Andre Burakovsky, Seattle Kraken (photo by Dinur Blum, via Flickr).
We’re starting a new series for the Seattle Kraken this season. Three Stars of the Week is a feature dedicated to showcasing the team’s current talent and giving them their due. At the end of each week, our staff votes for the three players we believe best-exemplified integrity, leadership, and dedication. Those who went above and beyond for their team.
In the first three games of the season, fans saw seen a very mixed bag of results. The Seattle Kraken are currently 1-1-1, snagging 3 of 6 possible points over the last week.
In the opener, they fought relentlessly against the Anaheim Ducks, then won big against the Los Angeles Kings before finishing with a brutal beating from the Vegas Golden Knights. There are still plenty of games left this season, but many moments have left us hopeful.
Despite the small sample size, the team has seen an uptick in scoring. Compared to last season’s 2.60 goals scored per game, the Seattle Kraken are currently scoring at a 3.33 goals-per-game pace. Two players are currently on pace for 109-point seasons. While that may be a bit far-fetched, especially this early, it is exciting to see.
Another reason to smile has been the vast improvement in this year’s power play. Kraken General manager Ron Francis made a few changes in the offseason that have aided Seattle’s special teams, especially on the man advantage. This week’s three stars of the week have spearheaded that initiative specifically.
These improvements currently have the Seattle Kraken sitting fifth in the league in power play percentage. That’s just slightly behind elite teams such as the Colorado Avalanche and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Funny enough, one of our three stars of the week and one of our honorable mentions has a history with both of those teams. It’s no surprise the Kraken have seen an improvement in that area.
After just one week of regular season play, there is already much to look forward to over the coming year. After last season, this is certainly the hope Kraken fans need. Seattle may not be phenomenal this season, but they will surely be fun to watch.
Veteran netminder, Martin Jones, started between the pipes for the Seattle Kraken twice this week. Unfortunately, his second game was less than stellar.
During Saturday’s home opener against the Vegas Golden Knights, Jones earned himself an abysmal .729% save percentage on the night. Throughout two periods, he let the Golden Knights beat him five times. At the top of the third period, he was relieved by Philipp Grubauer, and rightfully so.
Nevertheless, his performance against the Los Angeles Kings on October 13th is what earned him an honorable mention this week. His 26 beautiful saves and .963% save percentage were exactly what the team needs from a netminder this early in the season.
He held off the Kings, allowing only one goal. His lone blemish was the result of an unfortunate turnover. His stellar performance was a big reason why the Seattle Kraken won their first game of the 2022-23 season.
Our third star of the week goes to Jaden Schwartz. The 30-year-old second-line forward had an impressive week, earning one point in each Seattle Kraken contest. Alongside Matthew Beniers, he aided Jared McCann for Seattle’s first score against the Anaheim Ducks.
This game would prove challenging for the team, but it still earned them their first point of the season. It was his work on the power play this week, however, that has earned him recognition.
Schwartz has proven to be a true asset for the Seattle Kraken on the man advantage. In two consecutive games, he used the Schwartz (for you fellow nerds, yes, I’m making a Space Balls reference) and potted two power-play goals.
Power Play Genius
His first PP Goal came early in the first period against Los Angeles. An early tripping penalty taken by Blake Lizotte gave the Kraken their second-man advantage of the evening just seconds after the previous penalty had expired. Up until the moment of Jaden’s goal, the power play hadn’t been anything special.
However, Andre Burakovsky set up a beautiful play. Faking a shot, he passed to Jordan Eberle. Schwartz tried to nail it in, but King’s goalie Jonathan Quick made the save. Nevertheless, the Kings couldn’t get back on top of the loose puck, and Schwartz hammered in his rebound, giving the Kraken an early lead moments before the penalty came to a close.
The Kraken struggled against Vegas in Game 3, allowing five goals in the first two periods. However, it was Schultz’s goal late in the third that gave the team a little bit of their momentum back.
Seattle had an opportunity to score again after an interference penalty led to a power play. Burakovsky, once again, set up Schwartz with a beautiful pass. Schwartz took a chance and chipped it in, scoring a goal right before faceplanting gracefully into the chest of goalie Adin Hill.
Schwartz and Burakovsky have been a beautiful pairing for the Seattle Kraken’s power play. Outside of his outstanding play on special teams,, Schwartz has been impressive in other facets of the game as well.
In the faceoff circle, he has a 57.1% faceoff percentage. The Colorado College Alum is currently second on the team in shots on goal, with 10. and his two goals have earned him a 20% shooting percentage (trailing only Alex Wennberg). He also had 7 hits in 3 games, as well as one blocked shot.
Andre Burakovsky joined the Seattle Kraken as a free agent in the off-season. His first three games with the club have been a testament to why he is a Stanley Cup Champion and our second star of the week.
The 27-year-old set career highs in goals, assists, and points last season with the Colorado Avalanche. At the rate he is going, Burakovsky is on the fast track to eclipsing those totals in 2022-23.
After last season, the Kraken was in desperate need of scoring, and Burakovsky has not been in short supply. In just 3 games, he’s tied for first in points with rookie star Matty Beniers.
Albeit a small sample size, he’s helped the Seattle Kraken’s power play go from 14.55% last season to 38.46% so far this season. Three of his four points so far came on the man advantage.
As mentioned, Burakovsky has helped his teammates take advantage of prime scoring opportunities. He has shown how patient and poised he is on the ice.
However, what stands out about his game, isn’t necessarily the points he produced but the way he’s gone about procuring these points.
Showing Up When it Matters Most
There is no doubt that Burakovsky has become, and will continue to be, an offensive asset to the team. However, Andre shows up for his team when it matters most.
Both of his points against the Vegas Golden Knights came when the team was trying to rally and make some sort of a comeback. His power-play goal against the Anaheim Ducks gave Seattle a crucial one-goal advantage in the second period. Despite losing in overtime, his goal was an important catalyst in earning the team one point in that game.
His assist on Jaden Schwartz’s opening goal against Los Angeles showed off his incredible innovation on the ice, faking a shot and setting up Jordan Eberle with the pass. This goal led the way for Seattle to band together and take home their first win of the NHL season.
Going forward, his leadership and ability to show up for his team will benefit the Seattle Kraken greatly. The second-generation NHLer is the kind of player this team was missing last season. Burakovsky could very well be the glue that holds them altogether if things start to fall apart.
The first star of the week belongs to none other than rookie sensation Matty Beniers. After a 10-game cup of coffee with the Seattle Kraken last season, anticipation was high for the 20-year-old pivot to join the team full-time.
Right out of the gate, he hasn’t disappointed. Beniers gives hope for a bright and beautiful hockey future in the Pacific Northwest.
In the Seattle Kraken’s first three games, Beniers has 4 points (1g, 3a.) John Gibson was a tough goaltender to beat, but he assisted Jared McCann in Seattle’s first goal in the season opener.
It was only 4:09 into the third period when Beniers scored his first goal of the season. Off of his rebound, he snuck up behind Frank Vatrano and put the biscuit in the basket. Despite outshooting the Ducks throughout most of the game, the Kraken lost to their feathered foes in overtime.
Building off of Early Success
In their next contest, down I-5 in Los Angeles, Beniers continued to build off of his early success, racking up more points. Matty picked up the primary assist on Alexander Wennberg‘s goal halfway through the second period. This score gave them a comfortable two-goal lead, aiding them in their win.
Beniers almost scored his second goal of the season in that game. Converting on a pass from Justin Schultz, he knocked the puck out of mid-air, scoring on Quick. Although fun to watch, the goal was scored with a high stick, resulting in the goal being overturned.
He earned another point against the Vegas Golden Knights, getting the secondary helper on Justin Schultz’s late third-period goal. His fourth point of the season made him only the third teenager in league history to tally points in 11 of his first 12 NHL games, also making him, on average, a point-per-game player since joining the Seattle Kraken in 2021-22.
With four points each, Matty Beniers and Andre Burakovsky are each on pace to have a 109-point season. How close do you think they’ll get? Let us know in the comments below. Let’s go, Kraken!