It’s a testament to how quickly things evolve when late September hits. We thought we’d let the weekend slide and come back on Monday to write a news recap, but so much has happened with the Seattle Kraken since Friday afternoon and Monday is already another preseason gameday, so why not a Sunday update? More prospects were sent home, a pair of preseason bouts, injury news, and a new sponsorship partner. Let’s discuss.
Kraken Improve vs. Canucks and Oilers
The Kraken’s preseason curtain raiser when they were trounced at home by the Calgary Flames is starting to feel like a long time ago. Are things perfect? No, of course not. Head coach Dan Bylsma and his staff are still figuring out line combinations, and giving young guns some ice time, and the club has lost more often than it has won, but there is much more reason for optimism as the side travels to Calgary for a Monday night showdown.
On Friday the Kraken completed their home-and-home with the Vancouver Canucks and returned the favor of Tuesday’s 3-1 loss with a victory by the same scoreline. Seattle completely dominated the faceoff circle, winning 39 of 59 opportunities for a 66.1% success rate. That was after edging the Canucks in the circle in the previous tilt (52.1%) despite losing the match. The good news was that both Brandon Montour and Eeli Tolvanen tallied. Montour is one of the team’s new offseason acquisitions and Tolvanen signed a two-year extension. Netminder Joey Daccord also resembled his 2023-24 self, repelling 19 of the 20 shots sent his way.
There was no time to celebrate. The Edmonton Oilers awaited at home on Saturday evening. This was a vastly different affair in pace and style. The Kraken couldn’t hold on to a 4-2 advantage, eventually succumbing to Edmonton’s speed and skill in a 5-4 defeat. While the result was disappointing, Seattle showed that it too can skate with the best. The team – reinforcements included – looked very good at times. Jacob Melanson (2021 draft class), Eduard Sale (2023 first-round pick), John Hayden, and Ben Meyers (offseason signing) all scored.
There is no shame in losing to last season’s Stanley Cup finalists, especially in a high-scoring affair with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the ice. The loss disappointed, but the Kraken went toe-to-toe with a supremely well-oiled…
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