Professional jersey-critiquers have given their opinions on the Seattle Kraken’s new glow-in-the-dark 3rd jerseys. The voting is split, one thumb up, one thumb down.
“It’s absolutely fine, although I’d really prefer it not have ghosted numbers,” says Phil Hecken of Uni-Watch.com. “But it’s not overdesigned, and I rather like the ‘sonar ping’ design of the sleeve stripes. Having a red eye within the Kraken crest that gets picked up by the solitary red stripe beneath the green stripes (and at the hem) is a surprisingly nice contrast that doesn’t overpower the green stripes.
“But if this jersey will indeed glow in the dark, that alone is a cool feature. Do they really need to explain that it calls ‘back to the rare bioluminescence found in Northwest waters?’
“Like, did they actually say at a design meeting, ‘Hey, we should design a jersey around the rare bioluminescense of the Pacific?’ I kinda doubt that.”
(A UniWatch commenter made a related point too good not to share. “It’s kind of funny to describe something that isn’t alive as having ‘bioluminescence’ – wouldn’t that just be ‘luminescence?'” Bravo, sir.)
Chris Creamer of SportsLogos.net didn’t share the enthusiasm.
“It’s a fairly disappointing look for the Kraken, a team I really hoped to see wearing the lighter blue or teal color as a main sweater color. For a club that made a big deal about using multiple shades of blue, why they decided to go completely off the board with black is beyond me. I mean, you have four different blues; surely you could have picked one of those.”
Daccord Playing For A Trip To Italy
Not that Kraken goalie Joey Daccord needs extra motivation going into the season, but he’s got some. If Daccord excels early in the season, that could open a door for him to be named to Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck is a lock for Team USA, and it’s widely considered that Boston’s Jeremy Swayman and Dallas’ Jake Oettinger are ahead of Daccord on the depth chart. USA will carry three netminders with them for the Olympic hockey competition in Italy this February.
But should Daccord shine in the opening months of the season, and either of Swayman or Oettinger don’t, or if one of those two should be injured, it’s not far-fetched to envision a European trip for Joey.
You’ll recall that Daccord (photos above and at left) and Swayman led Team USA last May to its first IIHF World Championship since 1933.
That matters a whole lot more than you might think, based on this fascinating quote from USA general manager Bill Guerin. “The world championships are absolutely connected to (roster selection). The worlds are huge.
“They might not be as popular in the United States, but in Europe, in Canada, it is, and it has to be important for us. If you’re saying no and you don’t have a legit excuse, it will hurt you. We need to know that you want to help USA Hockey win.”
For his part, Oettinger told Sports Illustrated the word that best describes USA goalies is camaraderie, not competition. “All of us are competitive, we all know we can do well in that role and it’s up to us, whoever plays the best,” he said at August’s orientation camp. “I look like it as, do whatever is my power to get the net and at the end, wherever the chips lay, you accept it.
“I’m always asking them what they’ve been doing, how they’ve been critiquing their game, getting better. And we’ve really been able to bump ideas and obviously raise our level and play with each other, and that’s something we’re really excited about and understand.”
Avon Calling
Fans who attend a session of rookie camp at Kraken Community Iceplex, which begins with medical and other testing today, will see players they don’t recognize. These are known as undrafted free agent invitees. Let me tell you about one who made the most of such an opportunity.
PetesOHLhockey screengrab
If J.R. Avon ever ends up playing a regular season game for the Kraken, one of two things will be true. (1) Avon will have wildly exceeded expectations, or (2) a dozen Kraken will have gotten stuck in an elevator and can’t be freed before gametime. (Which is why you shouldn’t crowd an elevator like that.)
The Kraken swung a trade of minor-league forwards with Philadelphia last week, swapping Tucker Robertson for Avon.
It’s not worth your time to break down the attributes of a player who will likely struggle to even get playing time at AHL Coachella Valley this season. Instead, here’s an inspiring story about how Avon has already beaten long odds.
To start with, his stepfather is Steve Larmer, who played 15 NHL seasons (and once was a teammate of Mason Marchment’s dad Bryan). “It’s nice to have a role model,” Avon told CHL.ca. “To have someone always in your corner, giving you advice.” In the OHL, J.R. didn’t need a billet family, because he not only played for the Peterborough Petes, his family lives in town.
Though undrafted, in 2021 he was invited to Flyers rookie camp – and ended up with a three-year entry deal. “I called my mom and stepdad to let them know Philadelphia offered me a contract and they were like, ‘Oh, you’re kidding’ and I said, ‘No, I’m being serious. This is my dream coming true,'” Avon told the Peterborough Examiner.
Maybe this month, another longshot with pro dreams will surprise Kraken brass – and you – the same way.