,I’m very excited about the new NHL expansion team the Seattle Kraken. I’ve never been to Seattle, Washington, but I hear the landscape is Ireland-like. I have traveled to the old sod island. The old school would call Ireland the old country. All the green colors thanks to all the rain, make Seattle and Ireland just breathtaking. I would love the coffee and the craft breweries that have invaded the state of Washington. The sports landscape in Seattle I have always liked. Ken Griffy Jr. and all those great plays in the outfield climbing the walls in the old King dome stadium. The Mariners’ new baseball stadium looks gorgeous. People have told me Safeco field is a must see. The Seahawks legend, Steve Largent, catching anything that was thrown to him. One of the best receivers in NFL history. Remember Brian Bosworth mania?

Brian Bosworth was a bust in the NFL but it was a fun ride when Bo Jackson ran over him to get to the end zone in the Raiders/Seahawks game. I hated the old Seahawk Legion of Boom defense and head coach Pete Carol, who is very good at his job but also pond scum. Russell Wilson, a franchise quarterback like some teams have never seen with their own teams in the NFL. Wilson is fun to watch every Sunday, a must see. Do you remember the old Seattle Supersonics? Before they left town and moved to Oklahoma. Supersonics won the NBA championship in 1979. Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp had the Supersonics super for years as they faced Michael Jordan and the Bulls in one of Air-ness six championships. You know how that ended. How many baby-mothers did Shawn Kemp have that were from the Seattle zip code? In 2020, Seattle had the Dragons, another football team in the XFL.

The pandemic wiped out the Dragons and the entire XFL league. Seattle fans love their soccer. The Seattle Sounders are a big deal in the Pacific North West. Now Seattle welcomes their new team (and a) new sport in Seattle’s landscape the Kraken.

These days, expansion teams in any sports do not have to take lumps for years to be relevant. Look at the Las Vegas Golden Knights making it to the Stanley Cup finals in their very first season. The Golden Knights have made it to the playoffs every year of their existence so far. Golden Knights have proven they are one of the best teams in the NHL. With the expansion draft and a good plan, you can build a winner instantly.The Kraken may have taken a page out of the Golden Knights expansion plan because Seattle has a strong goalie tandem in-between the pipes.

The Kraken went out and signed a proven veteran goaltender in Philipp Grubauer. Grubauer had a hell of the year in net for the Avalanche last year. Grubauer started 39 games for Colorado & had a 30-9 record with .196 save % and 1.95 GAA. Plus seven shutouts. Grubauer probably left Colorado for the big pay day landing a six year deal worth 35.4 million. The Avalanche are a team right now with Stanley Cup aspirations.

Then the Kraken backed up their top goalkeeper with a veteran, former Florida Panther, Chris Driedger. Driedger is only 27 years old and has a 21-9 record in his career, filling in part time.

DEFENSE (Make the opponents piss all over themselves when you crash them against the boards.)

I like how the Kraken found a nice goalie tandem and added some great defenders around the net. Many teams in the NHL have weak defenders and they rely on their goalies way too much. Former Calgary Flame, Mark Giordano, has 954 games under his belt with 143 tallies and 368 assists, good for 511 points.

Giordano has that Russian look, like he’s going to kill you. Giordano will wear the Captain sweater with the big C on his chest for Seattle’s first ever season.

Kraken also added former Blue, Vince Dunn, who has 270 games on the ice with 32 goals, & 72 assists for 104 points in his career. Jamie Oleksiak former Star and Penguin has 24 career goals with 48 assists good for 72 points. Then the former Oiler and Devil, is Adam Larsson who has played in 608 NHL games. Larsson has 25 goals and 113 assists for 138 points in his career. These are solid defenders to have on the roster. Defense wins a lot of games.

PUT THE BISCUIT IN THE NET

To win hockey games your team has to be able to put the biscuit in the net. Who is going to be the guy in Seattle to do that? Will it be a group of guys? The more the merrier.

May the Schwartz be with the Seattle Kraken this season. Jaden Schwartz might be the force behind the Kraken offensive attack. Schwartz is another X-Blues. Schwartz has 154 goals in his career. He brings the Kraken another veteran who has slipped 19 goals in the net in 5 different seasons. The Kraken have 8 forwards that reached the double digits in goals scored in this most recent shortened season.

THE PROJECTED LINES

#1. JADEN SCHWARTZ, JARED MCCANN, JORDAN EBERLE

#2.MARCUS JOHANSSON, ALEX WENNBERG, CALLE JARNKROK

#3. RYAN DONATO, MORGAN GEEKIE, JOONAS DONSKOI

#4.BRANDON TANEV, RILEY SHEAHAN, NATHAN BASTIAN

Dave Hackstol will make history being the first ever Head Coach of the Seattle franchise. Can Hackstol make his coaching tenure legendary? Not just making history being the first to be hired at this job. Hackstol was an assistant coach with the Maple Leafs the last two seasons. Hackstol does have head coaching experience. Hackstol was the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Flyers for 3 1/2 years making the playoffs twice. Both playoff appearances ended in first round exits. Hackstol was Head Coach at the University of North Dakota for over ten seasons. University of Dakota is where Hackstol went to school. Hackstol went and played in the IHLfor the Indianapolis Ice and (I love the name) Minnesota Moose.

Dave Hackstol has an aggressive style of coaching. When I think of aggressive styles of play, the New York Islander teams of the last two seasons come to mind. A scrappy team that will hit you for the puck.

The Kraken look good on paper. The original plan might not be the recipe for success. This roster could easily be a hit, or turn into a burning wreck. Some players will rise up and some that we thought might do well could suddenly not have their game. Kraken fans are hoping they can quickly become a success like the Las Vegas Golden Knights. This could take years. Hopefully not as long as the Mariners playoff drought. You may need a few extra craft beers watching this all unfold on television, or in person. Extra beers for whatever the Kraken turn out to be… good, bad, or just plain ugly.