The Seattle Kraken returned to training camp at Kraken Community Iceplex on Friday. They play their third and final home preseason game Monday against the Edmonton Oilers.
Jacob Melanson and Tucker Robertson, who both scored goals in Seattle preseason games, have been reassigned to Coachella Valley’s training camp. Also reassigned were Jack Lafontaine, Logan Morrison, Ville Ottavainen, and Ryan Winterton.
Kraken Masked Men
Meanwhile, the Kraken goalie competition continues. Through two appearances in the Seattle preseason, goalie Joey Daccord has been a big zero – and that’s a very good thing.
Daccord played the final 20 minutes in Thursday’s 3-1 home victory over the Vancouver Canucks. The period contained another zero: no shots by Vancouver in the first half of the period, which can test a goalie’s concentration. Daccord stayed focused, repelling seven late Canucks shots, including during a scramble in front of his net in the final minute after the visitors had pulled their goalie.
Daccord had a longer first outing against a Calgary Flames split-squad at Climate Pledge Arena on Monday. He played the last 40 minutes of regulation, plus five minutes of overtime, without allowing a puck to get past him.
A statistical oddity: Daccord took the loss Monday despite shutting out the Flames, because he allowed two shootout goals. Officially, he was credited with the win Thursday night, because when he entered the game the score was tied 1-1. Eeli Tolvanen’s two third period goals made Daccord, and the Kraken, winners.
An attention-grabbing postseason showing for the Coachella Valley Firebirds has vaulted Daccord into a training camp battle with Chris Driedger for the Kraken backup goalie slot. In last season’s AHL playoffs, Daccord backstopped the Firebirds’ run within a game of the Calder Cup: 26 games, 15 wins, three shutouts, 2.22 goals-against average, .926 save percentage.
Driedger, who suffered a torn ACL during the IIHF World Championships in May, 2022, returned to play 14 late-season games in 2023 for Coachella Valley. His numbers were also good – 9-4 record, one shutout, 2.61 GAA, .908 save percentage.
The first goalie ever signed by Seattle, Driedger is in the final year of his contract, and before Daccord’s coming-out party, would have been expected to retake his spot with the Kraken. But as long as Daccord keeps being a zero, he may have the inside track on sticking with the big club.
— PS: Funny comment at today’s camp comes from a Kraken fan posing for a photo: “Don’t put this on social media. I’m playing hooky from work.”
