The Seattle Kraken have a competitive goalie tandem on their roster. But, the difference between starter and backup is clear as day. Joey Daccord is the starting goaltender, and Philipp Grubauer is the backup.
The reason being, is the performance from Grubauer in 2023-24. It was sloppy and underwhelming, with a bunch of injuries to throw salt in the wound. Let's take a look back.
Season Recap
The 2023-24 season was a disappointment for the Kraken. Up and down the roster, there was a lack of positives. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer was one of those disappointments. In 36 games last season, he was 14-16-2, with a save percentage of .899 and a Goals Against Average of 2.85. The former Vezina Trophy finalist has been less than stellar since joining the Kraken in 2021-22, after two great stints in both Washington and Colorado.
This lackluster play is a growing trend for Grubauer, as he has struggled in three full seasons with the Kraken. At 49-61-11, and only stopping .893 percent of the pucks he has seen, it makes sense as to why he hasn't been able to eclipse Daccord for the starting spot.
Grubauer, like much of this team, had every chance to feed off of the positivity gained from making the first playoff run in Kraken history in 2022-23. Instead, the entire team crumbled. Grubauer, in my opinion, fell to pieces the most out of anyone on this team.
Being named one of the three best goaltenders in the NHL is a tremendous honor, and it is usually given to those that are consistently having successful seasons. He was tremendous in Colorado but has been a shell of himself since coming over to Seattle.
That is why Grubauer was given a D for his performance last season. What would you grade Grubauer for his performance last season?