Why Joey Daccord deserves the net

The Seattle Kraken’s goaltending situation has taken a puzzling turn recently. After starting the season with a 50/50 split between Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer, the net appeared to belong to Joey by November, thanks to his stellar performances. Yet, December has seen a surprising increase in Grubauer's starts, despite a mixed bag of results. While Grubauer has had his moments, they aren’t enough to justify this shift—especially with Joey's superior play and stats to back it up.

Are the Kraken reverting to a 50/50 split?

The season began with both goaltenders getting equal opportunities, but as the games progressed, Daccord emerged as the clear leader. Time and again, Joey delivered standout performances. Even when the Kraken fell short on the scoreboard, his efforts kept the team competitive and inspired confidence in fans and teammates alike.

In contrast, Grubauer’s starts were marked by unease. Leads never felt safe with him in net, and his inconsistent play left fans bracing for the worst. However, a recent illness sidelined Daccord, forcing the team to lean on Grubauer more heavily. This resulted in a rare standout performance against New Jersey, where he recorded a season-high 33 saves in a losing effort. He followed that with a 7-5 win over the Rangers—a game that felt more like an offensive triumph than a goaltending masterclass.

Daccord returned to the crease against the Florida Panthers, holding the defending champs to a single goal through regulation and overtime in a shootout loss. He was spectacular, making highlight-reel saves and giving the Kraken every chance to win. Yet, surprisingly, Seattle turned back to Grubauer for the next two games.

To his credit, Grubauer was solid against the Boston Bruins, allowing just a penalty-shot goal in another 33-save effort. But when he faltered against Tampa Bay, allowing four goals in a 5-1 loss, it became clear that this experiment should end. The Lightning are a tough opponent, but the decision to bench Joey after his performance against Florida felt inexplicable.

The numbers don’t lie

Let’s make one thing clear: the stats leave no room for debate.

• Joey Daccord: 12-6-2 | 2.42 GAA | .916 SV% | 9.2 GSAx
• Philipp Grubauer: 3-9-0 | 3.50 GAA | .879 SV% | -5.5 GSAx

Daccord has been miles ahead of Grubauer in every meaningful category. His goals saved above expected (GSAx) highlights just how valuable he has been, while Grubauer’s negative GSAx underscores his struggles. These differences aren’t marginal—they’re definitive.

This isn’t about small sample sizes or isolated games. Over the course of the season, Daccord has consistently outperformed Grubauer, making his recent absence from the net all the more baffling.

The Kraken’s playoff hopes depend on Joey

Seattle isn’t out of the playoff hunt yet, but every game matters. In a tightly contested Western Conference, the Kraken can’t afford to leave points on the table. Grubauer’s inconsistencies are too costly in this situation, and there’s no justification for splitting starts when one goaltender is so clearly superior.

Joey Daccord has earned the right to be the Kraken’s starting goalie. His numbers speak for themselves, but more importantly, his play has inspired confidence in a team that desperately needs stability. Whatever the reason for Grubauer’s recent uptick in starts—whether it’s to give Joey rest or some behind-the-scenes issue—it needs to stop. The Kraken have a clear No. 1 netminder, and it’s time for them to act like it.