Kraken’s Joey Daccord
Others may have been credited, but I always refer to legendary former Boston University head coach Jack Parker saying it: “We should change the name of the game to ‘goalie’.”
“Show me a good coach and I’ll show you a good goalie,” Seattle Hockey Insider joked with Tampa Bay Lightning bench boss Jon Cooper a couple of weeks ago. He agreed.
The position is obviously that important. Aside from quarterback, likely the most important in all of sports.
Right now the Kraken can enjoy another cliché, “it’s a good problem to have.”
What Seattle has is an injured “number-one” in Philipp Grubauer with the goalie that replaced him absolutely crushing it.
“It’s unfortunate for ‘Grooby’ that he’s not able to play,” Daccord said ahead of the Winter Classic, “but for myself, when they ask me to play, I just go out there and give it my all, and try to do my best and hope to help the team win however I can.”
Yes, a cliché answer, but there’s been nothing ordinary about Daccord’s efforts. He posted his 2nd career shut-out in less than three weeks with a 35-save effort to win the Winter Classic against the Golden Knights. He touts the 6th best goals against average in the NHL.
History Repeating Itself?
It feels like we wrote this same story last season at about this same time when Martin Jones was filling in so admirably. He won all but one of the games during the Kraken’s record setting seven-game road winning streak in January, 2023.
But this time it’s different. “Jonesy” enjoyed some great offensive goal support while reeling off some wins, while Daccord is simply stealing games here and there, making huge saves, having big moments, and winning one-goal matches.
“The details in his game look so sharp, that you add the structure they’re playing with in front of him, they look more like the team from last year in the last little bit, his game just looks really tight and really controlled,” said Kevin Woodley from NHL.com and InGoal magazine. “He still has the ability to go outside the box and make unorthodox or athletic saves, but he’s just so tight and sound that he’s not putting himself in a position where he has to.”
Daccord also brings a bonus with his puck handling skills. Or to stick with the cliché theme: “He’s like a third defenseman back there.” Something that comes in handy when you’re trying to catch your opponent on a slow line change.
“He’s an elite level puck handler,” Woodley added. “If the team sets up a system and a breakout to play off that, it’s an advantage unquestionably to have a guy that can chuck it like that and not just chuck it, but put it in the right spots. I’m a huge Joey Daccord fan.”
Woodley obviously isn’t alone. The crowds chanting their Kraken goalie’s name at Climate Pledge Arena will attest.
