NHL groups revealed their common season calendars in July. Each certainly one of a membership’s 82 dates is necessary. However past such platitudes, it’s truthful to focus on sure nights and particular sequences. It is perhaps as a result of one’s most popular franchise performs a historic or regional rival, as a result of it’s a playoff rematch from the earlier season, or as a result of a brand new signing will face their former teammates. There are not any dangerous decisions. Immediately we have a look at key sequences within the Seattle Kraken’s 2024-25 schedule. These moments within the season might reveal lots about the place the membership stands in relation to final season’s disappointment and their 31 rivals across the league. Let’s focus on.
October: Puck Drop Versus Shut Competitors
The Kraken open the season at dwelling on Tuesday, Oct. 8. However the World Collection involving the New Jersey and Buffalo Sabres (Oct. 4 and 5), the Kraken host the very first match with an uncommon 4:30 p.m. Pacific begin time earlier than different video games later that night.
Underlying this recreation as a focal point goes past the actual fact it’s a season and residential opener. The guests that afternoon would be the St. Louis Blues. Earlier than the wheels started to actually fall off for the Kraken final season, St. Louis was one of many groups they have been battling for a playoff spot. Seattle ultimately completed a substantial 11 factors behind, however that was largely as a result of a pitiful last week of play, together with a loss in St. Louis. Opening evening (opening day?) will make for an attention-grabbing measuring stick as to which, if both, of those playoff hopefuls made strides within the offseason.
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It’s likewise for the group’s very subsequent contest. After a number of days off they journey to Minnesota to play the Wild on Saturday, Oct. 12. The latter additionally missed the postseason, finishing the common season with 87 factors to the Kraken’s 81. They’re, in essence, one other membership Seattle fought with for a lot of the second half of final season to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
We’ll discover out early how this workforce performs beneath new head coach Dan Bylsma.
In a little bit of selfishness, the writer wish to level out Seattle’s Oct. 29 contest versus the Montreal Canadiens in La Belle Province. It’s the solely time all season when the writer has quick access to observe the membership in individual.
November: Water Wars
There was a bitterly ironic contest very late final season when the Kraken hosted the toothless San Jose Sharks. In a uncommon show of decided offense, the hosts fired 50 occasions at San Jose’s internet, however may solely rating as soon as in a irritating 3-1 defeat. Granted, the Kraken’s postseason aspirations had been extinguished by then, however the loss was about as annoying as potential. Two issues might be true on the similar time; the Kraken have been removed from nice however dropping to the Sharks, at dwelling no much less, was unforgivable. Such errors can not repeat themselves in 2024-25. Matches towards Pacific Division rivals, particularly ones with such steep hills to climb, have to be seen as alternatives to nab a few factors.
How about eight factors?
From Nov. 25 via 30, Seattle performs the Anaheim Geese twice (the 25th away, the 27th at dwelling) and the Sharks twice (the 29th away, the 30th at dwelling). Sure, San Jose drafted Macklin Celibrini however that alone doesn’t make them world-beaters. The Chicago Blackhawks had Connor Bedard final season and have been largely terrible. If Kraken followers are being sincere with themselves, something lower than seven factors – through an additional time or shootout loss – could be a missed alternative. It is a “deal with enterprise” quartet of matches.
December: Beasts of the East
Absolutely some Seattle supporters are Dec 17 towards the Ottawa Senators and the 19th towards the Blackhawks as juicy alternatives for straightforward factors. Earlier than getting there, the Kraken should undergo a assassin’s row of Jap Convention powerhouses. Simply as enjoying towards division backside dwellers can say lots, so can also contending towards golf equipment that is perhaps Stanley Cup finalists in June 2025.
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On Sunday the 8th Seattle spends the afternoon in bustling Manhattan to play the New York Rangers, who captured the Presidents’ Trophy final season and made it to the Jap Convention Ultimate. That concludes a highway journey within the New York area.
They head again dwelling to play none aside from the champion Florida Panthers on Tuesday the tenth as Brandon Montour will get to face his former aspect. Two days later they host the massive, dangerous Boston Bruins. To cap it off, Saturday the 14th sees the Tampa Bay Lightning strike within the Pacific Northwest. Discuss being battle-tested.
January: The Highway Journey
The Kraken will go on many highway journeys this season. Nevertheless, the one in mid-January appears like will probably be of explicit significance. For the report, Seattle has three five-game highway swings, however that is the dreaded East Coast journey. From Jan. 9 via 16, Seattle will play 5 occasions, 4 within the Jap Time Zone .
What’s extra, a few video games are towards Jap Convention variations of the Blues and Wild; groups that performed respectable hockey final season however simply missed out on the playoffs. On the 9th the Kraken go to the Columbus Blue Jackets, on the 11th they meet the Buffalo Sabres, the Detroit Pink Wings on the 12th, the Pittsburgh Penguins on the 14th, and eventually the Winnipeg Jets on the 16th.
Some followers might recall that the Kraken had a brilliantly profitable highway journey in 2022-23 which performed a large function in serving to the aspect ultimately make the playoffs. That very same mojo will probably be required as soon as once more in January 2025.
February: Few Video games As 4 Nations Face-off Takes Place
As has been the case the previous few seasons, the league lightens the load on groups throughout February. The NHL 4 Nations Face-Off
festivities, which is changing the All-Star Sport, will happen throughout an prolonged break throughout which gamers and coaches can take a while to reset. Seattle solely performs seven video games all month.
That stated, the weekend in Florida (the 22nd and 23rd) towards the Panthers and Lightning will probably be one to keep watch over.
March: Western Contenders
Consider this sequence because the Western Convention model of what was mentioned in regards to the December calendar.
The Kraken play 5 matches from the 22nd via the 31st, with 4 towards sides that battled within the Western Convention Ultimate final season. How can it’s 4 since solely two golf equipment could make it that far? Properly, as a result of they go to the Edmonton Oilers on the 22nd, host them on the 27th (after enjoying the Calgary Flames on the 25th), then welcome the Dallas Stars for a duo of duels on the 29th and 31st.
Identical to with the stretch of contests towards the Rangers, Panthers, and Bruins, these are extremely necessary dwelling video games for the Kraken. Final season the membership solely mustered a 17-18-6 dwelling report. That’s not ok for a playoff push. Some will bemoan the NHL’s awkward scheduling, however when one is within the trenches, one has to benefit from it.
April: Ultimate Residence Stretch
There’s a sure poetic magnificence to the tip of the common season. Assuming Seattle is a superior outfit in 2024-25, by April they may, at greatest, be solidifying their playoff place or, at worst, nonetheless within the combat for one. After one other five-game highway journey, they host the Blues on Saturday the 12th and eventually the Los Angeles Kings on the 15th.
In an ideal world, the Blues could be in Seattle on the 15th (bookending their season-opening go to), but it surely’s shut sufficient. The Kings are a Divisional rival that makes for a compelling measuring stick, particularly if each are playoff-bound.
As talked about within the introduction, each match carries significance. The purpose being made is that whoever the 2024-25 Kraken are, these are the video games and moments within the season that can go a protracted option to outline them. With barely two months to go, the countdown is underway.
