The Need to Knows
- The Time: 7pm PST
- The Place: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
- Place to Watch: ESPN, Altitude Sports, SportsNet East, TVAS
- Place to Listen: KJR 93.3-FM
Game Preview
At last. Game 82.
The Seattle Kraken’s 2025-26 campaign, largely lost over this last month and change, will come to an end.
Much of the future of this team will be decided through this offseason as Jason Botterill takes full control of the reigns of this team. We know now that no matter what it looks like at the end of it, there will be change.
Take a good look at the lineup when it’s announced. There may be plenty of returners, but it’s not unreasonable to assume the Kraken will likely begin to find ways to get out of some of the contracts on their roster now. They will have caproom once the playoffs start, and then will have even more.
The first thing is getting through this game. The second thing will be sifting through the ashes to see what the hell happened here, and the next thing after that will be the draft lottery on May 5th, assuming someone like Elliotte Friedman doesn’t post the order on social media ahead of time.
I think what hurts the most is hoping against hope. I think we knew this team wasn’t enough to cut it. Even in a Pacific Division that most easterners scoff at for it’s comparative weakness, the Kraken always felt like they were trying as hard as they could to keep the track built in front of them as they barrelled into the olympic break. Good things happened for this team. Genuinely good things. Philipp Grubauer genuinely played exceptional hockey for once. Matty Beniers rebounded from a bad season. Several prospects found playing time. And they actually won a few games. Plenty of them in fact. Beat teams they had no right beating and beat them convincingly. It just wasn’t enough, and once again, five years in, we’re on the outside looking in. Right back where we started.
Take a good look at the roster that hits the ice, because it will be different come October. It has to be.
It has to be.
Until then, all we have left is either the draft, or the smug satisfaction of denying Colorado a season sweep right at the end.
I’m inclined to believe in the latter. Even against all odds.
LET’S GO KRAKEN, LET’S GO SQUIDS.