Kraken Setback
The Kraken didn’t look like themselves on Tuesday night in their 4-3 loss to the Blackhawks in Chicago. The game was sloppy, the forecheck rarely established, and the goaltending solid but not great. Not to mention the Seattle power play went 0-for-5, including a blown 5-on-3 man advantage for almost a minute late in the game.
The team’s identity should be well established two dozen matches into the season, but it’s not.
“Our puck play was pretty sloppy through the first two periods and that caused us a lot of problems,” Seattle head coach Dave Hakstol said postgame. “They’re (Blackhawks) gonna push as soon as they get possession and they got us into that look a couple of times. It comes off of our puck play, we weren’t sharp enough especially the first half of the game.”
The Kraken are back to two games below .500 on the season with a date in Toronto against the Maple Leafs coming on Thursday night. No easy task.
“You need guys in the locker room to really take charge,” Matty Beniers said after the loss. “Not that they haven’t been, but even more so, especially when were in this back and forth (loss, then win, then loss). We were able to do it last year and we just need to keep pushing and find a way to do it this year.”
Canucks Trade
The Canucks, Seattle’s closest Pacific Division rival, made a deal on Tuesday prior to their 3-1 win over the visiting Anaheim Ducks. Vancouver freed up some cap space by dealing winger Anthony Beauvillier to the Blackhawks for a 2024 5th-round NHL Draft choice.
The trade sheds what remains of Beauvillier’s $4.150-million dollar salary cap hit for this season. He’s an unrestricted free agent this spring.
The Canucks acquired the 26-year-old French Canadian forward in the deal that sent captain Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders in January.
The trade gives Vancouver some flexibility for acquiring other personnel in a season that’s showing some serious promise. The club has already earned 31 points in the standings, tied for 2nd most in the NHL.
The Blackhawks were somewhat desperate with three forwards already on injured reserve prior to the club parting ways with a veteran winger …
Perry Problems
Trolls and pseudo-journalists have been spreading grotesque rumors regarding Corey Perry and the possible reason or reasons he may have had his contract terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
The Associated Press reported on Tuesday: “The Blackhawks say Perry engaged in unacceptable conduct, and they are moving toward terminating his contract in the latest twist involving the veteran winger who was sent home last week without explanation.”
The team and its general manager Kyle Davidson made it clear that whatever incident Perry was involved in, it didn’t involve any of his teammates or their families.
An internal investigation showed Perry acted in violation of his NHL Standard Player Contract and club policies “intended to promote professional and safe work environments.”
He’s expected to clear waivers on Wednesday.
Despite the controversy swirling, it didn’t stop the Blackhawks from taking care of business on the ice against the Kraken.
Recent:
— Simmer’s Sunday 9: Kraken Roadie, Head Slash, Trade Rumors
— Simmer’s Sunday 9: Kraken Roadie, Head Slash, Trade Rumours
