In Driedger We Trust

NHL players appreciate nothing more than a one-for-all teammate. Kraken goalie Chris Driedger fits the bill.

When Florida Panthers rookie Spencer Knight, the team's much-acclaimed 2019 first-round draft pick, got back-to-back playoff starts this spring, Driedger did everything possible to help Knight prepare to play against eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay.
Florida coach Joel Quenneville, a three-time Cup winner as a coach and an undoubtable teammate of Kraken GM Ron Francis during Hartford Whalers playing days, said Driedger was "doing what he can to be the best teammate, be supportive for a fellow goalie."
"Attitude's been good, so you can't think of anything better," said Quenneville during the postseason series. "I think it helps Spencer, as well, being comfortable and welcomed. As a teammate, the goalies, the fraternity they have is spectacular."
Driedger figures to help out his new Seattle teammates in even bigger and better ways as part of the goalie rotation during the inaugural season that starts in October. He arrives in the city and Seattle net coming off a breakout season in Florida, going 14-6-3 in 23 games with a .927 save percentage and a 2.07 goals-against average.
"I want to bring consistency," Driedger said Wednesday after the ESPN2 broadcast. "I take pride in staying calm in the net, steady. I want to build trust with my teammates."

Winning games in Florida and delivering what Quenneville refers to as "goalie wins" no doubt attracted Kraken GM Ron Francis and his hockey staff to Driedger's free agency status. The same sort of play will positively influence his new Seattle teammates.
Among the Panthers players, Driedger was appreciated and trusted. As the good teammate he proved to be, Driedger returned the respect, with a touch of humor, with his 2021 goalie mask.
The mask had a Panther logo on top but included sketches of his teammates. One side showed MacKenzie Weegar, Aaron Ekblad, Frank Vatrano and Radko Gudas, the latter rocking a fedora as if he was strolling into the arena.
The other side depicted Florida forward Jonathan Huberdeau driving defenseman Keith Yandle to work.
"Did

think he could show up to camp in a baby blue Lamborghini and expect me not to put it on my mask?" tweeted Driedger the day he debuted the mask.