All the Seattle Kraken and Why You Ought to Love Them

The Tip of the Iceberg

There’s a buzz across the Seattle Kraken as they put together for his or her fourth season of play. After regressing from their robust 2022-23 season and playoff run, the franchise made a daring change on the finish of the winter, firing head coach Dave Hakstol. Changing him is former Coachella Valley Firebirds and Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma and his employees, together with glass ceiling-breaker assistant coach Jessica Campbell. Add in rising younger prospects, thrilling free agent additions, and a model new broadcast TV deal, and also you’ve acquired the recipe for one thrilling Kraken season. Have they acquired their tentacles round you? Do you are feeling your self being sucked in? Right here’s what it’s worthwhile to know to affix the squid squad.

Captains of the Ship

Head Coach Dan Bylsma

• Earned his cred with the Kraken group teaching their AHL affiliate, the Firebirds, to back-to-back championship appearances and growing younger gamers who’ve carried out properly since leaping to the NHL
• Coached the 2008-09 Pittsburgh Penguins (my favourite hockey crew of all time) to a Stanley Cup victory solely 4 months after taking on the job. This time round, he’s acquired a full season to work with
• Nicknamed “Disco” SUPPOSEDLY by his hockey teammates, I as an alternative select to imagine the moniker was handed to him by Woman Gaga herself

Assistant Coach Jessica Campbell

• Employed by Bylsma to be his assistant coach in Coachella, then got here to Seattle with him when he was employed in July
• The primary lady EVER to teach behind the bench within the NHL
• Her Twitter identify is “boof_campbell” from a nickname given to her by her brother, who impressed her hockey profession
• Broadly thought to be among the finest skaters on the earth, no matter gender
• Ponytail GOALS

Captain ???

• As of writing, the Kraken are at the moment the one NHL crew with no captain, having gone captainless since Mark Giordano was traded in March 2022
• Rumors SWIRL like a snowstorm {that a} new captain will likely be introduced earlier than at this time’s season opener
• Although a preferred Twitter motion lengthy pushed for the C to be awarded to Yanni Gourde, present hypothesis factors to veteran Jordan Eberle
• Different names floating embrace Adam Larsson, Jared McCann, and Matty Beniers

Meet the Gamers

Matty Beniers

• Our golden boy, our first draft choose, our rookie purpose chief, our former theatre child
• Kiddo simply signed a giant grown-up contract to the tune of seven years and $50 million
• A Michigan alum, was lately seen sporting a UW hockey sweater at apply after the Huskies’ soccer victory. Clearly he misplaced a guess, however it seems the guess was with a UW hockey participant himself.
• What band did Matty go to Boston Calling to see? My guess is Hozier.

André Burakovsky

• Underappreciated on his outdated groups regardless of successful two Stanley Cups, he got here right here to be good at two issues: smirking and scoring objectives (and he’s nailing each)
• The eyebrows are fairly nice, too, actually
• Hampered by accidents the previous two seasons and really excited to be again and at full power. Search for him to play with verve and pleasure.

Oliver Bjorkstrand

• Clothes like a tax accountant, so possibly that’s the job he actually needs?
• Fourth-most objectives by a Danish participant in NHL historical past (might transfer to 3rd this 12 months)
• In all probability has one of the best smile on the Kraken, although I’d like to see them battle it out
• Former Portland Winterhawk, however we’ll forgive him

Eeli Tolvanen

• This man was drafted immediately from a Wes Anderson film, and you may’t inform me in any other case
• Trivia truth: scored the Kraken’s first-ever playoff purpose
• One other trivia truth: has wonderful hair
• His identify isn’t really pronounced “Eel-y” however everybody posts eel gifs on Twitter when he scores

Brandon Tanev

• You’ve seen this man. He’s the one with the ghost face.
• Wildly in style with the followers for his quick, bodily play fashion and his wonderful move
• 32 however nonetheless will get the zoomies
• As soon as made out together with his greatest good friend Adam Lowry in a meals supply business
• Okay, possibly “made out” was overselling it slightly. You continue to wanna watch.
• Was named to the 2022 Macedonian Diaspora “40 Underneath 40” checklist

Adam Larsson

• Nicknamed “Massive Cat” as a result of he’s massive and actually a cat 
• *listening on hidden earbud* Wait, maintain on, I’m getting phrase that final half could not really be true
• Has just one missed one Kraken recreation actually ever, and that was for the delivery of his child, so I assume that’s fairly honest
• A picture of his iconic bowl reduce adorns bootleg T-shirts and stickers on lampposts all through Seattle 
• Information of his current four-year contract extension was damaged on Twitter by bestie Vince Dunn, who merely tweeted: “😼😼😼😼”

Jamie Oleksiak

• Higher often called most-decorated-Canadian-Olympian Penny Oleksiak’s massive brother
• Nicknamed “Massive Rig”
• And I do imply massive, our man is 6’7”
• Generally when gamers attempt to hit him, they only bounce, and that’s fairly humorous
• Take a look at his lovely tattoos 

Will Borgen

• 6’3” and ostensibly 27 years outdated, however I’d double verify his ID if I have been you
• His dad is known as Invoice Borgen, which is lovely
• They let him handle Matty Beniers for some purpose?
• He’s a great billboard

Jared McCann

• Often known as “The Pastor” on Twitter
• I really do not know if he’s actually a pastor or not, however it matches by some means
• His corgi Cheddar has its personal Instagram account
• When he walks in all in black with that massive hat on whewwwww dang 🔥

Vince Dunn

• Candy face, no ideas in head
• Most certainly to be confused by the mini-mic query
• Additionally probably the most prone to rating objectives and assists and stuff, in order that’s cool
• Likes to begin bother after which skate away and let another person end it

Jordan Eberle

Yanni Gourde

• Primary chaos gremlin 
• 5 toes 9 inches of curly hair and mischief
• You’ve by no means had as a lot enjoyable as he does when he’s preventing
• Met his spouse in center college math class
• At residence, he transforms into furniture-building Tremendous Dad

Philipp Grubauer

• Nicknamed “The German Gentleman,” and it matches each his gown and his demeanor
• They’re not booing, they’re Gruuuuing
• Previously a Rockies fan, he’s been transformed and is now recognized to hang around within the Pen throughout Mariners video games
• Desires to be a cowboy when he grows up

Tye Kartye 

• Went from being undrafted to being the AHL Rookie of the 12 months
• Additionally solely the eighth participant in historical past to attain a playoff purpose in his NHL debut
• Full coronary heart, robust legs, can’t lose
• When he does rating it’s a “Kartye Celebration”
• 😋

Jaden Schwartz

• Look man, I’m so sorry Jaden Schwartz, however that is the one man I all the time neglect about. 

Chandler Stephenson

• Signed a long-term contract in Seattle partially due to his friendships with Jaden Schwartz and André Burakovsky
• You will need to me he has a floppy-eared black Lab named Finley
• Sure, after all I’m going to indicate you an image of Finley
• Has held the Stanley Cup twice, so he should be like, SUPER robust

Josh Mahura

• Has two pictures on his Instagram. TWO. I’ll disgrace you into posting extra, Josh Mahura.

Shane Wright 

• 2022’s anticipated number-one draft choose who was by some means nonetheless out there when the Kraken picked him at #4
• “I am gonna have a chip on my shoulder from this”
• Group Canada captain for 2023 World Juniors
• Opening the season with the large membership this 12 months—search for him to attempt to show himself and maintain his spot
• Hopefully that features tons extra eye-popping objectives like this

Ryker Evans 

• Initially, we name him Garth
• He spent his teenage years enjoying in a league known as “SMAAAHL”
• Together with Tye Kartye, modeled the Firebirds Satisfaction jerseys final 12 months on Instagram
• SMAAAAAAAHL
• I feel he seems like Chloë Sevigny, don’t you?

Brandon Montour

Joey Daccord

Buoy

• The Kraken’s gender-ambiguous mascot who’s each a literal and a figurative troll
• Why does their hair odor so good?
• Wanders the world with a drum and an urge for food for bother
• Critically, be careful for mischief
• Don’t look now, however they’re in all probability proper behind you

Get Kraken 

This season Kraken video games will likely be broadcast free on KONG and KING5, however when you’re in a position, hockey is actually greatest skilled in individual. The velocity, the facility, and the relentless tempo are troublesome to convey on tv. Right here’s your gameday information to Local weather Pledge Area.

Earlier than the sport

• Each Kraken ticket comes with a free transit move, accessed by the Kraken app, that’s legitimate two hours earlier than and after the sport. Parking is pricey and postgame site visitors is gnarly. Stroll, bike, or transit when you can.
• The Kraken host pregame actions within the Seattle Middle Armory on Saturdays and Sundays, together with issues like face portray, signal making, and picture ops. Meals right here is cheaper than within the area, however the traces are for much longer.
• In the event you get to the sport early, you’ll be able to watch warmups subsequent to the glass. The Kraken come out to heat up a few half hour earlier than recreation time, however arrive 10-Quarter-hour sooner than that if you wish to get a great place.

In the course of the Sport

• The Kraken have a enjoyable and elaborate preshow that you just’ll need to be in your seat for, together with lovely video and an orchestral theme composed by Hans Zimmer himself.
• Like a number of different native sports activities groups, the Kraken invite you to face for the anthem when you’re “prepared and in a position.” It’s unlikely you’ll get any flak when you don’t. The essential half is that you just yell “RED GLARE!” together with that lyric, a team-specific ritual that references the Kraken brand’s glowing crimson eye. 
• Not EVERYONE yells out participant final names throughout purpose bulletins, a la Sounders video games, but when it’s an ingrained behavior you gained’t be alone.
• Numerous folks like to decorate up like pirates or cephalopods. LOTS of them. It’s fairly cool, really. In the event you’ve ever wished to offer tentacles or a tricorn a go, now’s your likelihood.
• There are tall nets on the purpose ends and the glass is tall; you’re virtually definitely not going to be on the receiving finish of a flying puck. However when you do, you get to maintain it!
• In the event you’re an individual who makes use of the boys’s toilet, properly—plan forward.

Meals & Drink

• I’m going to be actual: Beer is pricey. Meals is pricey. However the traces are quick, the variability is fairly good, and the Kraken honor their area identify by sourcing meals from inside 300 miles of Local weather Pledge. New choices this 12 months embrace soup dumplings from Dumpling Home, Chili Crunch Yakisoba at Noodle Nirvana, and a roving ice cream cart promoting a house-made tackle the Choco Taco.
• Vegetarian and vegan followers ought to goal for the Inconceivable Check Kitchen or 1st Ave Nachos; for a fuller choice of meatless dishes you’ll sadly want a Membership or different premium ticket.
• The refillable sodas provided the primary two seasons have sadly been changed with appallingly overpriced merchandising machines. They settle for bank cards, spare limbs, and firstborn kids. Smaller cans, plus the same old water, vitality drinks, iced espresso, and so forth. can be found in concession stand coolers. Non-alcoholic beer can be stocked at a number of places.

After the Sport

• When the Kraken win, which they do so much currently, stick round after the sport for the Yeeting of the Fish. The highest gamers will skate out with plush salmon, impressed by Pike Place Market, and fling them into the gang for fortunate recipients to take residence. The salmon are constructed for accuracy, and the variability adjustments yearly.
• Close by bus arrival occasions are posted on the big display screen going through the First Avenue North exits so whether or not it’s worthwhile to saunter or run.
• On the way in which residence, verify Twitter to seek out out who gained the Davy Jones Hat.
• Did the Kraken get a shutout? Congratulations, you’re now morally obligated to eat a donut the following day. (It’s a burdensome responsibility, however I imagine you are able to do it.)

Yeet. Sleep. Repeat. Go Kraken.