After allowing five goals on 22 shots (.773 SV%) in Seattle’s 6-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks last night, the Kraken have placed backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer on waivers with intent on sending him to the American Hockey League.
Grubauer, 33, holds a 5-15-1 record this season and had not played since allowing three goals on four shots (2.50 SV%) in the Kraken’s 6-2 loss at the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 12. He was pulled 6:16 into the game.
Indeed, that stat speaks volumes, because it was a microcosm of the time Grubauer spent here in Washington State.
Four years into a six-year, $5.9 million AAV contract, Grubauer never posted a season-SV% above .900, and as time wore on, it became ultimately clear that any hope of Grubauer rebounding into the form he had in Colorado was just not in the cards. The writing on the wall perhaps could be seen away from the ice, as Joey Daccord took up a larger role in promotional tie-ins that Grubauer had previously been a star in, and his performance in contrast only made it starkly clear the Kraken’s goaltending had moved on.
To say he was fully responsible for that however would also be inaccurate: there is plenty of data to suggest that the Kraken played worse in front of him than any other goaltender they’ve tried. The defense became more porous, and shooting support would dry up in front of him. For what reason, it is difficult to glean; there was just something the Kraken couldn’t handle when he was in net. But eventually, you do need a save from your goaltender, and while Grubauer was capable of having a good one or two, he never managed to string enough together to overcome his team’s jitters.
If Grubauer clears waivers, he will report to Coachella Valley to take the ice with the Firebirds, who have a game against the Abbotsford Canucks tonight at 7pm.
For now, we can wish him all the luck in the world in Coachella.
Written with contributions from Sky on Air.