Recommending Kraken Players Their Next Read Based on Their 2026 Blue Carpet Looks
Look good, feel good, read good, or however that saying goes
By Miracle Lucketti
Seattle, WA - Ahead of Sunday’s home opener, Kraken players donned their best threads and strutted down the blue carpet lined with fans hoping to catch a glimpse, and maybe even a signature or selfie or two.
Instead of judging their looks (at least in writing; there was plenty of judgment on the carpet), I’ve decided to put my bookseller skills to the test and assign players a book to read based on the looks they walked the carpet in. Be warned: there will be no jokes here about hockey players not being able to read– that gives these men too much power to skate by without ever picking up a book again. These recommendations are very serious, and they should know I expect them to read the books immediately. (Please realize this is me having fun and mostly assigning books on vibes; there is no real rhyme or reason here, so be nice.
Starting strong with everyone’s favorite troll, Buoy. Like a true diva, Buoy had multiple looks on the carpet this year, but my favorite was a fun little number adorned with Sharpies that looked like beadwork. The ASMR of them rolling up on a scooter and then shimmying down the carpet was incredibly pleasing, and they looked fabulous.
Buoy’s Rec: Fight Song by Kirk Van Brunt
An angry indigenous teen uses hockey to help escape a bad situation in a home that isn’t hers. A fiery coming-of-age novel that uses hockey as a great outlet for teenage angst.
CW: abuse, child placed in the foster care system, parent accused of a crime.
Fashion fan favorite Joey Daccord rocked some barrel jeans and a cinched jacket adorned with the American flag on the back. The goaltender clearly loves to put together A Look, and he’s always one of the most fashionable in arrival photos, so fans knew he wouldn’t disappoint on this carpet.
Joey’s Rec: Twilight - Stephanie Meyer
This is the outfit of a goaltender, Bella. I mean, come on, his color palette is red, black, and white, and you thought I wasn’t going to sneak a Twilight recommendation in here? Grow up.
Bobby “Bobbo” McMann may be new to Seattle, but he is absolutely not new to serving looks. He stepped out of that Kraken-logo-adorned Toyota and the fans (and media, let’s be honest) drew in a collective breath. A simple black turtleneck paired with tuxedo loafers and cargo pants, and a typical hockey player beanie was all it took for me to know he’d be my best dressed of the night– and he was.
Bobby’s Rec: We Breed Lions by Rick Westhead
A raw, honest look at toxic hockey culture and how it came to be. Westhead does an excellent job laying out the facts, interviewing people who experienced everything within this novel, and not sugarcoating. It’s an extremely hard read, but one that every hockey player and fan should read.
CW: sexual assault, homophobia, bullying, suicide, drugs, and alcohol
Jared McCann is a man of many hats. We all knew he would arrive on the carpet rocking one; it was only ever a question of which one. He chose a gorgeous (large) blue hat with light blue accents to complement his navy blue and light blue pinstriped suit. Always polished, it’s no surprise McCann rocked this carpet.
Jared’s Rec: We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen
Two turtles find a hat that they both want to wear because it looks great on both of them. Very funny and silly, this picture book shows that everyone truly looks great in a big hat.
Vince Dunn has been known to rock an outfit or two in Kraken walk-in photos, so I thought he might show out for the blue carpet. I’m happy to report he wore my favorite pants of the evening. They were fuzzy, like a teddy bear. He rocked a lighter color palette than most of the other players, and I think that helped him stand out. But honestly, his fuzzy pants are the sole reason I put him on my favorite outfits list.
Vince’s Rec: Fuzz by Mary Roach
This is a no brainer. He’s fuzzy, he gets Fuzz. The book asks the questions “what happens when nature breaks the law?” and delivers some very fun anecdotes and stories. Spoiler alert: humans are usually the culprit behind most of this “law breaking”.
The roommate trio of Matty Beniers, Berkly Catton, and Mackie Samoskevich (not pictured, so sorry) arrived together. They also collectively wore a lighter color palette and kind of looked like they coordinated with one another, which I am in no way mad at. They looked great, and it’s fun to see Matty taking on the role of a more seasoned player in the league when it comes to our group of younger players.
The Roommates’ Rec: The Bestest Big Brother, Ever by Ben Mantle
That’s Berkly’s big brother, and he’s the best. A silly picture book about a younger brother who just loves and wants to be around his big bro like all the time.
Brandon Montour has never looked anything less than completely put together in any photo of him that exists since becoming a Kraken. On Sunday’s carpet, he rocked a suede jacket and paired it with some killer shoes. I was really feeling the guys in cooler palettes this night, and Monty fits right on theme.
Monty’s Rec: Very Good Shoes by Emma Straub
I always say “shoes make the outfit” (I’ve never said this, but I do stand by it), and Brandon did an excellent job pairing shoes with this look. Also, I was kind of just glad we didn’t see yet another player showing up in sneakers.
Flash back to Miracle’s review of Kraken outfits on the blue carpet from last season in the article here: https://www.circlingseattlesports.com/articles/kraken-bluecarpet202526
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