The Seattle Kraken found their goalkeeper of the future in Joey Daccord. This opens the door to discuss what to do with the former all-star goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer.
The Seattle Kraken is in a familiar situation: the goalkeeper, who is listed as a 1A starter at the beginning of the season, is injured and outside the line -up. Since Philipp Grubauer’s unknown injury a month ago, the octopuses have scored 11: 0: 2 in their last 13 games.
This resembles the same situation as last season: Grubauer went down an injury, and Martin Jones wore the team in 13 starts with 10: 2: 1. Jones ended the season with a 27-13-3 record. This fantastic run carried out the Seattle octopus of almost the bottom of the overall ranking in a playoff position.
While Grubauer played strongly in the post-season (the team led to game 7 in the Western Conference semi-final), his below-average game in the season until his injury looked like a Taskeder team.
Fast lead until December 2023, and Grubauer is (again) injured. Backup Joey Daccord took over the reins and led the octopus on their current run (he started 9 of these 10 games). He also provided a 36-save shutout for 2024 on national television in the Outdoor Winter Classic.
The story seems to be repeated. Daccords outstanding goalkeepers carried the Seattle Kraken of the 26th in the second place card of the Western Conference and the eighth overall in the west, whereby it was still to be played for half a season.
The dilemma
What does the Seattle octopus do with Grubauer when he returns from an injury? There is no simple solution.
He bears a hit of $ 5.9 million, the second highest in the Vince Dunns team 7.35 million. You cannot have him return to this type of money and be the backup every night.
In addition, the current backup of Seattle, Chris Driedger, earns 3.5 million US dollars. In his starting this season (his first NHL game in 20 months), he achieved 37 parades in a 2-1 win over Calgary. In view of this, I suggest that the Kraken Grubauer puts on waiver.
Waiver
Should Seattle Grubauer bring to waiver, each NHL team can claim it and record its total 5.9 million dollar -cap. In view of the recent history of the NHL teams, who place their starting parents on waiver and have it clear (Jack Campbell, Edmonton, 5.5 million US dollars; Ilya Samsonov, Toronto, $ 3.5 million, it is unlikely that every team will say grubauer.
After he was in the waiver for 48 hours, he then resolved the waiver and enabled the octopus to assign him to the minor. During his time in Coachella Valley, he would have the opportunity to become a goalkeeper number 1 and to find his game again under the guidance of Dan Bylsma and Colin Zulianello. The most important thing is that the Down controls would provide the Seattle Kraken $ 5.9 million for capacity easier, so that they can take a step at the closing of the trade.
Why not just act him?
Some fans could have an impact and say: “Why not act grubers?” Here is the reason:
It is drier in the last year of his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent. Grubauer is still under contract for three years, including a no-trade clause. This season he has a complete no-trade clause, which means that he can choose where to act. From the next season, however, his contract will transform into a modified no-trade clause in which he presents a list of 10 teams that he is not ready to be traded.
The Seattle octopuses should not offer a further contract, since he is available from coach Dave Hakstol during his term of office of coach Dave Hakstol. Should Grubauer take the opportunity in the Coachella Valley and discover his all-star and Vezina finalist caliber of the game again, Seattle would have a bonafide 1: 2 goalkeeper tandem, which would frighten most of the league.
If he does not find his game, the octopuses keep him in the minor to end his contract.
Last thoughts
Due to his outstanding game, Daccord has become the honorary mayor of Seattle. At the winter classic he had 47,313 fans who sang his name.
Daccord plays with so much boasting and self-confidence (and scored almost a goal with empty networks at the winter classic). The wrinkle is to be lost. As soon as Grubauer gets healthy, the intelligent step for Seattle Kraken GM Ron Francis is to give him some time to rediscover.
Francis has the golden opportunity to control this ship in the right direction and free itself from a bad contract. Will he do that? Only time will show it.
