NHL

Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus entered rarefied air when he won the David Branch Player of the Year Award as the Canadian Hockey League's most outstanding player. Also the CHL Top Scorer Award — exactly what it sounds like. He was the hockey-crazed country's top producer at its top level, piling up 61 goals and 126 points in 63 regular-season games with the Moose Jaw Warriors before ...

Amid fan and media reactions to the Seattle Kraken’s stunning $94 million free -agency outlay last week was understandable consternation about the pickup of Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson.

SEATTLE – There’s a clip from the iconic 1977 satirical hockey movie “Slap Shot” that briefly forced Seattle Kraken draft pick Nathan Villeneuve to stop using his cellphone.

Team dinners can take on a personal flavor for Kraken draft pick Alexis Bernier whenever his major junior team travels around the Canadian province of Quebec on road trips. After all, some of the main course might involve his family's former tenants. Bernier, a 6-foot-1, 189-pound right-handed defenseman taken by the Kraken in the third round, 73rd overall in last weekend's NHL Entry ...

SEATTLE – Refs? Check. Front office? Indeed. Scouting, skating coaches, video work – those boxes are a long way from blank.

The good news: the Kraken made two moves to immediately improve Monday. The bad news: that's not enough. Not if this franchise is serious about clearing the bar it set two campaigns ago, when the Kraken posted 100 points and upset the reigning Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in a dazzling playoff debut. 

Refs? Check. Front office? Indeed. Scouting, skating coaches, video work — those boxes are a long way from blank.

SEATTLE – Berkly Catton was drafted into the Seattle Kraken organization Friday, the No. 8 pick in the NHL draft. He was already in the thick of it by Tuesday, surrounded by his fellow Seattle prospects at Kraken Community Iceplex, covered in slush after being tossed off the puck and into the net during a physical one-on-one drill.

Arguably the most aggressive day in Kraken history ended with them committing nearly $94 million for a pair of 30-year-old free agents they hope can vault them back into playoff contender status. 

SEATTLE – Fresh off signing free agent defenseman Brandon Montour, the Seattle Kraken continued major additions to their team Monday by inking Vegas Golden Knights centerman Chandler Stephenson to a seven-year, $43.75 million deal.

Julius Miettinen, C

SEATTLE – Berkly Catton’s scouting report on himself sounded just like … well, a scout.

LAS VEGAS – Macklin Celebrini never wanted to state the obvious, never wanted to come out and say he would be the No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 NHL draft and that he would soon be a part of the San Jose Sharks organization.

SEATTLE – As the Kraken prepare to further fill out their farm system in this weekend’s NHL entry draft, last season’s first-round pick is enjoying a quick rest. It was a disorienting, determined season for Czech 19-year-old Eduard Sale, taken 20th overall by Seattle last summer.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Paul Maurice knew these Florida Panthers were different the moment he hung up the phone. Two years ago, general manager Bill Zito called Maurice, then six months into something of a sabbatical after stepping down from coaching the Winnipeg Jets, about taking over behind the bench in Florida.

SUNRISE, Fla. – No home game in South Florida sports history has weighed more. Felt heavier.

EDMONTON – Close your eyes and it won’t take long to envision the scenes.

In theory, the question is right up my alley.

EDMONTON, Alberta – Thousands of fans wearing orange and blue are partying at Rogers Place and on the streets of Alberta’s capital.