Kraken at Flames | 5:00 p.m.

One: Going for the Sweep

Another youthful Kraken roster will travel to Calgary Sunday for a 5 p.m. matchup with the division rival Flames. Seattle’s top prospects will embrace the opportunity to impress the Kraken hockey brain trust plus sweep the weekend’s preseason games.

Every shift is a chance to make a case for sticking in camp and/or being candidates for call-ups from AHL affiliate Coachella Valley when a need for the big club develops. Saturday was productive for several prospects on the verge of playing in more NHL games as soon as this season.

In Saturday’s win, power forward Jani Nyman and defenseman Ty Nelson opened the scoring. Nyman drew praise for getting net-front from SEA head coach Lane Lambert after morning skate, plus the work he was doing in the defensive zone. The 6-foot-2, 212-pound winger showed his skating and shooting skills, taking a pass with speed from 2025 first-round pick Jake O’Brien, then ripping a shot that Vancouver goalie Nikita Tolopilo couldn’t entirely smother.

Nelson’s goal was NHL quality. After Tolopilo stopped a Jacob Melanson shot in close, Nelson swooped with speed to the slot area to fire the rebound to make matters 2-0 after 20 minutes.

Post-game, Kraken coach Lane Lambert made a point of praising Nelson’s overall game and added, “I’ve liked Ty Nelson since I first saw him.”

Nelson said his aggressive move is part of Lambert’s system of play: “They want us to be in tight and close fast on plays like that. It was an opportunity where the puck slotted out, and I was able to open myself up and put it in the net.”

Another young standout was Oscar Fisker Molgaard, the night’s top-line center displaying noticeable speed on the offensive ledger and veteran-like forechecking moves to win back several pucks.  Fisker Molgaard notched an assist by starting the scoring sequence on third-period power play goal that upped the Kraken lead to 3-0.  

Logan Morrison, Coachella Valley’s leading scorer last season, knocked in that power play goal after taking a behind-the-goal-line feed from veteran Freddy Gaudreau. Morrison looked fast and surehanded all night. O’Brien scored late in the third period to fend off a potential Vancouver comeback to make it 4-2 lead and final. O’Brien made quick work of the puck at the left goal post when Melanson shoveled a pass from behind the net.
It also marked a two-point night for Melanson, who receives universal praise from the coaching staff and front office for his physical, opponent-annoying play. If the 2021 fifth rounder can produce consistent offense (he scored 50 goals in his final year of juniors and chipped in regularly with the AHL Firebirds), it would be a tantalizing result for the Kraken.

Two: Adjusting the Lineup

The aforementioned Nyman and Fisker Molgaard will get another game beside each other on the top line, joined Sunday night by Jagger Firkus, who generated several scoring chances Saturday. Morrison, who scored the Saturday game winner, stays at second-line center between 2022 second rounder Carson Rehkopf and NHLer Ryan Winterton. Veteran Mitchell Stephens will play between Eduard Sale and Jon-Randall Avon, who impressed  several Kraken veterans with his speed during the traditional captain’s workout that preceded the start of training camp. The fourth line will feature John Hayden in the middle with 6-foot-9 newcomer Curtis Douglas and 2024 second-round pick Nathan Villeneuve.

The defensive pairs will include Tyson Jugnauth and Ville Ottovainen, who both played with other partners Saturday. Nelson is back in with Firebirds stalwart Gustav Olofsson. Caden Price and Kaden Hammell round out the D-corps. 
In goal, Philipp Grubauer will handle the first two periods in Alberta with Nikke Kokko handling the third period for a second straight night. Joey Daccord delivered 40 minutes of scoreless goaltending Saturday, looking sharp, especially this early in the preseason.

Three: Good Vibes Flowing for Kraken, Sound of Hockey

The third annual Sound of Hockey Fest unfolded pre-game Saturday afternoon with podcast hosts Darren Brown, John Barr and Curtis Isacke recording the venerable organization’s 400th podcast across the street from Climate Pledge Arena at the Gantry Public House Arena. Kraken Hockey Network personalities Alison Lukan and Piper Shaw were the second-hour guests. Brown started the conversation asking about the KHN pair about the current “vibes” with the Kraken. The replies were encouraging for the 100-plus fans in attendance on a sunny fall afternoon.

Both Lukan and Shaw said the team’s vibes are high heading into next week’s two final games of preseason (Thursday at home, next Saturday at Vancouver). Shaw said she thinks the veteran players are in a better, closer place of bonding than maybe any of the past seasons.

“I had interviews last week and weekend with the guys,” said Shaw.  “They were coming in with more energy and enthusiasm than I have ever seen in the five seasons.”

Lukan praised the demeanor and enthusiasm she gleaned from conversations with trade acquisition Mackie Samoskevich, including his friendship with Matty Beniers. The two former NCAA Michigan teammates are roommates this year, along with Berkly Catton.

“Mackie is a really good, earnest guy who I think is legitimately excited to be here with Maddie,” said Lukan.