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G47: Kraken vs Canucks - Beware the New Coach Bump

January 25, 2023, 8:05 PM ET [35 Comments]
Sean Maloughney
Seattle Kraken Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
I wonder what the record is for teams in their first game with a new head coach in the middle of the season. The new coaching bump is real as players are putting their best foot forward in front of their new coach, either trying to earn more ice-time, prevent themselves for getting scratched or keeping the ice time they already have. Eventually things will average out but it is something to watch as the Kraken play against the Canucks in game 2 of the Tocchet Era.

After three straight weeks of playing four games a week, the Kraken finally got to enjoy a three day break. In the 12 games they have played over the last three weeks the Kraken have gone 9-2-1 and are sitting third in the Pacific Division, but first in points percentage.

Let's talk quickly about the playoff picture. Assuming Seattle remains in a playoff spot, who would you like to see them face? The obvious answer right now would be the LA Kings as their goaltending is highly suspect and Seattle would do excellent I believe in rolling out lines against them. Who would you love to see Seattle play against in their first ever playoff series?

It is sounding like the Kraken are backing away from Bo Horvat, at least for now. There is a sense in Seattle that management wants to bring in a player or two but there is some concern about making a big shakeup and how that will effect the locker room.

The Kraken are scoring right now at an unsustainable rate. Their shooting percentages are through the roof and eventually that is going to regress... that doesn't necessarily mean however, that they will regress this season. Eventually everything falls back to the mean but every year there are players that finish the season with a 26% shooting percentage or even higher. Who is to say that this level of scoring can't keep going, at least for this season?

That is why there is hesitancy in making any big adds. Somehow, this Kraken team has caught lightning in a bottle and whatever they are doing is just simply working. Adding a player and shuffling up the lines could break up this flow. It is a legitimate concern.

My guess is we see Ron Francis make a depth defense add and maybe a veteran add for the bottom six in case of injuries. Seattle isn't at a point where they need to be spending tons of assets to try and win now. If I was Ron Francis, I would want to see what the group I have put together here can do in playoff games and then make adds in the summer to address any deficiencies that are seen.

Seattle will play three more games before the All Star Break. After the game at home tonight against the Canucks, the team has a day off before a back to back against the Flames and Blue Jackets. Let's hope the team can win at least 2 of the 3 games. A win tonight against the Canucks would start the team off on the right foot.

Enjoy the game!
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