One: Let’s get physical
There was no mistaking the message in Kraken practice on Monday at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Kraken coach Dan Bylsma had his players doing drills with a lot of one-on-one, physical battles to them.
Bylsma was asked afterward whether the drills had anything to do with the way the team played in parts of Saturday night’s loss to Carolina and whether he expects to see what they practiced get implemented more visibly in Tuesday night’s game. A grinning, tight-lipped Bylsma nodded his head vigorously at the question, then offered some sparse words: “Yes, a carryover from the game on Saturday,” he said. “And yes, I’d like to see more of it (physical play).”
As if to hammer home that point, the Kraken, an hour or so later, announced that forward John Hayden had been promoted to the NHL roster – along with defenseman Cale Fleury – from AHL Coachella Valley. Hayden is no stranger to physical play, unafraid of dropping his gloves to fight opponents or to charge head-on into corners or the net front to fight for pucks.
The Kraken had the salary cap room to add both players since defenseman Vince Dunn is now on Long Term Injured Reserve. Dunn’s salary won’t count against the cap as long as he remains out, which is expected to be for several more weeks.
Bylsma didn’t mince words as to how he expects the Kraken to improve in those areas.
“The compete and execution under pressure in tough spots,” he said. “That’s the game. You win the game if you’re able to execute in those areas, the tight spots, wall play, defensive zone coverage, coming out of the defensive zone. And offensively, in the offensive zone, that’s where the game is won.”
