Much like Brad Pitt’s character in 2008’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the Coachella Valley Firebirds as a team are aging backwards. Andrew John of The Desert Sun points out that the Seattle Kraken AHL affiliate has seen the average age of its roster get younger in each of its first three seasons.
- 2022-23: 26.2 years old
- 2023-24: 25.2 years old
- 2024-25: 23.8 years old
If this keeps up, in a couple of seasons Firebirds players might need notes from home to attend night games.
Andy Abeyta/Desert Sun/USA TODAY NETWORK
For 2025-26, John writes, “Among the core players under the age of 23 who the Kraken have under contract include netminder Nikke Kokko (21), forwards Jani Nyman (20), Jagger Firkus (21), Lleyton Roed (22), Eduard Sale (20), Ryan Winterton (21), Logan Morrison (22), Jacob Melanson (22) and defensemen Ville Ottavainen (22) and Ty Nelson (21).
“Then add in top prospects Carson Rehkopf (20), Caden Price (19), Lukas Dragicevic (20) and Oscar Fisker-Molgaard (20).”
Firebirds coach Derek Laxdal can’t wait. “The fans are really going to be in for a treat next year with this young team. You’re going to see them grow right in front of you.”
Firkus added, “With the guys coming in next year, it’ll just make it more competitive in the lineup. That’s what you want to see in a prospect pool.”
Firebirds Ready To Adapt To New Kraken Systems
It’s not just fans with a keen interest in the Seattle Kraken coaching search.
Firebirds bench boss Laxdal (photo at right) told the Desert Sun, “Once Seattle hires a coach, we’ll sit down and have some meetings with that person and their staff and see what style of play they’re going to play, and we’ll integrate that into our style.
“But it’s not usually that much of a change. We’ll conform to what they’re doing up there, but at the end of the day everybody plays pretty well the same way.”
Dan Bylsma’s Match Game
The previous Kraken coach, Dan Bylsma, surfaced on a podcast recently to discuss his coaching philosophy. On Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Carter Hutton, Bylsma didn’t discuss his one season behind the Seattle bench before being dismissed last month.
He did explain the pros and cons of matching lines. “You look for opportunities to get a matchup that you know will be coming in the game. If you have a line you really trust and you can throw them out there in the defensive zone, that allows you to get a matchup with your top guys.
“It can be disruptive to chase a matchup, especially for your top guys. If you’re chained to a matchup and they put out their defensive guys, and you don’t put out your top offensive guys, they’re going to be going cross-eyed on the bench. Players may want a matchup, to go head-to-head with the big dogs, best on best so to speak.”
Last change “is less of a factor than people talk about. Sometimes, you get to put the guys out first, so they match up against you. Keeping guys off the ice by putting your guys out first.”
Borgen Flourished In ‘Pit Of Hell’
Getting forward Kaapo Kakko signed to a new contract is one of Kraken GM Jason Botterill’s priority tasks.
The New York Rangers have already locked up the player traded for Kakko, defenseman Will Borgen. The Blueshirts inked the 28-year-old to a five-year, $20.5 million extension just weeks after his December arrival.
“Borgen was a bright spot in the pit of hell that was the Blueshirts’ defensive core this season,” said the not-at-all hyperbolic review by BlueshirtsBanter.com.
“He is one of the only skaters on the team who found his footing under (former coach) Peter Laviolette’s man-on-man system, and he’s one of three defenders that ended the year with more goals for than against (48-47, via NaturalStatTrick).”
The Banter wasn’t all puppy dogs and rainbows for Matty Beniers’ former roommate.”His transition game could be better. He also doesn’t do well when faced with high-paced and high-pressure situations in general.”
Seattle Kraken Goal Announced By…
It’s appropriate we leave the last words to the person who says the most important words at Climate Pledge Arena – Kraken public address announcer Chet Buchanan.
“I memorize the rosters,” Chet told the Chachi Loves Everybody podcast. “Because when the goal call comes down, ‘It’s 22, from 63 and 7,’ I don’t want to have to be looking down at the roster. I want to be ready to go; I want to be ready before the video is ready.”
Buchanan doesn’t see his extensive prep work as a chore – just the opposite. “Why make it harder on yourself? (In the moment), I don’t want to think. I want to perform. I have a certain amount of energy (writer’s note: Chet is selling himself short.) But you put me in front of a mic, it kicks up a notch.”
Check out the podcast link to learn more about Buchanan’s fascinating radio career and charitable endeavors.