Players: Big Fans of the Fans

DALLAS -Thanksgiving Eve in 2021 might be an unlikely place to start a story about how much the Kraken players and organization appreciate the fan support this season and especially during the extended playoff run. But when original Kraken players like Adam Larsson, Jared McCann, and Philipp Grubauer all rave about the home crowd during a long-ago, inaugural season loss several months after the fact, it's worth repeating.

When Larsson sat down for a one-on-one, end-of-season interview last May, he fielded an expected question about the Seattle fanbase with an unexpected reply: "What I remember is the fans cheering us when we scored those goals in the third period," said the team's No. 1 defenseman.

"Those goals" were three scored after the Colorado Avalanche jumped out to a 7-0 lead by early third period (with now Kraken forward Andre Burakovsky notching two of the Avalanche goals). Yet when Jordan Eberle scored at the six-minute mark, Climate Pledge Arena erupted with a level of decibels now quite familiar to the auditory senses of fans who pack the place every game night.

Fan favorite Brandon Tanev scored less than three minutes later to make it 7-2, with the noise meter rising as if Seattle had tied the score. Same thing when original Kraken forward Colin Blackwell (he played for Chicago this season) notched his first goal of the year to set a 7-3 final.

During similar end-of-inaugural-season interviews, McCann and Grubauer brought up the same Colorado game when asked about the Kraken faithful. "I've never heard anything like it," said McCann.

During his post-game remarks at the Kraken's next game, a Thanksgiving Friday 5-2 victory over Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol said his team "had to win for the fans" after the noise and support they exhibited in the third period against Colorado.

"I continue to have people from around the country calling me and asking, 'are people really having that much fun in that building?' said Hakstol that Friday night in 2021. "My answer is yes, it's awesome."

Fast-forward to late Monday night with Dave Hakstol at the podium after his Seattle squad was eliminated by Dallas, which needed the full seven games and literally every last second to stave off the second-year club. Hakstol said the fans were a "huge part" of advancing to the second round and standing as one of five NHL teams still playing hockey after May 14.

"I made the comment after Game 6 [a 6-3 Kraken win at Climate Pledge Arena] and I haven't been in this league forever but I've been around for a while now," said Hakstol. "That's the best playoff atmosphere that I've experienced. So tremendous. Right from the start of the year, our fans showed up coming off a tough first year. They helped us build and grow throughout the year."

"On the flip side, that'll be a perspective I want our players to have, but it probably won't register tonight. But this group changed the landscape of hockey in Seattle. This particular group had the guts to change the culture, the trajectory, the belief in our franchise as well. So, that's something for later, but it hits home with me that this group of guys did that. At some point in time, they should look at that and take a lot of pride."

Veteran forward and postseason hero Jordan Eberle heard plenty of those Climate Pledge Arena decibels after scoring big goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and regular season. During the victorious first-round series against defending champion Colorado (coming full circle from Thanksgiving Eve 2021), Eberle declared Seattle a bonafide hockey town. To a person, every broadcaster and media member who covered Kraken home games and toured the swagged-out city on game days were in agreement.

"They're a big reason why we're here," said Eberle Monday night, echoing his coach's take on Kraken fans inspiring the team. "It's a fun place to play. I think Seattle's going to be a hotspot for players, guys are going to want to play here. It's a great city, great facilities, great management, great organization. And obviously, we've got a great team. It's been awesome to give [the fans] playoff hockey and for them to see what it's all about."

Eberle and Hakstol separately talked about "harnessing" the home arena's decibel levels ahead of the must-win Game 6 against Dallas, both to lift the Kraken and make it hard on the visiting Stars. Eberle said the fan support will only motivate him and his teammates to "remember what this feels like" and "hopefully get one [Stanley Cup title] and make it feel better."

When asked about his linemates, 20-year-old Matty Beniers (who one post-game said "it was so loud we couldn't each other on the bench") and 22-year-old Tye Kartye (whose first 10 NHL games were all high-stakes playoff contests), hearing the deafening cheers from the home crowd and getting to the second round as rookies, Eberle smiled wistfully before answering.

"It took me seven years to get to the postseason," said Eberle. "You don't want to take it for granted. These games are so much fun. This is why you play in the NHL. You play to win a Stanley Cup. Obviously, it hurts when you lose but we can be proud of the effort we gave. You remember this, get the experience of doing it. It's about continuing to build and work toward it."

Any fan attending home games knows it is practically impossible to count how many unprompted "Let's Go Kraken" chants resonated inside the home arena during the maximum six home games played during the first two playoff rounds. We can all happily debate what goal or possibly disallowed goal generated the loudest cheers of the postseason.

Among many other fans locking into the Stanley Cup Playoffs run, flight attendants and passengers on airport trains all wanted to talk Kraken hockey when spotting a person wearing Kraken gear, whether it was to share a nervous feeling before Game 6 this past Saturday or pursue an extended conversation about Seattle's relentless forechecking.

Two baristas who never attended an NHL game until that glorious 7-2 win against Dallas, showed up at work the next two mornings in Kraken swag and plenty of anecdotes about the arena and meeting other fans. Relatives called to identify their favorite Kraken players and catch up on nicknames ("Turbo skates so fast!"), while a security guard at a local hospital piped up about how much he loves hearing the "Gruuuuuuu' callouts for vindicated goaltender Philipp Grubauer taking his star turn in this postseason.

With a stick tap to future Hall of Fame play-by-play man John Forslund, that's the Kraken fanbase, baby.

One more replay of exit interviews from last season, this time from defensive stalwart Jamie Oleksiak, one of the six players who was introduced at the expansion draft event in Gas Works Park and a big reason, along with breakout defenseman partner Will Borgen, why the Kraken nearly advanced to the Western Conference final.

"It's definitely been a whirlwind year," said Oleksiak last May. "It's obviously tough whenever you're not making the playoffs. But we've got a hungry group, guys that want to be there. The one thing I will say is I'm very appreciative and impressed with the fans. They showed up every single night and, regardless of what the score was, or what was happening at the time, they supported us. They deserve playoff hockey and we're going to try and bring it to them."

Mission accomplished. More Seattle hockey to come. That's a promise.