The Seattle Kraken must feel like they’ve been driving the lane against Dikembe Mutombo.
So far in 2026, they’ve reportedly gotten the finger wag of rejection from Jason Robertson, Artemi Panarin, Jordan Kyrou, and Morgan Rielly. Those are the ones we know of.
So as a palate cleanser for the team we follow from the region we live in, may we present Jordan Eberle. The Kraken captain voluntarily – without a gun to his head or family members held hostage – signed a two-year extension in March.
“I love this city. My wife, my family, we love being here. I love the fan base. I love being on the West Coast. Snce day one, it’s felt like home. I didn’t really have any aspirations of leaving. it’s always nice to to know that you’re going to be here the next year.
“My preparation is for the summertime is always kind of the same. As you get older, this league, it’s exponentially faster and you try to maintain your foot speed so you can keep up and then hope you learn as you go along. The biggest motivation factor for me is just winning and having success and as a team and trying to get this team to where I know it can be. So that’s what drives me and it’s made the game more enjoyable.”
Thanks, Cap’n.
On The Topic Of Kraken Organizational Pride…
The new contract Coachella Valley Firebirds defenseman Gustav Olofsson signed in March carries an important distinction from his previous deal. That one was an AHL contract, meaning the 31-year-old Swedish blueliner wasn’t eligible to play in Seattle.
The one year, $775,000 recently-inked extension is an NHL contract, so it’s possible Olofsson could once again see time with the parent club. A 2013 2nd round pick of the Minnesota Wild, he played 56 games for the Wild, three in Montreal, and four in Seattle between 2022-24.
“I feel like the obsession in me will kind of start to creep in,” Olofsson said after the Firebirds were eliminated in the 3rd round of the AHL playoffs. “I’ll kick into gear and be ready mentally to get ready for training camp next season.”
Olofsson has played for Coachella Valley in each of their four seasons, including two trips to the Calder Cup Finals. “The challenge is coming up to the standard that you have as an organization. Here, it’s excellence and winning and being in contention and in playoffs. I do feel very proud to wear this jersey and what we’ve accomplished.”
Kraken Farm Team Goalie Heads Up The Alps
The Kraken’s ECHL affiliate has lost one of the goalies who carried the K.C. Mavericks to the Kelly Cup Finals. Dylan Wells, 28, will play next season in Austria for the Black Wings Linz.
If that team name rings a bell, it’s because new Kraken Curtis Douglas played briefly for the Black Wings’ development team, the Steel Wings Linz. We wrote about it here.
In this year’s playoffs, Wells won seven games, with a 2.02 goals against average and .923 save percentage. He went 9-3-0 in the regular season, posting a 1.85 GAA and .928 save %.
Dylan Wells trivia: (1) In a 2017 playoff game for the OHL Peterborough Petes (image above right), Wells scored a goalie goal into an open net. (2) Since being drafted by Edmonton in 2016, he’s played for six ECHL teams and five AHL clubs, some more than once.
(3) He played one NHL period in relief for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022, stopping 12 of 13 Winnipeg shots. (4) Dad Rob Wells is a Canadian drummer and music producer who was part of two singles that went platinum.
Last Words
Kraken center Matty Beniers, on teammates who aren’t retained, sign elsewhere or get traded elsewhere in the offseason. “You build connections with those guys and they’re your teammates and your friends. So obviously, you don’t want to see anyone leave.”
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Far From Alone In 2022 Draft Misery
