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The Seattle Kraken are wrapping things up on a fun, if disappointing inaugural season. During the staff exit interviews, general manager Ron Francis announced there would be at least one change among the coaching staff next year: goaltending coach Andrew Allen will not return for the 2022-23 season.
Ron Francis said goaltending coach Andrew Allen will not return next season. #SeaKraken
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) May 3, 2022
Seattle finished the year with the 9th most goals allowed despite allowing the 4th fewest shots against, culminating in a dead-last .880 combined save percentage among the three goaltenders. Philipp Grubauer, who is just one year into a 6-year, $5.9 million AAV contract, posted a save percentage of .889, a full 27 points lower than his worst season to date.
Goaltenders can be quite volatile year over year, and there’s a good chance he and Driedger bounce back closer to their career averages next season. But it was clear that the team had to make a change somewhere.
In Allen's defense, however: goaltenders are mercurial creatures, and sometimes it's about whether there is a good "fit" between goalie and goalie coach. There might not have been the right "fit" here. He may succeed somewhere else. I just hope his replacement gets results.
— Tim C. (@DJLR_TimC) May 3, 2022
There is no official word on a replacement as of yet, and we expect the search to begin now.