On Tuesday, Oct. 6, the Seattle Kraken faced off against the Vegas Golden Knights at Climate Pledge Arena. Defenseman Ryan Lindgren only spent 3:57 on the ice, exiting the game in the first period and not returning to the bench.
On Oct. 8, the team announced Lindgren will miss the next four to six weeks with an upper-body injury. This is a tough blow for the Kraken's defense, but there are several player options they have to help defend the blue line.
Kraken have two other defenseman on their roster
Ahead of their game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, the Kraken held practice like they normally do. Both Ville Ottavinen and Josh Mahura were a part of the practice, making up a fourth defensive pairing. The pair are both on the Kraken's roster but were healthy scratches in this game. Both defensemen already have one NHL game under their belt for the 2026-27 season.
The pair have been taking line rushes together, so they are already building chemistry together. The Kraken can have both Mahura and Ottavinen play together on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings and scratch Cale Fleury. Their other option is to play Mahura alongside Fleury.
Ottavinen primarily plays on the right side of the defensive pairing, so unless Fleury slots out of the lineup, the chances of him playing in this game are slim. It's still great for them to have options for defense, as the injuries are already stacking up against them.
Kraken can always recall players from Coachella Valley if necessary
Although the Kraken already have two additional defensemen on their roster, one never knows if another injury will face the team. In this case, the need to call up a player from their American Hockey League (AHL) team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, might be necessary.
So far in the 2026-27 season, Tyson Jugnauth has had an incredible performance. In only two games, he has a minus-2 rating but six assists. His offensive game has been phenomenal for a defenseman. If the Kraken are in a bind, he would be a great option for the Kraken to recall. Since he was signed to a three-year entry-level contract, Jugnauth has the ability to be recalled to the NHL level as well.
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