Post by Seattle Kraken on Nov 27, 2023 0:20:04 GMT -6
We’ve hit the quarter pole on the Seattle Kraken season. The team has had a slow start to the season, a points percentage of 0.455, and a respectable +9 goal differential. They’ve had some tough luck as they've been in a lot of games but have come up short more often than not.
The team’s special teams units are among the strongest in the league with the PP operating at 29.6% which is 2nd best in the PFHL, and the Penalty Kill is sitting at 85.58% which is 3rd best in the PFHL. The goaltending situation still has questions, and that is a legitimate concern that has to be overcome.
In the meantime, let’s take a look at the Kraken players through their first 22 games and grade their individual play:
Kirill Kaprizov - Grade: A-
Kaprizov has been the offensive catalyst for this team for much of the season, he's led our club in scoring since Game 2, he's also a massive part of our 1st Powerplay unit the PP runs through him. Playing against the opponents top defensive pair every night he's managed to put up 27 points in 22 games.
Josh Norris - Grade: A+
Norris has been our most consistent player through the first 22 games, he provides offense, a high level of compete, he's involved in all our special teams units that have both been excellent. He's leading the team in Powerplay points with 14, also leads the team at 55% in the faceoff dot.
Clayton Keller - Grade: A
Keller has been fantastic to, he's helped pace our 2nd line which has been our most consistent line throughout the season. With 25 points so far this season he's been one of the bright spots in our top 6.
Ivan Provorov - Grade: A+
Provie has been our best defenseman thus far as he's been our most reliable guy back there, he's +4 with 25 points in 22 games. Huge contributor on our 2nd ranked Powerplay.
Kaiden Guhle - Grade: A
The early favorite for the Calder trophy is off to a fine start to his young career, he's got 23 points in 22 games. He's been able to play alongside Jakob Chychrun this year and that's helped take his game to new heights.
Jakob Chychrun - Grade: B+
Chychrun has been pretty reliable so far this season, he's taken on a leadership role and helped with Kaiden Guhle's transition to the PFHL. We expect a bit more consistency on the defensive side of the game but other than that he's been steady.
Sebastian Aho - Grade: B+
Aho has had a bit of an up and down start to the season, with saying that he's such an important piece to this teams success, he centers the first line, and powerplay unit. He also leads the team in hits with 71, he brings intensity every night.
Jesse Puljujarvi - Grade: B+
Puljujarvi has been very reliable and consistent in the role we've given him this year as a secondary scorer and top penalty killer. He's got 20 points in 22 GP, and plays more than anybody on the PK other than Barrett Hayton.
Jakub Vrana - Grade: C
Vrana has been the outlier in our top 6, he's really stuggled with the opportunities he's been given so far, he started the season off extremely slow but has picked things up recently although 10 of his 16 points have come on the PP.
Barrett Hayton - Grade: B
Hayton is a rookie on this roster he's taken on a huge PK role and had a lot of success leading the team to a top 3 PK unit. He's had a tough go on the 3rd line playing mostly with fellow rookies Grundstrom and Lias Andersson.
Lias Andersson - Grade: C+
Andersson has been fairly impressive so far in limited minutes, hes got half a point per game in 3rd line minutes, also playing on the second PP unit. He's a big part of the future.
Carl Grundstrom - Grade: C-
Grundstrom has struggled mightily at producing offense this season, he's only gotten 6 point in 22 games, however he has been a physical presense and brought energy to the bottom 6 with 61 hits.
Jeremy Lauzom - Grade: B+
Lauzon has been as advertised he's brought physicality, stability and consistency to our backend leading our team with a +5 rating and brings it every night with 61 hits.
Nikita Zadorov - Grade: C+
Zadorov has played his role quite well, he's playing bottom pair minutes and its been a bit of a struggle keeping the puck out of his own net. he's also brought a physical element as he always does, he's also a contributor on the PK.
Semyon Varlamov - Grade: F
He's been nothing short of abysmal, hasnt given the team a chance to win on most nights, he gets lit up at 5 on 5. he's sports an .870 save percentage and 4.00 GAA. He has got to improve his play for the team to have any shot at turning the season around.
Jonas Siegenthaler - Grade: D
Derek Roy - Grade: D
Chad Ruhwedal - Grade: D
Taylor Raddysh - Grade: D-
Phillipe Desrosiers - Grade: B
The team’s special teams units are among the strongest in the league with the PP operating at 29.6% which is 2nd best in the PFHL, and the Penalty Kill is sitting at 85.58% which is 3rd best in the PFHL. The goaltending situation still has questions, and that is a legitimate concern that has to be overcome.
In the meantime, let’s take a look at the Kraken players through their first 22 games and grade their individual play:
Kirill Kaprizov - Grade: A-
Kaprizov has been the offensive catalyst for this team for much of the season, he's led our club in scoring since Game 2, he's also a massive part of our 1st Powerplay unit the PP runs through him. Playing against the opponents top defensive pair every night he's managed to put up 27 points in 22 games.
Josh Norris - Grade: A+
Norris has been our most consistent player through the first 22 games, he provides offense, a high level of compete, he's involved in all our special teams units that have both been excellent. He's leading the team in Powerplay points with 14, also leads the team at 55% in the faceoff dot.
Clayton Keller - Grade: A
Keller has been fantastic to, he's helped pace our 2nd line which has been our most consistent line throughout the season. With 25 points so far this season he's been one of the bright spots in our top 6.
Ivan Provorov - Grade: A+
Provie has been our best defenseman thus far as he's been our most reliable guy back there, he's +4 with 25 points in 22 games. Huge contributor on our 2nd ranked Powerplay.
Kaiden Guhle - Grade: A
The early favorite for the Calder trophy is off to a fine start to his young career, he's got 23 points in 22 games. He's been able to play alongside Jakob Chychrun this year and that's helped take his game to new heights.
Jakob Chychrun - Grade: B+
Chychrun has been pretty reliable so far this season, he's taken on a leadership role and helped with Kaiden Guhle's transition to the PFHL. We expect a bit more consistency on the defensive side of the game but other than that he's been steady.
Sebastian Aho - Grade: B+
Aho has had a bit of an up and down start to the season, with saying that he's such an important piece to this teams success, he centers the first line, and powerplay unit. He also leads the team in hits with 71, he brings intensity every night.
Jesse Puljujarvi - Grade: B+
Puljujarvi has been very reliable and consistent in the role we've given him this year as a secondary scorer and top penalty killer. He's got 20 points in 22 GP, and plays more than anybody on the PK other than Barrett Hayton.
Jakub Vrana - Grade: C
Vrana has been the outlier in our top 6, he's really stuggled with the opportunities he's been given so far, he started the season off extremely slow but has picked things up recently although 10 of his 16 points have come on the PP.
Barrett Hayton - Grade: B
Hayton is a rookie on this roster he's taken on a huge PK role and had a lot of success leading the team to a top 3 PK unit. He's had a tough go on the 3rd line playing mostly with fellow rookies Grundstrom and Lias Andersson.
Lias Andersson - Grade: C+
Andersson has been fairly impressive so far in limited minutes, hes got half a point per game in 3rd line minutes, also playing on the second PP unit. He's a big part of the future.
Carl Grundstrom - Grade: C-
Grundstrom has struggled mightily at producing offense this season, he's only gotten 6 point in 22 games, however he has been a physical presense and brought energy to the bottom 6 with 61 hits.
Jeremy Lauzom - Grade: B+
Lauzon has been as advertised he's brought physicality, stability and consistency to our backend leading our team with a +5 rating and brings it every night with 61 hits.
Nikita Zadorov - Grade: C+
Zadorov has played his role quite well, he's playing bottom pair minutes and its been a bit of a struggle keeping the puck out of his own net. he's also brought a physical element as he always does, he's also a contributor on the PK.
Semyon Varlamov - Grade: F
He's been nothing short of abysmal, hasnt given the team a chance to win on most nights, he gets lit up at 5 on 5. he's sports an .870 save percentage and 4.00 GAA. He has got to improve his play for the team to have any shot at turning the season around.
Jonas Siegenthaler - Grade: D
Derek Roy - Grade: D
Chad Ruhwedal - Grade: D
Taylor Raddysh - Grade: D-
Phillipe Desrosiers - Grade: B