Philipp Grubauer Building Off Last Season's Rebound

For Philipp Grubauer, a few hours spent away from the rink can look a little different than for most NHL goaltenders. At the Seattle brewery he’s now a partner in; the Kraken netminder isn’t always popping by for a quick visit. Sometimes, he’s behind the scenes, cleaning up and washing dishes. During a recent visit, Grubauer spent a few hours working before customers even recognized him.

“I was doing everything and then I had a couple of people walk up and be like, ‘Oh Philipp Grubauer!’ and I'm like, ‘Yeah, that's me’,” Grubauer said. “So, l think I catch a couple of people off guard a little bit. Which is kind of funny and then I have a great conversation and that's why I love it. Hanging out and you get to meet so many new people and kind of hear their stories. So, it's kind of unique.”

The interactions are part of why he enjoys being involved in the brewery business. It’s an opportunity to meet people, hear their stories, and connect with the community he has made home. For a player whose profession requires him to spend hours preparing for the next shot, the next game and the next challenge, those moments offer a different perspective.

Just as his on-ice path has offered hockey fans a different perspective on him; a goalie who almost singlehandedly delivered the Kraken their greatest playoff victories, dealt with ensuing struggles and then stabilized to where he’s again a reliable tandem partner alongside Joey Daccord. Grubauer has started this season where he left off the last one, particularly on a surprisingly successful Kraken road trip where he’d won both his initial starts and then gained a point in an overtime loss Thursday night – keeping his team in games they at one point seemed destined to lose. 

After stopping 17 shots in the first period of last week’s road trip opener in Detroit, he downplayed his own effort and said: “Sometimes those games happen, right? It's not ideal because we want to put pressure on them and play in their zone. Versus them in our zone. But sometimes that's what happens. I don't think they had too many crazy chances there in the first. Guys made it easy in front of me.”

They haven’t always made it easy in front of him. But ever since head coach Lane Lambert arrived last season with a more defense-first system, Grubauer’s numbers have steadily gone up. He went 13-12-4 with a .909 save percentage last season, his first with the Kraken in which the percentage was above .900.

This season, he’s 2-1-1 with a .910 save percentage after making 14 first period saves and 31 overall in Thursday’s overtime loss to Tampa Bay. Grubauer doesn’t think he’s made any drastic changes. He’s just thriving in Lambert’s system and washing beer glasses for patrons with a newfound respect for both his on-ice and off-ice commitment. It all now seems well removed from 2024-25, which was not an easy Grubauer season. After establishing himself as a reliable NHL starter earlier in his career and winning a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals and then taking Colorado to the playoffs, the veteran goaltender found himself fighting for playing time in Seattle. He was placed on waivers, assigned to the Coachella Valley Firebirds and faced a stretch unlike anything he had experienced during his professional career.

In September 2025, Grubauer described it as his hardest season. The challenge was not simply about getting back into the lineup. It was about finding a way to continue working, remaining prepared and taking advantage of whatever opportunities came his way.

“It definitely helped to get more appearances,” he said in exit interviews last April.  “That’s exactly what I was missing last year. It was never about confidence, but about seeing the situations and playing regularly. That helped me become a better goaltender, read situations differently and adapt my game.”

His response began showing last season. Grubauer appeared in 32 games, finishing with a 2.65 goals-against average and the .909 save percentage –  the second-highest in Kraken history among goaltenders who played at least 25 games.

It was a meaningful step forward, but Grubauer’s approach to what comes next is not built upon looking backward. Instead, he is focused on continuing to improve within a team still establishing its identity under Lambert.

Grubauer pointed to Lambert’s structure as an important difference. He felt the team’s earlier defensive approach was less defined, while the current system provides clearer expectations for how players should handle different situations.

“It’s the head coach [Lane Lambert] implementing the system and making sure everyone sticks to the system,” Grubauer said, “I think that’s the biggest change we’re seeing. Once Lane came in, it became more structured.”

Just like their time in Washington with the Capitals.

A goaltender’s performance is never entirely separate from the play happening in front of him. Defensive coverage, positioning and the ability to limit opposing chances all influence what a goalie sees when the puck reaches the crease. For Grubauer, having a better understanding of what to expect from his teammates can slow the game down.

As the Kraken enter another season under Lambert, their familiarity with the system should also provide opportunity to build on what’s been learned.

Grubauer noted that players have more experience with the system and that the coaching staff can continue adjusting certain elements to better suit the roster. Rather than starting from scratch, Seattle can focus on refining its approach and finding ways to apply more pressure on opponents.

“We grow and have a better idea of what to expect,” Grubauer said. “You look at Catton and Winterton, there are a couple guys that are more experienced now who are coming in with way more experience.”

Preparation does not begin when training camp opens. For Grubauer, the summer provides an opportunity to work on the physical and technical elements of his game before the demands of the regular season arrive. Conditioning, strength training and time in the weight room all play a role. But there are limitations to what a goaltender can replicate without a full team on the ice.

Game situations are difficult to recreate during the offseason. That makes video review and individual work important parts of the preparation process. Grubauer has been working through video with the goaltending staff, focusing on details such as staying square to the puck and making appropriate adjustments depending on the situation.

Those small details can have an outsized impact. Positioning can determine whether a save requires a difficult recovery or simply a controlled movement into the shot path. Reading a play early helps a goaltender arrive in the right place before the puck.

He has also spent time training alongside some of the NHL’s most skilled players, including Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel, Boston Bruins forward JJ Peterka and Edmonton Oilers forward Josh Samanski.  Facing elite shooters repeatedly can offer a useful opportunity to read releases and recognize tendencies. Grubauer acknowledged that familiarity can sometimes help, although actual game speed and skill create an entirely different challenge.

Training camp offers the chance to translate offseason preparation into game situations, develop timing, and build consistency. For Grubauer, the objective is to arrive ready to go and continue applying those details as the season progresses.

There is, of course, more to Grubauer’s life in Seattle than the work required to prepare for an NHL season. His brewery involvement began through a friendship and grew into an opportunity to become part of the local business community. Since then, the brewery has offered another way to connect with people outside hockey.

The experience gives fans a different view of the goaltender. Away from the rink, he can be found pitching in with everyday tasks rather than simply making an appearance and heading out. Grubauer said the business has continued to grow, crediting the employees who make it possible. He enjoys spending time meeting new people and hearing their stories.

Those interactions may seem far removed from the pressure of NHL goaltending, but they are part of the life he has built in the Pacific Northwest. The brewery is one piece of that life. Grubauer has also embraced the region’s outdoors and the opportunity to spend time away from hockey during the offseason.

Having interests outside the game does not diminish the commitment required to compete at the highest level. If anything, it offers a reminder that a difficult night on the ice is only  part of a much bigger picture.

For Grubauer, the opportunity to connect with people and spend time in the community is something he genuinely enjoys. It provides a chance to step outside the routine of practices, games and travel while remaining connected to the city he represents.

Grubauer’s path through the past two seasons has reinforced how quickly circumstances can change for an NHL goaltender. One season can bring uncertainty and limited opportunities. The next can provide a chance to rebuild confidence, regain consistency and establish a stronger foundation for the future.

The Kraken have a better understanding of Lambert’s system, and Grubauer has another offseason of preparation behind him. There are still adjustments to make, details to refine, and challenges that will inevitably arrive over a long season.

The next chapter will be defined by what happens on the ice. But for Grubauer, it’s all about the broader perspective; a clearer foundation and an appreciation for the life he has built along the way.