Seattle Times NHL writer/columnist. Author of "Rising from the Deep: The Seattle Kraken, a tenacious push for expansion and the Emerald City's sports revival"
Some news: I have officially been named Seattle Times NHL writer, covering Seattle’s team ahead of its 2021 launch and once it begins play. Jayda Evans will gradually take over Sounders coverage. I’ll still do investigative/enterprise stories as well until NHL play gets closer.
BREAKING: Kraken part ways with ROOT Sports, will produce own "free" game broadcasts on KING 5 and KONG, with landmark Amazon Prime streaming deal.
#SEAKraken
#NHL
#RSN
#AmazonPrime
BREAKING: Former Carolina Hurricanes owner Karmanos says he’d have fired coach Bill Peters “in a nanosecond” had GM Ron Francis told him of player abuse allegations. Francis, now with NHL Seattle, has yet to comment.
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#NHLSeattle
#Flames
NEW: The Kraken have promoted hockey analytics chief Alexandra Mandrycky to the title of assistant GM. She's seventh female AGM in league history and the first whose primary role is in analytics.
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Despite playoff run, Kraken TV numbers remain flat from already sluggish totals a year ago. To grow its fan base, team should get away from RSN model ASAP and consider showing its games on free broadcast channels.
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NEW: 911 call on Seattle hotel incident involving Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin says woman found in a room there suspected of having severe alcohol poisoning or suffering from something put in her drink.
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#StanleyCupPlayoffs
After 45 years, organ player from iconic Slap Shot movie on Saturday begins his first real life hockey gig — at Climate Pledge Arena with the
#SEAKraken
. Rod Masters has lived in Edmonds a decade, never disclosing his movie past.
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I'm told the Kraken restructured and re-submitted the deal the same day the rejection came in. Team took $250,000 off the 3rd year of Grubauer's deal and added it to the 2nd year to stay in compliance. Should be approved shortly.
Grubauer's contract w/ the
#SeaKraken
was rejected by the NHL central registry for violating the front-loaded contract requirements:
-1.5M increase between 22/23-23/24 exceeds 25% of 1st year salary
The contract needs to be restructured and resubmitted
I'm told the
#SEAKraken
are about to make some roster moves that won't make a whole lot of immediate sense. But they are supposedly just for "salary cap management" purposes and will eventually make sense by later this weekend. So, don't panic when they happen.
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On flight home to Seattle next to woman from Wisconsin who's huge hockey fan. She has daughter/grandkids in Seattle and plans to move there in a year. "So," she asks, "have you been following what the Kraken are doing?" Hmm...her evening's about to get more fun.
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So, what are all those blue and red lines on the ice used for? And what do they have to do with Connor McDavid and Wayne Gretzky? Kraken fans, here’s your guide to offside and icing.
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According to our Times photographer positioned near the ice level crowd, Brandon Tanev was blowing a kiss after his goal to women that had flipped off
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players. They'd done it to Jamie Oleksiak and he just smiled back. I'm sure Tanev was smiling inwardly.
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Yanni Gourde going to IR but Marcus Johansson appears ready to exit COVID protocol and play Tuesday for Kraken. Jarnkrok will not play and will be out for 10-day protocol but team hopes some of Donskoi, Oleksiak and McCann might play in Vegas. Crazy day!
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Seattle Thunderbirds of WHL release 2 players the rest of this season for incident in which Black teammate was called a racist slur and had banana waved in front of him. Team says players won't return next year.
#WHL
#CHL
#hockey
#racism
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“Talk about shooting identity, my ass. No (beeping) identity, no shooting identity. Shoot the (bleeping) puck.”
Kraken coach Dave Hakstol to his players out on the ice after stopping a drill midway through.
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Kraken TV numbers remain flat despite last spring’s playoff push. Given all that’s changed with RSN model last 10 months, should strongly consider exiting current ROOT deal and show games on free channels to grow fan base appropriately.
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Yes, former Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz landed in Seattle yesterday...en route to a vacation in BC. Nothing to get excited about unless you’re an Islanders fan. He’s still all yours. :)
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#NYI
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The organist from Slap Shot went 45 years after the movie without playing at an actual hockey game, keeping quiet about cinematic past. Now, Rod Masters, at age 66, starts his first hockey gig Saturday for the
#SEAKraken
at Climate Pledge Arena.
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It took 53 years, with 31 of those working in daily newspapers, but finally covering my first NHL game in my hometown. And on a Saturday night at that.
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Kraken GM Ron Francis confirms he's been told he can send Shane Wright to AHL if he doesn't make NHL squad. Had sought exemption to current rules that would have forced Wright back to OHL, but says he fully hopes he makes team.
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pay tribute to the late Andy Eide, local hockey writer who passed away 8 days ago after suffering a stroke in March. Team dedicated their first home playoff game to him.
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The
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just beat Bruins and put rest of
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on notice: No more overlooking these guys — they’ll be on everybody’s radar. Bruins hadn’t lost at home in regulation all season and this is was only fifth regulation loss overall. 7 in a row for
#Kraken
.
BREAKING: Sources confirm today's LA Times report that an NBA exhibition game will be played Oct. 3 between the Clippers and Trailblazers at Climate Pledge Arena. Announcement to come later this morning.
#NBA
#Sonics
#ClimatePledgeArena
As we know, Avalanche FW Valeri Nichushkin this week entered the Player Assistance Program. But there still remain numerous unanswered questions about his vanishing from
#SEAKraken
playoff series last April — not all involving just his well-being.
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VIew of
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dressing room at
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. Kraken logo will be on ceiling instead of floor so players don’t have to avoid walking on it for bad luck.
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Kraken coach Dave Hakstol just confirmed that Jared McCann, Joonas Donskoi, Marcus Johansson and Jamie Oleksiak have all joined Calle Jarnkrok in Covid-19 protocol. So, lots to do personnel-wise ahead of team’s franchise opener tomorrow.
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Philipp Grubauer is wearing a Native American themed goalie mask on Indigenous Peoples Night. NHL was made aware of his plans by team in advance and apparently did not object as long as he intends to use it beyond the one game.
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Vince Dunn is not with the
#SEAKraken
on this trip. GM Ron Francis just told me there are no plans for him to join club in other cities, so he is effectively shut down for the season.
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With another Kraken homestand starting on Thursday, here's some advice for fans at Climate Pledge Arena: Don't stand up or return to your seats while the puck is in-play.
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Planes, trucks and negotiation: How Microsoft leveraged global supply network to secure 240,000 badly needed N-95 surgical masks and tens of thousands more medical supplies for Puget Sound
#coronavirus
fight.
#tech
#COVID
ー19
#Microsoft
#WeGotThisSeattle
Kraken goalie Joey Daccord, who persevered until becoming a full time NHL player at age 27, is this year’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee for his team — as chosen by local Professional Hockey Writers Association members.
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@ThePHWA
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From orphanage in Uganda to co-grand marshal of Seafair Torchlight Parade: Bellingham teen Maealie Glanzer forging a hockey path she hopes someday leads to Winter Olympics with Team USA.
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#BGHC
#WoProHoSeattle
REPORT: Longtime broadcaster Eddie Olczyk to join ROOT Sports booth alongside John Forslund on
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telecasts. A source confirmed talks began weeks ago and involved keeping
@JTBrown23
in the booth as well. No official word.
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#ROOTSports
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BREAKING: Kraken reportedly set to make huge FA splash, will sign offensively-gifted RHD Brandon Montour of Florida Panthers for 7 years, $50M. One of the top FA out there and considered the top non-forward available.
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NHL Column: Former Arizona Coyotes coach Dave Tippett hired by Seattle NHL group as senior advisor — for now. Will help oversee all aspects of the organization’s development.
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Jared McCann playing on right wing with fourth line in morning skate. Tanev at left wing and Donato and center. Looks like McCann will play in Game 4 tonight.
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NHL Seattle chooses Palm Springs as desired site for new AHL franchise to begin play by 2021. An application for a franchise — which cost about $5 million — has been made and team would play in new, privately built arena.
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#NHLSeattle
First copy just arrived, hot off the presses! Now it feels very real because it actually is. Official release date still Nov. 1 but I imagine they’ll hit stores before. Saw
@JohnForslund
2 hours ago and thanked him in person for blurb up top.
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I’m told Yanni Gourde is not on roster for “personal reasons” but should be back with team for Tuesday’s game against Buffalo at Climate Pledge Arena.
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Kraken forward Riley Sheahan, author of the first preseason goal in franchise history, is hosting a mental health podcast. Hopes his experiences can help others.
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Kraken sources confirm that Jamie Oleksiak, Joonas Donskoi and Jared McCann have cleared COVID-19 protocol and arrived in Las Vegas to play in Tuesday night's game.
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Good luck to Sports Radio KJR's
@IanFurnessSea
, emergency sub in Nashville for
#SEAKraken
radio play-by-play man Everett Fitzhugh. Ian's Canadian-born mother, Carole, lives across street from me and is so excited. As would be his late father, Milt, a former KOMO TV anchor.
Sat here at home in Seattle tonight with a friend’s newborn baby watching a newborn franchise secure its first
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victory. Born day after
#SEAKraken
preseason opener in Spokane, now she watched first franchise win in a 4-3 victory in Nashville.
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just announced that Brandon Tanev suffered a season ending ACL injury against the Oilers. Real tough blow for a guy that was becoming heart and soul of the team.
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Some details and explanation on the accounting glitch that caused the NHL to reject the Kraken's first attempt to formalize its FA deal with goalie Philipp Grubauer. Mistake was rectified and deal is now awaiting league approval.
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The Kraken won't win game, but notched their first win of a fight in team history. Jamie Oleksiak and Flyers tough guy Nick Seeler had a spirited heavyweight bout, with Oleksiak landing the better punches despite Seeler showboating a bit for the fans after.
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City's largest sports bar? The Kraken plan to show all 82 games on giant screen at future Northgate Mall training center, which is on-schedule and taking shape in major way.
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Longtime NHL forward Gary Roberts brings his fitness and nutrition expertise to the Kraken in a key sports science and performance role. Among seven hires announced Wednesday by the expansion team.
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Halfway through season, the
#SEAKraken
are on pace for 108 points. That easily gets them into playoffs and maybe even wins Pacific Division. And they gave away plenty of points in compiling that mark. Enjoy it.
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For local hockey writer Andy Eide, who died Friday at age 53, a "perfect day" was inside Climate Pledge Arena covering the
#SEAKraken
-- as it was any team in any arena the final decade of his life.
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BREAKING: Kraken games to be broadcast on ROOT Sports, with John Forslund hired as play by play man in new multi-year RSN deal.
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#RSN
A look from down at ice level at T-Mobile Park as preparations continue for Monday’s Winter Classic outdoor NHL game between
#SEAKraken
and Vegas Golden Knights.
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BREAKING: Bill to legalize sports gaming in Washington state tribal casinos passes overwhelmingly Thursday night in hastily arranged full House vote.
#sportsbet
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Note for
#NHL
fans: It isn’t true
#NHLSeattle
delayed team name announcement beyond March due to coronavirus as some reports suggest. As we’ve written since Feb, well before NHL shut down, it was delayed until April (deep into April) due to trademark research. No change since.
And there's your first-ever Kraken hat trick, a natural one (three straight goals) by Jordan Eberle sends caps flying from the stands to the ice. Kraken lead 4-2 on a goal Dustin Tokarski likely wants back but one in which the puck will be kept by Eberle.
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BREAKING: Fans 12-and-over attending Kraken home games will need to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. And, at least for now, all fans must wear masks while inside Climate Pledge Arena.
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#SEAKraken
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Jordan Tonelli quickly gets noticed because of the famous hockey name on the back of his jersey. In
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development camp as an undrafted, unsigned college invite, the son of a NY Islanders great continued his quest to make a name for himself.
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