In broad daylight, under the cover of a new Seattle Mariners season, the Kraken players and head coach fulfilled their media obligations, held their meetings, and began shimmying out of town.
In olden days, let’s say the 1970’s or ’80’s, NHL players would have skulked or moved stealthily away from their shortcomings. Then again, in olden days, players didn’t have to do media availabilities once the locker room door closed for the last time.
It was a simpler era.
Over a few hours on Friday, a dozen or so Kraken answered questions. Among the routine stuff, an injury update here or there, and a consistent expression of disappointment.
The most humorous moment came when goaltender Philipp Grubauer made reference to the improvements he made in his game this past year. After complementing current head coach Lane Lambert’s systems and his teammates for executing them, he said of the previous season under bench boss Dan Bylsma; “last year I’m not sure what system we played, if we even played a system, right.”
Ouch.
As for overcoming disappointment, I asked Matty Beniers if he’d watch any of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and maybe pull for his buddies?
“It’s tough, it’s tough to say,” Beniers answered. “I don’t know. Kind of depends. I think sometimes watching it is like salt in the wound a little bit, but you’re right, I do have a lot of buddies who are gonna be in it and I’ll be rooting for them. So, if I see someone playing I’ll put it on and I’ll watch ’em, but other than that, if I don’t have anyone that I’m cheering for, I’m not gonna watch it.”
There’s lots of work this summer as individual players and coaches. Beniers and young Berkly Catton both said they’re hitting the gym extensively to continue getting stronger. Catton, still a developing 19-year-old kid, didn’t enjoy getting pushed around in the corners.
Head coach Lambert repeatedly summed things up for this club in different categories. “There’s plenty of work to do.”
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Front Office Scrambles Into “On” Season
