The Kraken’s original franchise goaltender Philipp Grubauer has rejoined the big club as of Monday morning after spending seven games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League.
“It’s great to be back, go down there and play a couple games and get into a rhythm a little bit and see pucks and see a couple game situations,” ‘Grubi’ said on Monday after practice.
He’s not expected to start the game on Tuesday evening against the Minnesota Wild; that distinction will go to new number-one Joey Daccord.
With Grubauer’s return, young netminder Niklas Kokko returned to the AHL on Monday.
“It’s good to see him back,” Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma said. “A few weeks ago he had the opportunity to go down to CV with a mind to play some games and get his game back, and a real powerful, strong message on how he went down in the last couple weeks, a true pro, served as an example to the group down there, in terms of dealing with some adversity in his spot, in his career, (he) put his head down and got going about his work.”
After helping to win a Stanley Cup in his final year with the Washington Capitals in 2018, and after seven years of sterling numbers between there and in Colorado with the Avalanche, Grubauer’s number have gradually ballooned. Part of that is to be expected, playing for an expansion club since 2021, but this year’s overall performance became a cause for concern.
Also a concern, the fact the under-performing, underutilized goaltender will run the Kraken $5.9-million per season for another two. Unless of course he’s bought out in the off-season. That’s a distinct possibility. If it happens, he’d get paid 2/3rds of that remaining contract, spread out over the next four years.
Grubauer might see action on Thursday in Nashville against the Predators.
First things first for Kraken GM Ron Francis; the NHL Trade Deadline is Friday.
