Kraken Win Second Preseason Game with Unproven Roster, Edge Flames 4-2 at Climate Pledge
Sunday night’s Seattle Kraken preseason game was closer to the Coachella Valley Firebirds versus the Calgary Wranglers than it was to Kraken versus the Calgary Flames. Truthfully, we learned more about the Seattle Kraken projected roster from who was not in the lineup.
But nonetheless, the Kraken still handled business with a 4-2 win. This is how the Kraken lined up:
Jani Nyman-Oscar Fisker-Molgaard-Jagger Firkus
Carson Rehkopf-Logan Morrison-Ryan Winterton
Edouard Sale-Mitchell Stephens-Jon-Randall Avon
Curtis Douglas-John Hayden-Nathan Villeneuve
Tyson Jugnauth-Ville Ottavainen
Gustav Olofsson-Ty Nelson
Caden Price-Kaden Hammell
Ty Nelson scored a second preseason goal and continued his strong camp. As of now, he’s the main young defenseman making a bid for a roster spot for the Kraken. Nelson led defensemen in ice time tonight and, at 5-on-5, Seattle outshot Calgary 18-9 with Nelson on the ice. Per Natural Stattrick, Nelson was a positive in every metric they track.
“He certainly has a little bit of a knack for joining offensively, but [he has] a really good head on his shoulders defensively,” head coach Lane Lambert said of Nelson. “And he skates well, so he can close quickly. That’s important to be able to do in this league, because if you don’t and you’re a step behind, the puck ends up in the back of your net.”
Jagger Firkus extended the Seattle lead in the first period with a power play goal. His offensive talent is impressive, but the 22-year-old is still Coachella Valley-bound to start the season. Despite his offensive talents, Firkus isn’t passing any of the Kraken wingers for a top-nine or power play spot.
Goalie Philipp Grubauer, the only NHL lock on the roster, saved 15-of-16 shots in two periods of work.
“That was a good test for him right off the hop, to get some traffic like that and have to battle,” Lambert said. “I liked how he looked.”
Nikke Kokko, appearing on a back-to-back, saved seven-of-eight shots in the third period.
“We had [nine] guys playing in their second game in two nights… but [we] really found a way to grind it out,” Lambert said. “I was extremely happy with the commitment and the togetherness.”
Aydar Suniev scored a second even strength goal to tie the game in the third. The Kraken had only one tonight. But, Logan Morrison’s deflection power play goal late in third period gave the Kraken the lead. Jon-Randall Avon put the game out of reach with an empty net goal.
The Kraken’s power play has looked solid through two games. But, it’s primarily been fringe roster players and AHL’ers facing players of a similar caliber. It’s unlikely that any of these players factor into the Kraken power play come October.
Besides Nelson, no one has significantly changed their stock in these two preseason games. Jani Nyman and Oscar Fisker-Mølgaard continue to look solid, and show good defensive tendencies, but have yet to dominate against the lower competition they’ve faced. Ryan Winterton, it seems, is still in a battle for a depth forward spot.
While a very youthful Kraken team made the trip to Calgary, the Kraken kept their roster locks in Seattle. Most of players should see game action on Thursday, in a rematch between the Kraken and Flames in Seattle. This is how they lined up at practice today:
Jared McCann-Matty Beniers-Mackie Samoskevich
Bobby McMann-Chandler Stephenson-Jordan Eberle
Kaapo Kakko-Berkly Catton-Shane Wright
Ben Meyers-Frederick Gaudreau-Jacob Melanson
Vince Dunn-Adam Larsson
Ryker Evans-Brandon Montour
Ryan Lindgren-Cale Fleury
Josh Mahura-Lukas Dragicevic
Many of the Kraken youngsters from tonight will be reassigned to their junior team or to Coachella Valley over the course of the week. The Kraken have two more preseason games before October 1, when they open the regular season against the Flames in Calgary.
