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# Kraken Depth Shines in 4-2 Preseason Win vs. Canucks
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-kraken-preseason-depth-shines-win-vs-vancouver-canucks/
- Published: 2026-09-20T03:46:21.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T06:10:17.000Z
- Author: Josh Frojelin
- Tags: Analysis, Game Day, Kraken, Joey Daccord, Frederick Gaudreau, Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, Jani Nyman, Jacob Melanson

To kick off the preseason slate, the Seattle Kraken iced a roster of depth and bubble players against a Vancouver Canucks team of a similar caliber. Still, the Kraken took care of business with a 4-2 win, where the team showed the wealth of talent battling for spots in the bottom of the lineup.

Seattle didn’t have any of its certain top-nine forwards (Jared McCann, Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle, Bobby McMann, Chandler Stephenson, Mackie Samoskevich, Shane Wright, Kaapo Kakko, and Berkly Catton) play in the game. The “top line” featured Oscar Fisker-Mølgaard centering Frederik Gaudreau and Jani Nyman. Only one other line featured NHL hopefuls: Jake O’Brien with Jacob Melanson and Ben Myers.

Defensively, the Kraken also played more fringe roster players in Ryan Lindgren, Ville Ottavainen, Josh Mahura, Tyson Jugnauth, Cale Fleury, and Ty Nelson. Joey Daccord was pulled after saving all 14 shots he faced, and Nike Kokko allowed two goals on six shots after replacing him in the net.

The Kraken jumped to an early lead after Jani Nyman scored on the power play. It was a strong shot, but did hit Vancouver’s netminder Nikita Tolopilo in the glove. Tolopilo is probably penciled into the AHL, like many of the Canucks players who factored into Saturday’s game. Nyman looked strong offensively, but needs to continue developing his defensive game to earn a spot on the NHL roster. It will be an uphill battle to topple one of the Kraken wingers in the team’s projected top-nine

Nelson extended the Kraken lead just before the first period ended. He retrieved a rebound in the high slot, showed off his hands, and finished well. There was no scoring in the second period, but Seattle outshot Vancouver comfortably.

Logan Morrison extended the Kraken lead to 3-0 in the third period. Later in the period, Vancouver scored once at 5-on-5 and once at 6-on-3, cutting the lead down to 3-2.

Melanson and Douglas had many great forechecking shifts. With less than three minutes left, Melanson forced a turnover behind the net and fed O’Brien in the slot. The 19-year-old put the game out of reach.

For head coach Lane Lambert, this game showed the forward depth that the Kraken boast. Fisker-Mølgaard is developing into a well-rounded bottom-six option that could earn more NHL games later this season. But he, Nyman, Eduard Sale, and Jagger Firkus are still likely to start the season in the AHL. They’re all waivers eligible, and the Kraken have physical, defense-first forwards that fit better into a fourth line role.

No defensemen particularly stood out. Jugnauth was the only Kraken defenseman to finish with a minus-rating, and Lambert distributed ice time close to evenly for proper evaluation. The Kraken limited the Canucks’ scoring chances and only allowed 20 shots, albeit with the Canucks not dressing a regular NHL forward. Daccord looked solid as he gears up for the season.

The Kraken face the Calgary Flames on Sunday at 5 PM PT. Given the roster from tonight and playing on back-to-back evenings, expect many of Seattle’s NHL regulars to play in that latest audition.