Oh God, it’s only mid-August and the cupboard of hockey story ideas is running mighty thin. Or, to put it another way, “Dear Reader, if it feels like a trap, you’re already in one.”
That’s a Taylor Swift lyric, of course. I mention Tay Tay because, apparently, I’m not the only one running low on column topics. Sara Civian of Bleacher Report dedicated an article to “one Swift lyric for every NHL team headed into 2025-26.” Sara’s choice for the Seattle Kraken comes from T-Swizzle’s song, “Tolerate It.”
If it’s all in my head, tell me now
Tell me I’ve got it wrong somehow
I know my love should be celebrated
But you tolerate it.
Civian writes, “‘Tolerating it’ is exactly how I feel watching a Kraken game. Shane Wright and Matty Beniers have thrilling upsides, but they’re still young and inconsistent, and they’re surrounded by too many passengers. I’m always looking for a little more out of this team, and it’s hard to believe it’s there until we see it.”
For Kraken fans who double as Swifties, what lyrics best describe your feelings about Seattle’s hockey team?
Kraken Game In Winnipeg Will Have ’70s Vibe
James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
When the Kraken traveled to Winnipeg last season, the Jets wore their “Heritage” jerseys (above photo). They’ll do so again when Seattle closes a six-game road trip in Winnipeg on Thursday, Oct. 23. The snappy sweaters most closely resemble the kit worn by the Jets in 1973-74, their second season in the upstart World Hockey Association.
Winnipeg, along with Edmonton, Quebec (now Colorado), and Hartford (now Carolina) were absorbed into the NHL in 1979. Actually, these are Jets 2.0, who started life as the Atlanta Thrashers. The original Winnipeg Jets franchise migrated south to become the Arizona Coyotes, before moving again to Salt Lake City in 2024.
If that’s not confusing enough, the Utah Mammoth come calling on the Jets three days after the Kraken play there – and yes, Winnipeg 2.0 will be wearing their Heritage Blue sweaters… which actually belong to the history of the Mammoth franchise, even though the NHL describes Utah as an “expansion” franchise.
Speaking of the Mammoth, there will be 25 occasions in which the hockey team and the NBA’s Utah Jazz will be playing on the same date. For instance, at the same moment they’re dropping the puck on Jan. 17 between Utah and Seattle at the Delta Center, the Jazz will have their opening tip-off in Dallas against the Mavericks.
ONE DAY, we’ll be able to write about the number of instances the Kraken and Sonics are playing at the same time.
Q: What’s The Point? A: More Points
As if to prove that you can bet on virtually anything – not saying you should, only that you can – one sports book has set the over/under on Kraken standings points this season at 78.5. That’s depressingly only 2.5 points higher than last year’s out-of-the-playoffs finish of 76 points.
Happily, DailyFaceoff.com says to take the over. “(New coach) Lane Lambert should prove to be an upgrade. Due to the team’s offseason moves and likely progression from key young skaters, Lambert should have a better chance at leading the team to a respectable record than (former coach Dan) Byslma did.”
(Off-topic: I’m often confused by this kind of, for lack of a better word, “reasoning.” Lambert could well be an upgrade over Bylsma. But if improvement will be due to trades and maturing youngsters, wouldn’t it follow that Byslma would have had a better chance this year, too?)
Factors cited in the story that should provide improved results include Mason Marchment’s “compete level,” Matty Beniers and Shane Wright “likely candidates for year-over-year improvement,” “a full season of (Kaapo) Kakko,” and Joey Daccord, “a strong number-one goaltender.”
Writer Nick Martin also cites addition by subtraction: trading winger Andre Burakovsky to Chicago, and an expectation regarding the deployment of defensive liability Chandler Stephenson. “It seems hard to believe Lambert will award a hefty role to Stephenson this season.”