We The Fans: Kraken Change Catton’s Number to 27 to Help Change the Subject After Loss and Look to Bounce Back At Home Against Nashville Predators

Happy New Years Kraken Fans and Thank You for all the wonderful memories we have already made and I look forward to making more with all of you!

The Seattle Kraken announced before their public practice that GM Jason Boterrill is changing forward Berkley Catton from number 77 to number 27 effective immediately. He was spotted at the practice already decked out in 27 Gear. Assuming name plates and numbers could be changed, hopefully the team store is looking to accommodate the change for fans who paid a lot of money for their jersey to rep their favorite players name and number. If he can manage to find his first goal then some are definitely bound to make the switch. The players are not the only ones that matter. Fans matter too! Seattle is blessed to have better attendance than other teams around this league as they sit in one of the best and most competitive sports markets in the country. Hockey is fresh in Seattle, but make no mistake. Seattle is the kind of sports market that can make a great player a household name. The exposure and the fan support you receive here in second to none across the league, but the team has largely underperformed in previous seasons, and it is barely scraping by with one more regulation win than loss this season and not counting all the overtime loses and absolutely terrible shootout loses.

This team couldn’t score in the shootout if the other teams goalie’s arms were taped to his body and his legs were taped together. Shootouts can be practiced, but you can score or you don’t. Based on the way the team looks to play offenseI wouldn’t get your shootout hopes up anytime soon even with solid goaltending. There is a lack of scoring prowess that is evident to fans and players, but I am fully convinced that the management in charge does not actually watch the games or they would continue to find ways to increase offensive production. They have a proven stingy defensive system in a very competitive league. Another dynamic wing would create better matchups for guys up and down the line up as that is one more weapon that you have to cover on the ice. The team has 20 million in estimated cap space at the trade deadline as the team looks to build for the future. Jani Nyman (19 yers old) was sent back down to the Coachella Valley Firebirds yesterday as well. The team looks to return Jaden Schwartz (8 Goals before Injury) back to the line up soon as well. As he practiced today with the team in a red non contact jersey and looks to soon make a return to the line up.

On a positive note, the upcoming draft has never been this loaded with talent and this year the team has collected quite a few picks as well as over the past couple seasons. Hitting on these picks and developing the players with quality coaching is so important with the model for success the organization has chosen. Hopefully the Kraken are looking to draft based on ability and development and not based on hype or breakout stand alone seasons. I would love to see this team turn it around find success, but the future of the team should be the forefront priority of moves the franchise looks to make going forward. Be patient Kraken Fans as the Cap Cure is coming to Seattle in the next couple seasons. The Kraken have had a huge amount of improvement in their defense and special teams which shows that the growth in certain players is definitely there. The team does lack zone movement and get caught standing still which has proved to increase frustration amongst the teams scoring woes.

Jason Robertson has to be the Seattle Kraken Number 1 Prospect going into Free Agency, this year as it would put butts in the seats. It is not a secret that Seattle has a huge asian American population and a premier goal scorer and proven performer in the NHL would make this team super dynamic as guys could shift around and focus on helping and utilizing more open space. The powerplay would get better and with seasoned playoff experience he is the exact kind of player this team needs in the locker room. Higher attendance or if possible, repetitive sellouts boost and maximize revenue in the professional sports business. You have to create different kinds of value for different kinds of consumer. The Kraken have never made one of those kinds of moves as it is clear the plan is to collect as many draft picks as possible and see what this squid squad can do. The only way this team can score is by committee. They need to come together and utilize more gang violence, strength in numbers, and really play hockey with a pack mentality. Confidence and belief in yourself and your team mates is super important in this sport, almost equally important as having the skills is having the confidence to use them and making an effort to develop team chemistry. Adaptability is crucial.

The Kraken need to look to win more puck battles and put tough shots on goal as the goaltending and defensive system instilled by coaching has seemingly proven reliable despite teams lack luster offensive numbers. The are playing better in the neutral zone despite losing 77% of the puck battles against Vancouver. Goaltenders has been the best two players on the team, but the toughest and most frustrating part of the teams under preformance is acknowledgement of the fact that their are some really likable personalities and people on this Kraken team. On the flip side, the young guys have proven preformance so the team may look to utilize juggling more roster depth for key matchups in back to backs. The most important of having so much depth in the system is relying on it and developing it along the way. Jessica Campbell is a great coach and has done a lot in Seattle, perhaps this underperformance is signal for change and if she weren't so beloved to the franchise probably would have been replaced similar to the carousel of coaches that have come through the team since the teams existence began in 2021. Speaking of Coaches, Lane Lambert is learning a lot about this Kraken team and his system has seemed largely successful up to this point helping the team maintain an average goals against that is among the top of the league. The team should look to play from behind the net and utilize their quickness against a solid Nashville Predators Team. Hopefully them can look back on track against a team that is 8-3 over their last 11 games.

Starting Line Up vs. Nashville Predators 1/1

Kakko-Beniers-Eberle

Tovanen-Stephenson-Gaudreau

Catton-Wright-McCann

Kartye-Meyers-Melanson

Dunn-Larsson

Lindgren-Fleury

Evans- Oleksiak

Daccord

Grubaeur

Let’s GO KRAKEN!!

Very Respectfully,

Caleb Nance