The Seattle Kraken are heading into their final contest of the 2024–25 campaign tonight at home against the Los Angeles Kings. Ordinarily, a last regular-season game might feel like a chance to celebrate the team’s efforts or reflect on the positives. Instead, there’s a sobering narrative that has steadily grown more pressing: the overuse of goaltender Joey Daccord. It’s a troubling pattern that could have serious long-term consequences for the franchise.
On paper, the Kraken started the season with bright hopes. A new head coach, Dan Bylsma, was expected to infuse fresh strategies, and some highly touted young talent seemed poised to make a leap. However, the reality was a step backward from last season. Instead of contending for a playoff berth, Seattle finds itself in line for a top-five draft pick. Consistency proved elusive—one night, the Kraken could dominate a top-tier team, then get completely outplayed by a bottom feeder the next. Amid all this, Joey Daccord emerged as a crucial lifeline, time and again keeping the Kraken competitive when they probably shouldn’t have been.
Signs of an overworked goalie
Daccord’s stats speak for themselves. Prior to the newly introduced 4 Nations Face-off break, he boasted a 19–14–3 record with a 2.49 GAA and a .915 SV%. Those are numbers worthy of at least peripheral Vezina consideration—maybe not first-place votes, but arguably enough for discussion. However, the situation took a concerning turn in the latter half of the season. Post-break, Daccord’s performance slipped to 8–8–2, with a 3.11 GAA and a .891 SV%.
Part of the issue might be traced back to how heavily he’s been leaned on. After suffering a minor upper-body injury on December 22, 2024, against Colorado, Daccord returned on January 9—and played in 33 of the next 40 games. That totals 34 of 41 appearances, counting tonight’s expected start. For a team long out of playoff contention, it’s difficult to justify burdening a single netminder with that workload.
Particularly damning was the Kraken’s decision to have Daccord start on both nights of a back-to-back late in the season. The first time it happened, he was coming in to relieve an ailing Philipp Grubauer. The second time, Grubauer was reportedly sick, forcing Daccord into the crease again. By the second period, Daccord had allowed seven goals before being replaced by the team’s emergency goalie. One might rightly question why the Kraken didn’t start the emergency goalie in the first place if the team was already well out of contention.
A crucial offseason ahead
Seattle’s 0–12 record in the second games of back-to-back sets underscores how this approach simply isn’t working. Management must now address the glaring lack of a reliable tandem partner for Daccord. Though Grubauer is on the roster, injuries and inconsistent play have caused the Kraken to rely on Daccord far too often. With Daccord’s newly inked five-year, $25 million contract kicking in next season, the front office must protect that investment. Whether it’s retaining Grubauer in a more balanced role, promoting someone like Victor Ostman from the AHL, or exploring free agency for a backup netminder, the team must ensure Daccord isn’t worn down again.
Ultimately, the Kraken have discovered a gem in Joey Daccord. When he’s at his best, he’s among the top goaltenders in the league, shining even in the face of mounting losses and limited support. However, if this team is truly invested in building a contender, they cannot afford to wear out their star netminder. The 2024–25 season has shown that the “throw Daccord at every problem” strategy has severe limitations. A more balanced workload—and, yes, a stronger roster—are essential if Seattle hopes to rebound next year and maximize the talent they found in the expansion draft.