Good News Cycle: Winterton, Catton, Montour

Seattle Kraken Training Camp, pres. by Starbucks, begins on September 18th and runs through September 30th. Check back daily for the latest updates from camp as the Kraken look to finalize their roster ahead of October 9th's season opener.

Oct 7: Good News Cycle: Winterton, Catton, Montour

Following Monday’s off-day for the team, there is plenty of positive Kraken news to report. For one, veteran center Chandler Stephenson has been cleared medically for practice and this week’s two-game opening homestand. He worked between newcomer and fellow veteran Mason Marchment and young winger Ryan Winterton during Tuesday’s practice, plus jumped back into the Seattle penalty kill rotation.

“It seems like guys are really embracing [the new systems of play] and really firing,” said Stephenson when asked to compare early training camp and these final two days of the preseason. “Guys are ready to go. It feels like guys have just gotten better and better. It's kind of a good time with playing in two days here, getting the real thing going.”

Stephenson likes what he is seeing from Winterton: “It seems like every time he gets called up, and every time he's been around, he's more comfortable. I think the more comfortable you see guys, the more reps they get, they just feel better about themselves.”

Winterton competed against any number of NHL-tested veteran forwards along with 2023 second-rounder Oscar Fisker Molgaard, who was just reassigned to AHL Coachella Valley after Sunday’s practice. Coach Lane Lambert and GM Jason Botterill were on the same page about keeping the 2021 third-round draft choice, who has excelled with Coachella Valley. It’s instructive to recall that Winterton, who just turned 22, was one of the youngest prospects in the 2021 NHL Draft. If his early September birthday had been two weeks later, he would have been part of the 2022 draft pool.

“He came into came into camp prepared just like they [other forwards vying for a roster] all did,” said Lambert. “He worked. He's shown a good ability to understand the game. He's got great speed. He fits into an area where we’re schooling him on penalty killing, trying to find a role for him best suited for him.”

Per Lambert, Winterton’s speed allows him to keep pace with Stephenson, one of the team’s better skaters. Marchment “is really good fighting around the net” and that “complements” the speed of Stephenson and Winterton heading up ice.

There are different types of speed for hockey players. For 19-year-old Berkly Catton, making the opening night roster was bolstered by his explosiveness.

“It's his quickness to elude, quickness to escape,” said Lambert about Catton. “With ‘Cat’, you know his ability, you know his first three steps to elude and evade people. Let's just be honest. He's not going to outmuscle Jamie Oleksiak for the puck in the corner. Those first few steps, that quickness, that really helps a player like him.”

Sunday Dinner at the Stephenson Household

Showing his brand of leadership and comfort level in Year 2 with Kraken, Stephenson invited Catton and Winterton to his family home on Sunday evening. The menu included pork tenderloin, chicken, salad potatoes, rice, and “kind of everything,” said the veteran center.

“They haven't had a home-cooked meal since camp,” said Stephenson. “I know what that's like when you're on the road. Just kind of getting them out of the hotel ... Living in a hotel, it's hard. Nothing's really yours. You're living out of a suitcase. It makes them feel good, makes them feel part of the team.”

More Good News Tuesday

Neither Kraken all-time leading scorer Jared McCann nor Olympics hopeful defenseman Brandon Montour are as yet medically cleared for Thursday’s home and season opener against Anaheim. But both were skating full-strength with no precautionary no-contact red jerseys. McCann skated left wing on the presumed top line with Matty Beniers at center and Jordan Eberle on the right side.

Lambert was quite happy to see Montour at practice, quarterbacking one of the power plays among other reps: “It was good to see him. Certainly, it's much better than not seeing him. We'll see how he progresses after today, how he feels after today. But I thought, for the most part, he did pretty much everything [in terms of drills and zone play]. That was a good sign.”

Oct 6: Nyman, Winterton, Catton Make Kraken Roster

Kraken general manager Jason Botterill had plenty he needed to see from a trio of Kraken forward prospects before granting them opening night spots on the team’s roster.

And Botterill by the weekend had seen enough to tell Jani Nyman, Ryan Winterton, and Berkly Catton they would indeed be starting the season on an NHL roster for the first time Thursday night against the Anaheim Ducks at home. The NHL deadline for setting rosters was 2 p.m. PT on Monday, with Nyman, Winterton, and Catton highlighting Kraken additions, along with the uncommon presence of three goaltenders in Joey Daccord, Philipp Grubauer, and Matt Murray.

“It’s exciting,” Botterill said of three homegrown prospects making the opening team. “You look at a guy like Winterton and that’s the plan for most kids that we draft, right? You draft them and then they have a couple of more years of college or junior, and then a couple of years in the American Hockey League before making that next step.

“It’s always a long process, a marathon with these kids because you’re taking them when they’re 18,” Botterill added. “It’s the biggest difference compared to the NFL.”

Winterton, 22, had brief Kraken stints the past two seasons. The 3rd-round pick from the Kraken’s very first NHL Draft in 2021 rebounded from shoulder surgeries and inactivity due to COVID-19 pandemic cancellations to finish a strong junior career and successive productive AHL seasons.

He took huge preseason steps in positioning himself for excellent scoring chances and finally had a couple of pucks go in the net last Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers.

“What he’s proven is with his speed,” Botterill said. “He’s always been a good two-way player, but he’s added a lot more speed to our lineup. And the fact he’s executing even more with the puck has been great to see.”

Nyman, 21, scored four goals his first three preseason games and at times provided the skating and physical net front presence the team wanted to see out of him. His size and presence could fill some of the void created when winger Kaapo Kakko was lost to the team for six weeks with a broken hand.

“You saw him last year and then this year in training camp too – he’s got the size, and he’s got the shot,” Botterill said of the team’s 2nd round pick from 2022, who had a standout AHL rookie campaign last season. “Those are attributes we are excited to add to our team.”

Catton, 19, was in a slightly different boat given he’s still too young for AHL eligibility but would have needed to return to a junior hockey level he’s dominated the past two seasons if the Kraken didn’t keep him. So, as they did with Shane Wright three years ago in a similar situation, the Kraken will keep Catton for a minimum eight-game trial stint and see how things develop.

Though he struggled at times with turnovers and physical NHL play this preseason, Catton also got better as games progressed and even scored a goal last week in a shootout loss to Calgary.

“Cat has an offensive flair, an offensive dynamic,” Botterill said of the team’s No. 8 overall pick from two summers ago. “It’s always a challenge as a 19-year-old. But I think he’s certainly done some things at training camp to keep us excited, so we want to keep him around right now.”

Having Kakko and Ryker Evans both on injured reserve created some roster openings that allowed additional young forwards to be kept, as well as defenseman Cale Fleury. As for keeping three goaltenders, the team has repeatedly stated that a condensed schedule due to the Winter Olympic Games in Italy next February heightened the need for more netminding depth.

Botterill also likes the idea of veterans Grubauer and Murray pushing each other for playing time behind incumbent No. 1 Daccord.

“We’ve tried to have competition and create competition at every position,” Botterill said. “And we have it there, too.”

Oct 5: Opening Night Roster Taking Shape

The Kraken spent extensive time on special teams during Sunday’s high-energy practice, with the power play clicking to cheers from teammates and a nearly full stands of fans watching at Kraken Community Iceplex in the Northgate neighborhood. After practice, the guessing game about the team’s opening roster became a bit more definitive with 2024 second-rounder forward Oscar Fisker Molgaard and 2021 fourth-rounder defenseman Ville Ottavainen learning they were heading to the Southern California desert to prepare for the American Hockey League affiliate Coachella Valley on Oct. 11, opening night.

Both players will be the stalwarts for the Firebirds and definitely are in the mix for Kraken recalls as the NHL’s 82-game season is itself demanding and unforgiving, plus this year will feature a condensed schedule with a three-week February break for the Winter Olympics. Fisker Molgaard, just 20, played three pro seasons in Sweden’s top pro league. He wowed the CVF coaching staff with a seven-game stint last spring before then helping his native Denmark upset Team Canada on the way to his country placing an all-time best fourth in the IIHF Men’s World Championships. Molgaard’s pro habits were noticed and appreciated by new Kraken coach Lane Lambert, along with heads turning about Fisker Molgaard’s prowess as a penalty killer.

Ottavainen is a big-bodied defenseman who fits Lambert’s installed style of playing and getting out of the defensive zone. His summer training and ensuing significant jump in training camp fitness testing caught the eye of Firebirds coach Derek Laxdal right from the first day of Rookie Camp.

The reassignments, plus veteran forward John Hayden going on waivers, were announced after Lambert spoke to the media. The Kraken coach made it clear any player still in camp for this weekend’s two hard-going practices is top of mind for roster needs for the NHL regular-season grind ahead: “It's big. It means a lot to be in the final stages here. Let's be clear. It's an Olympic year, which condenses those 82 games. You're going to need players. There are a lot of games in a short period of time. To be with us at this point in time bodes well for [Fisker Molgaard and Ottavainen].”

As for Hayden, other NHL teams have until 11 a.m. Monday to make a claim. If no team acts, the stellar forward and role model for young players will be heading to Coachella Valley with a similar expectation that he will be back with the Kraken as needed. Hayden would join fellow NHL-tested forwards Mitchell Stephens and Ben Meyers, who both cleared waivers last Thursday.

Specializing on Sunday (and Beyond)

The Kraken will enjoy an off-day on Monday before resuming three days of practices before the Thursday season and home opener against Anaheim. Though medical clearances are still forthcoming, veteran forwards Jared McCann and Chandler Stephenson were both full participants in Sunday’s practice, same for Vince Dunn, who is officially listed as “day-to-day”. D-man Brandon Montour did not skate, but it is expected his recovery from a bursa removal from his ankle will progress and allow him to suit up Thursday.

For his part, Lambert said his power play units looked good Sunday, with Cale Fleury quarterbacking one of the units with Montour still out. Dunn QB’ed the other. Lambert joked that power play success means the penalty killers didn’t look as strong, but allowed even the coaches don’t want players to get in front of too many shots that might lead to more injuries. Seattle’s preseason has been riddled with injuries, including Kaapo Kakko and Ryker Evans, both out for six to eight weeks.

“We're going to have to continue to work on our special teams [this week],” said Lambert. It's going to be a big part of what we do, and not only what we do early on, but certainly what we do as a whole overall this season. It'll be a big focus for us over the next couple of days, along with other things.”

Sept 30: Opportunity Knocks for Kartye, Other Forwards

The Kraken are dealing with any number of injuries to veterans, including forwards Chandler Stephenson and Jared McCann still listed as day-to-day. The forward group is further depleted with Kaapo Kakko on the injured list for six weeks to recover from a broken hand. Defenseman Vince Dunn left Monday’s preseason game and did not return. He is still being evaluated. On Tuesday, Kraken coach Lane Lambert identified Dunn’s status as day-to-day.

As a result, opportunity knocks for younger prospects still in camp, along with NHL-tested forwards Tye Kartye, John Hayden, Mitchell Stephens, and Ben Meyers. The prospect group includes Berkly Catton, Jani Nyman, Oscar Fisker Molgaard, and Ryan Winterton.

Catton scored the Kraken’s only goal in the Monday matchup that ended 1-1 in regulation and went into overtime and a shootout won by visiting Calgary. Nyman played another solid preseason game and likely will be tabbed to fill a role similar to his countryman, Kakko, plus the young Finn does have four goals to lead the Kraken in preseason scoring.

While Meyers didn’t play on Monday, all other aforementioned forwards showed to the positive. Kartye arguably stood out the most with seven hits and the style of play desired by Lambert.

“I thought [Kartye] was more engaged,” said Lambert. “Maybe from a mental standpoint, in the sense that it wasn't that he hadn't been engaged emotionally [in previous games]. It's just a matter of, as we go along here, of him thinking, ‘where am I supposed to be on the ice? ... It's taking everyone a little bit of time to figure this out. I thought [Kartye] was more comfortable last night in that situation, as were a number of players. I thought Catton was more comfortable as well last night, just a little bit more fluidity to their games.”

Sitting at his locker after Tuesday’s lengthy and hard-going practice followed by extra work on his part, Kartye said he was happy with his Monday game and how it aligns with Lambert’s desired style of play.

“It's about letting the other team know that it's not going to be an easy game when they play Seattle,” said Kartye, who debuted for the Kraken in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs after his AHL Rookie of the Year regular season. “I think I'm a big part of that, playing hard, playing physical, not making things easy for the other team, just grinding it out in the O-zone, creating scoring chances, and just making it difficult for the other team. You want them to feel pressure.”

Kartye was assigned a summer training goal of being more explosive in his first stride or two while maneuvering among foes in traffic on the ice. He said Tuesday the offseason work is paying dividends: “Yeah, I think so, some little things in the O-zone, creating some little slip plays to the middle to create opportunities, keep the play alive. The more you can do that, the more offense you're gonna create.”

Kartye paired with veteran penalty-killer extraordinaire Freddy Gaudreau on Monday when the Kraken were shorthanded. Proficiency in the PK is decidedly a necessary element for most young forwards looking to make the Oct. 9 opening night roster. Kartye and teammates are playing a different penalty-kill system than deployed by former coach Dan Bylsma (both in Seattle and AHL Coachella Valley).

“I played this [season’s] system in juniors,” said Kartye. “I like it. It’s a pressure PK, a momentum PK. I think we’re gonna put some heat on other teams.”

For fans still learning penalty-kill strategies, Kartye was happy to describe the pair of forwards’ responsibilities, which, if executed properly, can shut down an opposing man-advantage and even lead to shorthanded scoring chances.

“For forwards, it means that you're always skating, you're pushing down,” said Kartye. “Then you're returning, and the other guy's going. You're never really standing still, sitting back. You're always pressuring ... it is a lot of skating on the forwards’ part, trying to disrupt their plays.”

Sept 29: Europe Experience Working Well Stateside

As a 17-year-old, Kraken forward Oscar Fisker Molgaard was playing in Sweden’s top professional league. Fisker Molgaard had leased his own apartment in Jönköping, tending to his daily meal planning and laundry. He didn’t turn 18 until February 2023 and wasn’t drafted by the Kraken until that summer’s NHL Draft.

Three autumns later, Fisker Molgaard is still on the training camp roster after major re-assignments over the weekend. His professional on-ice habits and highly responsible all-zones game have been on full and impressive display during practices and games. Sunday’s high-intensity practice focused on special teams, and Molgaard stood out as a penalty killer, on pucks and players at all turns. Monday night, the 2023 second-rounder (No. 52 overall) will center a line between fellow aspiring forwards, NHL-tested Mitchell Stephens on left wing and AHL standout prospect Ryan Winterton.

Fisker Molgaard’s maturity off-ice was just as crystal clear as he stood talking before a sizeable media scrum at his locker.

“I’m feeling pretty good, confident out there,” said Fisker Molgaard, who starred for his native Team Denmark at the 2025 IIHf Men’s Worlds, highlighted by a clutch assist as part of an upset over Canada in the quarterfinals. “I feel like I've gained some trust from the coaches. I'm happy to still be a part of this team. I am just having fun and enjoying my time in Seattle. This is where I want to be, this is my dream ... I am enjoying my time being around these guys, just trying to learn from them and keep getting better every day. That's what it's all about.”

Given this is Fisker Molgaard’s first training camp with the veterans, he has made fast friends with Swedish-born defensive stalwart Adam Larsson.

“I see myself as half-Swedish right now,” said Fisker Molgaard, grinning ear to ear just mentioning Larsson. “He's been helping me a lot and taking care of me.”

Scrum question: What language do you two communicate in?

Fisker Molgaard reply: “Swedish, yeah, I think he would have a tough time with me speaking Danish [another big smile].”

The 20-year-old forward said he is studying the moves of Matty Beniers as “a guy who can play a two-way game and how he moves his feet and how he skates out there. It’s just extraordinary. He’s definitely a guy you can watch and learn from.”

For what it’s worth, 2025 first-rounder Jake O’Brien said the same thing about Seattle’s first-ever top-round draft choice. Coach Lane Lambert was happy to oblige with positive thoughts about Fisker Molgaard’s camp performance.

“He's made a strong statement for himself,” said Lambert. “Very responsible player. He does things that you can teach, but, you know, at his age, he knows these things already. He's played very well. I'm impressed with his game.”

Lambert said playing three solid seasons in Sweden’s pro league is part of why Danish forward is still vying to make the opening day roster and/or be a priority AHL call-up as needed this season.

“There are good leagues over there [in Europe], always playing against men,” said Lambert. “He's had to understand the game and figure the game out. He's done a really good job of that.”

Another Kraken prospect still in camp is 2021 fourth-rounder Ville Ottavainen, who played three seasons in Finland’s top pro league before 138 regular-season games and another 24 playoff games for Coachella Valley over the last two hockey years. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound defender is feeling confident about the season, whether here with Seattle or in the Southern California desert. His NHL debut game last spring featured an assist and strong play in the D-zone.

“First of all, I think I had a great summer,” said Ottavainen, who turned 23 in August. “I really dialed into my nutrition and everything. This summer, I took up a notch and came into camp in great shape [a fact Firebirds coach Derek Laxdal offered without prompting during Rookie Camp]. I feel like I can take my game to the next level. I’m here to showcase my strengths and know the coaches want me to play a hard game, be tough to play against, be mean down low in our zone, and use my skating to make [offensive] plays when I can.”

Sept. 27: Positive Kraken opportunity remains for trio of prospects

Kraken forward prospects Jani Nyman, Berkly Catton and Ryan Winterton are among the remaining hopefuls still in camp after 21 cuts Saturday narrowed the roster to 30 players with two preseason games to go.

All three aspiring forwards played in Friday night’s 4-2 loss in Vancouver, with Nyman scoring his team-leading fourth goal of the preseason and Winterton drawing an assist on a Tyson Jugnauth scoring strike. Former junior hockey star defenseman Jugnauth was among players sent down to AHL Coachella Valley on Saturday to ready for his first professional season after drawing rave reviews in consecutive Kraken preseason contests.

“He’s a confident kid, he’s got poise, and he can make plays,” Kraken coach Lane Lambert said after Friday’s game. “I’ve been impressed with him.”

Others sent to the AHL on Saturday include forwards Jagger Firkus, Jacob Melanson, David Goyette, Eduard Sale, Logan Morrison, Jon-Randall Avon, Justin Janicke, Andrei Loshko, Ian McKinnon, Carson Rehkopf, and Lleyton Roed. Defensemen Lukas Dragicevic, Caden Price, Kaden Hammell, Ty Nelson and Victor Olofsson and goalies Nikke Kokko, Victor Ostman and Jack LaFontaine were also sent down to the Firebirds.

Forward prospect Nathan Villeneuve, injured early in camp, was sent back down to his Sudbury Wolves junior team.

Nyman, Catton and Winterton were among a handful of forward prospects expected to have a serious shot at making the Kraken when camp began. The opportunity grew for them on Saturday when the Kraken announced that forward Kaapo Kakko has a broken hand and will be out six weeks.

That could open an immediate chance for Nyman and Winterton, who both have limited NHL experience already. Winterton, in particular, plays the right wing just as Kakko does, while left wing Nyman’s scoring this preseason already had upped his chances of landing a roster spot even before Kakko’s injury occurred in Wednesday’s win over the Edmonton Oilers.

As for Catton, 19, he’s too young for AHL play and would need to return to a junior hockey level he’s already dominated if the Kraken decide not to keep him out of camp.

Lambert praised Nyman’s play after Friday’s game, saying he keeps on scoring and is doing a good job with other things such as wall play and puck management. Nyman’s line with Winterton and Oscar Fisker-Molgaard caused problems for Vancouver all night long and all three were on the ice for Jugnauth’s goal.

Winterton in particular did a good job of carrying a puck around the Edmonton net and hitting Jugnauth with a pass in the left circle that he put past the goaltender.

Fisker-Molgaard, the Denmark native about to embark on his first AHL season, has also looked solid in camp on a team stocked with players at his center position. He survived Saturday’s round of cuts and will get at least another preseason game or two to show what he can do.

The Kraken already appear to have their four starting centers in Matty Beniers, Shane Wright Chandler Stephenson and Freddy Gaudreau, which is one reason why young centerman Catton played on left wing against the Canucks. Lambert said he wants to get a look at Catton in a variety of situations, while the Spokane Chiefs junior star admitted the move to wing freed him up of enough center responsibilities to show more of his on-ice skills.

“I got the puck on my stick a little bit more tonight and made a couple more plays,” Catton said. “It’s all I can really ask for. On the defensive side, I’m just trying to be as responsible as I can and earn trust that way. I’m just trying to build my game all around.”

Sept. 26: Positive First Impressions Times Two

When queried about the strong play of veteran forward Jaden Schwartz after Wednesday’s 4-1 victory in Edmonton, Kraken coach Lane Lambert was happy to affirm the positive beyond the road effort.

“Jaden has been good all training camp and in both games that he's played,” said Lambert. “He’s a veteran guy who understands how to play, makes good plays, and makes smart decisions. You don't realize how good a guy is until you have him in practice every day.” The 33-year-old delivered more of the same during Friday’s on-ice workout at Kraken Community Iceplex as part of the non-game group. Lambert supervised the spirited practice before heading to Vancouver with the game group for a 7 p.m. puck drop in B.C. (KHN, KONG, KJR 950AM). The morning finished with another “bag skate” to test and build the player’s stamina needed for the long season ahead, which starts with eight 2025 playoff teams in the first 10 games. Schwartz looked as fresh and fast as any teammate.

“Camp has been really good,” said Schwartz. “It's been tough. It's been demanding. It's been good for us, working on our structure and detail and how we need to play fast and be aggressive.”

Schwartz paused, trying to track how many days of camp it had been, a good indicator of both his focus and Lambert’s intent to send his players to post-practice workouts, showers, and meals, feeling the effects of hard work on the ice.

During Wednesday’s win, Schwartz worked with Shane Wright at center and long-time friend Jordan Eberle on the other wing. Friday, the two veteran players skated on a line with Matty Beniers.

“A lot of camps, they mix things up [for the line combinations],” said Schwartz, who is participating in his 15^th NHL training camp. “Coaches will put younger guys and veteran guys together. There are two different practice groups. I'm sure, probably after the weekend, we might try to get a little bit more [definite] line combinations going.”

Schwartz is open-minded about who might be his linemates to start the season or as the year unfolds: “I’ve played with a lot of different guys. I am used to switching lines. We have a talented team with many skilled players. You have to make slight adjustments on who we're playing with, but we’ve got a lot of good skaters, guys who play the right way ... the most important thing early on is getting our legs and battle level going at high execution.”

Schwartz eschews personal goals at this juncture of an NHL career that includes winning the 2019 Stanley Cup title with St. Louis. He clearly doesn’t think too far ahead during the regular season while always tending to the care, feeding and resting of his body.

“I just want to make sure each day that I'm prepared and ready and getting better and keeping my focus,” said Schwartz. “It's a long season. I feel better when I take it one day at a time and worry about the team first. I do make a point to look after myself, take care of my body, and get my rest.”

Schwartz says his fitness habits have evolved as he learns more from different players and trainers, in season and during the summer: “Health and wellness have taken a big step for everyone with people looking out for themselves, both mentally and physically. Of course, it’s a big, big part of being an NHL player. These days away from the rink, I have learned so much about how to recover while still getting my training in.”

Sept. 25: Daccord on Making Plays, His Take on Kokko

Along with turning in two scoreless periods against Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and company in Edmonton on Wednesday, Kraken goalie Joey Daccord was clearly in midseason form with his stickhandling. On the game’s first goal, a net-front rebound shot from Jagger Firkus, Daccord started the power-play score. Seattle’s presumed No. 1 goaltender moved the puck up ice a couple of zones to a moving and awaiting Matty Beniers to start the scoring play.

Beniers picked up the secondary assist with Logan Morrison getting the primary assist for his original shot on goal. But the game isn’t 1-0 at the end of Period 1 without Daccord on both ends. Goalie coach Colin Zulianello is clearly familiar with and encouraging of Daccord’s offensive contributions. The two were together in AHL affiliate Coachella Valley’s inaugural season that featured a Western Conference championship and fell one Game 7 overtime short of winning the league’s Calder Cup. The guess here is SEA head coach Lane Lambert is closely observing Daccord’s ability to be a “third defenseman” when needed and create some scoring chances when the opportunity arises.

“It was fun tonight,” said Daccord after the 4-1 victory. “I got to make a couple of plays. As I think people in Seattle know, I like to play the puck. So it was fun to get the opportunity to do that [Wednesday]. Matty kind of swung open, and I hit him on the power play, then we went down and scored. I had one up the middle to Matty in the second period as well, that he made a nice play on.”

AHL star goalie Nikke Kokko played the third period as planned, facing an Edmonton power play to start the 20 minutes and making eight saves overall. Daccord sounded post-game like he enjoyed the young Finn’s performance as much as blanking the Oilers and showing some playmaking moves. He had a grin on his face as he talked about his tandem partner for their first preseason appearances.

“He was excellent,” said Daccord, who was spotted last regular season helping Kokko pack his goalie equipment for a road trip. “He's such a good kid. He's got a great personality and a top-level mentality as a goalie. You can see how talented he is. I think he's got a bright future ahead of him. Yeah, when you go in and you have to start off after sitting on the bench for two hours with a McDavid-Draisaitl Edmonton power play, that’s a good way to get into it. He was sharp right away.”

Sept. 22: Eberle Knows, Teammates Learning

The Kraken enjoyed a day off on Monday after three days of challenging practices and Sunday’s 5-3 preseason home opener win over Vancouver. While most of his Kraken teammates spent the early days of training camp learning how head coach Lane Lambert emphasizes structure and accountability, captain Jordan Eberle had already skated three seasons with Lambert as associate head coach of the New York Islanders. The coach and captain and Isles advanced to back-to-back Eastern Conference finals in the final two years.

Eberle knew to expect heavy conditioning drills, and Lambert stopped a drill to explain how he specifically wanted that drill performed. The same goes for the systems he and his staff began installing over the past several days.

“I was pretty excited when we hired Lane,” said Eberle in a recent conversation. “I know his mandate. I know how he holds guys to a high standard. He brings structure, details, stuff that we were kind of lacking.

“He’s about team. It's about guys having roles and feeling comfortable, and feeling part of the team. We had some success in Long Island, and I know his style of play. I see a lot of similarities between the two teams [NYI and Kraken] winning by committee and winning by a deep four lines and six ‘D.’ We want teams to come [into Climate Pledge Arena] and say that the team works hard, they’re structured, they defend well.”

In Sunday’s preseason opener, Eberle lined up on right wing with 2024 first-rounder Berkly Catton at center and 2023 first-rounder Eduard Sale on the left. The veteran forward earned the primary assist on the game’s opening goal when he won a wall puck battle in the neutral zone, boxing out an opponent so Sale would skate the puck to the right faceoff in the Vancouver zone. Sale kept his eyes mostly on Catton streaking in the slot, then fired an upper corner himself for the score.

Eberle made his debut in the 2010-11 regular season, playing 69 games as a 20-year-old. He is familiar with youth movements and welcomes the likes of Catton, Sale, Jani Nyman (two goals Sunday), Oscar Fisker-Molgaard and more.

“I was once in their shoes,” said Eberle, who scored 18 goals as a rookie and 34 the next season. “I think having youth on your team is massive. It keeps everyone on their toes and makes your team competitive. If you have guys champing at the bit to get in the NHL, it holds everyone to that standard of ‘I need to be my best at all times.’ That’s what makes competitive teams and continues a winning culture in your organization.”

In past preseason and regular season games, Eberle has played wing with, first, Matty Beniers when he arrived straight from the University of Michigan campus and NCAA Frozen Four in the spring of 2022, then Shane Wright when he was called up in late 2002. In his own style, Eberle is effusive about the 19-year-old Catton.

“He's fun to play with,” said Eberle about the 2024 No. 8 overall pick earlier in camp. “Obviously, he's quick. He's skilled, smart, very smart. The one thing that stands out to me, he's cerebral. He sees the ice. I love that. He's a Saskatchewan kid, so that always helps [laughs]. He's going to be a hell of a player. We’ve seen the numbers he put up last year. Moving into this [NHL] level, I think his biggest attribute is the IQ level that he plays with. It’s going to help him a lot. As he plays more and gets more confidence, like any young guy, he's going to get better. I am definitely looking forward to hopefully getting a chance to play more.”

Sept. 20: Murray Avoiding “Over-Competitive” Camp Mindset

Kraken goalie Matt Murray says while staying in top physical shape gets tougher as he ages, his mental game is as good as it’s ever been.

“The mental game is so important,” Murray said after Saturday’s third day of Kraken Training Camp. “A lot of times you see goalies improve as they get older, even though physically you’re fighting off that aging process. But a big reason goalies tend to get better as they get older is the mental game improves. Your mental stability out there improves. Your ability to read the play. The trust (as well). I’ve got who knows how many thousands of reps of every play. It’s really just being able to turn my brain off and let my subconscious take over.”

The 31-year-old, seeking to revive his career after bilateral hip surgery that kept him out of the NHL most of the past two years, said he’s learned to channel his mental energy to best benefit him. For instance, despite the Kraken currently having three proven NHL goalies in himself, Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer, Murray is guarding against being too competitive in his camp mindset.

“If you’re over-competitive as a goalie you can be kind of jumpy, ahead of the play, maybe you’re full of holes as well and you’re moving a little bit too much,” he said. “As a goalie, it’s about controlling that emotion. For me, I’m a very competitive guy and sometimes I have to tone it down a little bit.

“Honestly, it can work against me sometimes. So, as a goalie, you’ve got to find that line.”

Instead, he’s spending camp “in a constant pursuit” of balance between too much and too little competitiveness. The Kraken have suggested they might carry three netminders into the regular season, given a condensed schedule packed with an abundance of matchups over a shorter time span given the Winter Olympic Games scheduled for February.

Grubauer, slotted to play for Germany in those Olympics, said Friday the three goalies have a good relationship with one another and all three will likely be needed at some point.

“I think a lot of teams are doing it, right?” Grubauer said. “When you look at the schedule, there are a couple of months where, I think in January we have 17 games or something? I mean, that’s a crazy amount of games in a short period of time with travel. We have one goal and the goal is to win a (Stanley) Cup here. So, whatever it takes. Whoever needs to play is going to step in net and do a great job for us whether it’s four, three or two goalies.”

Sept. 19: Jumping into Play and ‘Taking It All In’

When defenseman prospect Blake Fiddler stepped off the practice ice Friday morning at training camp, he stopped to sign items for fans at an organized booth. Then, walking to the locker room, the barely 18-year-old met Kraken Hockey Network analyst Eddie Olczyk.

“I gave you a little shout-out during a game broadcast,” said Olczyk. “I know your dad a little bit [Vernon, former NHLer who appeared in 877 games]. I mentioned I’d watched you play a couple of years and showed potential.”

Fiddler smiled and said thank you. Olczyk was prodded (hey, here for you!) for a more detailed scouting report on Fiddler, who just turned 18 in July.

“He knew what he was doing out there on the ice,” said Olczyk, happy to oblige. “It looks like Blake has had a chance to fill out a little.”

Fiddler, who measured 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds when reporting last week to Kraken Rookie Camp, played in both prospects' games against Vancouver last weekend. He held his own by all accounts, including thumbs up from AHL Coachella Valley head coach Derek Laxdal and Kraken director of player development Cory Murphy. The scoresheet confirmed good things happening when the 2025 second-rounder was on the ice, as he tallied a goal and two assists. His performances provided strong clues as to why GM Jason Botterill and director of amateur scouting Robert Kron were eager to trade up in this past summer’s second round to select the D-man.

“In a first game with the Kraken jersey on, there's a lot going on when a prospect gets into a game,” said Murphy in a recent conversation. “Blake had to make some adjustments during the first period [of Game 1], but I was super impressed with the second half of Saturday’s game. He carried over that momentum to Sunday’s game. He looked comfortable and poised with the puck. He was jumping into the play and using his skating, which is an asset. He moves really well for a big guy. We’re really, really happy with how he performed.”

For his part, Fiddler said the rookie week fortified his outlook about training camp: “I want to go in and play my game, do what I do best, and, most importantly, have fun while doing it. You only get one first NHL training cap. I am just trying to take it all in and learn from some great coaches.”

Even with all that poise and confidence, Fiddler admitted to some wonder about actually skating and competing in an NHL camp.

“Last year, this seemed so far away, but now we're here,” said Fiddler, whose dad was in attendance for the second prospects game to see him score a goal Sunday at Kraken Community Iceplex. It's been awesome, meeting all the guys and getting used to everything. [AHL standout] Ty Nelson is my roommate, and he’s been really good to me.”

Fiddler self-describes “as a rink rat since even before I was enrolled in school.” That marks him as a hockey regular by age 4, helped, of course, by his NHL dad, who broke in the league with Nashville and played a block of seasons with Dallas, where Fiddler subsequently played for the Stars’ elite juniors program.

After soaking up what he can for however long he sticks at training camp, Fiddler has already been briefed on what parts of his game he can work on during his third season with the Western Hockey League's Edmonton Oil Kings.

“I'm going to take another step defending with my body, using my body a little bit more,” said Fiddler. “Then I intend to get used to those pro habits I see here in camp. These guys are so good with their stick details and seeing the ice. I’m taking those habits from training camp and bringing them back to my season in juniors.”

Sept. 18: ‘Tough’ First Practice Sets Early Tone

It didn’t take Matty Beniers long to parse the difference between Day 1 of training camp entering in fourth NHL season, than last fall’s opening practice. Beniers was part of an early morning group to take the ice at Kraken Community Iceplex, with a second group to follow.

“It was a tough skate and practice,” said the Kraken center and 2025 gold medalist at the IIHF Men’s Worlds this past summer. “But I liked the intensity. It was definitely more intense and probably a little more detailed [than last September’s Day 1] ... It was great, no details off, no reps off.”

Beniers said Lambert “put a big emphasis today on being a good defensive team, so we can get out of our own zone and go play offense. I think he's got us all pretty dialed in and on Day 1. So that's good.

After pushing the second split-squad group as hard as the first, Lambert was pleased, standing at the media podium outside the Kraken locker room.

“We mandated our players to come in to camp in good shape,” said Lambert. “We want players to work through adversity when they are tired. ... We want to be a working team. In order to do that, you've got to compete, you've got to work. They did a great job of that today.”

Sectoring the Campers: Who’s Here to Win NHL Jobs?

GM Jason Botterill talked to the media later in the morning and was equally quick to reference “some exhausted players out there” and to commend “it was a very difficult practice. There was a lot of intensity, a lot of battle out there.”

Botterill made a point to categorize three clusters of players on the ice for the split-squad workouts that lead up to the first preseason game Sunday night against Vancouver at Climate Pledge Arena:

• The younger prospects looking to make a lasting impression before returning to their juniors teams, highlighted by 2025 first-rounder and No. 8 overall Jake O’Brien and fellow 2025 classmates, defensemen Blake Fiddler (second round) and Will Reynolds (third round). All three prospects just turned 18 between July and August.
• The second group is players who are unlikely to make the opening roster (maximum of 23) but are making their bids for call-ups to the Kraken during the course of the season due to injuries, and this hockey year, the compact schedule with more game frequency, with the 2026 Winter Olympics swiping three weeks off the February calendar.
• The third group is here to make the opening night roster on Oct. 9. Botterill specified AHL Coachella Valley leading goal scorer, Jani Nyman, and 2024 first-rounder Berkly Catton, as two prospects in a group that includes NHL-tested regulars with the Firebirds, and of course veteran NHLers from the 2025-26 season, along with free agent signees.

When asked about standouts at rookie camp, Botterill offered several names. “I thought the two games against Vancouver were great, especially the first game up in Everett. Just, you know, our ability to come back in that game, I think what got you excited is just the speed that Berkly [Catton] showed through the neutral zone, his willingness to shoot ... You can certainly see [Nyman] is a player that has come into camp with the goal of ‘I’m making the team making the team’ ... On the back end. I thought a player like [defenseman] Caden Price did very well in the two games. Ville Ottavainen has come in great shape. I think goaltending continues to be a strength in our prospect pool, I thought both Victor Ostman and Nikke Kokko did a nice job.

In his media session, the aforementioned 18-year-old O’Brien indicated he would be watching the 22-year-old Matty Beniers closely in camp. “I’m definitely watching Beniers because he is so skilled with the puck. When he enters the blue line [and offensive zone], he’s always making really nice plays. I want to learn from him, and hopefully he can give me some tips."

Montour’s Minor Surgery Allows Opening Night Readiness

The Kraken announced Wednesday that star defenseman Brandon Montour will miss two weeks of practices and preseason games due to undergoing a minor procedure to remove a bursa from his ankle. All parties expect the D-man to be at full strength for the Oct. 9 season opener at home against Anaheim.

“It's disappointing he can't be out there right away because he is a driver of our intensity or pace of practices,” said GM Botterill about Montour’s absence. “But we tried to get this procedure done now so he doesn't have to deal with it throughout the season. Our whole mindset is he'll be ready to go for game one against Anaheim.”