Seattle Kraken’s Best of the Bounty During Season One
From the Expansion Draft 10 months ago to the team’s first offseason, JW recalls what went right for the Seattle Kraken during their inaugural season as the NHL’s 32nd franchise.
Hockey returned to Seattle Center in 2021 for the first time since the Seattle Thunderbirds 14 years ago. I covered over 35 Seattle Kraken home games at the Greenhouse and spent enough time at the Northgate Iceplex to set up a cot in the Zamboni room. In no particular order, here’s my list of Seattle Kraken wins (more than the 27 on the ice) this past year for the newest team in the Emerald City.
Carson Soucy
A six-foot-five fourth-year defenceman with a heavy shot, Carson Soucy was selected from the Minnesota Wild in the Expansion Draft and led the team in plus/minus with +7. In Kraken’s first season, he set career highs in goals, points, power play points, shorthanded points, and shots.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CW4xJ70rLdl/
Climate Pledge Arena
This is probably the biggest win of all, the old Key becoming the new Greenhouse. Twice the size of the last arena, the iconic roof and some glass structures are the only remnants left from the old place for this new hockey barn. The bright and shiny aside, this is easily the best sporting venue in town and a top choice in the NHL.
Kraken Opening Night in Seattle: October 23, 2021
The Logos
The symbols of this team are a total slam dunk and well before the Supersonics return home. They paid homage to the Stanley Cup winning Seattle Metropolitans, Space Needle, and the city’s maritime roots. Great logos translate into killer merchandise. Starting with listening to the fans for the team name, everything is better than it was five years ago when Vegas came into the league, right down to the expansion inaugural patch.
A team-signed Seattle Kraken home jersey at the 2022 NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas.
Colin Blackwell
A lightning rod on the ice and a great interview off it, the Massachusetts-born center led the Kraken in shorthanded goals. Colin Blackwell only played 39 games before moving to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Even in a brief time frame, Colin Blackwell still ranked inside the team’s top 12 for goals, plus/minus, shot percentage, and faceoff percentage.
Here's the video clip of Colin Blackwell talking about bringing the Sonics back to Seattle in NBA 2K. Certainly on his way to becoming a fan favorite.#SEAKraken pic.twitter.com/zTD71Q0CyI
— Emerald City Hockey (@EmeraldCityHky) December 28, 2021