Kraken Provide Injury Updates for Three Key Players
SEATTLE, Wash. - Just as the Seattle Kraken started to work back a couple injured players into the rotation, they found themselves without another regular at practice on Tuesday.
After exiting Monday’s preseason loss to the Calgary Flames early in the second period after taking a high hit from Flames forward Martin Pospisil, Vince Dunn did not practice on Tuesday. Kraken coach Lane Lambert said the 28-year-old defenseman is day-to-day.
Josh Mahura skated in Dunn’s spot alongside Adam Larsson, who shed light on how the team felt about what happened.
“Obviously it’s not good to see him go down and leave the game,” Larsson said. “I don’t think the team (Calgary) was doing the right thing, and everybody stepped in there. I mean, it’s preseason. I don’t know if you really need to go that high with a cross-check and stuff like that. Obviously, emotions (run) high, but yeah, it’s unfortunate.”
Despite losing yet another player to injury, the Kraken welcomed back two injured forwards in a more involved capacity, as both Jared McCann (lower body) and Chandler Stephenson (undisclosed) rotated into line rushes. McCann cycled in with Jaden Schwartz, Shane Wright, and Ryan Winterton, while Stephenson shared reps at center with Freddy Gaudreau between Mason Marchment and Eeli Tolvanen.
“Both of them looked pretty good to me, so I think they’re progressing in the right direction, for sure,” Lambert said. “Once you get back up with the group, I think that’s a real positive sign.”
Neither has been fully cleared by the medical staff, but both are also considered day-to-day, as is Brandon Montour (ankle), who has missed the entirety of training camp but was present at Kraken Community Iceplex on Tuesday, walking around in sneakers while wearing the full kit of Seattle’s new third jersey, presumably for a promotional shoot for the team.
Montour is expected to be ready for the season, but while Dunn’s status remains up in the air, Mahura and Cale Fleury – who has slotted into Montour’s projected spot alongside Ryan Lindgren recently – both have opportunities to solidify their places on the depth chart.
Mahura is the incumbent No. 7 defenseman, while Fleury has 77 NHL games under his belt, including 14 with Seattle last season. Each can contribute on special teams — Mahura on the penalty kill, Fleury on the power play — and Lambert wants them to assert themselves as reliable options.
“Just a real steady, strong game,” Lambert said. “Have some physicality doing their job. … Being hard and being hard to play against, and just defending well.”
