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Articles by Candace Kludt
Last Second Goal From Montour Secures Kraken Win Over Toronto
Toronto brought the score even in the 3rd. Seattle did make them work for it, and the tying goal did not come until 18:30 in the period from Auston Matthews with assists from Darren Raddysh and Gavin McKenna. It was looking like the game would head into overtime when Monty did what Monty does.
Kraken Best Mammoth For First Time Since 2024-25 Season
After falling short to the Mammoth in all three meet ups during the 2025-26 season, the Kraken took the ice tonight hoping to turn the tide. It was the second game of a 4-game home stand for Seattle and they were fresh off a shoot out win against the Detroit Red Wings. In an almost eerily-similar start to Tuesday, the team took an early lead. Utah was fast to get on the board, but by the end of the second period goals from Jordan Eberle, Matty Beniers, and Brandon Montour had the Kraken up 3-1.
Kraken Best Mammoth For First Time Since 2024-25 Season
Utah opened scoring in the third with a power play goal from Logan Cooley. Former Kraken Kailer Yamamoto quickly followed with one of his own, but it was overturned due to the play being offsides. It did not take long for Utah to tie it up: a second goal from Cooley brought the score to an even 3-3.
Kraken Best Mammoth For First Time Since 2024-25 Season
Kraken Best Mammoth For First Time Since 2024-25 Season
Kraken Blow 3-0 Lead, Win In Shootout Nail-Biter
Kraken Blow 3-0 Lead, Win In Shootout Nail-Biter After going up 3-0 over the first two periods, all the Kraken needed to do was keep Detroit out off the scoresheet to take a regulation win and leave the Red Wings pointless. The team looked good for the fist forty. They kept an offensive upper hand. Mackie Samoskevich put the Kraken on the board just under seven minutes into the first period. In the second, Ryker Evans and Brandon Montour added two additional tallies to bring it to 3-0.
Kraken Blow 3-0 Lead, Win In Shootout Nail-Biter
Then the third period started. Detroit immediately took control, setting the pace and making Seattle play catch up. Their first goal came 6:25 into the period, followed quickly by another at 7:24. The Kraken attempted to rally and hold the score at 3-2, but a late roughing penalty by Chandler Stephenson opened the door and the Red Wings tied it up with just 17 seconds remaining.
Matty Beniers Reaches 200 Point Milestone In OT Loss To Lightning
Matty Beniers Reaches 200 Point Milestone In OT Loss To Lightning 200 NHL points in just over four full NHL seasons; that is the milestone Kraken forward Matty Beniers reached Thursday night. Beniers had been stalled at 199 points for the teams' last few games, but a goal in the 3rd period finally put him in the 200 club. 84 goals and 116 assists in 339 career games gives the 23-year-old a .59 points-per-game average.
Matty Beniers Reaches 200 Point Milestone In OT Loss To Lightning
200 NHL points in just over four full NHL seasons; that is the milestone Kraken forward Matty Beniers reached Thursday night. Beniers had been stalled at 199 points for the teams’ last few games, but a goal in the 3rd period finally put him in the 200 club.
Kraken Place Ryan Lindgren On IR
Kraken Place Ryan Lindgren On IR The Kraken have placed defenseman Ryan Lindgren on injured reserve due to an upper body injury sustained on Tuesday. He is expected to be out 4-6 weeks for recovery. Lindgren left Tuesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights after the first period, and did not return.
Kraken Place Ryan Lindgren On IR
Lindgren left Tuesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights after the first period, and did not return. No update on his injury was available immediately post-game, but head coach Lane Lambert spoke on the veteran's impact on the ice including to the penalty kill where Lindgren is a member of the first unit.
Kraken Eke Out Shootout Victory In Final Home Game Of The Preseason
Kraken Eke Out Shootout Victory In Final Home Game Of The Preseason Facing off against the Calgary Flames for the second time in this preseason, the Kraken put up quite a fight, literally, to take a 4-3 shootout victory. A relatives tame first period led to a second period with multiple dust ups, culminating in a physical third period and eventual shootout victor. The team remains undefeated through preseason play. The first period was slow to get started.
Kraken Eke Out Shootout Victory In Final Home Game Of The Preseason
Kraken Eke Out Shootout Victory In Final Home Game Of The Preseason
Olczyk Will Not Return To Kraken Broadcast Network In 2026
Kraken Hockey Network analyst and on-air personality Eddie Olczyk will not be returning to the Kraken booth for the 2026 season. The right-hand man of play-by-play announced John Forslund announced on Jul 28th that he will be hanging up his headset in order to spend more time with his family in Chicago. After a 16 season career in the NHL, including a trip to the Olympics with Team USA, Olczyk spent time coaching in Pittsburgh before beginning his career as an analyst.
Olczyk Will Not Return To Kraken Broadcast Network In 2026
Olczyk Will Not Return To Kraken Broadcast Network In 2026
Kraken 2026-27 Season Schedule Drops
The 2026-27 Kraken schedule is here! The team still start with two games on the road in Calgary and Edmonton before returning to Climate Pledge Arena for the home opener on October 4th. After a second game at home on the 6th, the team will head back on the road. Kraken Full Season Schedule, Courtesy of Seattle Kraken Some highlights on the homefront: 11/19 vs Vancouver Canucks: See the Kraken battle their closest rivals in what is always a raucous environment.
Coachella Valley Firebirds Announce New Assistant Coach
The Coachella Valley Firebirds have announced their newest assistant coach. Scott Ford will be joining head coach Derek Laxdal behind the bench for the upcoming season, bringing with him more than ten years of coaching experience and another eleven as a defenseman in the AHL, ECHL, and NCAA. Ford was most recently with the Columbus Blue Jackets as an assistant coach. Prior to that, he coached in the AHL for nine years with Milwaukee and Chicago.
O For On-Board: Östman and Ottavainen Sign One-Year Extensions
Extensions keep coming from the Kraken front office. This time for goaltender Viktor Östman and defenseman Ville Ottavainen. The pair were offered one-year, two-way contracts to remain part of the Kraken franchise for the 2026-27 season. Ottavainen will be returning for his fourth AHL season. In 2025-26 he skated in 53 games for the Firebirds scoring 17 points (3g/14a) and racking up 71 penalty minutes. The 6’5” Finn also contributed a goal and 3 assists during the team’s playoff run.
Team White And Team Blue Face Off In 4th Annual Stucky Cup
The Fourth Annual Stucky Cup scrimmage took place Thursday morning to celebrate the conclusion of Kraken development camp. The campers were divided into two teams—white and blue—to face off for the ultimate bragging rights. The rosters pitted 2025 first-round pick Jake O'Brien (Team White) against 2026 first-rounder Chase Reid (Team Blue). The scrimmage is played in two 20-minute halves with an intermission between.
Photo Gallery: Dev Camp Roll Call Part Four
Kraken prospects from across the world have made their way to Seattle for Development Camp 2026. Check out the gallery to see who is in attendance and where they are from. Chase Reid, 18 years old, Chesterfield, MI. Reid was drafted 7th overall in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the 2025-26 season with the Son Greyhounds of the OHL. For 2026, he is committed to the Michigan State University. Chase Reid, photo by Candace Kludt | The Hockey News Viktor Fedorov, 18 years old, Tomsk, Russia.
Kraken Agree To Terms With Curtis Douglas
The Kraken announced yesterday that they have signed forward Curtis Douglas to a two-year, $1.25 million AAV contract. Speaking on the acquisition, Kraken GM Jason Botterill is excited for the "size and strong physical presence" Douglas brings, adding that he "is difficult to play against." Douglas made his NHL debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 5, 2025. In his time in Tampa Bay, he led the team in penalty minutes.
Photo Gallery: Dev Camp Roll Call Part Three
Kraken prospects from across the world have made their way to Seattle for Development Camp 2026. Check out the gallery to see who is in attendance and where they are from. Ryden Evers, 21 years old, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Evers played for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL, and continued with the team in their move to the WHL for the 2025 season. He was signed by the Kraken as an undrafted free agent and will play for Coachella Valley in the fall.
Photo Gallery: Dev Camp Roll Call Part Two
Kraken prospects from across the world have made their way to Seattle for Development Camp 2026. Check out the gallery to see who is in attendance and where they are from. Jakub Fibigr, 19 years old, Unicov, Czechia. Drafted by the Kraken in 2024, Fibigr split the 2025-26 season between the Brampton Steelheads and Windsor Spitfires. He has committed to Ohio State University for 2026. Jakub Fibigr, photo by Candace Kludt | The Hockey News Finn Kearns, 18 years old, Aurora, Ontario, Canada.
Photo Gallery: Dev Camp Roll Call Part Two
0:30 12 hours ago Reports: Sergei Bobrovsky departs Florida Panthers, signs $21 million contract with Toronto Maple Leafs WPBF • 12h Sergei Bobrovsky has left the Florida Panthers after failing to reach a new contract agreement, signing a three-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Canucks Pick Up Jamie Oleksiak On First Day Of Free Agency
Jamie Oleksiak, who came to the Kraken in 2021 as part of the expansion draft, will be headed to the Vancouver Canucks for the 2026-27 season. The 6’7”, 252 pound defenseman has skated in 758 NHL games over 13 seasons, the past five of those in Seattle. During his time in Seattle, Oleksiak appeared in 389 regular season games. He posted 17 goals for a total of 89 points. He hit a career-high 9 goals (25 points) in the 2022-23 season.
Jaden Schwartz Heads To Colorado
Free agency for the NHL opened today and moves are already being made. One of those belongs to Kraken forward Jaden Schwartz. Schwartz concluded his five-year, 5.5 million dollar contract with Seattle and entered unrestricted free agency. Colorado was quick to snatch him up. The 34-year-old veteran had eleven goals (twenty-six points) in fifty games played with the Kraken in 2025-26. He has battled injuries over the past two seasons, but when on the ice is a clear difference maker.
Photo Gallery: Dev Camp Roll Call Part One
Kraken prospects from across the world have made their way to Seattle for Development Camp 2026. Check out the gallery to see who is in attendance and where they are from. Maxim Agafonov, 19 years old, Moskva, Russia. Drafted in 2025 and currently playing for the Toros of the VHL. Maxim Agafonov, photo by Candace Kludt | The Hockey News Alexis Bernier, 20 years old, St Hyacinth, Quebec, Canada.
"Everyone's Been Super Welcoming": Chase Reid Finding His Feet In Seattle
Just days out from being picked 7th overall in the NHL Entry Draft, Chase Reid has made his way to Seattle and started work at the Kraken's 2026 Development Camp. The 6'2", 194 pound defenseman plans to attend the University of Michigan in the fall, but for now he is honing his skills in Seattle as the next step in his NHL journey. Talking about the whirlwind of the past few days, Reid said "it's been a blast" to meet the other prospects, coaches, and tour the facility.
Draft 2026: Chase Reid "Can't wait to get started" In Seattle
With the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry draft the Seattle Kraken selected Chase Reid. Reid is a 6'2", 194 pound right-shooting defenseman who spent the majority of the last two seasons with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. Known for his skating and puck control, Reid was expected to go in the top five by many draft rankings. In the 2025-26 season, Chase played in 45 regular season games. He scored 18 goals and totaled 48 points with a +27.
Prospect Roundup: Goaltender Jack LaFontaine's Season In Kansas City Makes A Strong Argument For Contract Renewal
Jack LaFontaine spent the majority of the 2025-26 season with the Kraken’s ECHL affiliate Kansas City Mavericks. Originally drafted by the Caroline Hurricanes in 2016 (round 3, 75th overall), the 28-year-old joined the Kraken organization when he was signed as a free agent by the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2023.
Trade With Panthers Brings Mackie Samoskevich To Seattle
With the 2026 NHL Entry Draft coming up in just a few short days, the Kraken have been making moves to bolster a roster that has had a lackluster performance in recent years. The newest move? A trade with Florida for Mackie Samoskevich. In return for the 23-year-old forward, the Panthers received Seattle’s 1st Round pick (25th overall) and a 2027 conditional 2nd round pick. Did they overpay? Samoskevich has put up just 63 points (27 goals, 36 assists) in 156 career NHL games.
Kraken Ink Six Year Deal With Bobby McMann
On Sunday, the Kraken announced they have re-signed Bobby McMann to a 6-year, $5.75 million AAV, deal that will begin with the 2026-27 season. During the end-of-season press conference, GM Jason Botterill indicated talks had already started with McMann’s team, and that keeping him in Seattle was a priority for the franchise. McMann made waves before he even made it to Seattle.
Justin Schultz Returns To Seattle In Player Development Role
Former Kraken defenseman and two-time Stanley Cup winner Justin Schultz will make his wa back to Seattle, the team announced Thursday, to take on a role in player development. The 35-year-old announced his retirement in 2024. At the time, he was playing for the Swiss National League. Schultz's career spanned 12 NHL seasons with 745 regular season games. He hoisted the Stanley Cup twice, in 2016 and 2017, with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Prospect Roundup: Jakub Fibigr Will Head To Ohio State For 2026 Season
In February of 2026, Jakub Fibigr announced his commitment to attend Ohio State University for the 2026-27 season. The Czech defenseman has spent the last three seasons in the OHL where he finished the 2025-26 season with fellow Kraken prospect Nathan Villeneuve and the Windsor Spitfire. September 2025: Jakub Fibigr and Kaden Hammell Fend Of Canucks Prospects During Prospect Showcase. Photo by Candace Kludt | The Hockey News The Kraken drafted Fibigr in the 7th round of the NHL Entry Draft in 2024.
Silvertips, Miettinen, Fall Short Of Memorial Cup
It was a disappointing end to a stellar season as Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen and the Everett Silvertips fell short in the Memorial Cup championship game. The Kitchener Rangers took home the hardware with a 6-2 victory. The Silvertips, led by Miettinen, Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear, Anaheim Ducks prospect Tarin Smith, and Landon Dupont played 86 games through the regular and post seasons with a record of 73-10-2-1. They never lost back-to-back games.
Miettien Bests Bernier: Everett Silvertips Advance To Memorial Cup Final
In the battle of the prospects, Julius Miettinen came out on top. Miettinen and Alexis Bernier faced off in the semi-final match of the CHL’s Memorial Cup Tournament Friday night. The winner would go on to meet the Kitchener Rangers in the final, while the loser would be eliminated from play. Almost from the first puck drop, the Everett Silvertips were in control.
Philipp Grubauer, Germany, Eliminated From Men's Worlds In Preliminaries
It was a rough Men’s World Championship for Philipp Grubauer and Germany, who will not advance past the preliminary round. Of their seven games, Germany bested Latvia, Hungary, and Austria, but it was not enough to carry them into the semifinals. For his part, Grubauer started in six of the seven match ups and was the goaltender for all three of Germany’s wins. Over the course of the tournament, Grubauer posted an 8.89 save percentage and a 2.52 goals against average.
Kraken Prospects Face Off In Memorial Cup Tournament
The Canadian Hockey League’s Memorial Cup Tournament got underway last weekend in Kelowna, BC with two Kraken prospects competing for the CHL’s highest award. Julius Miettinen and Alexis Bernier, both drafted by the Kraken in 2024, and their respective teams hope to bring the Memorial Cup home.
Firebirds Fall 2-3 To Eagles, End Playoff Run
The Coachella Valley Firebirds have been eliminated from Calder Cup contention after a 3-2 loss to Colorado on Wednesday. The Eagles will progress to the Western Conference Final, and the Firebirds will head home for the summer. Jagger Firkus opened the scoring for Coachella Valle 4:13 into the first. Colorado were unable to answer, and 2:30 into the second Ville Ottavainen added a second tally. Unfortunately, after that it was all Colorado.
Prospect Roundup: Alexis Bernier Signs ELC Days After Clinching QMJHL Championship
2024 3rd round draft pick Alexis Bernier has had a busy week. Just days ago the 19-year-old hoisted the Gilles-Coureau Trophy with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, and today he signed his entry level contract with the Seattle Kraken. Courtesy of Seattle Kraken As a defensive defenseman, Bernier is known for his ability to shut down the opposing offense with smart passing and elite breakout ability.
Firebirds Down 2-1 In Best-Of-Five Series Against Colorado
The Firebirds are now down 1-2 after game three of the Pacific Division Finals. On Sunday, the Eagles once again showed why they were the second-ranked team out of the regular season with a 4-1 victory. Coachella Valley came out strong. A shorthanded goal from Lleyton Roed at 14:46 in the first period opened the scoring and put the Firebirds in the lead. The Eagles tied it up in the second, and by the end of 60 minutes Colorado had added another three goals to the scoreboard.
Prospect Roundup: Julius Miettinen And The Silvertips Are WHL Champions
For the first time in franchise history, the Everett Silvertips clinched the Western Hockey League Championship and are taking home the Ed Chynoweth Cup. The team faced four rounds of best-of-seven play, ending their run with a 16-1-1 record. Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen was named MVP. Miettinen was drafted by the Kraken in the second round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft (40th overall).
Firebirds Tie The Series With Shutout Win Over Colorado
Game Two of the Pacific Division Finals between the Coachella Valley Firebirds and Colorado Eagles took place Friday night at Acrisure Arena. In their first meeting, the Eagles were able to shutout the Firebirds in a 3-0 victory. Coachella Valley needed to come back strong in their final home game of the series. The first two periods were scoreless. Shots on goal were fairly even; 21 for Colorado and 17 for Coachella Valley through the first 40.
Jake O'Brien Makes Professional Debut, Firebirds Fall To Eagles
2025 NHL Entry Draft First-Round pick Jake O’Brien made his professional hockey debut tonight in Coachella Valley. It was game one of the Pacific Division Finals against the Colorado Eagles: a high-pressure moment to step into as a rookie. Colorado took the game with a 3-0 shutout, the fourth in seven post-season games from Eagles’ goaltender Trent Miner. O’Brien ended the night with no points to show and no shots on goal. He was a -1 defensively.
Prospect Roundup: Jake O'Brien Reports To Coachella Valley Firebirds
2025 First Round pick Jake O’Brien has been reassigned to the Coachella Valley Firebirds. His season with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL came to an end May 4th after a game 7 loss to the Barrie Broncos in the conference final. O’Brien put up a 1.75 points-per-game average in the regular season: 28 goals and 65 assists across 53 games played. In the playoffs, he skated in 15 games and added 6 goals and 17 assists.
Firebirds Force Game Five With 6-2 Win Over Reign
Coming into tonight’s match up, the Firebirds were in a do-or-die situation. The series sat at 2-1 in favor of Ontario, and another loss would mean the end of Coachella Valley’s playoff run. The Firebirds were not ready to call it a season. Jack Hughes (not THAT Jack Hughes) opened the scoring for the Reign 14 minutes into the first period. The Firebirds battled, but it took a powerplay to get them on the board.
Prospect Roundup: Ryden Evers Joins Coachella Valley For Their Playoff Run
Ryden Evers—picked up as a free agent in March of this year—was reassigned to the Coachella Valley Firebirds at the end of April when his season with the WHL’s Penticton Vees came to an end. The Vees fell to the Everett Silvertips—led by fellow Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen—in a four game sweep in the Western Conference Finals. Evers spent most of his junior career playing in the BCHL and when the Vees moved from the BCHL to WHL before the 2025 season, Evers moved with them.
The Draft Lottery Results Are In: Kraken Will Pick 7th Overall
The lottery is over, and the Kraken will have the 7th overall pick in the 226 NHL Entry Draft. There was only a 7.5% chance of the number one pick falling to Seattle, but the hope was there, nonetheless. Pick one will go to the Toronto Mile Leafs and pick two to the San Jose Sharks. After those first two picks, the other teams fall in line in their reverse standings order.
Prospect Roundup: Clarke Caswell Ends Rookie NCAA Season With Frozen Four Championship
For the 2025-26 season, Seattle Kraken Prospect Clarke Caswell joined the University of Denver Pioneers. Denver has a long history of elite performance, and the recent NCAA rule change allowing WHL alums to participate in their sports meant a great opportunity for further development. Caswell was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, 151st overall. In his final year in the WHL with the Swift Current Broncos he put up 22 goals and 62 assists for 84 points in 65 games played.
Prospect Roundup: Blake Fiddler Headed To The NCAA
Kraken prospect Blake Fiddler has announced his commitment to University of Denver. The 2025 2nd round pick will join fellow Kraken prospect Clarke Caswell in the NCAA for the 2026-27 season. The 19-year-old defenseman is known for his physical game. At 6’5” and 212 pounds, Fiddler is known for his positioning and his Intelligent off-puck play. His size and speed give him an edge over opponents.
Coachella Valley 1-1 In Pacific Division Semifinals
Coachella Valley is now two games in to their second round match up against the Ontario Reign. The Reign held the number one seed at the end of the regular season but the Firebirds managed to come out victorious in just under half of their regular-season games. So far, the Pacific Division Semifinals are going the same way. The Firebirds took game one in a 3-0 shutout. Goaltender Nikke Kokko fended off 23 shots and was given first star for his effort.
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