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Welcome to another edition of Squid Words, your semi-weekly (or is it bi-weekly? Whichever one is twice a week, it’s that one) roundup of the latest news, rumors, and reports related to the Seattle Kraken and the National Hockey League. As we grow ever nearer from the puck dropping on the 2021-22 season, projections about Seattle’s starting lineup and final roster are abundant.
What’s Kraken
- Forward Calle Järnkrok has entered the league’s COVID-19 protocol [Seattle Times]
Entering the protocol doesn't mean Calle Jarnkrok tested positive, just that he was exposed as a close contact or possibly tested positive. Before preseason began, GM Ron Francis announced that the entire Kraken roster was fully vaccinated. https://t.co/oJ1jlcYM1j
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) October 9, 2021
- Ryan S. Clark makes his predictions for the opening night lineup [The Athletic $]
- Storylines abound ahead of the Kraken’s inaugural season, including a potential breakout year from Morgan Geekie [DJLR]
- Goaltender Joey Daccord has been assigned to the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League [Charlotte Checkers]
- The Kraken are set to release a new app on Monday to handle tickets, transportation, and everything else you’ll need to attend home games [KING]
- Climate Pledge Arena will also require attendees to download the CLEAR app in order to provide proof of vaccination prior to attending home games [KOMO]
- Shaquille O’Neal will open two of his Big Chicken restaurants inside of Climate Pledge Arena, both of which will feature the all new Just Walk Out technology
#Seattle, you ready?! We are excited to announce that we are opening our first-ever in-arena location at @ClimateArena, the future home of @SeattleKraken and @SeattleStorm! #BigChickenShaq pic.twitter.com/5TT4BuBCC2
— Big Chicken (@BigChickenShaq) October 8, 2021
- Kraken prospect Matty Beniers notched his first assist of the college season on Saturday (No. 10 in yellow below)
Tic-Tac-Toe on the Power Play pic.twitter.com/r3myYKkgv0
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) October 9, 2021
- Beniers is also the only underclassman in the leadership group, wearing the A of an assistant captain
- Fellow Kraken prospect Ryker Evans netted 4 assists in his first 4 games since being assigned to the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League, tied for 2nd-most in the league [WHL]
- EA Sports released the first look at the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena in NHL 22
The @SeattleKraken have arrived in #NHL22
— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) October 7, 2021
Play chel now with the #SeaKraken for 10 hours with @EAPlay https://t.co/yEKjUOiRp0 pic.twitter.com/14L0OCwrdi
Around the NHL
- Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin left the team’s final preseason game early with a leg injury. His status for the beginning of the year remains unknown. [RMNB]
- Edmonton Oilers forward Zack Kassian took a scary headfirst fall into the ice during a fight with Vancouver’s Zack MacEwan [Yahoo! Sports]
- The Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens rivalry got even pettier when the Canadiens reportedly informed the league that the Hurricanes have violated NHL rules by playing only four preseason games, despite six being required by the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement
The NHL CBA requires teams to play six preseason games.@Canes only played four.
— DailyFaceoff.com Hockey (@DFOHockey) October 8, 2021
According to @frank_seravalli, there's thought that the only reason the NHL noticed was because they were told by @CanadiensMTL.
Oh boy.
Presented by @Fantrax pic.twitter.com/vDoUeO6WBa
- Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy will miss 4-6 weeks with a fractured ankle [Hockey Wilderness]
- Canadiens goaltender Carey Price has entered the NHL’s player assistance program
We wish Carey all the best and applaud the way he’s helping end the stigma around mental health issues.