Doing What He 'McCann'

When Philipp Grubauer played a breakout game to beat the Washington Capitals on Thanksgiving Eve to break a six-game losing streak, Kraken forward Jared McCann was the skater who gave Grubauer the longest hug of congratulations.

Friday night, when the Kraken held off the offensively gifted Edmonton Oilers for a rousing 4-3 victory in what might be the loudest crowd reaction to date at Climate Pledge Arena - and that is saying a lot - McCann stood rinkside by the players' exit gate to effusively high-five and stick-tap every teammate.
In a quieter moment, during a practice before the team's recent successful road trip, McCann, as per usual, stayed late for shooting practice and drills. When goalie Chris Driedger made a spectacular save on an equally spectacular deke and shot by McCann, the Kraken's second-leading goal scorer made a point to circle back to tap Driedger on the leg pads and say a few words.
"Sometimes all you need is a little tap on the pads for confidence," says McCann.
Fans attending a Kraken game watching the twin video boards will see the same player in the foreground during the introduction of the team. It's McCann, the hype man, revving up both teammates.
"I've been through a lot of adversity in this league," McCann said. "I feel like my positive approach can rub off on them, especially the younger guys."

During the aforementioned losing streak, the Kraken players were still believing in head coach Dave Hakstol's system but experiencing frustration with letdowns at key moments that led to those losses. There's chemistry in winning together and McCann says adversity can lead to togetherness, too.
"There can be more honesty (during an unsuccessful span)," says McCann, talking about other veterans, especially those in the captaincy group, not just himself. "We're all friends off the ice. But sometimes if somebody is not going, you gotta be that hard voice to say it's time to get going."
At 25, McCann has played in 372 NHL games, the equivalent of four-and-half 82-game regular seasons. He was a standout juniors player with the Soo Greyhounds - he scored 40 goals across his final season and playoffs - the same Sault St. Marie team for which Kraken GM Ron Francis starred.
He was a first-round draft choice (picked 24th overall by Vancouver) who after that 40-goal season made the Canucks roster out of training camp. After his rookie season, Vancouver traded McCann to Florida, who in turn traded the center-winger to Pittsburgh at the 2019 NHL trade deadline.
McCann scored 11 goals in 32 games that winter/spring to help the Penguins qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was a productive scorer for Pittsburgh the last two seasons. Deciding to protect other players and not wanting to lose McCann in the Kraken's expansion draft, Pittsburgh's new front office executives, Brian Burke and Ron Hextall, sent McCann to Toronto for a prospect and draft pick.
Toronto then decided not to protect McCann, presumably making the trade to protect other Maple Leafs players, guessing the Kraken would select either McCann or Alex Kerfoot, with whoever remained playing top-nine forward minutes. Francis and his hockey group were happy to oblige. McCann is pacing at a 30-plus goal season and analytics experts say his play is worth two wins, on the higher end of ratings for players.
With his effusive approach toward his teammates and his love for Seattle fans ("they're unbelievable, nothing like them in the National Hockey League,") McCann doesn't appear to need the added motivation of a chip on his shoulder. But there might be anyway.
"They didn't want me," McCann said Sunday when asked about vying for time on ice with Pittsburgh over the last few seasons. "They didn't want me. That's the way I look at it. It's pretty simple. I play for the Kraken now, and this is where I want to be."