Kraken Win Shoot-out In Comeback Thriller to End Losing Streak and Why Joey Daccord is the Main Character in Seattle.
The Kraken Young Guys Shine in Shootout Win. Berkly Catton had a damn good goal on a silky move, but every time Matty Beniers touches the puck it is must-see TV every single time. He’s Underrated and how much he is handling defensively for Kraken this dude is just getting better, as it has started to become clear it is a locker room divided in Seattle. The Older Kraken players are still trying to prove they have what it takes to make it work in Seattle. Then there is a selection of younger players and the young guys can skate so freaking well. Shane Wright is the Second Line Center in Seattle and it is really unclear how long it will take the Kraken to realize his play style would mesh well with Berkly Catton and Jaren McCann on the second line for the Kraken. They are not an overly physical group, but McCann adds a defensive edge and clearly the group meshes well. How this lineup hasn’t been more utilized as a special teams unit as they can all clearly put the puck in the net.
Before last night's win, it had been 5 games since the Kraken traded their F1 Helmet around the locker room. The Kraken are clearly set on giving their veterans one last chance, but clearly it’s just not been there as of late. The Kraken are 7-16 since the Olympic Break, after last night they have 77 points which is 8 points behind the Los Angeles Kings who have 85 points and the Nashville Predators have 84 points. The Kraken have three games left and while they have not been eliminated mathematically, they do not control their own fate. The Kraken need to win out and then they need other good teams who are trying to solidify a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to simply stop winning and lose EVERY game.. That doesn’t seem likely with four games left against difficult opponents. The LA Kings play the Kraken in their last home game on April 13th and I will definitely be at that one.
Our BIGGEST story in Seattle this week is the Kraken Choose to Part Ways with Ron Francis, their President of Hockey Operations for a more traditional GM model. A press conference in Seattle saw the team owner, Tod Lieweke, addressing the media in a press conference where he said “The team has not met the promises and expectations set for fans… We want to bring good hockey to Seattle, in hopes that it will make good hockey players want to come to Seattle in NHL Off-Season Free Agency.”
The Seattle Kraken have 77 points with 4 games left and the teams below them are the New York Rangers with 75 points (3 games left), the Calgary Flames with 73 Points (4 games left), The Chicago Black Hawks with 70 points (3 games left), and the Vancouver Canucks with 52 and it really does not matter how many games they have left. The Kraken next game is Saturday at 4pm against Calgary. If they lose that game, they should look to call up young guys from Coachella and see what they look like against other NHL teams to prepare and audit for next year, and if the Kaken win in front of likely starting Goaltender, Nikke Kokko. They should look to see what the young goalie can help pull out of the team going forward.
Either way it's really a win-win in Seattle, pick higher hopefully or a playoff birth. A win tonight against Calgary is a must, the Seattle Kraken are eliminated with anything less than winning out and they need a lot of miracles. They are eliminated if Los Angeles of Nashville Win or receive a point from here on out. Nikke Kokko is likely the starting goaltender for the Kraken as he has been called up from Coachella Valley coming off of a shutout and looking to make a splash in the NHL.
Lets Go Kraken!
Very Respectfully,
Caleb Nance