SEA at VAN: 3 Keys to the Game Oct 4

One: Competition on the Kraken blue line

Fans can figure to see Will Borgen, Dennis Cholowski and Jeremy Lauzon getting significant playing time in their quests to make the 23-man active roster. Some components to note when evaluating the trio:

Two: Zero in on power play units.

A power play unit quarterbacked by defenseman Vince Dunn created 10 high-danger scoring chances Saturday, according to Hakstol. The man-advantage group quarterbacked by Mark Giordano Friday in a 2-1 overtime win against Edmonton was nearly as successful creating A-grade scoring chances, said Hakstol.
There is no apparent decision on who QB's the first power play Oct. 12 in Vegas. But, if, say, fans lean toward giving the proven Giordano first ups no matter what unfolds Tuesday, there is value is evaluating Dunn's capacity to lead that top unit if and when the situation calls for it.

Three: Doing the forward lines math.

Two Kraken forwards with scoring promise, Yanni Gourde and Colin Blackwell, will sit out the start of the season with injuries. Fifteen forwards remain as candidates for opening night, including Max McCormick, who just recently signed a two-way NHL/AHL contract.
Four forward lines or 12 of those forwards figure to dress for Vegas season opener. Whoever skates on the fourth line Tuesday are likely vying with each other for spots.
Gourde is mending from shoulder surgery, but moved from a no-contact red jersey to what he called a "half-contact" light blue jersey in Monday's practice, is clearly ahead of schedule for returning to game play (the original project was late 2021). Blackwell has been listed "day to day" with a lower body injury since Day 1 of the inaugural camp.