The Kraken got back to work Sunday at the Kraken Community Iceplex a day after they won their fourth straight preseason game, beating the Vancouver Canucks 4-0. Earlier in training camp, the team was split into two groups but as the roster has been trimmed, they are now down to one group and that group spent Sunday with a brisk practice.
“Not a whole lot of standing around and talking,” head coach Dave Hakstol said. “Just get up and down the ice, execute and create some pace.”
The execution and pace are needed because Seattle is right back on the ice Monday when they travel to Calgary for a rematch with the Flames at 6 PM on KONG TV and 950-KJR.
Roster trimming continues
The Kraken announced a series of roster moves prior to Sunday’s practice that came after some tough decisions for the team. While they will no longer be with the Kraken, the hope is that they will bolster the roster of the Coachella Valley Firebirds and help provide great organizational depth.
“I pay them a great compliment,” Hakstol said. “Those guys did a good job, solid pros. They’ve done a nice job, whether it be in practice or in the exhibition games that they’ve been in. We all know a lot of those guys are going to be part of it at some point in time during this year, and that’s really important for our group.”
Seattle reassigned Luke Henman, Tye Kartye, Ville Petman, Peetro Seppala, Matt Tennyson, and Jimmy Schuldt to the Firebirds who began their training camp Saturday afternoon.
Players who were put on waivers and need to clear before they can be assigned to Coachella Valley include Cole Lind, Jesper Froden, Cameron Hughes, Max McCormick, Gustav Olofsson, Austin Poganski, Andrew Poturalski, Brogan Rafferty, Carsen Twarynskiand Magnus Hellberg.
The players won’t have to travel far as the Firebirds are training and practicing at the Kraken Community Iceplex while the facilities in Coachella Valley are completed.
“It’s a little bit of an odd situation,” Hakstol said. “But I think it’s a situation that we can make a real positive one over the next month. They’ll virtually be in the same building, doing their work, we’ll be doing our work but in terms of that connection, it definitely makes it easier.”
Eberle ready for more game action
Veteran forward Jordan Eberle has only played in one preseason game so far. With the number of players that were in camp, it made sense as the team wanted to get a look at as many guys as possible.
With the cuts coming, that’s no longer the case and he’s ready to get back in the lineup.
“We’ve got two left here and I hope to play both,” Eberle said. “It’s kind of a weird schedule in the fact that we play two and then we have about four days. You’re worried about yourself, you’re trying to just find your game and we’ve spent a lot of time in practice, but game situations are a little different. We’re excited to get in tomorrow.”
Eberle may not have played in games, but he’s been working hard in practice and watching all the preseason games.
He’s been impressed with how the team has been playing.
“I like our execution,” he said. “You can look at the record, that’s obviously positive. You never want to lose games, and we’re obviously winning. But I like the way that we’re playing. We’re executing, we’re playing fast. The biggest thing is just trying to keep building on that. There’s still a week and a half before the start of the season so you can just continue to build and get better and better and better. I think that’s gonna be the key.”
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