We The Fans: Kraken are Three Points from Wildcard at Holiday Break

The team brought the same fight that’s seen them have recent success to Staples Center for their battle with the LA Kings and Jordan Eberle has looked like the best player on this team through the last 10 games (5G/4A). With a passion for this team, and a passion for seeing them play good solid hockey, and work through adversity; it is impressive the team is finding a way to win regardless of who plays and last night was just such a gutty win before the NHL Holiday Break. The team has seen key contributors dealing with injuries that have had a 4 week recovery minimum through out this current season. Vince Dunn looks to return to the team after the break with an estimated return date of December 28th. The Kraken IR has Brandon Montour estimated to return Janruary 19th, while former 40 goal scorer and one of the key pieces on this team, Jared McCann looks to return January 2nd, along with the Kraken returning the top point scorer for this season at the time of his injury, Jaden Schwartz, who looks to return on January 1st. Obviously this is big news as the Kraken can slide wings down and have found contributors with these guys out of the lineup. Surely the team will look to close the 3 point gap and regain at minimum the second wild card spot and looks to return to the winning ways found off the back from handwork by young guys in the Kraken system. Hockey is a team sport and stars help, but the team should look to build chemistry and develop guys who have proven their ability to contribute in the current system.

I am probably this hockey team’s biggest critic, but also one of their largest and most dedicated supporters and games like last night are the ones that make you love this Kraken Team. Ben Meyers has been unreal on the Kraken 4th line, throwing hits and scoring goals with the same intensity that yielded heavy success during his time in Coachella Valley. The Kraken aren’t just developing individual players in their development system, but they have managed to develop lines of players that have chemistry on this ice. The Kraken need to add more skilled wings, either by returning them from the Injury Report or by trading for a few that they are interested in trying to extend once acquiring them and may be slightly less prone to injury. This team should not be on winning streak given the slew of injuries and under performance from guys who were brought here in the off season and then for one reason or another; the team still continues to find ways to win games. The Kraken also found a much needed win in a tough back to back, as the team had an 0-16-1 record in back to back games before last night. For those of us that are passionate about seeing them win and compete now and in the future; the team is moving in clearer direction since the trade of Mason Marchment. The team receiving 2nd and 4th round draft picks for the trade eliminated 4.5 million from the team salary cap. Mason Marchment has found success in Columbus as he has scored the same number with them in 2 games, that he scored with the Kraken through 32 games. The Kraken traded a 3rd and 4th round pick to acquire him, so they got a great ROI.

Phillip Grubauer and Joey Daccord look really comfortable under Lane Lambert’s new defensive system as the team looks to protect the middle of the ice, force guys wide and box out in front of the net, and rely on strong goaltending to make saves on shots from tough angles and that are heavily contested. The team also looks to use their skating to limit weak side goals and one timers and create odd man rushes on the counter attack. The power play has been a saving grace this year, something we are not used to as in previous years, it has been more of an advantage for other teams to put us on the power play. Assistant Coach Jessica Campbell is responsible for the teams defense and player development, but was originally hired for her defensive prowess so that checks out. Chris Taylor has made real improvements on the Kraken Powerplay as of last night the team was 20.4% with the man advantage on the year. Notably the single year the team made the payoffs it was 21%. This team has to find skilled wings who want to score goals and know how to use their shot as weapon to take the next step as an offense at 5 on 5. That same 2023 year the team featured a double digit number of 20 goal scorers. I may sound like a broken record, but there are teams struggling to play defense the Kraken may benefit from trading Jared McCann and Jamie Olesiak to Buffalo for Bowen Byram and a left wing with a good shot. The Kraken could even afford to retain part of the salary on Oleksiak with the Marchment trade. Jamie Oleksiak was on the ice for a 3 minute and 47 second shift last night. I’ve never seen a professional hockey player get caught on the ice that long, as most shifts in the NHL are 45 seconds to 1 minute long.

The Kraken have a great defensive system and strong goaltending, seemingly all the team is missing at this moment is the shooters to capitalize on dangerous chances against top lines in this league, as it has become clear Jordan Eberle and Eli Tolvanen need help. A three game win streak should have fans feeling good about their team at the break regardless of the recent struggles faced prior. The team has new life and is trending up the standings. The Kraken should look to continue the mindset of forcing goalies to make saves on shots, rather than trying to pick a corner or go for the perfect bar down shot every time. As the Kraken continue to improve their shooting percentage and produce quality chances, the results will continue to come. This team has veterans that want to compete now and understand they are being given the chance to extend their careers past what would have been if they were on other teams in the NHL in hopes that they can produce quality hockey in Seattle. There are a lot of teams in this league that simply can not play good defense or really any defense at all and it is a luxury that does not sell tickets, but it attributes to winning hockey games. If the Kraken can find the goal scorers; then I see no reason why they couldn’t be a sleeper out of the West. Fans like myself and players on the team are the only ones that think the Kraken have a shot at playoffs. If the team can trade for a couple of goal scorers, and continue to buy into the Lambert system, then they should be able to gain some experience in the playoffs this year.

The Kraken are not a favorite to win the Stanley Cup, but playing in big time games allows this organization to develop big time players and gain the respect of the league. Being serious about winning will make guys want to come here, because Seattle has the tax system and Salary Cap to rival teams like Dallas, Florida, Nashville at Free Agency. The league will see a gap start to develop between small market teams and larger market teams as the cap continues to go up. Seattle will have the luxury of being one of those large market teams. Only time will tell what Jason Boterrill decides to do with this clear advantage. Hopefully this means quality wins will continue to be produced for years to come from this Kraken Hockey Team. That being said, and the facts being what they are also means this team does not have any excuse to struggle or not the find a way to ascend to the NHL Mountain Top. The Kraken will pick the season back up on Sunday, December 28th against the Philadelphia Flyers who have looked really good under former head coach of the year, Rick Tocchet, are also on a two game heater, and are second in the Metropolitan, 2 points behind Carolina. Before turning around and playing a back to back that Monday, December 29th in a Third Jersey game against a young and hot Vancouver team that is 4-1-0 since the trade of Quinn Hughes. The Kraken are 1-13-1 in Third Jersey games since the franchise began play in 2021.

The Kraken are working hard and winning games, but still face the most disrespect within this league with the way the world looks at our team as the underdog every game, but while this can also get frustrating to some. We honestly love that in Seattle: write us off, forget about us, but do not look to jump on the bandwagon if this team can find a way to ascend the league rankings for goal production. You can’t be worse than last in goals for and this team is still winning points more than it is losing; if they can find point producers then this team is looked at totally different if they can find a way to KRAK the top 16 teams scoring teams in the league. I think the coaches are doing a great job given the current roster make up. Guys on the team have to continued to add value and fill the roles needed to produce wins, if we can continue to do that then Seattle could be the best landing spot in the upcoming off season. Names do not matter in Seattle nor do individual achievements, as the only thing that is important to Diehard Kraken Hockey Fans is winning as many games as possible, and then eventually… a Stanley Cup.

Let’s Go Kraken and Happy Holidays!

Very Respectfully,

Caleb Nance