When Seattle Kraken forward Jaden Schwartz pulls the trigger lately, it appears he’s mastered trigonometry. Put another way, Schwartz’s goals, assists and points have been aided by sines, cosigns, and tangents.
Here’s what we mean: during a 10-game stretch between Dec. 12 and Jan. 4, Schwartz scored six goals and a seventh was taken away on a coach’s offside challenge. On many of those, you’d swear he’d used a protractor as well as a hockey stick.
Check out the evidence at right, with red circles around the pucks. In a Dec. 12 home win over the Bruins (top of four KHN screengrabs), Schwartz had one skate below the goal line when he flipped a backhand over the shoulder of Boston goalie Joonas Korpisalo.
In the epic Dec. 28 Kraken comeback in Vancouver, Schwartz did himself one better. Both skates were below the goal line this time when he sent the puck into the crease. It bounced off the tush of Canucks defender Noah Juulsen and into the net. (His game-tying second goal in the final minute came from collecting his own rebound at the top of the crease.)
The scoresheet from the Kraken’s Dec. 30 home victory over Utah shows Schwartz scored on a conventional breakaway. But a screengrab from the power play goal called back shows the puck three feet from the goal line at a severe angle when Schwartz threads the needle between goalie Karel Vejmelka and the post.
During the Jan. 4 home game against Edmonton, there’s Schwartz again positioned between the bottom of the faceoff circle and the goal line, figuring the opposite angle to score his 13th of the season, and ninth in his last 18 games.
Funny, It Doesn’t Feel Like A Quarter Century
No wonder Jaden Schwartz was named this week to the 2nd unit of the Seattle Kraken Quarter Century team. The envelopes, please.
If the idea of a not-yet-four-season-old franchise having a Quarter Century team strikes you as odd, you’re in good company. Kraken VP of editorial Geoff Baker wrote, “The format and lack of franchise longevity will obviously lead to some raised eyebrows over some of the choices – especially given Montour has only been around half a season while Daccord only became a primary NHL netminder midway through last season.
“But other franchises are in an even odder situation in picking their team: Utah HC wasn’t allowed to consider stats compiled by Arizona Coyotes or players from the prior Winnipeg Jets franchise, meaning it has only a half-season of results to work from since relocating to Salt Lake City last summer.”
In any case, NHL.com explained the methodology. “The first and second teams were selected by broadcasters, national writers and local writers and NHL.com writers who have covered the respective teams, in addition to select former players.”
A Gourde Departure Might Force A Recount
What might be extra awkward is that the Seattle Quarter Century team’s 1st line center might not be here much longer. Recent media speculation is that the team will be forced to part ways with original Kraken Yanni Gourde. Reasons include:
- The Quebec-born pivot is 33, and in the last year of his contract
- The Kraken may be in a salary-cap crunch when Jordan Eberle returns from IR
- Out of playoff contention, Seattle likely would be sellers at the Mar. 3 trade deadline
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Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic has mentioned the Maple Leafs as a potential trading partner. “If indeed Gourde is moved, my matchmaking crystal ball has him landing with Toronto. (Gourde’s) the kind of player general manager Brad Treliving appreciates, not shying away from the rough-and-tumble hockey played in playoffs.”
TSN’s Chris Johnston is reading a shorter-distance move from his crystal ball. “Gourde would arguably slot more seamlessly into the Canucks’ lineup as a third-line center. The veteran would bring a new element to the Vancouver bottom six and is known as a strong locker-room presence. You can never have too many winners in your lineup.”
The qualities LeBrun and Johnston praise in Gourde – rough-and-tumble, strong locker room presence, proven winner – are the same ones which have made him beloved among Kraken teammates and fan base.
Ex-Kraken Coach Invited To ‘Peak Of Hockey’ In Davos
Unless your go-to sources for hockey intel include Switzerland, you might have missed Dave Hakstol’s return behind a hockey bench. The former Kraken coach, dismissed last May after three seasons, surfaced as an assistant coach for Team Canada at a tournament known as the Spengler Cup.
“The Spengler Cup is considered the oldest international ice hockey team tournament,” according to the event website. “The trophy of the same name was awarded for the first time in 1923. The participating teams from all over the world are invited by the host Hockey Club Davos.” Teams from Sweden, Czechia, Germany, Canada, and two from Switzerland participated in 2024.
Hakstol served on the staff of head coach Gerard Gallant, former bench boss with four NHL teams, including the Rangers and Golden Knights. Team Canada didn’t make it to the New Year’s Eve championship game, bounced in the semi-finals by Germany, 4-2. Hakstol remains on the Kraken payroll through the end of the 2025-26 season.