Quoteables from the first two days of Seattle Kraken training camp.
Kraken Defenseman Vince Dunn
Dunn this week was added to the Kraken leadership team, being named an alternate captain along with Brandon Montour.
Glenn Dreyfuss: “Vince, when was the last time you wore a letter?”
Vince Dunn: “In my other life, I guess. I’ve never worn a letter. This is a first for me. Super excited.”
Dreyfuss: “How did you find out?”
Dunn: “Lane (Kraken coach Lambert) brought the leadership group in. We’ve had some discussions as a group. It’s not everything to wear a letter to be a leader. I’ve always looked at myself as a leader, even last year.
“I think as a leadership group, we’ve done a lot of work. I think you’ll see some really positive changes with the group.”
Dreyfuss: “What type of things might that involve?”
Dunn: “It’s a lot of things between the ears. Having a really good mentality. Last season, we found a way to lose a lot of games, beat ourselves.
“You’ll always have people doubting you. Most of those games, we came out on top. The games we thought were easily winnable, we came up short a lot of those times.
“Preparation is huge. It’s been unfortunate that we start games flat. That’s on us to be ready for the games, especially on home ice, where there’s all the energy in the world.”
Kraken Center Matty Beniers
Beniers recently made headlines with a pointed response to players like Jason Robertson. The Dallas Stars forward turned down a lucrative offer this summer to accept a trade to Seattle.
Matty Beniers: “I heard a lot of people liked that. It was just the honest truth. It wasn’t necessarily a dig at him or anyone else. We want guys who want to be here, love this city, and want to win here.
“It’s good to get some traction around our city. It sucked when it happened. The media had fun with it. ‘Look at how bad Seattle is. Robertson doesn’t want to go there for all this money.’ It’s our duty to go, ‘It’s great here. ‘”
Coach Lane Lambert
Dreyfuss: “I imagine you spent some of the offseason unlocking the mystery of why your team played so well before the Olympics, and not so well afterward. What did you figure out?”
Lane Lambert: “We proved that we could beat anybody in the league last year. It’s just a level of consistency.”
Dreyfuss: “There might be 8 or 9 forwards on the team 23-and-younger. Does the coaching staff have to adjust its mindset in terms of youthful exuberance but also youthful mistakes?”
Lambert: “There’s potential for some of that. At the same time, the young players have been in those situations before. They understand what it takes. That was part of the process last year as well.”
General Manager Jason Botterill
Botterill has added two former NHL GMs to his staff, AGM Patrik Allvin from Vancouver, and senior advisor Chuck Fletcher, who held the top job in Minnesota and Philadelphia.
The trio previously worked together in the Pittsburgh front office, winning a Stanley Cup in 2009.
Jason Botterill: “We talked about different ways we could strengthen our organization. I have a familiarity with them, but they have a ton of different experiences since that time. Having that experience of sitting in the chair helps me out.
“Chuck can help (AHL Firebirds GM) Troy Bodie, making sure there’s a smoother transition from player development to Coachella Valley up to Seattle. Chuck’s experience evaluating players across different leagues can be very helpful.
“Patrik Allvin will work closely with me, oversee our pro staff. We all have a Rolodex of agents we’re close to. Some of his is a little different than mine. That communication with players and agents has been very helpful this summer.”
Earlier Kraken:
— How Long Until The Kraken Invite “Firkus Circus” To Perform
Earlier Canucks:
— Simmer’s Holiday 9; Kraken, Canucks Bad Signings? A Remembrance
