Back in 2018, Philipp Grubauer and Chandler Stephenson were Washington Capitals teammates, celebrating the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship.
In 2024, not only have the pair been reunited with the Seattle Kraken, they’ll start the season sharing an unwelcome distinction. For different reasons, the veterans will receive the shortest emotional leash from fans – or put another way, the highest skepticism and level of scrutiny.
There’s going to be plenty of time to catalog their successes and failures. But on the eve of training camp, everyone’s tied for first place, right? So we’ve found something positive to write about each.
Stephenson Must Keep Kraken From Buyer’s Remorse
The consensus among Seattle Kraken fans and media critics is that GM Ron Francis overpaid for free agent center Chandler Stephenson. Too much money ($43.75 million) and too many years (seven) for the 30-year-old center who’s won Stanley Cups with the Vegas Golden Knights and Capitals.
The multiple worries are that he was propped up by his Vegas linemates, won’t help solve the Kraken 2023-24 scoring woes, and whatever skills he possesses will diminish long before the contract expires. So it may surprise you that at least one close Stephenson observer thinks Vegas will miss him, and Seattle will likewise benefit from his addition.
“The thing that made Chandler Stephenson a unique player was his adaptability,” writes Jacob Walters at VegasHockeyKnight.com. “It didn’t matter if he was on the top line with Ivan Barbashev or working the third-line shift with William Karlsson. The Saskatoon native could be placed anywhere in the lineup and fit in seamlessly.”
If true, that allays the concern of where Stephenson will slot in with fellow centers Matty Beniers and Shane Wright.
There’s more: “That versatility comes from his shooting accuracy, where he times his shots perfectly. He can shoot from the point and in front of the goaltender, making him a dangerous threat at any time. That’s what will be missed with the center, specifically when the Golden Knights need a timely goal. He had a penchant for watching the play unfold, acting accordingly with a timely move. Combined with speed and agility, his scoring prowess was amplified.”
Grubauer’s Horse Sense Keeps Goalie ‘In The Moment’
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer has failed to record a save percentage north of .900 in any of his three Seattle seasons. No matter what the scoreboard may read, the veteran netminder knows visible displays of frustration would ripple negatively through his team. Grubauer’s on-ice ability to, in his words, “stay in the moment,” he credits in part to his love affair with horses.
Grubauer first experienced horsemanship in his childhood home of Rosenheim, Germany. Many in the small village practice dressage, an equestrian sport in which horse and rider perform precise movements.
The goalie never owned a horse of his own growing up. However, while a member of the Colorado Avalanche (Grubauer calls the region, “The Wild West”), he began visiting dude ranches. A buddy purchased one with 110 horses; Philipp fell in love with riding, and took time to understand his mounts. “What they want to tell us, how they feel,” he explained in an NHL Network interview.
Grubauer signed a six year free agent contract with the Kraken in 2021. “Once I got out to Seattle it was the first thing we looked at, trying to find a connection to horses.” He found one with SAFE Horse Rescue, short for “Save A Forgotten Equine.”
SAFE’s 150 volunteers care for horses seized from unworthy owners by animal control. “There’s some really bad cases; they’re skin and bone. When they first come in, from years of abuse, they’re super anxious.
“We put them through a program where they start to trust humans again. The transition to the time when they can be adopted, a little kid can ride them again, is amazing to see.”
Grubauer says the trust built between rider and horse translates to the crease, and how teammates feed off a goalie’s energy. “You’ve got to be calm around a horse. The horse picks up if you’re nervous or super energetic. Finding that balance around the horse and in the stable is a pretty good outlet for me when I leave the rink.”
The new Kraken coaching staff isn’t new to Grubauer. Like the goalie, head coach Dan Bylsma is about to participate in his 4th Kraken training camp; assistant Bob Woods held the same position during the goalie’s time in Washington; and assistant Jessica Campbell crossed paths with “Grubi” during international competition for Team Germany.
“I don’t think the year we had last year was our year. We’re excited to be back on the ice. We have players coming in who have won recently (Stephenson with Vegas in 2023, Brandon Montour with Florida last season). They bring a certain kind of experience.”
As to training camp, which begins Sept. 18, “It’s not always a fun time, but it’s a time to grow together as a team. We know what we’re capable of.”