Injuries limited Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann to 52 games played last season. That’s 30 missed; more than double the amount of games missed over his first four Seattle seasons combined (13). McCann still managed 20 goals and 20 assists, but he rarely if ever felt 100% healthy.
“I was able to play, but not as much, and not to the caliber that I’m used to,” McCann explained. Medical work the previous off-season on a lower-body injury, “Didn’t work as well as hoped. It just took a lot longer to heal than everybody thought. I tried to play through it as much as I could.”
Right after the season, McCann got further repairs. “I had a procedure done in Utah to fix some things.” The forward returned to Seattle to “work with our rehab guys and medical team. After that, throw some weights around and focus on the strength part of it. I’ll be good to go for next year.”
Kraken Defenseman Kicked Out Of Medal Round Game
The 2025 IIHF World Championship in Sweden was bliss for Seattle hockey fans. Eight Kraken participated for their home countries. Joey Daccord & Matty Beniers returned stateside with gold medals, as Team USA won the tournament for the first time since 1933.
The 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland has also been bliss – minus the L, the I, and one S. This being an Olympic year, only two Kraken signed up: defenseman Ryan Lindgren for Team USA and goalie Philipp Grubauer for Team Germany.
Not only was USA eliminated by Canada 4-0 in a quarterfinal game on Thursday, Lindgren wasn’t around for most of it. Six minutes in, said the IIHF game story, “Evan Bouchard (Edmonton Oilers) brought the puck in over the line but was hit hard in the head by Ryan Lindgren.”
Bouchard was unconscious on the ice for several minutes. “Lindgren got a major and game misconduct. Bouchard was clearly woozy and did not return.”
According to Yahoo Sports, “(Lindgren) didn’t agree with the call; on his way off the ice he was yelling at both the refs and Team Canada’s bench.”
Germany didn’t qualify for the medal round, although Grubauer acquitted himself well. In six starts, he posted a 3-2-1 record, 2.52 GAA and .889 save pct. Perhaps Grubauer’s best performance came in a 4-3 shootout loss to Lindgren’s USA, in which the German netminder made 39 saves.
Biggest Game In Silvertips History
Kraken center prospect Julius Miettinen and his Everett Silvertips will play Sunday night for the Memorial Cup, symbolic of supremacy in junior hockey. The WHL champion Silvertips will take on OHL champion Kitchener Rangers at 4 pm PT in Kelowna, BC.
Everett reached the final by besting another Kraken prospect, defenseman Alexis Bernier, and his QMJHL champs Chicoutimi Saguenéens, 6-1 on Friday. Miettinen scored his 15th postseason goal.
Miettinen and Bernier were selected by Seattle in the 2nd and 3rd rounds respectively in 2024.
Kraken Farm Team One Win From ECHL Finals
Also Sunday afternoon, the Kraken’s ECHL affiliate can secure a berth in the Kelly Cup Finals. The Kansas City Mavericks lead their Western Conference series over the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Komets, 3 games to 1. Puck drop on Game 5 in Fort Wayne is set for just after 2 pm Seattle time.
K.C., the league’s top-regular season team, has stayed red-hot. The Mavs have won 11 of 12 playoff games through three rounds. But the Eastern Conference champion Florida Everblades have also lost just once in postseason.
The Mavericks in the Finals would be seeking revenge against the Everblades, who defeated them 4 games to 1 for the 2024 Kelly Cup. It was Florida’s third straight ECHL title.
Cole’s Law
A Seattle hockey name you probably don’t know has received an honor you definitely should know about.
Andy Cole is one of 13 who will be recognized at USA Hockey’s awards banquet in Denver on June 5. Currently overseeing the Kraken Hockey League, Cole was named John Beadle Adult Member of the Year.
Cole is described by USA Hockey as “an influential figure in growing the game among adults in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years. Cole founded the Greater Seattle Hockey League (GSHL) in 2001. In the subsequent 20 years, he helped grow the league to over 2,000 participants and 115 teams, building the largest adult ice hockey league in the region.
“The GSHL became the Kraken Hockey League, as Cole transitioned to a role with the NHL club as adult hockey director, while maintaining his role as the league’s commissioner”
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken / Bobby McMann Contract Talks Ongoing
