Seattle Kraken: HC Version 3.0
148 days removed from the playoffs, the Deep rises again. First year was like the Alaska crab shortage. The second... like a Nirvana reunion tour. And the third for the Seattle Kraken? The beast is revealed tonight.
May 15th’s Game 7 in Dallas is now a memory. Offseason vacas to Europe and the Okanagan are over. Rookie campers have been dismissed. Training camp is no more. Fantasy drafts are (mostly) complete. Hockey SZN is here, baby.
Opening Knights
Tonight, a first game of the season win for the Seattle Kraken is hard to see happening. Six years ago on this very day, the Vegas Golden Knights franchise started at T-Mobile Arena on the Strip. Nine days earlier was the horrific shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival- resulting in 58 lives lost. Defenceman and former LV Wrangler Deryk Engelland addressed the first-ever hockey crowd, standing next to first responders who served during the the tragic events. And the waywardly and superficial town of Las Vegas was transformed into a thriving community thereafter. With a 1-7 records against VGK, add a Stanley Cup banner raising tonight- and the intimidation factor is at 100.
In one week, the home opener at The Pledge in Seattle Center will be another intense matchup. The Colorado Avalanche will arrive for the first time since late April- right before their Game 7 exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Squid rivalries have already been made with Vancouver and Boston so far- and the conference tussle with the Yetis is growing. Also, the Avs final roster for the season includes Valeri Nichushkin, whose controversial stay in Seattle still raises questions.
The Squid Grid
In the 2023-24 Seattle Kraken schedule, only 5 home games are in October and April combined. With 10 homers in March, every other month has at least has five games in Lower Queen Anne. Seeing nothing but wins so far against Buffalo, they play the Sabres in New York on 1/9 and in the PNW right after St. Patrick’s Day. Will Buoy’s boys finally get a win this year against the Lightning? The first game is in Florida at the end of October, with another in Seattle on 12/9. And no one is overlooking the ODR, with reports the Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park will kick-off a week long celebration instead of culminating it on New Year’s Day.
The Squid Squad
For the most part, the band is back together in Seattle. Rookie of the Year Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle, Yanni Gourde, and Jared McCann will lead the front lines again, while Vince Dunn, Adam Larsson, Jamie Oleksiak and Justin Schultz hope to continue producing points and hit parades from the blue line. Will Philipp Grubauer keep his playoff focus in net for the start of year three? And will Dave Hakstol keep up his Jack Adams-level management from the bench?
Three first-time Kraken, and five newcomers in total join the opening night 22. Notables sent down to Coachella Valley include Shane Wright and Ryker Evans. No Erik Karlsson acquisition, but defenseman Jaycob Megna, with great size at 6’6″, appeared in six games last year for Seattle. My PNW Sports editor would have rather seen the Kraken hit the waiver wire instead for Jakub Zbořil or Cal Foote. After five NHL seasons, Joey Daccord finally gets the full-time goalie call-up to prove his starting caliber. Pierre-Eduard Bellmare is an excellent face-off specialist. Brian Dumoulin brings veteran leadership to the back end. And welcome back home to Washington State Kailer Yamamoto from Edmonton.
866 miles away from opening night in Las Vegas, Queen Anne Beer Hall will be the PNW’s new electric factory of local sports excitement and Seattle Kraken away games- along with the Angry Beaver, Moonshine BBQ, and new venues like Sodo’s Hatback Grill and Ballard’s Rough & Tumble. Bookmark this story for quick szn references, put the foil on, and let’s dive back in. ⚓