Top Kraken Takeaways From Seattle’s Home Preseason Win Over Vancouver, September 21st, 2025
By Jayd Serdy and Miracle Lucketti, with intro by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - In the first instance of preseason action ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season, our Seattle Kraken used a three-goal second period to defeat their Pacific division rivals to the North in the Vancouver Canucks. The present and future of the Kraken franchise was on display in the exhibition victory, as Jani Nyman tallied two goals and Vince Dunn recorded three assists while Eduard Šalé and Blake Fiddler stood out amongst the prospect crowd. With the first real sight of Lane Lambert coached hockey in the books, here are some takeaways from the Kraken preseason win at Climate Pledge Arena.
Seattle Kraken forward prospect Berkly Catton during the teams preseason win over the Vancouver Canucks at Climate Pledge Arena on Sunday, September 21st, 2025. (Photos by Eric Hiller for Circling Seattle Sports)
Catton gets taste of NHL physicality
Berkly Catton was tested a handful of times during the first period. Overall he had a relatively quiet showing, struggling to handle the Canucks physicality — specifically when matched up with defenseman Victor Mancini. It was a good reminder of the dedication and strength that the jump from junior to NHL speed and size takes.
Images of the Jani Nyman-Matty Beniers-Kaapo Kakko line for the Seattle Kraken during the teams preseason win over the Vancouver Canucks at Climate Pledge Arena on Sunday, September 21st, 2025. (Photos by Eric Hiller for Circling Seattle Sports)
Finn-to-Finn connection
Kaapo Kakko obviously had a solid game with two assists on Jani Nyman’s goals. The Nyman-Beniers-Kakko line opened up enough chances that they were able to score two goals in quick succession, with the goals coming just under four minutes apart and fueling a three-goal second period. Nyman’s finish off a Kakko and Dunn setup really stood out. When that line found their space near the crease, it was a dangerous combination. Kakko showed flashes of last season by using his body effectively and helping generate chances. However, his linemate, Matty Beniers, had a rough night moving the puck, with too many broken passes and timing issues. Kakko did experience a few issues with shot location, which we’ve seen a bit of in camp as well.
Shaking the rust off
The chemistry is still missing quite a bit it seems like, which is to be expected in the first preseason game and with a split roster. There is a lack of connecting passes and awareness between teammates. It looked like an extension of last season’s chemistry problems, but things should improve when we get closer to what the NHL roster will look like. There were too many plays that died, or where Kraken players hesitated just long enough to allow Canucks defenders to close passing lanes.
There was a lack of speed for the better part of the game. Seattle mostly skated without urgency, lugging through the neutral zone instead of attacking with pace. The third period brought a bit more speed and physical edge, but it wasn’t sustained throughout the game.
Kokko looks to pick up after impressive showings last season
Nikke Kokko appeared to hold his ground through the third period, taking over after Joey Daccord was tasked with the first two frames, aside from one goal allowed. He was able to track the puck well and handled traffic in front of the net with ease, showing positive signs moving forward as the next young goaltender in line for the Kraken franchise. Expect him to be the regular starter in Coachella Valley at the AHL level, where he should dominate for the Firebirds.
Work to be done still
Overall, there were flashes of success without finish. Despite putting out an NHL-heavy roster, the Kraken never looked fully cohesive. There was too much dump-and-chase, too many missed passes, and a lack of urgency that could defy the night. The moments of chemistry were promising, but Seattle will need to string them together far more consistently to see success throughout the season and we hope to see that when the main roster is put together.
Lambert’s more structured approach to training camp, so far, appears to be paying off. Though it was just our first look at a preseason Kraken hockey team, several things seemed to click for this group and it was nice to see a little more cohesion and connection on the ice. Kakko and Nyman particularly seemed to click, coming together for two goals and some impressive plays throughout the night. Many people have joked about their Finnish connection, but there is some connection there; the two seemed to find each other on the ice so easily. Nyman made a strong case for earning himself that roster spot tonight, that’s for sure.
“Of course, he’s a Finnish guy, and we speak the same language, but Kaapo and Beniers are very good players, and I like playing with them.”
Lack of discipline could be an issue
Taking penalties, considering the struggles of Kraken penalty kills in years past, could be a dangerous thing for this Seattle team. Eight penalties in a regular season game would not have been something easily overcome, and the Kraken were lucky the Canucks roster heavily leaned towards the prospect side in this game. Although there were glimpses of success and a foggy outline of what a successful penalty kill could look like for this team, there is definitely still a lot of work to be done there. During his in-game interview in the third period, Seattle goaltender Joey Daccord shared that the team hasn’t fully installed their penalty kill yet and they’ve only gone through walk throughs, so only conceding once while defending six power plays is a decent sign.
Images of some Seattle Kraken NHL defensemen during the teams preseason win over the Vancouver Canucks at Climate Pledge Arena on Sunday, September 21st, 2025. (Photos by Eric Hiller for Circling Seattle Sports)
Glimpse of defensive improvement
Defense had a pretty solid night - Vince Dunn and his three assists were proof of that. Again, in the very early days of the Lane era, it appears Coach Lambert and his staff are working hard to get players seeing the ice in new ways and making great plays. Since it is preseason, now might not be a bad time to mix up some of the defensive pairings for a game or two, as well. Just to see what shakes out before the points start pointing! We’ve heard a lot from the coaching staff about how defense was going to be one of their priorities this year, and it looks like, at least with this group of D-men, they’re keeping true to their word.
Get in the gym
I don’t know that I’d go as far as saying that Kraken aren’t a “physical” team (John Hayden would have several words if I even tried it), but there does seem to be a lack of physicality from the Kraken’s younger players. While that isn’t a bad thing, necessarily, it does create some concern to see smaller Seattle players out there on the ice potentially not ready to take or give a big hit because they’ve gotten so used to using their size and speed to outmaneuver opponents. It happened a few times tonight with Catton and Firkus, dodging hits beautifully, but worry remains that they won’t be fast enough to dodge just one time persists at the NHL level.
“You know what? I have all kinds of time in the world for that. Sticking up for his teammate, outstanding job by him. And you know, we will try and kill those off all day long when we feel like somebody’s taking a little bit of a liberty with one of our teammates.”
What’s next?
Following tonight’s preseason victory over the Vancouver Canucks, our Seattle Kraken have tomorrow off before they continue their exhibition slate when they begin a three-game road set starting on Tuesday, September 23rd. That contest comes against the Calgary Flames with a 6PM PDT puck drop time (Being broadcast live on the Kraken Hockey Network and KONG) and represents the first leg of a back-to-back, as the Kraken will take on the Edmonton Oilers the next day with another 6PM PDT puck drop time (Broadcast live on NHL Network, Kraken Hockey Network, and KONG). Seattle head coach Lane Lambert hasn’t provided much information on how he wants to switch things up between the preseason games, but we do know that we’ll at least see the names that didn’t play tonight get some game action on Tuesday. With the first few sets of cuts for prospects likely coming soon, it’ll be fun to watch which names stick around longer than others and how performances in these exhibition games can shape the Kraken’s few of those players.
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