The Seattle Kraken (22-25-3) travel north to face the high-flying Edmonton Oilers (31-15-3) tonight, and the task just got tougher with Connor McDavid returning from a three-game suspension. McDavid—who claims he’s “antsy to play” and “excited to get going”—will be eager to leave his mark on a team he’s already tormented in past meetings. With Edmonton ranking in the NHL’s top six for goals per game (3.31) and seventh in goals allowed (2.71), there seem to be few weaknesses for Seattle to exploit.
Still, the Kraken remain focused on development rather than purely chasing wins. Kaapo Kakko and Matty Beniers have emerged as a dynamic duo, showing flashes of brilliance at both ends of the ice. Meanwhile, Shane Wright’s ice time has been unpredictable, hitting a career high one game and then dipping to 14 minutes the next. Balancing his growth against the team’s veteran lineup—highlighted by Chandler Stephenson’s team-leading 27 assists—is a challenge. Yet Stephenson has drawn criticism for his defensive lapses, leaving some fans puzzled that he logs more minutes than Beniers, who offers a stronger two-way presence.
On the goaltending front, Joey Daccord has carried the load for nearly a month, posting impressive numbers despite the Kraken’s struggles. However, with Seattle’s dismal 0-7 record in back-to-backs, head coach Dan Bylsma may opt to start Philipp Grubauer tonight. The logic: concede a tough matchup against a potent Oilers offense—especially with McDavid raring to go—in hopes of having Daccord fresh for tomorrow’s more winnable tilt against Anaheim.
Whoever ends up between the pipes, the Kraken’s main objective remains building a competitive identity and showcasing the potential of their rising stars. Puck drops at 6:30 PM PT at Rogers Place, where Seattle hopes to surprise the Oilers—and spoil McDavid’s long-awaited return.