metric we came up with here at Sound Of Hockey. Data Score begins with the bedrock of an NHL equivalency (“NHLe”). NHLe is a method to compare the scoring proficiency of players in the various professional and junior leagues across the globe. I used Thibaud Chatel’s model, which is the most up-to-date public research in the area. Check out Chatel’s Substack for an in-depth discussion of NHLe. For this project, I used Chatel’s newest model, which has been updated to account for 2024-25 season data.
What’s new this year? In contrast with years past when I looked at only a one-year sample to create this list, this time I applied this NHLe to multiple years of scoring data for these prospects—specifically the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. More recent play is given more weight. I think this is an important upgrade to the approach and one I will be continuing to iterate on moving forward.
After deriving an NHLe from the scoring data, I then make adjustments for age, height, and position, as well as a modest upward adjustment to the NHLe for low-scoring players playing in high-level professional leagues. I then normalize the resulting output and call it the prospect’s “Data Score.” This number no longer projects NHL scoring but is (hopefully) useful in describing the relative strength of prospects. I’ve gone through the methodology in more detail previously here and here.
After refining my data-gathering methods, the full watchlist, which will be made available to Sound Of Hockey Patreon members shortly, covers approximately 25,000 draft eligible skaters. This is up dramatically from the lists of approximately 10,000 skaters I have made in previous years.
The 2026 NHL Draft watchlist
The draft has at least one elite player at the top in Gavin McKenna. I compiled all potentially draft-eligible prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft before filtering out those who had already been selected in previous drafts. Even if those drafted players were left in consideration, Gavin McKenna would be the second overall prospect on the list, behind only Macklin Celebrini, who played last year in the NHL. McKenna’s scoring profile, at his age, is rare.
Beyond McKenna, the top 10 to 15 of this draft looks quite strong. Forward Ryan Roobroeck’s name seems to get lost in the shuffle when discussing the high-end players in this class, but he has piled up 139 points in 127 OHL games over the last two seasons for the Niagara IceDogs. He has the chance to be a star. Beyond him, there are a number of interesting defense prospects, including two-way force Keaton Verhoeff and the QMJHL’s undersized point-producing dynamo Xavier Villeneuve.
Revisiting the 2025 NHL Draft preseason list
How much can you learn about a player’s draft projection from looking at biometric data and scoring data from seasons before the draft year in question? As you might expect, it’s not perfect. Players—particularly first-time draft-eligible players—often take a very large statistical leap in their draft seasons as they continue to mature.
For example, Matthew Schaefer averaged only .30 points per game in his draft-minus-one year, which contributed to his placement at No. 57 overall on the 2025 NHL Draft preseason watchlist. He then proceeded to electrify scouts with his international play and piled up 1.29 points per game in the OHL in an injury-shortened draft season en route to becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Could another elite player emerge from lower in the top 100 this year? It’s certainly possible. And there are always going to be players that teams and scouts “like” (or “dislike”) more than their scoring data would suggest.
That said, it is remarkable how much you can learn even from scoring data predating the draft year. Looking back at the top-32 first-time eligible prospects on our 2025 NHL Draft preseason watchlist, draftniks will see a lot of familiar names. Nine of the top-11 picks are there, as are 15 first-round picks overall. If you extend to look at the first-time eligible skaters ranked from 33 to 64 on our preseason list, you’ll find seven more first-round ricks, including Schaefer.
Similarly, if you rewind to our 2024 NHL Draft preseason watchlist, you’ll find that four-of-the-top five picks in the 2024 Draft were in our preseason top 32, as well as 15 first-round picks overall.
These results almost replicate the success rate of source-consulting prospect analysts evaluating the prospect landscape at this time of year. For example, last year at this time, Corey Pronman—who is as well-sourced as any prospect analyst currently working—correctly predicted 19 first-round skaters on his initial 2025 draft first-round board.
The accuracy of the watchlist as a predictive tool declines the deeper you go into it, but the success rate at the top of the list gives me confidence that the Data Score approach can serve its purpose as a guide to tracking players who could end being high draft picks.
Other watchlist takeaways and local connections
The run of top prospects playing junior hockey in the Pacific Northwest has not broken yet. No. 11 ranked Mathis Preston and No. 18 ranked Chase Harrington will play for the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL this season. And even though the Victoria Royals lost Verhoeff to the University of North Dakota there are other intriguing prospects playing throughout the WHL’s Western Conference. No. 6 ranked defenseman Ryan Lin will play for the Vancouver Giants and No. 13 ranked defenseman Carson Carels will play for the Prince George Cougars.
Looking at the league landscape, eight players on our preseason top-32 first-time eligible prospects watchlist played their draft minus-one seasons in the WHL, which tied with the OHL for most overall. Add in 3 from the QMJHL and 19 of the top 32 played in the CHL. This underscores the strength of that league—at least before the NCAA rule changes that resulted in several prominent players opting to play college hockey in their draft years, including Verhoeff and McKenna.
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Header photo of Mathis Preston taken by Brian Liesse, courtesy Seattle Thunderbirds.
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.
