More Than the Score

The locker room was quieter than usual Saturday as Kraken players looked more serious as they suited up on scrimmage day at the Kraken Community Iceplex. The final score, 5-1, mattered little as fans cheer, players raise their sticks in appreciation and the buzz continues for Sunday's preseason opener in Spokane. Let's skate through Day 3 observations:

Three Stars of the Scrimmage

3. Forward Brandon Tanev gets the nod as No. 3 star -- though there are plenty of honorable mentions. He is destined to be a fan favorite for his nonstop work on both ends of the ice. He has played wing alongside center Riley Sheahan and young wing Nathan Bastian the last three practice days. He's a big reason why the line was getting extended possession time in the offensive zone -- which serves to both create scoring chances and play the safest version of defense, keeping the puck some 200 feet away from your own net.
   2. Ryan Donato has been producing quality scoring chances since the first drill in Thursday's opening day of camp. He was signed as a free agent later than most all of his teammates, but appeared to be engaged in the captain-skate informal workouts earlier this week. He was making plays in both halves Saturday.
   1. Hard to argue against Joonas Donskoi as the top performer. He scored two first-half goals, then added another in a halftime shootout. His teammate from Colorado days, Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer, was probably happy Donskoi was on his White squad. "He's got some meat in his shot," Grubauer said.

Stars of the Shootout

Donato gets the primary love here. His patient, deke-filled move to the net wowed the crowd and his teammates. Even Chris Driedger lingered after the scrimmage to have a private word with Donato. Good way for the former Harvard standout (he played in San Jose last season) to further impress his teammates.
Other shootout love: Even though he was denied by Grubauer, what a joy it was for fans, media, teammates, staff, you name it, to see Yanni Gourde zipping up ice to fire off an attempt about five feet from the goal.
Grubauer stopped all five attempts. That's a basic definition of "shootout star."

Wait Just a Minute...

Ok, some quick clarifications. No, they don't play halves in hockey. This was a scrimmage. The two running-time periods (25 minutes each) was a way to keep the activity to an hour after the team split into two squads earlier for simultaneous practices on the Starbucks Rink and SmartSheet Rink at the Iceplex.

No, the shootout is not halftime entertainment on the regular. But it was a fun surprise for fans and media, especially with the Grubauer-Driedger goalie tandem facing the shots. You have to believe Ryan Donato raised his stock and probably same for the rifle-shot from Donskoi.
Dad joke alert: You could see both forwards "got it Don-e."

But Seriously

The scrimmage featured end-to-end hustle, what head coach Dave Hakstol likes to call good pace. The game-conditions work provided a chance for younger players to stand out, such as second-round draft choice Ryker Evans nearly beating Chris Driedger on a slick wrap-around move in the first half.
Evans was strongly recommended as the second-round pick in the July NHL Entry Draft by the entire amateur scouting staff. GM Ron Francis says the group was "pounding the table" in support of Evans. The young D-man looked quick and confident moving the puck and himself into offensive rushes.

There are lots of NHL-tested defensemen ahead of Evans on the Kraken position chart, but it's evident the scouting staff had reason to be vocal on draft weekend. One scout from another organization recently complimented Evans for his "jam" or willingness to compete and physically mix it up.

Latest on Lineups

The defensive pairings that appeared to get the most ice time Saturday: Adam Larsson-Vince Dunn, Mark Giordano-Jamie Oleksiak, Haydn Fleury-Carson Soucy. Plus Ryker Evans-Cale Fleury after the younger Fleury brother scored the second goal of the scrimmage and Evans pushed the White squad's transition game.
As for lines, the Jaden Schwartz-Jared McCann-Jordan Eberle trio started for the White team. Blue countered with Marcus Johansson centering Mason Appleton and Calle Jarnkrok. The aforementioned Tanev-Sheahan-Bastian line excelled as did Morgan Geekie creating great chances for linemates Donato and Donskoi

News and Notes

Wow, those white road jerseys look mega-sharp. The scrimmage squads dressed in full uniforms ... Lots of murmuring in the stands about the uniform socks too ... Overhead in the stands: "That guy's tall-and big" [veteran D-man Jamie Oleksiak]. "And that guy is tall too." [forward Alexander True] ... The Kraken marketing staff will be happy to hear Brandon Tanev was talking 'brand' during the media scrum, as in "we are going to build our brand from the jump." ... Morgan Geekie told reporters "we are basically going to play fast-the game is trending that way." ... Mark Giordano hustle moment of the day: He carried the puck into the offensive zone, firing off a laser shot saved smartly by Antoine Bibeau, then in the same shift he is breaking an entry into his defensive zone.