Four different outlets – NHL Network, Sportsnet, TSN, and The Hockey News – published offseason lists of the NHL’s top 50 players. Don’t go looking for any Seattle Kraken names, because there weren’t any.
In fact, SinBin.vegas points out the Kraken are one of five Pacific Division teams which failed to place a player on even one of the top-50 lists. Anaheim, Calgary, L.A. and San Jose were the others shut out.
Sure, the Oilers’ superstar duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl represent the Pacific on every list. Maybe that’s why with both in the lineup for Seattle’s 6-2 preseason-closing win on Oct. 2, “Oilers were probably the better team” huffed Bruce McCurdy of the Edmonton Journal.
Nothing five more goals wouldn’t have fixed.
Just More Room To Grow
Kraken fans looking for an upbeat outlook won’t find it at ESPN.com, which pegs Seattle at #26 in the 32-team league
Ryan Clark writes, “Remember how the Kraken responded from a difficult first season by reaching the playoffs in their second campaign? That’s exactly what they are trying to do in their fourth season after having a difficult third season. If they can have a strong fourth season, can that be parlayed into long-term success for a franchise that’s still trying to establish its identity rather than one with an inconsistent persona.”
Clark’s “Bold prediction: Shane Wright (above photo) quiets the critics.”
If You Start Them Up, They’ll Never Stop
Kraken co-owner Samantha Holloway sees a brighter future, likening the Kraken franchise to her previous startup business ventures. “You focus on building a great business, and then something great will happen,” Holloway told GeekWire. “In a lot of ways, that’s what we’re doing here as well.”
Holloway also espouses “iterating quickly.” Like, for instance, trading out coach Dave Hakstol and most of his staff for new Kraken coach Dan Bylsma, promoted from the team’s AHL farm club this summer.
“If your customer isn’t liking your product, there’s going to be churn and it’s going to be hard to grow,” Holloway said. “So for us, it’s really important to listen to the fan. That’s not being reactive. That’s just being able to move quickly without a lot of red tape, and I think that’s important.”
Shameless Self-Promotion Alert
Don’t say you weren’t warned.
The legendary Maven (and my friend) Stan Fischler took to The Hockey News to relate a New York Rangers story from my book on the early years of the team from the other Washington. Take it away, Stan:
“Turn to Page 271 in Glenn Dreyfuss’ delightful book, “The Legends Of Landover – Long, Lost Stories Of The Washington Capitals. A dauntless researcher, Dreyfuss calls the (Dave) Maloney incident, ‘Talk About High Sticking.’ The Maven simply says it’s a funny story. Here’s how Pal Dreyfuss put it:”
It was an October 1983 game in New York. As Dave Maloney fired a left point slapshot, his stick exploded. The shaft rocketed up, way up toward the MSG roof – the only hockey stick ever tracked by NASA. Maloney skated toward the bench, where players normally go when their stick breaks in two.
Meanwhile, the puck began a leisurely journey – slower than Manhattan rush hour traffic. Somehow, the seeing-eye disc avoided a tangle of players. It reached Caps goalie Pat Riggin, who attempted a poke check, and missed.
The puck, unhurried and unfazed, rolled on. nestling inside the right post. Hearing cheers, Maloney turned, realized his good fortune, and jumped in celebration. Amazingly, he landed before his stick did!
Broadcaster Dan Kelly exclaimed, “A weirder goal you won’t see!“
A Peek Into The Kraken’s Rear-View Mirror
- Forward Kailer Yamamoto has turned his PTO into a one-year, two way contract with the Utah HC. He scored 16 points with Seattle last season. No such luck for former Seattle center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, whose PTO with Colorado didn’t result in a contract offer.
- As for the Kraken’s former cable TV home, ROOT Sports may have broadcast its last pro sports game.
As the regional sports network (RSN) model continued to crumble, the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers followed the Kraken out ROOT Sports’ door this summer. Wholly owned by the Mariners, “The club is considering whether to run it back with ROOT (in 2025),” says MLB.com. The alternative is to “explore a partnership with MLB, which produced and distributed games for teams that have been impacted by the RSN situation.”