While we wait for Wednesday’s drop of the 2025-26 NHL schedule, let’s take a peek at how the new season shapes up for the Seattle Kraken’s AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley.
Like all AHL teams, the Firebirds will play 72 games. Unlike the Kraken, they won’t meet any clubs from the Eastern Conference in the regular season, and only one opponent from outside their Pacific Division. The reason is the enormous cost of transporting a hockey team, staff, and all its gear from city to city. Also, the top minor league sometimes plays three games in three cities in three nights, steeply complicating travel.
68 Firebirds games will be against the nine other Pacific Division clubs. A quartet against the Central Division’s Texas Stars will round out the schedule. Here’s the breakdown of appearances vs. each opponent.
(9 games) San Diego Gulls
Not only will San Diego be Coachella’s most frequent ’25-’26 rival, the Firebirds will host the Gulls on Opening Night, Oct. 10 at Acrisure Arena.
(8 games each) Henderson Silver Knights, Colorado Eagles, Bakersfield Condors, Calgary Wranglers, Abbotsford Canucks, Ontario Reign
Abbotsford last season became the only Western Conference team to ever beat the Firebirds in a postseason series, on the way to the Canucks capturing the Calder Cup.
Last year’s Colorado coach, Aaron Schneekloth, is now an assistant on the staff of Kraken coach Lane Lambert.
(7 games) San Jose Barracuda
(4 games) Tucson Roadrunners – Fewest games against any Pacific Division foe.
(4 games) Texas Stars – Only out-of-division opponent scheduled during regular season.
To see the full Firebirds schedule, the start time of each game, and the NHL affiliation of each opponent, click here.
One Topic, One Pundit, Two Opinions
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Grab your sunscreen – and not just for today’s expected high of 111 degrees at the Firebirds’ home of Palm Desert, CA. Also for today’s hot takes from the hockey pundit class. The dueling opinions concern the firing of Kraken coach Dan Bylsma.
“We don’t know of a coach who could’ve succeeded with the Kraken’s subpar lineup. Bylsma’s resume should’ve given him at least another year on the job.” Those words belong to THN columnist Adam Proteau.
“Maybe dismissing Bylsma was the right move, especially considering Jason Botterill has moved in as Seattle’s GM. Botterill choosing Lane Lambert over Bylsma could spark the Kraken. He could be exactly the coach Seattle needs.” Those words somehow also belong to Adam Proteau.
He could be right. Or not. Either way, Adam is sure to be watching from the fence he’s straddling.
Reunions In Store For New Kraken Goalie
Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Far from breeding contempt, Matt Murray’s familiarity with coaches and front office in Seattle bred respect. The free agent goalie signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Kraken earlier this month. On the J.D. Bunkis podcast, the 6-foot-5, 31 year old netminder explained why.
“I worked with Jason Botterill in Pittsburgh, we won a couple of Cups together.” Botterill was assistant GM at the time. “I know Lane (Lambert) from last year with the Leafs.” Murray made 28 appearances over the past two seasons with Toronto, while Lambert was a Leafs assistant in 2024-25.
“Their new goalie coach Colin (Zulianello), too. I’ve known ‘Zuly’ for a long time. We skated together since I was quite young. We play golf together a few times every summer.” Both Murray and Zulianello are from Thunder Bay, Ontario. “The familiarity definitely helps. You want to work with good people, and people that you know. That was the biggest thing that drew me to Seattle.”
Reese Says His Piece
@Jennthulhu_Photos
Usually, it’s coaches evaluating prospects. This time, an invitee to the recent Seattle development camp was asked about his week at Kraken Community Iceplex. Reese Hamilton, a defenseman for the WHL’s Regina Pats, gave high marks to his tutors.
“The development staff there is so in-depth with the details they want,” Hamilton said for a profile on the Pats’ website. “I think that when you get to the pro level, everything is about detail. Even just being on the ice, how precise they are with the little things is going to help me develop and flourish as I continue to grow here in Regina.”
Though Hamilton was eligible, he went unselected at the 2025 NHL Draft in late June. But should he make 32 NHL teams eventually regret that decision, we have a guess which team will have the inside track to his services.