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[Seattle Kraken]

Three Takeaways – Kraken take down Flyers, ride four-game streak back into playoff picture

Believe it or not, the Seattle Kraken have stormed their way right back into the playoff picture. While still on the outside, they’ve climbed to within a single point of the final wild-card spot, currently held by the San Jose Sharks, who actually have a lower points percentage than Seattle. The Kraken reached that position thanks to a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday, stretching their season-long win streak to four games and giving themselves their first named win streak of the season.

By the way, we heard back from the National Win Streak Service, and although I was hopeful we could call it Win Streak Darren, they have informed us that this streak is called Win Streak Caroline. We will explain the thought process of the NWSS on the next Sound Of Hockey Podcast.

In this game, the Kraken once again leaned on outstanding goaltending from Philipp Grubauer, plus the offensive production of their three hottest hands: Jordan Eberle, Chandler Stephenson, and Eeli Tolvanen (who potted not one, but two empty-net goals).

Here are Three Takeaways from a 4-1 Kraken win over the Flyers.

Takeaway 1: Tolvanen, Eberle, and Stephenson are rolling​

The lack of offensive production from the Kraken has been maddening for long stretches this season. The last few games haven’t been all that different in this area, but Seattle now has a few players who’ve gotten hot and are creating just enough offense to fuel the winning streak.

Eberle has four goals in his last three games, Tolvanen has points in six straight (3-7=10), and Stephenson has 12 points in 11 games (6-6=12), with his lone scoreless outing coming in Seattle’s 3-1 win at Anaheim on Dec. 22.

Eberle and Stephenson both scored pretty goals Sunday, with Stephenson’s coming directly off an outstanding play by Tolvanen.

On Eberle’s icebreaker at 3:48 of the second period, Matty Beniers—facing a 1-on-3 disadvantage at the blue line—drove low to buy time for Eberle and Kaapo Kakko to catch up. He then dished to Kakko in the right circle, and Kakko lofted a perfect saucer pass into Eberle’s wheelhouse. Eberle once again picked the top right corner.

O, CAPTAIN!

What a setup by Matty Beniers and Kaapo Kakko, and Jordan Eberle places his shot perfectly inside the post.

1-0 #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/zseBdor8v8

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) December 29, 2025

“We’re just finding ways to score,” Eberle said. “I think on that goal, Matty did a good job, driving in and finding Kaapo, and then he did a great job finding me.”

Clinging to a 1-0 lead deep into the third period, it felt like the next goal would decide the game—and Tolvanen and Stephenson made sure it did.

After a stretch of back-and-forth in Seattle’s zone, Adam Larsson settled the puck and sent a forehand lob up and over everyone to the far blue line. It was too far for Tolvanen to sprint onto, but he didn’t quit on the play. Dan Vladar misplayed the puck behind his net, and Tolvanen beat Travis Sanheim to it, hit the brakes, one-handed the puck off the back of the net—sending Sanheim crashing into the boards—and found Stephenson streaking down the slot. Stephenson buried it for a 2-0 lead.

STEVIE DOES IT!

What a play by Eeli Tolvanen to bank the puck off the back of the net to himself, then feed Chandler Stephenson cruising down Lenny Wilkens Way.

2-0 #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/zU265dTYJ0

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) December 29, 2025

“The biggest thing about the goal for me, and he’s been doing it all year long, is [Tolvanen] got in on the forecheck,” coach Lane Lambert said. “He separated the puck from the man and made a heads-up play to Stephenson in the slot. But he’s moving his feet, and he’s heavy on the forecheck.”

While no Kraken player will sniff the top of the NHL scoring charts, Eberle is now up to 14 goals, Stephenson has 10, and Tolvanen leads the team with 18 assists. Tolvanen also paces the Kraken with 25 points (7-18=25), while Eberle (14-10=24) and Stephenson (10-14=24) are tied for second in scoring.

Takeaway 2: McCann and Dunn return​

Jared McCann and Vince Dunn both returned to the lineup Sunday after injury-related absences of different lengths. Dunn missed just one game following a high hit by Ross Johnston in Anaheim, while McCann missed seven in his second extended absence of the season. It was only his 12th game of the campaign, which has been derailed by two separate lower-body injuries.

“It’s kind of tough,” McCann said. “Obviously, this is the first time in my career I’ve kind of gone through something like this. Mentally, it’s been tough, but I’ve got great teammates here who’ve been supportive with me, and I’m just trying to make it through a game at this point. So, I’m looking forward to the future.”

I liked McCann’s shooting mentality in this one—any time he found himself in a position to put the puck on net, he didn’t hesitate—but there were also some miscues between him and linemates Shane Wright and Berkly Catton.

“I thought we had some good chances,” McCann said. “Obviously, Cats made some good plays tonight; you can see the offense coming for him. And me and Wrighter are still trying to work with each other and create good offense.”

There were a few noticeable misfires, including a first-period 2-on-1 where Wright got handcuffed and couldn’t get a shot away. If that trio sticks together, expect the execution to improve in the coming games.

“I liked his performance,” Lambert said of McCann. “He adds an element that we need. I think that line becomes that much more dangerous right now. And I thought he did a lot of good things, thought he was good on the walls, made some heads-up plays, had some opportunities. So, obviously, he’s a key player for us, and it’s good to see him back.”

McCann finished with two shots on goal in 13:27 of ice time.

Takeaway 3: The PK (and Grubauer) came up huge​

Grubauer earned first-star honors, frustrating Flyers shooters into just one late, largely inconsequential goal that spoiled his bid for his first shutout of the season. He finished with 31 saves on 32 shots and improved to 6-3-1, with a 2.44 goals-against average and .917 save percentage—stellar numbers from a goalie who had never previously topped .900 in a Kraken uniform.

“The numbers are always a reflection of how the team plays,” Grubauer said. “So without the team in front of us, we couldn’t do this, right? The way we played, the way we blocked shots, boxed out, let us see the puck, the way we worked back in our zone as a five-man unit. Without that, it wouldn’t be possible [to have these stats].”

Grubauer was especially impactful during Seattle’s three penalty kills—twice in the opening period and once in the second after Catton jumped on early, and the Kraken were nabbed for too many men.

While Grubauer made a few acrobatic saves during those kills, the penalty killers deserve a ton of credit for eliminating seam passes and applying pressure up top.

I’ve written about it several times now, but the formation change has completely transformed this penalty kill, which bottomed out during Losing Streak Camille. The new diamond setup still stretches when the puck goes high, but it puts two players across the slot instead of one, and those two have worked in tandem to erase passing lanes and force perimeter shots.

By the way, Lambert was not thrilled with that too-many-men penalty, and I ended his presser on a sour note by asking why it bothered him so much.

Here’s why Lane Lambert got so mad about the too-many-men penalty. #SeaKraken https://t.co/6b5LL6jhhv pic.twitter.com/CO0WZXOSZE

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) December 29, 2025

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 [email protected].

Read more from Darren

The post Three Takeaways – Kraken take down Flyers, ride four-game streak back into playoff picture appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/12/2...e-four-game-streak-back-into-playoff-picture/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Photo Gallery – Kraken vs Flyers – Dec 28th

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The post Photo Gallery – Kraken vs Flyers – Dec 28th appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/12/28/photo-gallery-kraken-vs-flyers-dec-28th/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Three Takeaways – Kraken lose 3-2 in shootout to Canucks

The Seattle Kraken came up just short on Monday, dropping a 3-2 decision in a shootout to the Vancouver Canucks. Seattle was—without a doubt—the better team in this one, but while the Kraken generated oodles of offensive chances despite playing on tired legs, they only got two pucks behind goalie Kevin Lankinen.

Lankinen was outstanding with 37 saves through regulation and overtime and then stopped Freddy Gaudreau, Eeli Tolvanen, and Jordan Eberle in the shootout.

“We played a good hockey game,” coach Lane Lambert said. “We had some real good looks, real good chances to score in regulation, for that matter. Their goaltender played well, and if we keep playing that way, we’ll have success more often than not.”

Win Streak Caroline, we hardly knew ye.

Here are Three Takeaways from a 3-2 Kraken shootout loss to the Canucks.

Takeaway 1: Did a fight turn the tide?​

In his two games since returning from his second injury hiatus of the season, Jared McCann has been firing the puck (almost) every chance he gets. In this one, he got an opportunity on a 4-on-3 power play and showed why the Kraken want him shooting.

Just four seconds after the face-off to start the rare numerical advantage, Vince Dunn and McCann played catch at the top of the zone, and the second time Dunn passed it to McCann, he one-timed a missile past Lankinen to open the scoring at 8:50 of the first.

MCCANN CAN!

4 seconds into a 4-on-3 for the #SeaKraken, Vince Dunn tees it up, and Jared McCann blasts it home.

He's back!

1-0 pic.twitter.com/lnTPCQ63F2

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) December 30, 2025

But McCann was also involved in some extracurricular activity that may have ultimately cost the Kraken more than it helped them. After Conor Garland elbowed McCann in the face with a total cheap shot, McCann was seen barking at Garland on the bench and asking him to “go.” Indeed, the two dropped the gloves on their next time out and had a spirited bout.

Here's where Garland elbowed McCann in the face, which led to the fight. #SeaKraken https://t.co/5y7bT2W24l pic.twitter.com/2XOgwp5KOF

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) December 30, 2025

“He kind of elbowed me on the one play there beforehand, so I asked him to go,” McCann said. “He said yeah, and that was the end of that.”

Said Lambert: “I think it just shows a lot about the character of Jared McCann. And Garland accepted. I thought it was hockey, and sometimes things happen, and I’ve got a lot of respect for Jared, again… He took care of it on his own, and sometimes you’ve got to do that.”

For a lot of reasons, I personally would prefer McCann never drop the gloves with anybody, but it is commendable that he’s willing to stand up for himself.

In the other team’s dressing room after the game, though, the Canucks players were raving about what the fight did for their morale, seeing the diminutive Garland hang in there with the bigger McCann. They had a terrible first period, but the fight seemed to spark some jump for them, and they scored to tie the game 1-1 just three seconds after the bout.

“Maybe we were a little slow in the start, but Garland definitely got us going,” said Elias Petterson (the forward, not the defenseman… having two players with the exact same name on one team should be illegal). “And obviously, we scored five or so seconds after, so yeah, really good on him.”

Takeaway 2: Fourth-line magic​

I’ve absolutely loved Jacob Melanson’s game since he was recalled from the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Dec. 13. He fits like a glove on the NHL fourth line, bringing energy and physicality and backing down from nobody.

Against Vancouver, he bowled over public enemy Tyler Myers to the delight of Climate Pledge Arena and also set up Ryan Winterton’s goal that gave Seattle a 2-1 lead late in the first period.

Here's Jacob Melanson flattening Tyler Myers for your viewing pleasure. #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/tPbM04zZNN

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) December 30, 2025

After Elias Pettersson (the defenseman this time, not the forward) and Myers ran into each other, Melanson flew up the left flank and sent a cross-crease pass to a crashing Winterton, who redirected it over Lankinen’s skate. That gave Melanson his first NHL point and Joey Daccord his third assist of the season.

“I had a feeling it was coming across,” Winterton said. “Just some good speed by ‘Mel’ and great vision to see me. I kind of saw their D get tangled up there, so I thought we had a break, and I was lucky enough to get it.”

“It’s awesome to be able to have ‘Winnie’ score that goal,” Melanson said. “We got drafted together and also played in CV together for a few years, so I mean that’s a pretty cool memory to have.”

It’s worth noting, Winterton was a healthy scratch Sunday against the Flyers but drew back in Monday in place of Tye Kartye.

“They impact the game lately,” Lambert said of the fourth line. “They’re responsible, they’re quick, they’re physical. Obviously, a huge goal for us by Winterton. Melanson made a nice play on that. But they create energy for our hockey team, and they do it responsibly.”

Takeaway 3: A golden opportunity missed​

After the Kraken swept a back-to-back last week for the first time since the 2022-23 season, they had a golden opportunity to do it again on Monday. They had plenty of great looks in the third period, all of which were thwarted by Lankinen, and they even had a second 4-on-3 power play at the end of overtime.

After scoring on the previous 4-on-3 in just six seconds, they were more measured in their approach the second time and, in the end, didn’t get Lankinen moving laterally enough to beat him on the late advantage.

“We probably could have created a couple of more [opportunities],” Lambert said. “They were able to clear the puck a couple of times, which takes some time off it, there’s no question about that. But certainly, there were a couple of passes that we felt like we had some empty-net opportunities.”

Alas, the Kraken failed to convert, and the Canucks goalie then stopped all three Seattle shooters in the shootout to improve to an astounding 17 for 17 on the season in that situation.

San Jose won on this night, so the Kraken dropped to two points out of the final wild card spot, though they still have two games in hand and a better points percentage than the Sharks.

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 [email protected].

Read more from Darren

The post Three Takeaways – Kraken lose 3-2 in shootout to Canucks appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/12/30/kraken-lose-to-canucks-in-shootout/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Photo Gallery – Kraken vs Canucks – Dec 29th

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The post Photo Gallery – Kraken vs Canucks – Dec 29th appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/12/29/photo-gallery-kraken-vs-canucks-dec-29th/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Kraken Roundtable – Year-end check-in on the 2025-26 season

With the calendar year winding down, it felt like the perfect moment for a quick midseason check‑in on the 2025–26 Seattle Kraken. It’s been a wild couple of months with streaks, swings, and surprises, yet the Kraken somehow find themselves hovering right on the edge of the wild‑card race, depending on how you choose to sort the standings. So we gathered the Sound Of Hockey crew for another Kraken Roundtable to take stock of where things stand and where this season might be headed next.

What’s your overall perspective on how the team has performed so far this season?​

John: It’s been okay. If you had told me before the season that they’d be floating around a wild‑card spot at this point, I would have taken that. The reason I say it’s only “okay,” though, is that they started the year relatively strong and raised expectations early.

Coming into the season, I just wanted to see competitive hockey, and they’ve delivered on that. They lead the league in one‑goal games and, with only a few exceptions, have had a legitimate shot at points almost every night. They’ve picked up wins against Vegas, Edmonton, Anaheim, and Los Angeles. One of their best performances of the year might have actually come in a loss to the league’s top team, the Colorado Avalanche.

And by the way, they’ve done all of this despite a glut of injuries to some of their top players. I’d really like to see how this team stacks up with a fully healthy roster.

Blaiz: Overall, I have been impressed with how the team has performed. When head coach Lane Lambert came in emphasizing improved defense, I wondered if it would turn into more of the same. From a standings perspective, the 1-9-1 stretch was rough, but many of those losses were competitive games where the Kraken came up short.

More recently, the Kraken have gone 4-0-1 and picked up nine of a possible 10 points. Even so, I thought they played stronger, more complete hockey during parts of Losing Streak Darren than in some of those wins. That gives me confidence the process is trending in the right direction, even when the results have not always followed.

Darren: I’d like to clarify that it was two separate named losing streaks, named by the National Losing Streak Service as Camille and Cynthia respectively. Never has the NLSS considered using “Darren.”

As for the Kraken, I too am in the “okay” territory, but man, if only they could have gotten a few more wins during that miserable stretch. Even if they had gone, say, 4-6-1 in those 11 games, they would be 19-11-7, good for 45 points and still second place in the Pacific Division.

That said, I’ve generally been very impressed with Lane Lambert and think he’s an excellent coach who tells it like it is. I am hopeful that the adversity of the losing stretch builds some character for the team and that the injury woes that have made things so much more difficult will be put to rest when Jaden Schwartz and Brandon Montour eventually return in January.

Curtis: I think the coaching staff has done a solid job implementing a system and instilling a play style that should keep the team competitive most nights—even as the team searches for consistent goal scoring. The staff has also shown a willingness and ability to adapt when the results haven’t been there, as exemplified by the changes to the penalty kill scheme.

On the player side, I’d say the goaltending has been better than I would have expected, the offseason skater additions have missed expectations as a group, the team’s young skaters have not yet taken a leap, and the veteran, incumbent skaters have been a little too injured to pick up all the slack. Night to night and week to week, the win-loss results have been a bit, let’s say, chaotic. On balance, though, the team is competitive around the mid-tier of a relatively weak Western Conference, which is about where I thought they would be.

From a team standpoint, what has been the biggest surprise positively or negatively of the season to this point?​

Darren: I never expected the Kraken to score the lights out, but if I imagined them as a playoff contender coming into the season, it would have been with a few more goals going in. It’s bonkers how bad this team is at scoring–ranking 30th in the NHL at 2.57 goals for per game–and yet it still has a winning record and a pretty solid chance at clawing back into the postseason.

They’ve had a few guys get a little hotter lately, with Jordan Eberle, Eeli Tolvanen, and Chandler Stephenson all contributing. Hopefully Jared McCann can stay in the lineup as well, which should help on this front.

John: I’m really hoping, and fully expecting, that this will age poorly, but the penalty kill has been particularly ineffective so far this season. With the additions of Ryan Lindgren and Frederick Gaudreau, plus the defensive‑minded approach of Lane Lambert, we expected the PK to be one of the team’s strengths. That has not been the case. The Kraken currently rank 31st in penalty‑kill percentage at 71.4 percent.

There was an especially rough stretch in which they allowed seven power‑play goals on eight shorthanded opportunities across three games. That slump landed right in the middle of their first major tailspin of the season, a six‑game losing streak.

However… since that three‑game disaster, the penalty kill has actually been quite good. From that point forward, the Kraken have killed 85.7 percent of their shorthanded situations, the sixth‑best mark in the league since Dec. 7. Here is a look at how the penalty kill has performed over the season by looking at a five-game moving average.

Blaiz: Goaltending. It has not mattered who is in net, as the team in front of them is playing the same system. That consistency has allowed Philipp Grubauer to excel and arguably helped him post one of his strongest stretches in a Kraken uniform, posting a 6-3-1 record with a .917 save percentage.

Curtis: I agree that goaltending has been the biggest positive surprise, followed closely by solid success on the power play. The Kraken are 10th in the league in man-advantage conversion rate (20.7 percent). Improved tactics designed to pull defenses out of position and chemistry amongst the players has elevated an underskilled unit that has struggled to produce in the past.

What’s one area where you’d most like to see the Kraken improve?​

John: Can I say health? I understand injuries are part of the game and every team has to deal with them, but the Kraken have been hit especially hard this season, and they just don’t have the depth to absorb those losses the way some other teams can. I’m dying to see how this group looks with a healthy lineup that includes Jared McCann, Jaden Schwartz, Kaapo Kakko, Vince Dunn, and Brandon Montour.

Darren: That’s it. Health.

Blaiz: I’ll take the low-hanging fruit and agree with Darren’s “surprise” from the previous question, goal scoring. It is hard to win games if you do not get on the board. Since the 9-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 4, the Kraken have played 12 games and gone 5-6-1. In that span, every game has been decided by a single goal when excluding empty-net goals.

Scoring first has also mattered. Seattle scored first in eight of those 12 games and went 5-2-1. They are 0-4 when they fail to open the scoring. The games have been competitive, but a little more offense would go a long way toward turning close losses into wins.

Curtis: There is no easy answer to this one, but one area I’d be most pleased to see a second-half step would be offensive production from the team’s young trio of Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, and Berkly Catton. Between them they have only 10 goals in 98 games this season. Wright and Catton in particular seem to be fighting it when they have the puck in shooting positions.

Which player has surprised you the most this season — for better or for worse?​

John: Unfortunately, Shane Wright hasn’t quite looked like the player we saw in the back half of last season. He was one of the guys I really expected to take a step this year, but he has just six goals through 37 games. Lately, he hasn’t looked like much of a threat.

Over the last two games, he’s been centering Berkly Catton and Jared McCann, a combination I like, but it will probably take some time for that line to build real chemistry.

Blaiz: Eeli Tolvanen. He is tied for the team lead with 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists) alongside Jordan Eberle. Some of that production has come as a result of injuries elsewhere in the lineup, but Tolvanen has made the most of the increased opportunity.

Over his first 10 games, Tolvanen averaged just under 15 minutes of ice time and produced 0.5 points per game. Over his most recent 10 games, his ice time has jumped to more than 19 minutes per game, and his production has climbed to 1.2 points per game. If that usage continues, he is on pace for a career-high 55 points.

Darren: Philipp Grubauer. I was fully on the buyout train over the summer and was shocked the team kept him around. Yet, I’ve eaten my words, because he’s been a massive part of the success the team has had this year and is putting up stellar numbers. He looks so confident and sharp every night, and we haven’t seen the questionable goals that plagued his first four seasons in Seattle.

Curtis: I’m with Darren on this one: Grubauer has been the biggest surprise for me. Pick whatever metric you want, the German netminder has completely re-written his story this season.

His .917 save percentage is, in some sense, a return to form. From the 2014-15 season through the 2020-21 season—his last before joining Seattle—Grubauer had a .916 save percentage or better every year. This is difficult to square with the player who never topped .900 in four seasons with Seattle. If Grubauer can keep this up, he’ll be a modest asset for the Kraken—whether on the ice or in a deal down the road.

Given how the Kraken are playing right now, how do you think they should approach the trade deadline: buy, sell, or stand pat? And why?​

John: Stand pat. I’m not suggesting the team shouldn’t listen to any and all offers, but I do think there’s value in giving this group a real opportunity to make the playoffs. If they’re sitting right on the bubble at the deadline, they should hold steady.
However, if an opportunity arises to add a player like Jordan Kyrou, someone who fills a clear need and has meaningful term left on his contract, the Kraken should absolutely jump at it.

Blaiz: The Kraken are only two points out of a playoff spot with two games in hand. They are firmly in the hunt, but I do not think this is a team that should be buying rental players at the deadline or trading away it’s future. There is still a need to build and develop, and short-term moves do not align with that path.

I agree with John that if the right opportunity presents itself, they should explore it. For now, the best approach is to stand pat. Selling would signal giving up on a team that has a legitimate chance to make the playoffs, and I have never been a fan of tanking. If this group has a chance to get in, they should be given that chance.

Darren: I’m not a full-fledged buyer, but I also need the team to get better moving forward. So, I’m looking for hockey trades that bring back good offensive players with term on their contracts. If those deals don’t present themselves, then I agree to stand pat. Give them a chance to make a run if they’re still in the playoff mix, but there’s no reason to trade away prospects if a playoff appearance looks unlikely.

Curtis: For me, it’s a mixed approach. I agree with all that they should be looking for a “hockey trade” to bring in a player packing offensive punch who could be with the team for a while. If, as John posited, the Blues get motivated to deal Kyrou, I would want the Kraken to be in on that conversation.

On the other hand, I don’t think the team will be bringing back all of its expiring veterans (Jamie Oleksiak, Jaden Schwartz, Jordan Eberle, and Eeli Tolvanen). I’d expect the team to engage with these players to see if relatively modest contract extensions are possible. If not, I think seller trades should be on the table even if the team remains competitive through the Olympics break.

The post Kraken Roundtable – Year-end check-in on the 2025-26 season appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/12/31/kraken-roundtable-year-end-check-in-on-the-2025-26-season/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Kraken Notebook – Penalty kill improvement, Catton’s number change, and much more

As the Seattle Kraken close out the calendar year, it’s safe to say they’ve turned things around on the penalty kill. Statistically, they’ve gone from completely off the map in a dreadful league of their own—as bad as five percentage points behind the then-31st-ranked Ottawa Senators at 64.8 percent—to taking over that 31st spot themselves at 71.7 percent.

There is still room for improvement. After a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 6 capped a three-game stretch in which Seattle allowed seven power-play goals on eight chances, the Kraken switched formations and have since been one of the NHL’s better penalty-killing teams, killing 85.7 percent of opportunities.

“Something’s got to be done about it, and there’s only one way to go,” coach Lane Lambert said after that Detroit game. Indeed, something has been done about it.

In this Kraken Notebook, we’ll look at how a formation change has helped turn the PK around, learn about Berkly Catton switching to No. 27, and much more.

New PK versus old​

After that Detroit game, I broke down in Three Takeaways what was wrong with the PK, most notably that seam passes were far too easy to come by for opposing teams. While digging through the Sound Of Hockey… dot com… archives for that story, I came across another article I’d written about the 2022-23 playoff team and how it improved its penalty kill in the middle of the season.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. That season, the Kraken ranked 31st in the NHL on the penalty kill while using the wedge-plus-one system. After a 7-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on New Year’s Eve, during which they allowed two power-play goals, Seattle began working on a simplified diamond system. Over the next three-plus months, the Kraken killed 83.9 percent of penalties.

The details aren’t exactly the same, but Seattle’s PK is going through an almost identical evolution right now.

“I think we switched it up probably about a couple weeks ago, three weeks ago, maybe, and it’s a bit of a learning experience at the start,” Ryan Winterton said. “I think learning anything new is a little different, but I think the guys have bought into it, and our kill since then has been pretty good.”

Added Matty Beniers, who was used more frequently in the old formation: “I think there’s a lot of shared responsibilities in [the old system]… One guy’s kind of trying to focus on the bumper [in the slot], but also trying to take away the backside. Honestly, what we did was kind of take a little bit of the onus off the forwards and put a little bit more on the D, and the D have just done a great job with that.”

Beniers indicated that things are more clear-cut for the forwards, who can now focus on defending one player at a time while allowing the defensemen to handle being outnumbered more often. Defensemen are better suited to deal with 2-on-1 situations than forwards, making that a positive change.

Now, instead of constant rotation and reading off one another to determine who is pressuring at the top of the zone, the formation moves as one. It expands and contracts, with rotation only occurring when the entire diamond is pulled far enough in one direction to effectively turn the whole formation, as shown below from a successful kill against the Canucks.

Here, as the puck moves around the zone, all four players move together, with Chandler Stephenson (F1) moving from the top of the diamond to the right side, Ryan Winterton (F2) moving from the left to the top, Jamie Oleksiak (D1) moving from the right to the bottom, and Cale Fleury (D2) moving from the bottom to the left. The players never trade with one another like they did before, they just shift around.

The biggest improvement from this new look has been taking away the wide-open seam passes that were plaguing the Kraken, as noted in Three Takeaways after the Detroit game.

“100 percent, I think that’s what we try to take away. You always try to take the seam pass away,” Eeli Tolvanen said. “They’re the hardest thing to— you know, if you get the seam, stuff opens up. So I think, yeah, for sure, we’ve done a better job with that now, not giving them those lanes and keeping the puck on the outside.”

The main reason this works so much better is that there are now two players across the middle of the ice, instead of a triangular formation that placed two players near the crease and one in the slot. When a puck is contested along the wall, the diamond quickly spreads as Seattle’s skaters pounce and try to advance it out of the zone. If they lose possession, they retreat right back into position, with minimal confusion about assignments.

Oleksiak also credited small personnel tweaks, with himself, Adam Larsson, Ryan Lindgren, Fleury, Ben Meyers, Freddy Gaudreau, Stephenson, Tolvanen, and Winterton carrying most of the PK duties, and said the killers have grown more comfortable with one another.

PK usage since Dec. 10.

“I think it’s a product of being more comfortable to pressure more,” Oleksiak said. “That kind of comes with chemistry, learning each other’s tendencies. And I think working with the coaches, we’ve been very diligent in practice and whatnot, and I think it’s been good.”

Added coach Lane Lambert: “I think [assistant coach] Aaron Schneekloth has done a real good job of having the guys understand exactly what we’re looking for. We made some changes, that’s all there is to it, and I think we’re more aggressive with those changes.”

Berkly Catton back in 27​

The team officially announced a rare in-season jersey number change for Berkly Catton, who ditched No. 77 in favor of his more familiar No. 27, previously worn by Mason Marchment before he was traded.

Berkly Catton sporting No. this morning. #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/9vwKA0oUOE

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) December 31, 2025

Catton said he learned Tuesday that changing back to the number he’s worn since childhood—and briefly with Seattle before the Kraken acquired Marchment in the offseason—would be possible.

“I had 27 before, just for a short time before [Marchment] came, and actually, [Jason Botterill] called me yesterday and told me there was a chance that they could do it this year,” Catton said. “Obviously, I was kind of thinking next year, maybe, but then [head equipment manager Jeff Camelio] and his staff obviously worked hard and got it done. So I’m really grateful for that.”

Catton added that he’s worn the number for as long as he can remember and believes it was chosen for him by his mother, whose birthday is April 27.

It was noted during Catton’s availability that even his team-issued workout sneakers had already been updated to No. 27. The equipment staff works fast.

Lambert happier with Oleksiak’s game​

During Seattle’s back-to-back Losing Streaks Camille and Cynthia, Oleksiak found himself in Lambert’s doghouse. For the first time since joining the Kraken in their inaugural season, Oleksiak was a healthy scratch for two games.

At the time, I asked Lambert several times about the surprising lineup decision and finally got a more telling answer on attempt No. 3.

“I think he’s been okay,” Lambert said before Oleksiak was scratched for the second time on Dec. 8. “There’s a couple areas, and I’m not gonna get into that with you guys here, but he and I have talked about that, where we would like him to be better. But he’s not the only guy, either.”

Since Seattle’s 4-1 loss that night to the Minnesota Wild, Oleksiak has played every game and—anecdotally—appears more willing to use his massive frame to body opponents off pucks.

“I have [seen improvement],” Lambert said Monday. “Every once in a while, and it doesn’t matter who you are, you have to be reminded a little bit, and I think he’s been solid since. Certainly, I think he’s been more physical, more assertive, which we need from him. He’s a big body, so I think he’s played well here. And you know, for the most part, he’s played well all season.”

Oleksiak was thoughtful when asked how tough it was to be a healthy scratch at this stage of his Kraken tenure.

“I mean, obviously, things like that are difficult, but it’s a long year. There’s ebbs and flows, and you’ve just got to kind of respond to a situation like that the right way,” Oleksiak said. “And that’s what I try and do. I try not to get negative and try to find the opportunity in it. And again, it’s a long season. It’s a roller coaster. Things happen, and I think you’ve just got to learn along the way. So, yeah, I think I’ve really been mindful of bringing what I can to help the team win.”

Winterton makes big impact in return to lineup, Melanson’s special moment​

Speaking of healthy scratches, Winterton sat out Seattle’s 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday before returning Monday, scoring a big goal against the Canucks, and helping the team earn a point in the 3-2 shootout loss.

Winterton, who had a few cups of coffee at the NHL level over the past two seasons, has solidified himself as a full-time player this season, though the occasional healthy scratch has started to appear for him. This was only the second time all season he’s been out of the lineup (the previous was Seattle’s 4-2 loss at the Calgary Flames on Dec. 18), though, and he didn’t seem too bothered by it.

“Obviously, it’s pretty cool being up here at the big club,” Winterton said. “I’ll hopefully stay as long as I can, and I think it’s been great for my development, just kind of playing with faster, stronger guys, and trying to learn the systems and do what I can to stay here.”

His goal Monday was a beauty, coming on a cross-crease pass off the rush from fellow 2021 draftee and former Coachella Valley Firebirds teammate Jacob Melanson.

WINTER IS HERE!

More sketchy defending from leaky VAN, and the fourth line burns them. Jacob Melanson gets his FIRST NHL POINT, setting up Ryan Winterton, and JOEY DACCORD GETS THE SECOND ASSIST!

That's Winterton from Melanson and Daccord, just as we expected.

2-1… pic.twitter.com/Qo1E3zfSe5

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) December 30, 2025

It was a special moment for the hard-nosed Melanson as well, who earned his first NHL point with the primary assist and has continued proving his worth as a prototypical bottom-six winger.

“After I saw the puck in the net, I kind of looked over to see who made the pass and saw it was Melly,” Winterton said. “And I think there’s a picture going around that— we’re kind of both just smiling. I kind of blacked out a little bit, but I’m super happy for him. It’s probably the first of many, so it was a big one for him, and a big one for the team at the time.”

“It’s special,” Melanson said. “I mean, you always want to get your first NHL point, and for it to happen like that with Winnie being able to score was pretty cool, and I mean, it’s something I’ll remember forever.”

Melanson said his phone lit up afterward with messages from friends and family back home in Nova Scotia.

“I mean, I’m from Amherst, a small town, so everyone was paying close attention to me,” Melanson said. “I got a ton of texts from back home, and a lot of people reaching out, just saying, ‘Congratulations.’ It’s awesome to have that support and see all that.”

Odds and ends​

Just a few more quick tidbits…

• For those wondering why Joey Daccord wore his standard white gear instead of his black setup with Seattle’s Abyss jerseys on Monday, he said he felt he looked smaller in the black gear and that the holes appeared more visible. Coincidental or not, he’d been giving up more goals in that setup, so he reverted to white.
• Adam Larsson was absent from practice Wednesday, but Lambert said he’s just “under the weather” and will be fine.
• Aside from Larsson being replaced by Josh Mahura, the team ran the same line rushes we saw against Vancouver.
• Jani Nyman was reassigned to Coachella Valley on Tuesday. Here’s what Lambert said about that: “Jani did a lot of good things here, and I think for him, part of his development was certainly being here—and he’ll be back again—getting to understand the way things are done, how we’re doing things here. And it’s important for him to keep playing as well, and it’ll be nice for him to go down there, playing the power play, have some success that way, and get himself ready to come back whenever that might be.” Lambert added that he wants Nyman to focus on what he is supposed to do when he doesn’t have the puck.

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 [email protected].

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The post Kraken Notebook – Penalty kill improvement, Catton’s number change, and much more appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/12/3...rovement-cattons-number-change-and-much-more/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Strive for 95 (points) – January Update

Happy New Year, Kraken fans. As the Seattle Kraken roll into 2026, it is time for the January update of the Strive for 95 points series.

The Kraken stumbled into December on a three-game skid to close November. They aimed to right the ship, but the turnaround took longer than expected. Seattle went 1-9-1 over an 11-game stretch, earning just three points. That tied the worst 11-game run in franchise history. The previous stretch came during the inaugural season from Feb. 14, 2022, through March 8, 2022.

Seattle opens January at home against the Nashville Predators, beginning the third of four straight back-to-back sets. The Kraken finally broke through with a second-leg back-to-back win on Dec. 23, the first time they had done that in more than a year and a half. They have also earned points in each of their last three back-to-backs, collecting four total points across those three games. That is a trend worth monitoring.

December recap​

There is no sugarcoating December. The losing streaks playfully dubbed Losing Streak Camille and Cynthia by the Sound Of Hockey Podcast were not kind to Seattle. As losses piled up, the Kraken slid down the standings and were tied for last in the NHL in points from Dec. 19 through Dec. 21.

Panic followed, much like the elves in my favorite Christmas movie when Santa was seen (bonus points if you can name the movie). In that moment, Steve steadied the North Pole and guided them through a Level 3 gift wrap incision. The Kraken did the same, closing December on a 4-0-1 run and climbing from last place to two points out of a wild-card spot with games in hand. By points percentage, Seattle currently ranks eighth in the Western Conference and would hold the final wild-card position. The playoff race is very much alive.

A closer look at December shows only one truly poor outing, a 9-4 loss to Edmonton. Seattle has historically struggled against the Oilers, holding a 4-13-1 lifetime record in the series. Teams have off nights, and this one fits that category. Outside of that game, the Kraken went 5-6-1 over their other 12 contests.

Head coach Lane Lambert emphasized defensive structure, and it showed. Excluding empty-net goals, all 12 of those games were decided by a single goal. Seattle lost more than it won, but consistently played tight, competitive hockey. That approach should translate over the long haul and turn close games into points more often than it did in December.

Between the pipes​

Seattle received strong goaltending throughout December. The lack of wins was not the fault of Joey Daccord or Philipp Grubauer.

Grubauer led the way with a .920 save percentage and a 2-3 record in five starts. Daccord posted a .908 save percentage with a 3-4-1 record. Both appeared in the nine-goal loss to Edmonton. If that game is excluded, Daccord’s save percentage improves to .926, while Grubauer’s rises to .935.

Joey Daccord

Philipp Grubauer

One of the biggest differences this season compared to previous years is consistency. The Kraken are playing the same style regardless of who is in net. That requires confidence in the goaltenders and a defensive structure that allows them to anticipate shots and manage rebounds.

Many believed Seattle should have bought out Grubauer’s contract during the offseason. Through the first half of the season, general manager Jason Botterill looks wise for holding onto him.

When asked by Darren Brown where Grubauer’s confidence level sits after a strong stretch, Grubauer said, “Just taking it one game at a time. Working with [goaltending coach Colin] Zulianello has been unbelievable. The support from the coaching staff is always huge.”

Target win percentages​

December’s target was 16 points. The Kraken fell short, earning 11 points. They now need to make up five points over the next three and a half months.

This update includes games through Feb. 5 due to the Olympic break from Feb. 6 through Feb. 24. The March update will cover Feb. 25 through March 31. With the standings tightly packed, the playoff cut line could fall below 95 points, but the Strive for 95 pace remains the benchmark. Below are the updated target win percentages needed to maintain a 95-point pace.

Updated tiers​

This season has made tiering difficult with so many teams clustered together. In the Eastern Conference, every team sits above .500 and within six points of a playoff spot. The Western Conference shows slightly more separation, though much of the conference remains tightly packed behind Colorado, Dallas and Minnesota.

Bolded teams are teams the Kraken play this month. ‘x2’ indicates the Kraken face that team twice. Up and down arrows show teams that moved between tiers.

Notes on tier movement​

Playoff Bound tier​

Minnesota moves into this tier. The Wild made headlines by trading for superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes. Since the trade, Minnesota is 6-1-1 and holds the third-best record in the NHL. Colorado and Dallas sit atop the league, completing a Central Division podium sweep.

Bubble tier​

Buffalo joins the bubble after a 10-game winning streak to close December, moving into the final wild-card spot in the East. New Jersey welcomed back Jack Hughes from a hand injury on Dec. 21, but the Devils have failed to gain traction, going 1-3-1 since his return. Nashville enjoyed an outstanding month, collecting 10 wins, moving them to just one point outside a wild-card spot. Calgary also moves up a tier after finding its stride, rattling off nine wins in December. Calder Trophy runner-up and former Everett Silvertips goaltender Dustin Wolf started eight of those nine victories.

Tanker tier​

Tanker teams: Chicago and Winnipeg slid to the bottom after a brutal December. The two teams combined for only five wins in December, two by the Jets and three by the Blackhawks. Chicago and Winnipeg both posted a .286 points percentage for the month of December.

January and early February breakdown​

With the standings bunched, most of Seattle’s upcoming opponents fall into the bubble tier. That group accounts for 16 of the Kraken’s next 19 games. Seattle faces two Playoff Bound teams, hosting Minnesota before a road trip to Carolina. The lone tanker matchup is the season’s second meeting with Vancouver on Friday.

The Kraken closed December with a shootout loss to Vancouver in the second leg of a back-to-back. The Canucks did not look sharp in that game. Coincidentally, the Jan. 2 rematch also comes at the end of a back-to-back, giving Seattle a chance to respond after the shootout loss.

Of the 19 games leading into the Olympic break, Seattle plays 10 on the road and nine at home. A six-game homestand from Jan. 19 through Jan. 29 ties for the longest of the season. January is the busiest month on the schedule with 17 games. Including early February games, the Kraken face four back-to-back sets and will need continued strong play from their goaltending tandem.

The overall target for the month is 24 points in 19 games. Tier-specific targets break down as follows:

• Playoff Bound: two points in two games
• Bubble: 20 points in 16 games
• Tanker: two points in one game

There’s always time for a bow​

With the named losing streaks (hopefully) in the rearview mirror and a five-game point streak in hand, the Kraken look to start the new year on the right note against Nashville at Climate Pledge Arena.

As the league approaches the Olympic break, this stretch could shape Seattle’s approach to the March 6 trade deadline. With a three-week pause, general managers will have time to assess whether to buy, sell, or stand pat. If the Kraken remain in a playoff position or within striking distance, limited activity makes sense. A slide could push Seattle into seller territory. As John Barr recently pointed out in a Kraken Roundtable on the trade deadline, “If an opportunity arises to add a player like Jordan Kyrou, someone who fills a clear need and has meaningful term left on his contract, the Kraken should absolutely jump at it.”

The second half of the season sets up compelling storylines as separation in the standings begins to take shape. With games in hand and a track record of tight, competitive play, a playoff spot remains a realistic outcome for the Kraken.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments 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.

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The post Strive for 95 (points) – January Update appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/01/strive-for-95-points-january-update/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Three Takeaways – Kraken back in playoff spot after 4-1 win over Predators

Just two weeks ago, many Seattle Kraken fans had undoubtedly jumped ship on the 2025-26 team’s hopes of making a playoff run. After a 1-9-1 stretch, Seattle had nose-dived to the basement of the Pacific Division standings and was losing, losing, losing toward throwing in the towel and scuttling another campaign.

But oh, what a difference two weeks can make. Since a 4-2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Dec. 18, the Kraken have completely reversed course, going 5-0-1 in their six games since, racking up 11 points and jumping all the way back into the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, with games in hand on almost everyone.

While their grip on that playoff position is extremely tenuous—with four teams within one point of Seattle—the Kraken are also just five points back of the first-place Edmonton Oilers and have played three fewer games.

Seattle arrived in this surprising position thanks to its latest win, an impressive 4-1 victory over a surging Nashville Predators squad at Climate Pledge Arena on New Year’s Day.

Here are Three Takeaways from that Kraken win over the Predators.

Takeaway 1: Philipp Grubauer does it again​

I’m running out of ways to write about how awesome Philipp Grubauer has been, but he was outstanding again on Thursday, earning second-star honors with 24 saves and improving to 7-3-1 with a 2.32 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. The shot volume wasn’t especially high, but the number of acrobatic, shouldn’t-be-bending-that-way stops was elevated, particularly in the third period.

“Grubi’s been an absolute rock in net,” Matty Beniers said. “No easy goals, and even their one goal [tonight] is an absolute rip top shelf from walking down the slot. And he made a couple saves that he’s [maybe] not supposed to be making out there tonight. Every time he’s been in, he’s been awesome.”

The Kraken came roaring out of the gates and built a rare three-goal lead in the first period, but unsurprisingly allowed momentum to shift in the second when Nashville woke up and began dictating play. The one Nashville goal Beniers referenced was scored by Roman Josi at 17:34 of the second period, cutting the lead to 3-1.

Then, with one minute left in the frame, a Nashville 3-on-2 rush turned into a 3-on-1 when Vince Dunn tripped over the blue line. Michael Bunting coasted down to the bottom of the right circle uncontested and fired a shot that Grubauer calmly kicked aside.

It certainly wasn’t his most spectacular save of the night—those came later during multiple net-front scrambles in the third—but it may have been the most important. Had that gone in, the Predators would have entered the third period brimming with belief. Instead, Grubauer sent his team to the room with a two-goal cushion, then dazzled again in the final frame.

“That was really one of the only great chances I think they had. It’s not like they had that much,” Grubauer said, deflecting credit to Seattle’s defensive play. “I think we controlled them really well, but yeah, for sure, if that goes back in, it’s 3-2, it’s a completely different game.”

Takeaway 2: A fun first period​

Based on what I heard from Nashville coach Andrew Brunette, starts have been an issue for the Predators—an affliction that has also plagued the Kraken at various stretches in their history. Brunette definitely did not like his team’s start on Thursday, as Seattle came out flying and took advantage of a heavy-legged team playing the second night of a back-to-back with travel after a 4-2 win in Vegas on Wednesday.

While Nashville searched for its footing, the Kraken pounced, scoring three goals in the first 11 minutes and providing all the offense Grubauer would ultimately need.

The first and third goals came from Matty Beniers, whom the Kraken badly need to start filling the net. The second goal was scored by Jamie Oleksiak following a dominant shift from the fourth line (more on them in Takeaway 3). Kraken games have been so tight this season, the three-goal first period felt downright foreign.

The second and third periods were far from perfect, but Seattle did what it needed to do to protect the lead and secure the two points.

“We’re usually in the tight, one-goal kind of games,” coach Lane Lambert said. “To build a bit of a lead was fine. What I felt like is—and you see it throughout the league—is when teams get two- and three-goal leads, the other teams come and there isn’t anything to lose at that point for them. And so this is why two- and three-goal leads are disappearing again.

“But I thought our commitment level was high, and we did a lot of the things that we needed to do. There was probably a couple of moments in that game that are really good teaching moments for us when we do get in the lead. You can’t change the way you play just because you’re in the lead.”

Takeaway 3: That fourth line, though​

Has Jacob Melanson’s arrival on the fourth line helped turn things around for this team? It sounds like hyperbole, but he and his fellow former Coachella Valley Firebirds—Ben Meyers and Ryan Winterton—have been relentless every time they’ve hit the ice.

“They’ve been awesome,” Beniers said. “Every night, honestly, they’ve been creating chances, O-zone shift after O-zone shift, setting up the next line for good O-zone shifts. So they’ve been awesome, bringing energy, physicality, kind of everything you want in your fourth line. So, yeah, I can’t say enough great things about them.”

The Dirty Birds, as I’ve begun calling them, even earned additional ice time in this game, with all three skating north of 11 minutes, and they generated a goal for the second straight contest.

The Oleksiak goal itself won’t make highlight reels, but the shift that led to the eventual game-winner was fourth-line bliss in its purest form. Here it is in all its glory.

The speed, the hitting, the forechecking, the shooting, the cycling, the grinding… it’s just… [begins shedding tears]… it’s so beautiful.

Huge kudos also to Oleksiak, who was an absolute warrior, scoring the big goal and later painfully blocking a Nic Hague slap shot in the third period that sent him to the locker room briefly before returning for his final three shifts.

“I think that’s one of the things that I enjoyed most about the game was just our commitment level to paying the price and working for each other,” Lambert said. “And definitely, Oleksiak did a great job of that, and so did [Ryan] Lindgren [Eeli] Tolvanen, and the list goes on and on in terms of the blocks.”

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 [email protected].

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The post Three Takeaways – Kraken back in playoff spot after 4-1 win over Predators appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/02/kraken-defeat-predators-regain-playoff-position/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Down on the Farm – Mid-season Kraken prospect ranking

Welcome to “Down on the Farm,” your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. This week, we’ll have a quick news check-in and schedule update from the World Junior Championship and a mid-season update to my personal Kraken prospect ranking. After that, we’ll pass along other news from around the organization, weekly and season-to-date data updates, all-shifts videos, Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week, a preview of the week ahead, and more.

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

Mid-season Kraken prospect ranking​

The criteria I have adopted for considering a Kraken organization player a “prospect” are: (1) the player must have Calder Trophy eligibility, and (2) the player must be under 25 years old. The former criterion eliminated Ryan Winterton from the list (he would have figured in around No. 10), and the latter criterion eliminated goalie Victor Ostman. (That said, I think I may extend goalie eligibility to include the age-25 season moving forward, since goalies often develop more slowly and a player like Ostman still has a realistic shot to play meaningful NHL minutes.)

The column marked PS Rank is my 2025 preseason rank for the player, which can be found (along with John Barr’s preseason rank) here. The column marked “diff” represents the difference in rank between the two time periods. While many players held their stock steady, there were a few who have significantly helped or hurt their stock over the last few months.

For me, there seems to be a top-9 tier, a top-18 tier, and then another tier that reaches to about 26. I wouldn’t put too much stock in the order beyond that.

Kraken prospect risers​

Jagger Firkus has stepped up as a key playdriver at the AHL level. In so doing, he has proven that his size won’t hold him back in what might be the second-best professional league in the world. Firkus will need to be even more locked in on his details if he is to make the jump to the NHL level, but it’s looking more and more likely to me that the AHL’s U23 goal-scoring and total points leader will get at least an audition as a top-nine scoring winger in the NHL. (One could make a very reasonable case Firkus should still be behind Miettinen and Villeneuve in this ranking, but his skill level is tantalizing for a Kraken team in desperate need of offense.)

Jacob Melanson is a bit of a wild card at No. 10 on this list. His ceiling is relatively lower than many who follow him, but I elevated him because I believe he has demonstrated an NHL-competent checking-line skill set, and there is a clear path to consistent NHL minutes in the short to medium term for him in Seattle. He’s not a traditional “top-10 prospect,” but I think he deserves the placement with his play since being called up.

Nathan Villeneuve is cut from the same cloth as Melanson, but brings more offensive skill. After holding his own in the AHL playoffs at 18 years old last year and lighting it up offensively in the OHL this season, I’m about as confident as I could be that Villeneuve will be a productive NHL player within the next two years.

Oscar Fisker Mølgaard is not a “big riser,” ascending only one spot, but I feel compelled to note how impressive his skill game has been at the AHL level. He can transport the puck with speed and defeat defenses with puckhandling and precision passes. Layer this on top of his heady two-way play, and his size and physicality are the only developmental milestones left. The transition to North American play has been seamless.

Kaden Hammell has been a low-key revelation, with his physical two-way game and nose for the goal from the blue line translating to the professional game better than many of his more highly drafted teammates. He still may top out as a quality AHL player, but he has risen to a level of all-around professional competence quickly enough that you have to wonder if there could be more.

In just a few months, Loke Krantz has ascended from obscure seventh-round pick to professional player in the SHL and member of the Sweden WJC team. Krantz will have to start paying off those coaching evaluations with production as he continues through this season and into next, but the leap in his potential prospect stature is undeniable.

#SeaKraken prospect Loke Krantz scored his first SHL goal today and it was a beauty. pic.twitter.com/YX9cYTSm3N

— Deep Sea Hockey (@DeepSeaHockey) November 21, 2025

Kraken prospect fallers​

Carson Rehkopf has hit an AHL stumbling block similar to the challenge David Goyette encountered in his first professional season. Rehkopf has not found the space to use his offensive skills in the same way he did at the junior level, and without that goal-scoring production, is he a net positive? His discipline and defensive play are suspect, and there are flaws in his transition game. Rehkopf still flashes skill in the offensive zone, and he is young, but we’ll need to see him getting to scoring areas and converting more regularly by this time next season, or the concerns may get louder. You could say the same things about Eduard Sale.

I do not view Caden Price as a “disappointment” in his first few professional months, but I may have been a bit too aggressive in ranking him within the top 10 to begin the season. Since the end of last year’s WJC, Price has not contributed much offensively. I thought that might rebound, but we haven’t seen it yet this season. I still like the base of skills and athleticism he brings, but he’s a borderline NHLer if he can’t find his offense again.

Lukas Dragicevic has struggled defensively in his initial exposure to pro hockey. One could say the same thing about Tyson Jugnauth (to an extent), but Jugnauth has been able to translate his offensive game and make an impact there. Dragicevic, who is also an offense-first defenseman, hasn’t found the scoresheet with any regularity either. Like Rehkopf, the question for Dragicevic is whether he can take the adversity and respond over the next year-plus.

What do you think? Who should be higher or lower? Let us know in the comments below.

Updates from the World Junior Championship​

As we noted last week, four Kraken prospects are on rosters at the 2026 World Junior Championship: Jakub Fibigr for Czechia, Loke Krantz for Sweden, and Juilius Miettinen and Kim Saarinen for Finland. This is a smaller group than Kraken fans have come to expect in recent years, but the tournament has been very interesting for draftniks, with a number of high-end 2026 NHL Draft prospects playing—and playing well.

After an off-day on New Year’s Day, the tournament begins its elimination stage on Friday. Friday begins with Denmark and Germany playing to avoid relegation to the IA level. (Norway will replace the loser of that game after winning gold at the IA level earlier this month.) After that, Krantz and Sweden take on Latvia, and Fibigr and Czechia take on Switzerland. Miettinen and Finland will then square off with the United States in a 2025 final rematch at 3:00 pm PT. Canada will take on Slovakia to close out the night. Play resumes with the semifinals on Sunday.

The quarterfinal games will be broadcast on NHL Network. ESPN+ will carry the relegation game and also the Czechia-Switzerland quarterfinal.

Jakub Fibigr | D | Team Czechia (WJC)​

Fibigr has been very solid, averaging around 22 or 23 minutes per game as a top-four defenseman and top penalty-kill option for Czechia. Fibigr has also worn the “A” for a team with gold medal aspirations.

Julius Miettinen | F | Team Finland (WJC)​

Miettinen missed the first game of the tournament when he was not registered to Team Finland’s roster due to an “operational error.” Since then, Miettinen has taken up the mantle of first-line center and team leader. In Finland’s most recent game against Canada, Miettinen wore the “C” for Team Finland with captain Aron Kiviharju out of the lineup. His 20:22 of ice time was tops among Finnish forwards in that game. Miettinen has two points (one goal and one assist) in three games.

Kim Saarinen | G | Team Finland (WJC)​

Saarinen has not seen the ice since pre-tournament action, yielding all of Finland’s starts to Petteri (“Mr. Showtime”) Rimpinen. At this point, it seems likely it will be Rimpinen’s crease for as long as Finland stays alive. Though not unexpected, it is still mildly disappointing that we will not get to see Saarinen on this stage.

Loke Krantz | F | Team Sweden (WJC)​

Krantz has been active for three of Sweden’s four games and registered his tournament-high 8:03 TOI in Sweden’s most recent contest against the United States. Krantz is still looking for his first WJC scoring point.

Highlights of the week​

The Kraken reassigned forward Jani Nyman to the Coachella Valley Firebirds earlier this week, and Li’l Jani drew into his first AHL contest of the season on Wednesday. In some respects, Nyman’s first game back in a heavy-usage role was a struggle (he was a minus-5), but he was able to finish on the power play in classic Nyman fashion.

JANI NYMANNNNNNNN EVERYBODY!!!

4-2 pic.twitter.com/9SWDbGfTj7

— Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) January 1, 2026

Miettinen has the only Seattle Kraken prospect goal at the 2026 WJC thus far, but it was beauty. It came in transition off a feed from Everett Silvertips teammate Matias Vanhanen.

JULIUS MIETTINEN, HOW DO YA DO!

The @WHLsilvertips star records a beauty on New Year’s Eve at the #WorldJuniors. @SeattleKraken | #SeaKraken

pic.twitter.com/KMAggoStzD

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) January 1, 2026

Kraken prospects data update​

Andrei Loshko scored his first two goals of the season in the last week, and he added an assist for good measure. In three games he bested his point total from his 20 other games this season. He was a strong contender for Player of the Week.

Logan Morrison, 23, is tied with Jagger Firkus for the fourth-most goals in the AHL among all players under 25 years old.

Semyon Vyazovoi had a very strong week, including a shootout win in which he stopped 45 of 46 shots on goal. His sterling .948 save percentage across two starts was enough to snag him Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week honors.

Visa Vedenpaa earned his first Liiga start since Nov. 15, but struggled a bit, saving only 24 of 28 shots on goal.

Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week tracker​

3: Jagger Firkus

2: Julius Miettinen, Kim Saarinen, Semyon Vyazovoi

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

Previewing the week ahead​

We’ll give our Deep Sea Hockey Game of the Week to the WJC quarterfinal matchup between Sweden and Latvia. Sweden’s Krantz feels due for a breakthrough.

Tracking 2026 NHL Draft prospects: Tomas Chrenko​

Tomas Chrenko is a Slovak center who has played the better part of two seasons for HK Nitra in the top-level Slovak professional league. Many draft prognosticators have him as a late first-round pick in June’s draft, though that projection may be trending upward after Chrenko’s WJC performance. Through the round-robin stage, he leads the tournament with five goals.

Recent prospect updates​

December 26, 2025: Watching Kraken prospects at the 2026 World Junior Championship

December 20, 2025: Resetting Seattle Kraken draft capital after the Mason Marchment trade

December 13, 2025: Ryan Jankowski talks Kraken prospects

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

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

November 21, 2025: Blake Fiddler brings intriguing tools

November 15, 2025: Firkus steps forward for Firebirds

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

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.

Read more from Curtis

The post Down on the Farm – Mid-season Kraken prospect ranking appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/02/down-on-the-farm-mid-season-kraken-prospect-ranking/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Kraken forwards Eeli Tolvanen and Kaapo Kakko named to Team Finland for Olympics

Seattle Kraken forwards Eeli Tolvanen and Kaapo Kakko will be heading to the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games as members of Team Finland.

“It would mean a lot,” Tolvanen said Wednesday, before the official announcement was made, when asked what it might mean to be included on the roster. “I mean, I feel like everybody dreams of playing in the Olympics, or even playing for their country, and I think I’m not different on that. Every time I have the chance to represent my country, I would love to.”

After scoring a career-high 23 goals for Seattle last season, the 26-year-old Tolvanen is in the midst of another strong campaign. He’s second on the team in scoring with 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists) in 38 games and has earned the trust of coach Lane Lambert, being deployed in all situations as one of Seattle’s top wingers.

A passionate hockey nation, Finnish players are known for responsible, two-way hockey, and Tolvanen is an embodiment of that ethos. His style of play should serve Finland well in a tournament that will feature the best players in the world, with NHLers returning for the first time since 2014 in Sochi.

“I just think he does things really correctly for the most part in all different areas,” Lambert said. “We started trying to maybe not have him on both special teams, but we put him on the penalty kill, and he’s done a really good job there. His forechecking is good in that when he gets in on the forecheck, he can create separation. He’s done that a number of times, and he’s committed. He blocks shots, he hits, he’s played very well. He’s earned the ice time he’s been given.”

This will not be Tolvanen’s first time representing his country or even playing in the Olympics. He competed in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games before becoming a full-time NHLer, posting nine points (three goals, six assists) in five games, including a four-point game against Germany. He also played twice at the IIHF World Junior Championship and twice at the IIHF Men’s World Championship, including last summer, when he recorded nine points (7-2=9) in eight games.

“It’s something that I think Finns take really seriously as fans and as players too, and everybody wants to play for the national team,” Tolvanen said. “I feel I’ve just had good success lately in the World Championship and everywhere they put the team together.”

As for Kakko, the 24-year-old former No. 2 overall draft pick has had much of his season derailed by injuries but has been returning to form in recent weeks, skating on Seattle’s top line with Jordan Eberle and Matty Beniers.

This will be Kakko’s first Olympics, though he too is no stranger to international competition. Kakko has represented Finland on several occasions, including at the WJC in 2019, two appearances at the World Championship, and he was a bottom-of-the-lineup participant in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off. At 4 Nations, Kakko, played two games and posted one assist.

Philipp Grubauer excited for the opportunity​

Goaltender Philipp Grubauer is the only other Kraken player who has been named to an Olympic roster so far. He was one of the first six players selected for Team Germany during the summer and has since put up stellar numbers in a No. 2 role with Seattle this season, posting a 6-3-1 record with a 2.44 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.

“It’s obviously a huge honor,” Grubauer said. “It’s something I grew up watching because we didn’t have the NHL to watch, obviously, and it’s a huge honor to represent Germany at that stage.”

Grubauer, who hails from Rosenheim in southern Germany, said he expects a large contingent of family to make the trip to Milan for the Games, noting it’s a relatively easy drive.

“They already planned it,” Grubauer said. “I think it’s only like a four-hour drive for them, so a bunch of family members are coming. It’s going to be nice, because we always vacation down there [in northern Italy]… It’s really familiar.”

—

There is also a chance Kraken prospect Oscar Fisker Mølgaard receives an Olympic nod for Team Denmark, though their roster has not yet been announced.

There was some chatter that Brandon Montour had an outside shot at making Team Canada, but the defenseman—currently out of the Kraken lineup with an upper-body injury—unsurprisingly did not make the cut for Canada’s stacked roster.

Women’s Team USA roster announced​

Meanwhile, on the women’s side, four Seattle Torrent players were officially named to Team USA on Friday, with captain Hilary Knight set to lead the team in her fifth and final Olympics. Forward Alex Carpenter and defender Cayla Barnes will each play in their third respective Olympics, while 24-year-old forward Hannah Bilka will make her Olympic debut.

The post Kraken forwards Eeli Tolvanen and Kaapo Kakko named to Team Finland for Olympics appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/0...apo-kakko-named-to-team-finland-for-olympics/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Three Takeaways – Kraken bend but don’t break in Vancouver

It was not the prettiest of victories, but the Seattle Kraken managed to grind out a 4–3 shootout win in Vancouver to sweep another back-to-back. Yes, you read that right: shootout, back‑to‑back, and win in the same sentence.

The Kraken opened the scoring with the most unlikely of goal scorers. Cale Fleury, who had been a healthy scratch for the first 30 games of the season and hadn’t scored since November, 2019, uncorked a bomb to net his first goal as a Seattle Kraken.

1-0 #SeaKraken

Cale Fleury with his first goal with Seattle! pic.twitter.com/C8ibMEhDn4

— Alison (@AlisonL) January 3, 2026

The Kraken added a second goal on a wild power‑play sequence when Jordan Eberle found Chandler Stephenson on a rush chance down low halfway through the second. That goal came moments after Vancouver had flubbed a 2-on-0 opportunity at the other end, failing to put a shot toward Joey Daccord.

The fourth line chipped in again at a critical moment. Late in the second, after the Canucks had pulled within one, Jacob Melanson made a sharp defensive‑zone play to spring Ryan Winterton through the neutral zone. Winterton streaked down the boards, drove low, and eventually found Ben Meyers, who out‑hustled a pair of Canucks to bury a perfect feed for Seattle’s third goal of the night. It’s exactly the kind of play we’ve come to expect from this trio, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

KRAKEN GOAL!!!! The 4th line comes through again. Melanson-Winterton to Ben Meyers. Huge goal in the final minutes of the 2nd period. #SeaKraken up 3-1. pic.twitter.com/Co6lxewnfh

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 3, 2026

Vancouver answered with a power‑play goal late in the second to pull within one, then tied it in the third on a Linus Karlsson backhander that forced the overtime.

The game would eventually land in a shootout where Vancouver’s first three shooters could not convert while Freddy Gaudreau and Kaapo Kakko fell short for Seattle. That would set up Matty Beniers as the final shooter of the night.

Matty. Beniers. pic.twitter.com/DTApgyjmw9

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 3, 2026

There were long stretches where it felt like the Canucks were dictating play with sustained zone time, but as we’ve seen time and time again this season, the Kraken’s defensive structure kept them afloat long enough to steal the win.

Takeaway 1: A shootout win, in this economy?​

Before Friday night, the Kraken were 0–4 in shootouts this season, and their shooters were converting at just 16.7 percent, well below the league average of 31.9 percent. It was starting to feel like simply reaching a shootout meant a loss was incoming.

Speaking to the media after the game, head coach Lane Lambert admitted they needed to shake things up: “This is no disrespect to any of the guys that have gone previously, we just haven’t been able to win one. So we had to switch it up, and we did.”

Never a doubt!!! pic.twitter.com/Z9jkrTx5Uy

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 3, 2026

Matty Beniers entered the night 1‑for‑10 in his career and hadn’t taken a shootout attempt in the previous four shootout games this season. His last and only shootout goal came back in December, 2023.

Takeaway 2: Bend, don’t break​

As mentioned above, Vancouver controlled massive stretches of play with sustained pressure in the Kraken zone. While Seattle would have preferred not to surrender the tying goal in the third, it could have been far worse given how much time the Canucks spent buzzing in the Kraken zone. And yet, the Kraken actually out‑shot Vancouver 28–23. As we’ve talked about all season, this team is perfectly comfortable in tight, low‑event games, and Friday night was another classic example of what this 2025–26 Kraken group is all about.

Takeaway 3: Contributions of Shane Wright​

Going a little off the board here, but Shane Wright deserves recognition for two specific plays. He wasn’t on the scoresheet and has struggled offensively of late, with just one shot in each of his last four games and no goals since Dec. 16. He’s well off last season’s pace in both goals and assists, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t contributing.

His first impact play came on Fleury’s goal, where he planted himself net‑front and created the perfect screen. The first goal is always huge, and I’m not sure that puck goes in if Shane isn’t on top of the crease stirring things up.

WE HAVE A #SEAKRAKEN GOAL. Cale Fleury with an absolute bomb. Kraken take a 1-0 lead with less than two minutes left in the first. pic.twitter.com/iprzoiM7mt

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 3, 2026

The second contribution was arguably a turning point. With the game tied and Seattle on the power play, Ryker Evans committed a brutal turnover that led to the aforementioned 2‑on‑0 shorthanded opportunity for Vancouver. Wright never gave up on the play, hustling back to get his stick on Kiefer Sherwood’s pass to Drew O’Connor, who had an empty net waiting. The Kraken scored 25 seconds later.

KRAKEN GOAL!!!! what a sequence of events…almost a disaster. Stephenson will eventually score on a great feed from Eberle. #SeaKraken up 2-0. pic.twitter.com/z4uy652EUG

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 3, 2026

You never know how the game unfolds if O’Connor buries that chance, and it’s a perfect example of how the little details can have dramatic impacts on a game.

The Kraken have points in seven straight games (6-0-1) and now sit in the first wild‑card spot, just two points back of the third‑place Anaheim Ducks with two games in hand. There’s still a long road ahead, but you have to like how this team is playing right now. Seattle gets two days off before heading to Calgary on Monday to begin the busiest stretch of the season.

—

One note, although Jared McCann was on the bench throughout, he did not play the last eight minutes of regulation or overtime, and lines were clearly getting shuffled to work around him for the late stages of the game. He came out for a twirl during one of the late TV timeouts, appearing to test out the leg that has been causing him problems, but then we didn’t see him take another shift. His status will be something to monitor moving forward.

The post Three Takeaways – Kraken bend but don’t break in Vancouver appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/03/three-takeaways-kraken-bend-but-dont-break-in-vancouver/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

A case for the Pacific Northwest to host the World Junior Championship

The holiday season winding down means the World Junior Championship is also soon coming to a close.

The IIHF World Junior Championship is an annual, two-week tournament featuring the world’s premier under-20 players. Many current and former NHLers have become household names after playing in this event, ringing especially true for Kraken captain Jordan Eberle.

Four Seattle Kraken prospects have participated in this year’s tournament: Julius Miettinen and Kim Saarinen for Finland, Loke Krantz for Sweden, and Jakub Fibigr for Czechia.

While the participating players have been showing out for their home nations, things haven’t been going swimmingly in the Twin Cities when it comes to attendance.

Group A, which included the U.S., played at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, home of the Minnesota Wild. Canada’s Group B competed at 3M Arena in Minneapolis, home of the NCAA’s Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Games involving the United States drew relatively strong crowds, averaging about 13,500 fans per game, but attendance for other nations has lagged. Some games have drawn just 28 percent of capacity, prompting online questions about the future of the event in the United States.

The U.S. has hosted the tournament three times since 2005, twice in Buffalo, N.Y., and once split between North Dakota and Minnesota.

The 2018 tournament in Buffalo saw Canada outdraw U.S. games at KeyBank Center, with the Canada–Sweden gold medal game the only contest to draw more than 10,000 spectators (not counting the USA–Canada outdoor game).

#WorldJuniors 12/26 Recap
3 – 2 (: 5,125 / 28.5%)
2 – 6 (: 2,935 / 28.6%)
3 – 6 (: 14,276 / 79.5%)
5 – 7 (: 5,502 / 53.6%)

12/27 Schedule:
v. – 2pm ET
v. – 4:30pm ET
v. – 6pm ET
v. – 8:30pm ET

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) December 27, 2025

#WorldJuniors 12/27 Recap
4 – 1 (: 3,702 / 20.6%)
1 – 2 (OT) (: 4,146 / 40.4%)
2 – 1 (: 13,984 / 77.9%)
2 – 7 (: 3,067 / 29.9%)

12/28 Schedule:
v. – 2pm ET
v. – 4:30pm ET

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) December 28, 2025

What might be contributing is the tournament being predominantly CHL-driven. In a historically college-dominated region like Minnesota, it might be difficult for local fans to keep track of all of the players and teams involved, since many top prospects play in Canadian markets with less U.S. media coverage.

No U.S. market will ever truly match the intensity and devotion of Canadian markets, which have hosted the tournament a record 17 times and will host two of the next three.

But if there’s a region in the U.S. with the junior hockey foothold and infrastructure to replicate that atmosphere, it’s Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, which has previously attempted to attract the tournament.

The U.S. won’t host the tournament again for at least three years, with host locations set through the 2028–29 season, which leaves ample time to begin building the case for the Pacific Northwest as the next host region.

The Seattle area venues​

There are many great venues in the region that could be enticing host sites. The obvious flagship would have to be Climate Pledge Arena in downtown Seattle (home of the Kraken and Torrent), which holds 17,151 spectators for hockey. It would bring in the NHL and WHL crowds, as the Seattle Thunderbirds called it home from 1989 to 2008, and the two local WHL teams have played each other there once a year for the last five years.

Typically, the host country’s group plays in the larger venue, with the other group playing in the secondary venue. The U.S. at CPA sure would be a sight to behold.

The two other WHL venues would offer similar amenities for the other group as well.

Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett is an unmatched setting for WHL games, with a seating capacity of 8,149. About 45 minutes north of Seattle, Silvertips fans consistently pack the arena during the season. Complete with deafening cowbells that add to the intimate experience, it’s a unique environment in which to watch a game.

Everett is also about an hour south of the Canadian border, well located to draw fans in the Vancouver metro area and beyond to make their way down.

There’s also a second ice rink attached to the arena that could be used for team practices.

Accesso ShoWare Center in Kent is another facility that could be used for the event. About 30 minutes south of Seattle, the Thunderbirds always have the venue rocking no matter the year.

The horseshoe-like footprint of ShoWare might make it challenging for visiting fans to maneuver, but given its proximity to Sea-Tac Airport, it would offer added ease of access for visiting fans and media flying in.

Practice venues include the aforementioned rink attached to Angel of the Winds Arena, Kraken Community Iceplex, and various other rinks throughout the Seattle metro area.

Other possible hosts​

The IIHF doesn’t strictly limit itself when it comes to proximity of the buildings used. The event usually stays within the same general region, but it does branch out from time to time and utilize venues that are farther away from each other. Right now, it’s in the Minneapolis–St. Paul region, with the two cities about 15 minutes apart, but in 2026, Edmonton and Red Deer, Alb. will share hosting duties despite being almost two hours apart.

Strong arguments also exist for other venues, such as Numerica Veterans Arena in Spokane or the Toyota Center in Kennewick. Both cities offer excellent facilities and top-tier fanbases who consistently show their support. There’s also a compelling case to include Portland, or even having the Rose City serve as the primary host city on its own, given its two venues and the strength of its fan base.

But Seattle and Everett makes the most sense. It would offer ease of coordination for the event, with other factors to consider like transportation accessibility, arena availability, and things to do in the area.

There are some challenges and work-arounds too with hosting a tournament like this. If done in an NHL city, often the NHL team goes on a prolonged road trip. The Wild had a seven-game road trip to accommodate the tournament this season. That would be something to consider for the Kraken.

But what do you think? Where would you like to see World Juniors games played if they came here?

The post A case for the Pacific Northwest to host the World Junior Championship appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/0...thwest-to-host-the-world-junior-championship/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Three Takeaways – Kraken ride huge third period to 5-1 win over Flames, now third place in Pacific

The Seattle Kraken continued their torrid play on Monday, riding another ho-hum 41-save performance by Philipp Grubauer and pulling away from the Calgary Flames in the third period for a 5-1 win. The victory came with some memorable moments and extended Seattle’s point streak to eight games (7-0-1) since the end of their 1-9-1 skid that spanned nearly a month.

Ironically, the last game of that painful stretch was a 4-2 loss to these same Calgary Flames on Dec. 18. But the Kraken won their next game against the San Jose Sharks two days later, and they haven’t looked back since.

Including that previous loss at Calgary, the Kraken had scored first in their last nine games before conceding the icebreaker to Adam Klapka on Monday. Still, the fourth line once again got things on track in the second period, and it was all uphill from there with five straight goals.

“We used everybody tonight, everybody contributed, and I thought our third period was outstanding,” coach Lane Lambert said. “We limited their scoring chances, and we capitalized on ours.”

Here are Three Takeaways from a convincing 5-1 Kraken win over the Flames.

Takeaway 1: Jacob Melanson gets his first NHL goal​

With the way that fourth line has been cooking, it was only a matter of time before Jacob Melanson got his first NHL goal. It came Monday in his fourth straight game with a point, following a great play by Ryan Winterton to get his own rebound off Dustin Wolf and—instead of shoveling it right back into the Calgary netminder—one-touching a cross-crease pass to Melanson at the backdoor.

MELLY CELLY!

The fourth line does it AGAIN, and this time, it's Jacob Melanson getting his FIRST NHL GOAL!

Nice play by Winterton to get his own rebound and send it across.

1-1 #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/DJmg7QhQFs

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 6, 2026

“Getting that first goal is unreal, and it’s cool that it came from ‘Wints,’ so it means a lot,” Melanson said. “We’re on the hunt, on the forecheck, and we reloaded well, and good things are going to come from us doing the right thing. So, I mean, we had a good reload, and ‘Winnie’ found me backdoor, which was nice to see.”

It was also a crucial goal in the game, because Seattle did not exactly dominate possession through the first two periods and allowed 31 shots on Philipp Grubauer by the time the second period horn sounded. But with Melanson scoring early in the frame at 2:17, Seattle just needed to get out of the period, and it would be a whole new game in the third.

“Second period, we were a little under the fire there, but we managed to get away and get out of that one with a tie,” Grubauer said. “And it was, I think, a phenomenal third period, different than the other night [against Nashville], for sure. We were giving them less time and space and didn’t give them time to make some plays. I thought that was incredible, and that’s how we need to play.”

Takeaway 2: A huge third period​

Coming out of the second intermission, this game felt like another down-to-the-wire barnburner. Instead, Seattle turned on the jets and took over, getting rewarded with both a game-winning goal from birthday boy Shane Wright at 1:57 of the frame and an insurance goal from Vince Dunn at 5:12.

WRIGHT AS RAIN! ️

Yet another impactful play by Ben Meyers, who makes a perfect saucer pass to Shane Wright, crashing the net for his first goal in eight games.

2-1 #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/vUnLCVMXwD

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 6, 2026

Remarkably, even when the fourth line isn’t technically “on the ice,” they still seem to make an impact lately. In this case, Ben Meyers got a rare shift with Wright and Jared McCann and showed his offensive prowess again, lofting a perfect saucer pass into a spot where only Wright could get to it. Wright had gotten behind Calgary’s defense, so all he had to do was skate into the pass and chip it over Wolf.

“[Meyers] had some open ice there, and I saw the D step up a little bit, so I thought I could find some room behind him,” Wright said. “And, I mean, he made an unbelievable pass.”

On a personal level for Wright, it was a big goal. He hadn’t scored in eight games and was without a point in five, despite playing on what could be a productive line with McCann and Berkly Catton.

Dunn’s goal three minutes later came off a beauty of a pass from Kaapo Kakko, who has also found his game since being elevated to a line with Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle. After Dunn scored what should have been the game-winner in overtime against Vancouver on Friday—only to have it negated by a Catton interference penalty—you could tell he was holding his breath to see if it counted when Beniers flattened Wolf a split second after the puck went in.

HE DUNN DID IT!

Perfect pass by Kaapo Kakko, and Vince Dunn snipes it past Dustin Wolf just before Beniers runs him over.

3-1 #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/3zQtPz7AK2

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 6, 2026

Freddy Gaudreau added an empty-netter at 17:25, Beniers cleaned up a McCann rebound just 14 seconds later, and the Kraken rode their high horse out of Calgary with two more points.

Takeaway 3: Kraken continuing to climb​

While the Kraken have been on fire, their Pacific Division counterparts have (almost) all been stumbling, making it the perfect time for Seattle to go on this run. Vegas has lost five straight, Edmonton has dropped its last two, and the Anaheim Ducks—who held first place for a good stretch of the season—have nosedived into a six-game losing streak.

The upshot is that with Seattle earning 15 out of a possible 16 points during this stretch, they’ve skyrocketed up the standings from last place in the division as recently as Dec. 21 to now third place. They also boast a points percentage good enough to actually sit ahead of Edmonton, who has played two more games, and just one point back of the Golden Knights for first place in the division. They will officially hit the halfway point of the season after Tuesday’s game against the Boston Bruins.

It’s all shocking when you consider how down and out this team felt just two weeks ago, but it’s also a stark reminder of how tight and tenuous the NHL standings are this season. The Kraken can’t stop winning now, or they’ll find themselves right back on the outside even faster than they climbed their way back in.

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 [email protected].

Read more from Darren

The post Three Takeaways – Kraken ride huge third period to 5-1 win over Flames, now third place in Pacific appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/05/kraken-defeat-flames-third-place-pacific/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

10 for 10: Seattle Kraken Games 31–40

The Seattle Kraken’s win against the Flames on Monday marked the 40th game of the season and therefore brings another installment of 10 for 10, where I go through 10 stats that add context and color to the Kraken’s season to date and how things are trending.

These last 10 games have been the Kraken’s best stretch of the season, which is a far cry from the doom‑and‑gloom 10‑for‑10 piece I wrote after Games 21 through 30 in the middle of December. This stretch began with a disappointing regulation loss, albeit a valiant effort, against the Colorado Avalanche back on Dec. 16.

Let’s get into it.

Data point 1: Grabbing points in the division​

The Kraken’s ascension back into the playoff picture wasn’t just the result of improved play; it was also well timed with stumbles from the teams they were chasing. On Dec. 15, at the 30‑game mark, the Kraken sat sixth in the Pacific Division. Today, they’re third and just one point behind the first‑place Vegas Golden Knights.

During this 10‑game stretch, the Kraken earned five regulation wins against division opponents, and with Monday’s win over Calgary, they have now defeated every Pacific Division team at least once. No other Pacific team has managed that so far this season.

Despite the recent run, the division remains extremely tight, with just three points separating first and sixth place.

Data point 2: Second game of a back‑to‑back​

The Kraken went 0‑12‑0 on the second night of back‑to‑backs last season. Zero points. Not even an overtime loss. Lane Lambert mentioned this in his initial press availability and emphatically stated it would improve.

Over the last 10 games, the Kraken had three back‑to‑backs and delivered five out of a possible six points in the second game of those sets.

Data point 3: Penalty kill improvement​

In Games 21–30, the penalty kill stood out like a sore thumb and plagued the team throughout that stretch. They made some tweaks, and over the last 10 games, the results have dramatically improved.

Data point 4: Scoring first​

I’ve mentioned the importance of scoring first several times this season. The Kraken are 15‑5‑3 when scoring first compared to 4‑9‑4 when allowing the first goal. They scored first in eight of the last 10.

Data point 5: Blocked shots​

One thing that stood out in the eye test over this stretch was the shot blocking, so naturally I dug into the numbers. The Kraken blocked an average of 18.4 shots per game, their highest average over any 10‑game stretch this season. They’ve been blocking a lot of shots all year, but this was another level.

Part of this is driven by the state of the game. When you score first, you lead more often, and when you lead in the third period, you naturally fall into a more defensive structure. That leads to more blocked shots as you close out games.

Data point 6: Expected goal differential vs. actual goal differential​

“The Kraken are getting lucky” has been a common narrative among the haters this season. People often cite expected‑goal models or the MoneyPuck “Deserve to Win O’Meter.” It’s something I’ve wanted to dig into more deeply, and I still plan to, but for now I put together a simple(ish) visual comparing expected goal differential to actual goal differential.

In short: anytime the X is below zero, the Kraken were expected to lose, where the colored bar represents the actual goal differential.

According to the chart, the Kraken should have lost six of their last eight games… but they won seven of their last eight and earned points in all of those. One might suggest luck, but I’d argue the Kraken do something unique that models underrepresent, such as a stronger defensive structure that invites more shot attempts against but limits dangerous ones.

Models are great and far more informative than most of the simple stats on NHL.com, but there are always outliers. This is no different than an undrafted player going on to play 1,000 NHL games. It challenges logic, but it still happens.

For the season, the Kraken have won 12 games they were “expected” to lose and lost five they were “expected” to win.

My hypothesis: the team plays distinctively differently when holding a lead, limiting high‑quality chances and giving goalies more opportunities to make saves. This inflates expected goals against while suppressing expected goals for. Combine that with strong goaltending, and you get the disproportionate goal differential. There’s more work to be done here, but this is my jumping‑off point.

Data point 7: Goaltending has been stellar​

I’m sure the analytics‑fluent crowd would prefer something like goals saved above expected, but for a host of reasons I’m keeping this simple. Since this 10‑game window began on Dec. 16, the goaltending has been outstanding from both Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord.

I really like the cadence of alternating every other game, and that should work well throughout January with so many one‑day‑or‑less breaks between games.

Data point 8: The 2021 NHL Draft class​

One of the most enjoyable developments over the last 10 games has been the Kraken’s fourth line. It has featured some combination of Ben Meyers, Tye Kartye, Ryan Winterton, and Jacob Melanson, with the Winterton/Meyers/Melanson trio sticking together for the last four games.

One goal in particular stood out: the Melanson‑to‑Winterton finish in the home game against Vancouver.

That got me thinking, both Winterton and Melanson were part of the Kraken’s inaugural 2021 draft class. So I looked into how that class stacks up league‑wide for this season.

The Kraken have the third‑most NHL games played by their 2021 draft class. That’s impressive on its own, but the context makes it even more so. Arizona had two first‑round picks and three second‑round picks. Carolina had no first‑round picks but three seconds and 13 total picks. The Kraken had just one pick in each of the seven rounds. It’s also worth noting that only one of the Arizona/Utah picks still plays for that organization, and two Carolina picks in the NHL are still Hurricanes, while all four of Seattle’s are still Kraken.

Most draft analysts have been high on Seattle’s draft classes from the start. We’re now seeing that materialize at the NHL level.

Data point 9: Return of the depth?​

Depth was a hallmark of the 2022–23 Kraken playoff team, and the KHN broadcast crew referenced it after Monday’s win over Calgary. Right now, contributions are coming from everywhere, and goals are coming from the most unlikely players. Ryan Lindgren, Cale Fleury, and Jacob Melanson each scored their first goals as Seattle Kraken during this stretch.

The Kraken still aren’t scoring a ton overall, but 16 unique goal scorers since Dec. 16 is the most in the league.

Data point 10: Points per game for Eeli Tolvanen​

The last player I want to highlight is Eeli Tolvanen, who, after a slower start, has been coming on strong. It was great to see him named to Finland’s Olympic team alongside teammate Kaapo Kakko.

Wrapping it up​

If the last 10‑for‑10 was about surviving the storm, this one is about what happens when the clouds finally break. The Kraken aren’t just banking points, they’re building an identity again. The defensive structure looks connected, the goaltending is giving them a chance every night, and the depth that defined their best hockey is resurfacing at exactly the right time.

There’s still plenty of season left, and the Pacific Division is tight enough that a single bad week can undo a lot of good. But for now, the Kraken have put themselves firmly back in the mix.

We’ll see where the next 10 games take us, but this stretch has reminded us that when this team is rolling, they can be a handful for anyone.

The post 10 for 10: Seattle Kraken Games 31–40 appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/06/10-for-10-seattle-kraken-games-31-40/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Three Takeaways – Berkly Catton scores first two NHL goals in 7-4 Kraken win over Bruins

…And in his 28th NHL game, Berkly Catton was officially off the schneid. The 19-year-old rookie connected with his teammates for his first and second career goals on Tuesday, helping the Seattle Kraken to a head-spinning 7-4 win over the Boston Bruins.

The victory extended Seattle’s win streak to four games (the win streak is hereby named Win Streak David, per the National Win Streak Service, named after David Pastrnak) and their point streak to nine games, improving to 8-0-1 over that stretch. It also meant they swept their third back-to-back in their four recent tries, picking up an almost unfathomable 15 of 16 possible points in those pairs of games.

The two teams ahead of the Kraken in the standings, Edmonton and Vegas, both won Tuesday. So, Seattle didn’t leapfrog into first place as they could have if those other teams lost, but they did hold serve and also gained two points of breathing room on fourth-place Los Angeles. It was a big win.

Here are Three Takeaways from a 7-4 Kraken win over the Bruins.

Takeaway 1: Catton’s big night​

For as good as Catton has been in his first NHL season, you just knew it was eating him up that he hadn’t put the puck in the net yet. After scoring a combined 92 goals in 125 games over his last two seasons in the WHL, and considering he’s been playing on good lines with good players throughout the season, it was shocking that he hadn’t even gotten a fluky one to go in.

That is, of course, until the dam finally broke for Catton on Tuesday.

At 2:48 of the second period, with a delayed penalty coming, Jared McCann fed Catton in the right circle off a rush. From a sharp angle, Catton let it rip. The puck pinballed off the inside of Jeremy Swayman’s blocker and in. Jubilation and relief swept across the young winger’s face as he celebrated with McCann, who Catton later referred to as a “mentor.”

BERKLYYYYYYYYYYY!

Berkly Catton FINALLY does it! With a delayed penalty coming, Jared McCann sets him up, and he rips it through Swayman.

Gotta love that smile! 1st career goal at long last.

2-1 #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/vGTX5iOPb0

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 7, 2026

“A lot of weight off the shoulders for sure,” Catton said. “I dreamed of that for a long time, so that was awesome… I kind of just blacked out there. I don’t even know where it went in, to be honest.”

“It’s the best,” McCann said. “I said ‘finally’ [when I celebrated with him]. He’s been working really hard, and we were due. Just keep plugging away. I’m really happy for him.”

Once he got the monkey off his back, what did Catton do? Score his second one, of course.

With the game seemingly out of reach for Boston—although it did get a hair close for comfort in the end—at 5-2, Catton came out with the second power-play unit. He made a ridiculous play to pass to Freddy Gaudreau at the blue line and then slice his way through four defenders, suddenly getting behind all of them at once. Gaudreau threaded a beautiful pass back to him, and Catton deked to his backhand and banked it off the post and in to make it 6-2.

BERKLY SCORES AGAIN!

Sick finish off Gaudreau's area pass to make it 6-2, but then Mason Lohrei just answered to make it 6-3 #SeaKraken. pic.twitter.com/E9AnaW0uxG

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 7, 2026

“I figured maybe if I get one, they would start to come a little bit more,” Catton said. “So, that one felt good too… Great pass by Freddy. He kind of gave me a breakaway, and I just got it up, and it went in.”

Coach Lane Lambert also had some nice words about Catton when I asked him what it meant to see his young rookie break through.

“I thought it was awesome,” Lambert said. “I’ve said a few times… that once he scores, I think he’ll score a few. Obviously, he scored another one tonight as well, beautiful goal, by the way, and it’s huge. He’s a well-liked teammate, he works, he’s learning, he’s growing. And I’ve said it many, many times, I love the way he wants the puck.”

Takeaway 2: Critical power-play goal​

Something that could get lost in the shuffle of everything that happened in this game is that it was anybody’s contest, tied 2-2, until the final two minutes of the second period. At that point, Jordan Eberle had scored on a 5-on-3, Catton had gotten his first, and Pastrnak had scored two bangers.

Wow, what a goal by David Pastrnak!

Tempers then flare after Ryker Evans throws him into the end boards.

1-1 #SeaKraken #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/hr69tPHKHc

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 7, 2026

The fourth line, which was altered for this game (more on that in the Bonus Takeaway), connected yet again when Tye Kartye found Ben Meyers for a bang-bang goal at 18:23 of the second to make it 3-2.

Then, with the clock winding down, McCann scored a critical buzzer-beater that I believe was the most important goal of the contest. With seven seconds left, McCann whistled a one-timer off the glass that nearly went all the way out of the offensive zone. But Vince Dunn saved it at the blue line and fed McCann again higher in the zone. This time, McCann’s shot was perfectly placed, and it appeared to beat the horn, even though the green end-of-period light had come on behind Swayman, not the red goal light.

MCCANN CAN!

It's a power-play goal with 0.5 seconds left on the clock! The green light came on, but the puck was already in. #SeaKraken take a 4-2 lead to the dressing room after 2 periods. pic.twitter.com/M7sdTUeOLw

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 7, 2026

Review showed that the puck crossed the line with 0.5 seconds left—a massive break for the Kraken that sent them to the room with a two-goal cushion.

“I saw the [green] light on, so I didn’t know if I got it in in time,” McCann said. “So I looked at the bench, and everybody’s like, kind of looking at me dumbfounded, and I don’t think they did, really, either. So, yeah, luckily it went in [in time].”

In the third, Seattle ran up the score enough that the Bruins’ late push was—albeit slightly scary—ultimately too little and too late.

Takeaway 3: The Kraken are a scoring machine​

The Kraken have been dumped on by many throughout this season for being one of the lower-scoring teams in the NHL, but if those naysayers watched only these last two games, they would think Seattle is an elite offensive club. In just over 24 hours, the Kraken racked up 12 goals in two contests after potting five in Calgary on Monday and then seven against Boston on Tuesday—the most they’ve scored in a game this season.

“Pucks are going in for us,” Lambert said. “I mean, we had some opportunities in those games when we were low scoring where we maybe couldn’t quite find the back of the net. But things are going in right now. Sometimes it has a way of ebbs and flows of the season, that kind of thing.”

Added McCann: “It was kind of a run-and-gun type of game tonight, not something we’re used to kind of playing. We showed that we could score goals, but we know we can be a bit better defensively.”

It was a nice stat-padding night for a lot of players, with Kaapo Kakko getting two goals and an assist, Catton scoring twice, McCann posting a goal and an assist, and Vince Dunn and Matty Beniers each recording two assists.

I do want to ring a very small alarm bell, though, related to that last comment from McCann. Sometimes when a defense-first team suddenly has a big offensive outburst, it can lead to bad habits and cracks in structure. The Kraken have gotten to this point by playing “the right way,” so look for them to get back to that against an outstanding Minnesota Wild team on Thursday.

Bonus Takeaway: Kartye returns, fourth line changed​

Eeli Tolvanen was a late scratch due to illness, replaced in the lineup by Kartye, who had been a healthy scratch for three games. Considering how well the trio of Ryan Winterton, Meyers, and Jacob Melanson had been clicking, I was surprised—and frankly didn’t like—that Lambert chose to move Winterton up the lineup instead of keeping that line together and slotting Kartye into Tolvanen’s spot.

But to Lambert’s credit, the fourth line once again came through, and it was Kartye who picked up the assist on the goal.

“I liked Tye tonight,” Lambert said. “The hard decision [to scratch Kartye] came [a week] ago. I thought he played really well in Anaheim, I thought he played well in LA, and then we had some numbers, so he came out of the lineup. It wasn’t like he was playing poorly. And him and Meyers and Melanson were playing well in those games too, so I put that line back together. I just thought Winterton was a better fit to go up there with [Chandler] Stephenson and playing sort of a top-six role that plays against the Pastrnak line.”

Lambert could have even tougher decisions coming soon, if Tolvanen comes back next game and Jaden Schwartz is also ready to go.

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 [email protected].

Read more from Darren

The post Three Takeaways – Berkly Catton scores first two NHL goals in 7-4 Kraken win over Bruins appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/07/kraken-defeat-bruins-berkly-catton-first-goal/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

The Current: Close games and goalie gear

As the PWHL season marches on, now almost a third of the way through the season, it’s becoming clear that the vibe of the Seattle Torrent fandom is fun and whimsical. Yes, the fans enjoy high quality hockey and will cheer on the team no matter what, but they are too busy exchanging trinkets during intermissions and kissing anytime they get on the twins to be taking things too seriously. I love it, hockey is a game, after all.

International Updates​

USA Hockey announced their Olympic roster, and four Torrent players made the cut: Hilary Knight, who will be headed to her fifth Games, Alex Carpenter, Cayla Barnes, and Hannah Bilka who will be making her Olympic debut. Seattle has the second-most US Olympians on their roster; only Minnesota has more. Aneta Tejralová, as expected, was named to the Czechia Olympic roster. Canada’s roster announcement is expected on January 9.

Goalie Gear (and more) Corner​

Murphy’s mask has big Seattle landmark energy. (Photo courtesy of the PWHL)

During the last few weeks, we got to know a few of the Torrent goalies a little better.

Rookie Hannah Murphy admitted to having chills when she stood in goal and heard the crowd chant her name for the first time. Her roommate, Jenna Buglioni, who also roomed with goalies in college, shared that all goalies are weird but “[Murphy] is the least weird one.”

CJ Jackson spoke to us about their new Torrent mask. They said their vision for their gear was a minimalist pad setup, with the mask as the centerpiece. Being a fantasy fan (the Throne of Glass series is a favorite) CJ turned again to a knight-themed mask, but with a sparkly, grungy, Seattle twist. They love what knights symbolize, the idea of people who commit their lives to something greater than themselves.

View this post on Instagram​

The backplate is their all-time favorite, and got a little emotional when speaking about it. The art is based on a photo from their hometown of their dad’s rowboat. The boat was named after the family’s childhood cat, Maggie, and that’s what was on the initial design. But CJ’s cat Fiona passed away right before they moved to Seattle, so they decided to change the name—last minute— in her memory. The art reminds them of all the people who have loved them along their journey. In all a cool mask, but a great story behind it.

Notes and Notions​

After Saturday’s game against Toronto, Alex Carpenter became the third player ever—and the first American—to reach 50 points in the PWHL.

Injury Update: Prior to the Montréal game, Coach Steve O’Rourke confirmed rookie center Jenna Buglioni, who went down the tunnel during the previous game, is on concussion protocol and is day-to-day.

Suspension Update: Defender Aneta Tejralová was suspended for two games after her game misconduct penalty against New York was reviewed by the player safety committee. She will be eligible to return for the Jan. 11 game at Minnesota.

Game Recaps​

12.23 vs. Victoire @ Home​

First off, the winner of the (unofficial) walk-in ugly sweater contest was undoubtedly Corrine Schroeder.

View this post on Instagram​

Montréal came into the game hot, on a four game winning streak and perched at second in the league standings.

Period 1​

The Torrent started the game at higher execution and performance level than previous games, with a concerted effort to send more pucks to the net. Even so, the game started out pretty evenly matched. The Victoire had more time in their offensive zone, but the Torrent had more shots on goal. With one minute left in the period, Montréal’s star first line connected on a pretty passing play, Poulin to Stacey to Roque, and Roque finished past Murphy to put them up 1-0 in the first.

Period 2​

The Torrent even the score early in the second period. On a 2-on-1 Alex Carpenter put away a rebound off a shot from Julia Gosling. The Torrent then had some good shots and possession on a delayed penalty, but the resulting power play was lackluster. Megan Carter got called for roughing with five minutes left, and Hannah Murphy came up with some big saves. The rest of the period saw the momentum shift towards the Victoire, and the Torrent had trouble getting the puck out of their end.

Period 3​

Three minutes in, the Torrent made good on another delayed penalty situation, and a Julia Gosling one-timer from Hilary Knight put the Torrent up 2-1. There were good chances at both ends, but more chances for Montréal, as they finished the period putting up 15 shots on goal to the Torrents paltry three. Murphy shut the door, though, and preserved the win, even when a second Carter penalty and a pulled goalie led to a 6-on-4 in the dying minutes of the game.

12/28 vs. Sirens in Dallas, Texas​

The Torrent fell 4-3 to New York in their first Takeover Tour game in Dallas to a crowd of 8,514.

Dallas is the furthest south the PWHL has ever played, and the game featured the league’s only two Texans: Seattle’s Hannah Bilka, and New York’s Allyson Simpson. The pair dropped the puck at the Dallas Stars game the night before.

This game marked the start of the team’s first real road trip, playing four games over 16 days. Their only other away game this year was the season opener in Vancouver.

New York’s win snapped a four-game losing streak (which started these teams last faced off in Seattle).

Alex Carpenter surpassed 100 faceoff wins this game, the first to reach that milestone in the PWHL this season.

The Torrent starting lineup on the ice at the American Airlines Center. (Photo courtesy of the PWHL)

Period 1​

The Torrent started with some good pressure, and both teams took early penalties. Danielle Serdachny scored her first of the season on a chance she created purely with speed. Hannah Murphy notched her first point on the goal.

Aneta Tejralová took down Sirens star Sarah Fillier with a check to the head and received a well-deserved game misconduct. The Torrent then had to kill a five minute major for the first time, and Murphy came up with some clutch saves. With a minute and a half left in the first, New York rookie Casey O’Brien scored her first professional goal. One minute later, Grant-Mentis crashed the net and put away her first goal with the Torrent. New York had 21 shots to Seattle’s 11 in the first frame, but Seattle held a 2-1 lead.

Period 2​

The second period was more sedate. A Carpenter slashing penalty led to a second O’Brien goal. The end of the period had chances back and forth, but New York seemed to have most of the momentum. The teams ended the second tied 2-2.

Period 3​

A Lexie Adzija goal came early off some great work behind the goal by Grant-Mentis. The momentum never fully shifted, and Maddi Wheeler scored coming out of the penalty box for New York. A Serdachny hooking penalty led to another O’Brien goal, giving her a hat-trick in the same game she scored her first career goal (You don’t see that every day). The Torrent had some good possession with the goalie pulled, but nothing came of it. Murphy made some good saves throughout, but this was the first game where there were a couple she would probably like back.

1.3 vs. Sceptres in Hamilton, Ontario​

The Torrent notched their first road win, but took only two standings points in a 3-2 shootout victory against the Sceptres.

This was the Torrent’s second straight Takeover Tour game and the first-ever PWHL game in Hamilton. The game was definitely less of a neutral site than other Takeover Tour games, as Hamilton is about an hour and a half drive from Toronto proper.

The game was the first hockey game played at TD Coliseum after large scale renovations, and boasted over 16,000 fans. Although the quality of the ice seemed sub-par, there was a takeover tour logo at center ice!

With this game, Seattle is no longer a newcomer and has officially played against all the other PWHL teams.

Cayla Barnes battling hard against the Sceptres. (Photo courtesy of the PWHL)

Period 1​

Out of the gate the Adzija—Snodgrass—Grant-Mentis line was forechecking well and playing heavy on the puck. Five minutes in, Grant-Mentis backhanded the puck to Adzija, who kept at it until horn sounded for her second goal in two games. Seattle did a great job of breaking up Toronto’s zone entries through the period and dominated overall, out-shooting Toronto 14 to 6.

Period 2​

The second period started shakily though. A loose puck in the neutral zone led to a Natalie Spooner goal to tie the game. Schroeder came up big with some highlight-reel saves to keep the Sceptres at one for the period. This game was the first time I really noticed how much more involved the goalies in the PWHL are without the “trapezoid rule”, and Toronto’s Raygan Kirk stood out as noticeably mobile.

Period 3​

The Torrent dominated possession to start the third, and had a lot of good, dangerous chances. Daryl Watts got a goal against the run of play to put Toronto ahead 2-1. The Torrent turned the pressure up again, until Alex Carpenter put away a deflection with ice in her veins to tie it up with four minutes left and send the game to overtime.

Overtime & Shootout​

Seattle defended well in OT and had some quality possession, outshooting Toronto 4-0, despite an initial struggle to get the puck out of their zone.

Hannah Bilka scored on the first shootout attempt in Torrent history, and Anna Wilgren showed off some sick hands to get Seattle’s second goal of the shootout. Corrine Schroeder stopped all of the Sceptres attempts, to record her first win with the Torrent.

Up Next​

The Torrent play away again on Wednesday at 4:00 PST against the top of the table Boston Fleet.

The post The Current: Close games and goalie gear appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/07/the-current-close-games-and-goalie-gear-seattle-torrent/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Kraken winning streaks vs. losing streaks: What the data shows

The Seattle Kraken are riding a nine-game point streak, going 8-0-1 in that stretch. On Dec. 19, just before the streak began, Seattle was tied for last in the NHL with 30 points after matching a franchise-worst stretch at 1-9-1. Since then, the Kraken have collected 17 of 18 possible points and now sit third in the Pacific Division.

As fans suffered through Losing Streak Camille and Losing Streak Darren, there were still reasons for optimism. All but two games, both against Edmonton, were one-goal losses once empty-net goals were removed. The Kraken were competitive but consistently finished on the wrong side of the result. Interestingly, by the eye test, Seattle has not played as clean during the current points streak as it did during the losing stretch.

To explore that discrepancy, I compared game-level data from three segments: the current point streak, the losing streaks, and the games prior to Camille and Darren. With the point streak at nine games, the losing stretch at 11, and the pre-Camille segment at 21 games, all comparisons use per-game averages. Data is based on all situations and sourced from MoneyPuck.

• Pre-Camille: 21 games from Oct. 9 to Nov. 22
• Losing streaks: 11 games from Nov. 23 to Dec. 18
• Points streak: nine games from Dec. 20 to Jan. 6

Expected and actual goals​

On Nov. 22, just before Losing Streak Camille, the Kraken ranked third-to-last in the NHL in goals scored. With only 2.58 expected goals for per game, Seattle relied heavily on defensive structure and low-event games.

Several trends stand out in the data. During the pre-Camille stretch, expected and actual goals for and against tracked closely. As Seattle pushed for more offense during the losing streak, expected goals for increased by 16.9 percent. The results did not follow. Actual scoring fell to two goals per game, while expected goals against jumped 27.4 percent to 2.91.

That trend reversed during the turnaround. Expected goals for climbed again to 3.16, but the finishing finally arrived. Over the past nine games, the Kraken have averaged 3.89 goals per game while allowing just 1.89.

There are also red flags. During the point streak, expected goals against sit at 3.69 per game. Across the season to date, a 3.69 xGA would rank last in the NHL. Vancouver currently holds that honor at 3.52. As the eye test suggested, Seattle often posted higher expected goals for than expected goals against during the losing streaks, but the scoring support was not there.

Goaltending​

For this section, the focus is on team-level goaltending rather than individual performances. Team save percentage shows a strong relationship with goal support, particularly when Seattle scores first.

• Pre-Camille: 13 of 21 games with the first goal, 61.9 percent
• Losing streaks: three of 11 games, 27.3 percent
• Point streak: eight of nine games, 88.9 percent

Goaltending has been a major strength during the point streak, after dipping below .900 during the losing stretch.

Playing with the lead also continues to set this team up for success. Seattle has scored first in 24 of 41 games this season.

Despite expected goals against reaching their highest point of the season, the goaltenders have delivered. Over the last nine games, the Kraken have posted 16.2 goals saved above expected. Across the rest of the season, including pre-Camille and the losing streaks, they sit nearly even at minus 0.4.

Shots​

Before the losing streak, Seattle generated only 24.4 shots on goal per game. If that pace held through Jan. 6, the Kraken would rank last in the NHL. During that stretch, there was a clear shift toward urgency and putting more pucks on net.

Shots on goal increased from 24.4 to 28.3 per game, a 16 percent jump that closely mirrors the 16.9 percent increase in expected goals for. Shot attempts rose even more sharply, up 19.5 percent.

That increase came with tradeoffs. Missed shots rose 23.1 percent and blocked shots climbed 21.9 percent. Both exceeded the growth in overall shot attempts, meaning a larger share of shots failed to reach the net.

The point streak tells a different story. Shot attempts are at their lowest point of the season, driven in part by Seattle frequently playing with the lead.

During the point streak, the Kraken have trailed for just 3.1 percent of total game time, or 17:03.

Even with fewer shot attempts, shot quality and efficiency have improved. Missed shots are down 39.5 percent and blocked shots are down 33.1 percent. Shots on goal have dipped by only one per game, to 27.3, and remain 11.9 percent higher than during the pre-Camille stretch.

Kraken can’t rest on their laurels​

The Kraken continue to benefit from the current point streak, but there is little margin for complacency. Offensive progress is real, and goaltending has been the anchor. The balance between offense and defensive structure remains a constant tug-of-war. Limiting high-danger chances and bringing expected goals against back down should be a priority as Seattle looks to sustain its scoring gains.

The Kraken will look to extend their point streak to 10 games Thursday against the Minnesota Wild at Climate Pledge Arena. The Wild are coming off two losses to the Los Angeles Kings (one regulation and one shootout loss).

Feel free to leave any comments or questions below, and Go Kraken.

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.

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The post Kraken winning streaks vs. losing streaks: What the data shows appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/08/kraken-winning-streaks-vs-losing-streaks-what-the-data-shows/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Down on the Farm – World Juniors reports, CHL trades

Welcome to “Down on the Farm,” your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. This week, we’ll have reports on Kraken prospect performances at the 2026 World Junior Championship, two significant junior hockey trades, a couple of key injuries, and some details from the new AHL collective bargaining agreement. We’ll also have weekly and season-to-date data updates, all-shifts videos, the Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week, and a preview of the week ahead, as always.

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

Kraken prospect reports from the World Juniors​

With another WJC in the books, we’ve passed the unofficial halfway point of the prospect season. Before turning our attention to the draft process, let’s recap what we saw from Kraken prospects at the WJC.

Loke Krantz | F | Team Sweden​

Sweden swept through the tournament (seven wins, zero losses) on their way to their first gold medal since 2012. Remarkably, it’s only Sweden’s third in the event’s long and storied history, a relatively modest number for a country that routinely fields a title contender year after year. It had become an annual talking point that Sweden couldn’t break through in the elimination rounds, but they changed that narrative this year.

Krantz, 18, defied public expectations by earning a role on this year’s team. He was active for all but one of Sweden’s games, though the lack of a special teams role kept his ice time modest. He topped out at 9:46 of ice time in the semifinal against Finland (see the video below) and logged 6:52 in the final.

I came away very impressed by Krantz’s speed and physicality on the forecheck, effectively leveraging his 6-foot-2 frame to contest and win possession for Sweden. While he didn’t score, I also found his instincts for locating soft spots in the offensive zone for shot attempts to be quite strong. There is a lot to work with here—much more so than your typical late-round pick. I hope he sticks with his SHL team for the balance of the season and we get a few viewings on FloHockey. His stock is way up for me.

Jakub Fibigr | D | Team Czechia (WJC)​

Sweden defeated Czechia and Jakub Fibigr in the gold-medal game. Czechia had a couple of standout forward performances, but the team muscled its way through the tournament on the strength of a dominant top-four group of defenders, of which Fibigr was a part.

Fibigr’s game is not without inconsistencies, but he has taken strides in shoring up the defensive aspects of his game from the player I saw often lost and floating in defensive coverage last year for the Brampton Steelheads. All tournament long, he presented as a level-headed, team-leader type. He wore an “A” on the ice and frequently gave thoughtful remarks before and after games.

Fibigr does not bring any dynamic elements that suggest an above-average NHL projection, but he is now firmly in the mix among Seattle’s group of young blueliners who will be jostling for position over the next couple of years and could be knocking at the door shortly thereafter. Could Fibigr be one that emerges from that group? It’s certainly possible. His stock is up slightly following this event.

Julius Miettinen | F | Team Finland (WJC)​

Team Finland avenged its 2025 WJC gold-medal game loss to the United States by downing the Americans in the quarterfinals, but it stalled out thereafter, losing to Sweden and Canada to finish in fourth place. This year’s team was a bit under-skilled when compared with past units and really ran out of steam toward the end (more on that in a moment).

Finland deployed Miettinen as a first-line center and a primary player on both special teams units. He saw more time on the wing on the power play this year, after spending most of his time net-front at last year’s event. He was also a top penalty-killer, taking about half of the draws for that unit. Despite that heavy usage, I didn’t see as many flashes from Miettinen this year as I did at last year’s event. He still worked hard defensively, but I didn’t see as much dynamism offensively or on the forecheck.

This may be attributable to the fact that Miettinen was a bit “miscast” in his WJC role. He projects as a high-end role player or complementary piece, rather than an offensive focal point. His stock is neutral for me.

Kim Saarinen | G | Team Finland (WJC)​

For two years in a row, Finland went to Petteri Rimpinen for every WJC start while Saarinen sat on the bench. This diverges from the approach of most nations, which rotated in a second goalie for at least one game. Finland clearly preferred to keep Rimpinen in a rhythm, but you cannot help but wonder if he wore down with a seven-game workload over 11 days.

After Finland was eliminated from gold-medal contention, Finland played Canada for the bronze medal in the second game of a back-to-back. Rimpinen was clearly not at his best, conceding six goals to Canada on 34 shots. You could argue that an ice-cold Saarinen would not have been a better option, but that’s the situation Finland put itself in by not getting its second goalie any time earlier in the tournament. Personally, I wouldn’t manage the goalies this way. I think Finland’s approach cost the team a chance at the bronze medal, at least.

Saarinen’s stock is neutral.

Nathan Villeneuve and Jakub Fibigr traded to the Windsor Spitfires​

It is an annual tradition that, as the WJC winds down, CHL trade news steps in to fill the void. With CHL trade deadlines arriving in early January, junior teams out of contention look to move players who are unlikely to return for future assets. With the added uncertainty involving junior hockey players moving to the NCAA ranks (including immediate moves), this year’s deadline was a particularly chaotic period.

Two of Seattle’s top junior players, Nathan Villeneuve and Jakub Fibigr, remained on junior teams that projected to miss the playoffs. Both were traded this week. On Monday, Jan. 5, the Sudbury Wolves traded forward Villeneuve to the Windsor Spitfires. Then, on Wednesday, Jan. 7, the Brampton Steelheads traded defenseman Fibigr to the Spitfires.

These moves should provide a jolt and added development opportunity for the players over the balance of their junior seasons. It also gives Kraken fans (particularly fans who read Down on the Farm) the chance to get multiple prospect viewings on a single team, which is always a welcome development. On the other hand, it may delay Villeneuve’s return to the AHL lineup and, in fact, take him out of the mix for an AHL playoff push, which could be a blow for the Firebirds.

Separately, there were a number of trades involving the local Pacific Northwest teams, including two blockbusters that sent out highly skilled forwards. The Seattle Thunderbirds traded Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes to the Prince Albert Raiders in exchange for futures, while the Spokane Chiefs sent draft prospect Mathis Preston to the Vancouver Giants. On the other side of the ledger, the Seattle Thunderbirds brought in skilled Dallas Stars forward prospect Cameron Schmidt from the Vancouver Giants.

Did you know? While the Kraken have never drafted a player from the Windsor Spitfires, Fibigr and Villeneuve are not the first Kraken prospects to play for Windsor. The last elite Spitfires team acquired Shane Wright immediately following his star turn at the 2023 WJC for its OHL playoff push. That team didn’t get as far in the playoffs as it expected (which, bizarrely, created problems for Shane Wright’s AHL eligibility for the ensuing season). The Spitfires hope their playoff luck will be better this time around.

Notes on three more Kraken prospects​

Barrett Hall | F | St. Cloud State Huskies (NCAA)​

Barrett Hall had the opportunity to play at Acrisure Arena this past week, as St. Cloud State participated in the annual four-team Cactus Cup tournament. The Huskies won this year’s event, which raises the possibility that Hall and the Huskies may return to Coachella Valley again next winter to defend the title. Check out Hall’s shifts from St. Cloud State’s Jan. 3, 2026, game against UMass-Lowell below. Hall is No. 15 in red.

Alexis Bernier | D | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)​

When the QMJHL playoff contender Chicoutimi Saguenéens traded for Alexis Bernier a couple of weeks ago, we took it as a sign that Bernier was likely on track to return to play this season following offseason ACL reconstruction surgery. Based on a recent report from the Saguenéens, however, it sounds like we may get to see Bernier on the ice even sooner than might have been hoped. According to the team, Bernier is already back on the ice doing hockey-related activities, and the team projects him to join the lineup during the week of Jan. 20.

Jake O’Brien | F | Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)​

On the flip side of the injury coin, Jake O’Brien has been absent from the Brantford Bulldogs lineup since being cut from Team Canada camp. On Dec. 28, 2025, the team announced O’Brien was day to day with a lower-body injury and said he “will return to the Bulldogs lineup soon.” Now, about two weeks later, the star Kraken prospect still has not skated in a game. This is one to monitor. Hopefully it resolves soon.

Highlight of the week​

Villeneuve scored two goals in his debut for the Windsor Spitfires, including one nifty move to the backhand on a penalty shot.

Welcome to Windsor, Nathan Villeneuve!

How about a penalty shot goal for Villy in his @SpitsHockey debut!@FloHockey | #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/knEC1MaKOO

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) January 9, 2026

Kraken prospects data update​

Overall, Villeneuve had three goals and two assists in three OHL games this week, which earns him Sound Of Hockey Kraken Prospect of the Week.

J.R. Avon has been out of the Firebirds lineup since mid-December with a lower-body injury. It’s a shame, because he was consistently catching the eye with his pace and finishing his scoring chances during his first 21 games with the Firebirds. A pending restricted free agent, it would be nice to see Avon back on the ice sooner rather than later.

Semyon Vyazovoi had another stellar week. In two starts, he gave up two goals total and won both games. Frankly, if he had not earned Prospect of the Week last week, he probably would have had the best case for it again this week.

Vyazovoi is tied for fourth in the KHL in save percentage and is one of only two goalies in the top five under 23 years old.

Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week tracker​

3: Jagger Firkus

2: Julius Miettinen, Kim Saarinen, Nathan Villeneuve

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

Previewing the week ahead​

We’ll give our Deep Sea Hockey Game of the Week to the Jakub Fibigr’s likely debut with the Windsor Spitfires on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.

Minor league players agree to a new CBA with the AHL, ECHL​

After rumblings of labor issues in both the AHL and the ECHL—and the ECHL players actually initiating a strike—both leagues reached new Collective Bargaining Agreements with the players last week. Most importantly, these deals will keep those leagues operating without any further stoppage for years to come.

That said, two aspects of the new AHL CBA bear monitoring from a player-development perspective. First, the AHL “Veteran Rule” was tweaked slightly. Instead of five veterans and one “exempt” veteran with slightly less experience, teams will be allowed to play six veterans regardless of experience level.

Second, the AHL CBA introduced entry-level contracts for AHL-only players. It appears these contracts may come with an additional year of potential team control through a “qualifying offer” mechanism. The Kraken have used AHL-only deals for some of their draft picks previously (e.g., Kyle Jackson, Justin Janicke), so this contract change could be relevant to the team’s roster management moving forward.

Tracking 2026 NHL Draft prospects: Oliver Suvanto​

Oliver Suvanto is a six-foot-three Finnish center with strong fundamentals, physicality, and defensive skills. His offensive game looks a bit less refined, aside from a solid north-south skillset, but the instincts seem to be there to develop more over time. He’s regarded as one of the top international centers in this class and checked in at No. 10 overall on Corey Pronman’s most recent prospect ranking for The Athletic. Suvanto had two goals for Finland at the WJC.

Recent prospect updates​

January 2, 2026: Mid-season Kraken prospect ranking

December 26, 2025: Watching Kraken prospects at the 2026 World Junior Championship

December 20, 2025: Resetting Seattle Kraken draft capital after the Mason Marchment trade

December 13, 2025: Ryan Jankowski talks Kraken prospects

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

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

November 21, 2025: Blake Fiddler brings intriguing tools

November 15, 2025: Firkus steps forward for Firebirds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Curtis Isacke

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

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The post Down on the Farm – World Juniors reports, CHL trades appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/09/down-on-the-farm-world-juniors-reports-chl-trades/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Three Takeaways – Kraken rally back to keep point streak alive in 3-2 OT loss to Wild

The point streak lives! While Win Streak David—the second named win streak of the season—officially came to a close at four games, the Seattle Kraken rallied back from a 2-0 deficit in the third period and stole a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. It was the 10th straight game in which the Kraken earned a point (8-0-2), and it kept them in third place in the Pacific Division on a night when every team around them in the standings also earned points.

“It was contested, there’s no question,” coach Lane Lambert said. “We knew it would be. I thought both goaltenders played well. We certainly had our opportunities, they had their opportunities. So it was a pretty good hockey game overall, if you’re up in the stands watching it. I don’t know if I loved it overall, standing behind the bench watching.”

After giving up two goals through traffic in the first period, Philipp Grubauer was once again electric the rest of the way and gave Seattle every chance to complete the comeback. But in the extra frame, the Kraken looked as bad as we’ve seen them look in an overtime period, and Mats Zuccarello ultimately finished a 2-on-1 rush with Kirill Kaprizov to give the Wild the win.

Here are Three Takeaways from a 3-2 Kraken loss to the Wild in overtime.

Takeaway 1: Poor start​

Minnesota is an elite team in the NHL, no question about it. But man, the vibes of this game—aside from Pride Night happening, which always brings fun energy—were not good. While the Kraken didn’t give up many Grade A chances, they also couldn’t get much going at the offensive end of the ice, and there were shades of earlier games this season where they’d get the puck on their sticks and just hand it over to the Wild’s pesky and skilled forwards.

“The first period was awful, and our execution was probably the main— biggest part of that,” Vince Dunn said. “It’s just tough when you’re chasing the game a little bit to start the game.”

And chase they did, something that hasn’t happened much for this team of late, as they dropped into a 2-0 hole by the end of the first.

Both goals came off quick-up passes from Minnesota defensemen to start rushes, and both were scored on floating wrist shots from distance that found their way through bodies in front of Grubauer.

Ryan Hartman scored the first after Jamie Oleksiak made a solid defensive play to break up the initial attack. But Hartman got to the loose puck and used Oleksiak as a screen to beat Grubauer and make it 1-0 at 5:00.

This hasn't been a great start for the #SeaKraken.

Ryan Hartman uses Jamie Oleksiak as a screen and floats one past Grubauer.

1-0 Wild. pic.twitter.com/PtLmFVyPuB

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 9, 2026

Brock Faber then scored at 15:54 to make it 2-0 on a controversial goal in which Matt Boldy held Dunn’s stick for a longtime, then laid it to Quinn Hughes, who made a fancy-Dan pass back to Faber.

Matt Boldy holds Vince Dunn's stick for about three seconds, doesn't get called, and Brock Faber scores immediately after.

Dunn and McCann were both giving it to the official after that one.

(Also, kind of a sick pass by Quinn Hughes.)

2-0 #mnwild pic.twitter.com/NzDDC3DSwV

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 9, 2026

Dunn cleverly declined to comment on the non-call against Boldy after the game.

While the defensive structure appeared mostly sound, it did not feel like Seattle was going to have the juice to get back in this one against a top opponent.

Takeaway 2: Nice rally​

BUT! The Kraken adjusted and dug deep in the second period, slowly tilting things back in their favor for stretches.

“I thought we started to really play with about seven or eight minutes left in the second period, where we started to create some zone time,” Lambert said. “We did a really good job there, and I thought it carried over to the third.”

With momentum shifted in the third, Adam Larsson broke through “The Wall of St. Paul” (Jesper Wallstedt) after Dunn’s shot hit the post and ricocheted all the way out to Larsson at the other point.

THE BIG CAT!

Vince Dunn hits the post, but it skips all the way out to Adam Larsson, who rips it past his countryman.

2-1 Wild. #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/PEnJBEJqfK

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) January 9, 2026

Then, with momentum fully shifted, the Kraken earned two consecutive power plays. They came up empty on the first but quickly converted on the second, with Matty Beniers finding a Jared McCann rebound and putting it away.

“Give our guys credit. They did a great job to come back,” Lambert said. “It’s a huge point for us, but again, the disappointment for me is that the game started slow for us, and we can’t do that.”

The Wild regained momentum after Beniers tied it, but Grubauer was stellar down the stretch and got his teammates to the extra frame—where they laid a big, rotten egg.

Just when you think they’re out on this point streak, the Kraken pull you… BACK IN!

Takeaway 3: What was up with that OT?​

One thing Seattle typically does a good job with is earning and maintaining puck possession in 3-on-3 overtime. That… uh… did not happen Thursday.

Here is a list of mistakes that occurred in just 2:09 of gameplay during the extra frame:

• Chandler Stephenson lost the opening draw.
• Stephenson won a puck in the neutral zone but then immediately gave it back to Quinn Hughes.
• Vince Dunn gained control in Seattle’s zone but passed it backward to nobody, handing possession back to Minnesota.
• Matty Beniers gained full possession and rushed up the ice while his teammates changed. Instead of circling back or dumping the puck all the way back to restart, he tried to force a 1-on-2 and lost the puck.
• Beniers almost turned it over again at the defensive blue line, but that created a 3-on-1 opportunity when the Wild got overzealous.
• On said 3-on-1, Ryker Evans failed to get a pass through Brock Faber, which created the fatal 2-on-1 the other way, leaving forward Freddy Gaudreau—who astutely pulled up on the 3-on-1, recognizing the Kraken were overcommitted—as the lone player back against Kaprizov and Zuccarello.

Lambert summed up the OT mishaps nicely.

“We started off with a lost face-off, couldn’t get the puck back. They’ve got some dynamic players over there, there’s no question about it. So they had a couple of really good opportunities, but I thought our goaltender was excellent. And then what we’ve been really good at this year in overtime, is possessing the puck and making plays when we get it, and we weren’t good at that tonight. We gave it back to them, we had an opportunity to catch them tired, and we were changing so that we could have had that puck on our stick a long time. And we tried a 1-on-1 move, lost the puck, and then we didn’t execute on a 2-on-1. So that overtime was not one of our better ones, that’s for sure.”

—

One additional note: Kraken captain Jordan Eberle did not play in this game due to an upper-body injury. Lambert had called him a game-time decision at morning skate. After the game, Lambert said, “I’m hoping it’s more of a day-to-day thing. Certainly, that’s a hole and a blow for us to have our captain out. We’ll see where we go from here. We miss him out there.”

Lambert did confirm that Eberle is going on the team’s five-game road trip, which begins Saturday in Carolina.

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 [email protected].

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The post Three Takeaways – Kraken rally back to keep point streak alive in 3-2 OT loss to Wild appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/09/kraken-rally-but-lose-to-wild-in-ot/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Three Takeaways – Kraken point streak snapped with 3-2 loss to Hurricanes

Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. The Seattle Kraken’s remarkable point streak that took them from last place to third in the Pacific Division has ended at 10 games (8-0-2). The Kraken grabbed a 2-1 lead in the third period Saturday, but the relentless Carolina Hurricanes pushed back to tie the game and ultimately take a 3-2 regulation win.

While the Kraken got caved in in terms of possession and shot volume, they hung right in and gave themselves a good chance to win this contest. But the class of one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference shone through, and the Canes came out victorious.

Here are Three Takeaways from a 3-2 Kraken loss to the Hurricanes.

Takeaway 1: They had it​

The flow of this game felt a lot like the 5-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 16, though the Kraken spent much more of that game on their toes than they did in this one. Facing another elite team Saturday, Seattle took a third-period lead and appeared to be heading toward an unlikely win. But top teams are never out of games—especially when you only have a one-goal lead—and as was the case against Colorado, Carolina turned on the jets late in the third period and simply refused to lose.

The tying goal, scored by Jordan Martinook at 10:37 of the third period, didn’t involve an obvious mistake by any Kraken players. Jordan Staal delayed behind the net, which lured Matty Beniers to him, then snuck his pass between the legs of Adam Larsson onto Martinook’s stick in the slot. Because Beniers had tried to flush Staal out from behind the net, he wasn’t able to get back to the top of the crease in time to take Martinook’s stick away.

The winning goal, which came three minutes later at 13:50, was more the result of a Kraken mistake. Cale Fleury—who, by the way, has been awesome in his extended stint filling in for Brandon Montour—tried to chip the puck off the glass to create an offensive rush. But Seth Jarvis stepped up and gloved down the clearing attempt in the neutral zone, and the Hurricanes transitioned quickly. As they closed in on Joey Daccord, Ryan Lindgren shoved William Carrier into Daccord—enough contact to disrupt the netminder, but not self-inflicted enough to challenge for goalie interference—and Jaccob Slavin completed Carolina’s comeback.

Takeaway 2: Pretty goals​

The Kraken had a shockingly low shot volume in this one—their lowest output of the season—and were nearly outshot by a 3-1 margin, mustering just 12 shots on Brandon Bussi compared to Carolina’s 34. Those numbers don’t tell the whole story, though, because the Kraken did have some good looks either blocked by Hurricanes defenders, while Seattle’s shooters also sent pucks wide and failed to execute on a few rush opportunities.

Considering that paltry volume directed at Bussi, the Kraken did a decent job of making the most of their chances and got two pretty goals from Matty Beniers and Berkly Catton on the night.

Beniers was Seattle’s best player in this game, and his confidence appears to be soaring since being reunited with Kaapo Kakko, who also helped his game take off last season. He was rewarded with a beautiful goal to tie the game 1-1 at 14:13 of the first period, deking Slavin out of his jockstrap at the blue line, racing in, and slipping it through Bussi.

The score remained 1-1 through the first five minutes of the third period, when Catton broke through for his third goal in three games after going goalless for the first 27 games of his NHL career. Ryan Winterton read Bussi’s breakout pass and picked it off, then slung a perfect feed to Catton in the slot, who whipped it inside the left post.

Takeaway 3: Jaden Schwartz returns​

There’s no doubt the Kraken sorely missed Jaden Schwartz during his 19-game absence, which dated all the way back to Nov. 26, when he came up lame and hobbled off against the Dallas Stars. Schwartz finally returned Saturday and looked like his old self. He was fast, physical, and creative, nearly scoring on a breakaway and setting up several chances for his teammates.

He told KHN’s Piper Shaw after the game that his body “held up” well and that he felt good. Getting Schwartz back is a huge boost for this team.

Schwartz’s return coincided with Chandler Stephenson temporarily exiting the lineup, as his wife just gave birth to the couple’s third child. Meanwhile, Jordan Eberle missed his second game in a row with an upper-body injury that has made him day to day, and Brandon Montour continues to slowly work his way back.

Seattle certainly remains undermanned, but the players who were able to go hung right in with one of the NHL’s top teams. It’s a shame they couldn’t pull that one out.

Now Seattle heads to the Big Apple to take on a Rangers team Monday that just lost 10-2 to the Boston Bruins. The Kraken are now behind San Jose again in the standings, so they badly need to take care of business in that game.

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 [email protected].

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The post Three Takeaways – Kraken point streak snapped with 3-2 loss to Hurricanes appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2026/01/10/kraken-lose-to-hurricanes-end-point-streak/