It is weeks now rather than months until the Kraken takes to the ice for preseason and regular season games.

Let's drop the WaFd Bank Weekly Warmup puck for a final Monday column before going on hiatus until mid-September.

Michigan Men

Matty Beniers, the Kraken's first-round pick (2^nd overall) in this summer's NHL Entry Draft, announced Friday afternoon he will return to the University of Michigan for his sophomore season and what hockey insiders consider a high probability of the Wolverines making the NCAA Frozen Four.

NHL transaction activity slows down every August but never quite stops. This month is no exception. But, first, allow me to write in the first person about a hockey hero who left this world too soon last week.

Let's the drop the WaFd Bank Weekly Warmup puck:

August is routinely a slower month for NHL players, coaches and front office staffs. But this offseason is a month shorter. Some signings and other preparations for the 2021-22 regular season will continue to dot this month's calendar.

Let's drop the summertime WaFd Bank Weekly Warmup puck:

The blizzard of signings on Day 1 of this offseason's NHL Free Agency period subsided to scattered flurries by this past weekend. There are some solid players still at large.

Let's drop the WaFd Bank Weekly Warmup puck for the latest free-agent "whether (to sign or not) report."

In this special and historic edition of WaFd Bank Weekly Warmup, let's look back at the boom-boom-boom events last week, Expansion Draft last Wednesday, schedule release Thursday and NHL Entry Draft Friday and Saturday. Then peek ahead to the beginning of NHL Free Agency at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Let's drop the milestones puck:

The 2020-21 season is in the books and we are nine days from the Kraken picking players in the NHL Expansion Draft™. Seattle, you're on the clock.

Let's drop the first offseason WaFd Bank Weekly Warmup puck:

July is a monumental month for the Kraken with a team-building triple header of the expansion draft, NHL amateur draft and the opening of the league's free agency period-all packed into the final week-plus of the month. But first a Stanley Cup champion will be crowned sometime between Monday and next Sunday.

Let's drop the WaFd Bank Weekly Warmup puck for the first time this historic month:

July is going to be a fun month. First, the NHL crowns a 2021 Stanley Cup champion that will either win the coveted trophy for the first time in 28 years or nine months. The Kraken fans are in the front and center row for the NHL Expansion Draft July (should be a fun night on social media) and the NHL amateur draft July 23 and 24. The month finishes with the start of NHL Free Agency July 28.

Let's drop the WaFd Bank Weekly Warmup to preview the Stanley Cup Final, which starts Monday in Tampa Bay:

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are down to four teams after a 16-squad first round.

Let's drop the WaFd Bank Weekly Warmup to discuss the final quartet:

Two NHL postseason series are knotted at two games each while the other pair of final-eight matchups feature elimination games from here out. The 16^th and last team to qualify is one Monday night win from advancing to this spring's Stanley Cup semifinals.

Let's drop the WaFd Bank Weekly Warmup puck to name names.