Seattle Kraken: Spokane Chiefs alumni who could come back to the Pacific Northwest
Mike Babcock, Toronto Maple Leafs.
Goaltender
Darcy Kuemper, goaltender, Arizona Coyotes
When healthy, Darcy Kuemper is a very capable NHL goaltender. The numbers back that up. In 215 NHL, Kuemper has a 2.46 Goals Against Average and .918 Save Percentage. The key lies in the first part of his bio, “when healthy.” Stuck behind Devin Dubnyk in Minnesota, he signed as a free agent with Los Angeles in July 2017. Kuemper was traded to the Desert Dogs eight months later where he has been in a time-share situation with Antti Raanta every since.
Coach
Mike Babcock, coach
This is a bonus profile. Mike Babcock is under consideration by Seattle Kraken General Manager Ron Francis to be the franchise’s first head coach. He was Spokane’s bench boss from 1994-2000 before joining the Ducks organization as the coach of their AHL affiliate in Cincinnati. In six seasons with the Chiefs, he went to the WHL Finals twice (1996 and 2000).
As an NHL head coach, Babcock is a proven winner. His resume includes a .649 career regular-season points percentage, three trips to the Stanley Cup Finals, and a championship with Detroit in 2008. Babcock became available when he was let go by Toronto in mid-November after a 9-10-4 start to the season.
A hallmark of Babcock coached teams is their skill and ability to control the puck.
Which Chiefs alumni do you think will come back to the Pacific Northwest to play for the Seattle Kraken? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.