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Kraken Hope to End October On A Positive Note

October 30, 2023, 9:26 PM ET [27 Comments]
Sean Maloughney
Seattle Kraken Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Kraken currently sit with the 26th lowest PDO in the NHL at 0.980. In short, that means they are dealing with some bad puck luck and we should see at least a few more goals have gone in for them. Last season everything seemed to go Seattle's way but now this team is going to have to learn how to adapt, deal with some adversity and find a way to win some hockey games. It's a tough ask to do against the Lightning tonight.

Eberle has been moved off Beniers line as the duo has not had nearly the same chemistry as they did last season. Eberle has a single goal on the season and is a -8 while Beniers has no goals and is a -12. There needs to be some kind of change which is why Bjorkstrand has been moved to that top line.

I quite like the idea of McCann with Gourde and Tolvanen as I think that line brings a strong mix of two way play with some scoring ability. Hakstol will be looking to try and find some favorable matchups for that line to try and get the Kraken on the board.

Wennberg has never been a player that has dazzled me. He is a smart two way player but has always felt like more of a third line centre than a top six move the needle player. Unfortunately that is also what Gourde is and I like Gourde in that role more. This is the final year of Wennberg's deal before becoming UFA but so far the forward isn't playing like this is a contract year.

If the Kraken go through November much the same as October, do we see them try and deal Wennberg and bring Shane Wright up to see how he fares? Boston is doing excellent right now, despite a poor centre depth (Poitras has been a great early season story). I wonder if a trade could surface between these two teams. Just talking out loud.

Grubauer gets the start again tonight with fans hoping the team in front of him can finally get him a win. Grubauer has been very solid for most of this season but the team in front of him hasn't been able to score when he is in net.

Brayden Point is finally starting to produce and is a very dangerous player when he starts shooting the puck. The Kraken defense need to play him hard tonight and not allow him much space to move.

The top unit powerplay has been shuffled with Wennberg now centring the top line with Schultz, McCann, Bjorstrand, and Eberle.... I do not love that combination. Beniers needs to figure something out here and get his confidence back.
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