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what's the cryptid cup lore
The Cryptid Cup is the unofficial name for games played between the Kraken and the Devils, since our two teams are the only two in the league named for cryptids.
As far as I remember the name was used as early as s1, but the trophy itself wasn’t made until after s2. This is the first time we’ve won since the introduction of the cup (and the first time we’ve beaten them in regulation)!
Hi! As we start preseason, it’s come to my attention that Krakenblr has gained some community members who may not know the full depth of our beloved, tragic starboy. As we enter into a time of holding our breath to see if it’s finally his year, I wanted to fix that. So.
Shane Wright
A disclaimer: all of this is googleable and I honestly just wanted to get this out of my head so please forgive me for not linking! I can find any sources that you’re having trouble finding but also this one is emotional lol some are my own opinions but I’ve tried to be honest about those, too. This is not exhaustive; it’s about the ✨narratives.✨ let’s go!
Beginnings
Shane was born on January 5, 2004 in Burlington, ON to a non-hockey family.
Let me repeat that: his family does not play hockey. They were a soccer family, primarily. Hockey and its particularities are like a different planet for them.
They put Shane into hockey because he was freakishly good and competitive about everything, and he just fell in love with it.
He gets moved up an age group pretty regularly, but his dad recalls Shane being unphased by this. In fact, at 8, his dad remembers wanting to go with him into the dressing room, knowing it was full of boys much older than him. But Shane turned and reassured him, saying “No, I’m good. I’m good, dad.”
By 12, Shane has attracted the attention of scouts and his parents need to make the first of a few major decisions. His talent quickly outgrew his local teams.
Shane’s enthusiasm about the sport overshadows any qualms and discomfort they have, and he moves with his dad to a suburb north of Toronto to play with the Don Mills Flyers.
Of this time and adjustment, Shane remembers, “At the start it was really hard…not being able to see my mom every day.” But he adjusts. He always adjusts.
Don Mills Flyers (tw: death; grief)
The Don Mills Flyers gave him friends. Friends that were a year or two older than him, of course.
His best friends become Brennan Othmann (who is also born January 5) and Brandt Clarke.
They share a deep bond with the rest of their teammates, including goaltender Roy Pejcinovski.
Tragically and shockingly, Roy was killed along with his mom and sister in 2018.
They grieve together. The team notes that this made them “grow up,” this experience of mourning one of their own in such a brutal way. They play for one another and they play for Roy.
They continue to, as well. Many of the Don Mills Flyers still have RP74 in their Instagram bios or have other ways of remembering him.
I mention this not to romanticize grief or make Shane Wright tragic; another person’s death is not a storyline.
I mention this to say that when Shane Wright is called mature, it’s not precocious. It’s a reasonable response from anyone needing to confront very real injustice and grief very early in his life.
I also mention this because Shane Wright couldn’t take his time grieving. He needed to make a very important decision very quickly after.
Major Juniors
Scouts explain to Shane’s parents that he qualifies to apply for exceptional status, which would mean he would be eligible for the major juniors leagues a year early.
Shane’s mom remembers being dumbfounded “Why would this be happening now?” She feels he’s too young for this attention, for this to be moving this fast. But she listens to the pros and the cons.
Pros include that he would continue on his trajectory and not have to stay behind just because of his age. He would also be counted among those like John Tavares and Connor McDavid, who also were granted exceptional status.
Cons include that he would be watched even closer. That there might be a bullseye on him. That he wouldn’t be around his peers. He would be 15 against 19- and 20-year-olds.
Shane gets psychological testing done as part of this jump to exceptional status, testing his character and judgment as well as his willingness and readiness to make the jump.
He’s undeterred. He’s granted the status.
He’s taken, predictably, first overall in the OHL draft by the Kingston Frontenacs in 2019.
By December of that year, he’s named their alternate captain, making him the youngest player to wear a letter in the CHL.
It’s early, of course, but the hockey world loves early. Shane’s projected as the first overall pick for his draft year just as most every other exceptional status player is. It doesn’t matter it’s almost three years away.
But the world has other plans.
Disruptions
Every person has a COVID-19 story, and Shane Wright is no exception. The remainder of the 2019-2020 season is cancelled, as well as the entirety of the 2020-2021 season.
He’s also placed in an impossible position. Go against public health advice, probably moving away from his family again, to seek out ways to play? Or trust that things will go back to normal and he can return to the trajectory that hadn’t steered him wrong yet?
And this has never been explicitly stated, but I think I want to bring this up again: Shane Wright is a hockey player from a non-hockey family. To sacrifice one’s safety and health for this sport…it doesn’t make sense in the way it might have for others.
So he doesn’t.
He has a group of people he’s able to skate with, but it’s all casual.
Shane’s only hockey appearance is the 2021 IIHF Under 18 World Championships.
He does well!! Canada wins gold, and Shane finishes behind only Matvei Michkov for goals and points. He has more goals but ties in points with his teammate Connor Bedard.
It’s not enough, though. When it comes time for individual awards, Bedard gets the award for forwards from the media.
This is not…great. Shane’s running out of time and he knows it. Scouts know it. He needs to get ice time and be noticed if he’s going to defend the crown that’s been his to lose for years, that precious high draft pick in 2022.
2021-2022
The 2021-2022 season starts.
He is named captain, the youngest captain in the OHL ever.
But the season starts badly for Shane, who looks as rusty as any other person who couldn’t play hockey regularly for a year and a half might look like.
Shane had never been held to the same expectations as any other person, though. This was just the first time he fell short of those expectations.
He receives no grace. Being crowned the projected first overall pick comes with an uncomfortable throne.
Bob McKenzie of Sportsnet writes in January 2022 in his mid-season rankings that Shane has “left the door open for someone to unseat him.”
And while Shane does much better in the second half of the season, including getting his team to the second round of playoffs, it still ends shorter than he would’ve liked.
And then that’s it. All that’s left is evaluation of his work. And, of course, his character.
The Lead-Up
To understand what eventually happens at the draft, we have to talk about Juraj Slafkovsky. And to be clear, it is a pleasure to talk about Juraj Slafkovsky.
He rises to prominence and even national heroism during the 2022 Winter Olympics, in which he leads Slovakia to their first ever medal in men’s ice hockey.
He’s named MVP of the entire tournament. There’s very little to overstate about his performance.
He is, in fact, what many were waiting for: a figure to unseat Shane Wright.
Because it’s exciting, right? The talented Canadian boy who’s been projected for years isn’t fun anymore! That’s not a fun story! We’ve done that so many times before!
Shane is so mature for his age and coaches can’t say enough good things about him, blah blah blah.
Juraj Slafkovsky…he’s fun. The lead-up to the 2022 draft is allll Juraj and Shane, and Juraj is delightful. He’s still got braces on and his hair flops just right and he’s funny! He’s humble! He smiles and laughs!
Shane is as serious and earnest and honest as he’s ever been and for the first time, he begins to be punished for it. The same qualities that had helped to push him ahead of his peers are now used as indicators of ego, of taking himself too seriously, of feeling entitled.
When Shane is asked if he should go first overall, he says yes because he believes he should and he expects other prospects to say the same.
Juraj Slafkovsky is asked about this, and Shane’s words are twisted in the question. “When you hear Shane Wright say he deserves to go first, what do you think?”
Juraj smiles slyly, “That’s what he thinks. I think something different.”
When Shane is asked about being courted by Montreal, the team holding the first overall pick, he talks about the fancy dinner they take him to.
When Juraj is asked about his meeting with Montreal, he grins and says they didn’t have dinner but the conversation they had was even more delicious.
Juraj wins everyone’s hearts so effortlessly. Shane’s bald-faced, serious honesty looks bland at best and embarrassing at worst. It’s brutal.
But surely, following the natural effects of a pandemic and answering with serious maturity won’t be enough to take away all a kid has worked for, right?
The Draft
Draft day comes and it’s still a toss-up. Montreal’s fanbase has been thoroughly split by the time it comes as well.
They also happen to be in Montreal for the draft, meaning Shane-to-Montreal fans are in full force to welcome him into the draft, proclaiming their hopes that in just a few moments, he’ll be theirs.
That doesn’t happen though.
Juraj Slafkovsky is taken first. He becomes the highest drafted Slovakian ever.
Simon Nemec, Juraj’s dear friend, is taken second.
At third, Shane turns to his dad. “Arizona!” he’s seen saying, “I’m good with it.”
But that doesn’t happen either. Arizona takes Logan Cooley.
And at this moment, he’s not that far off from the 8-year-old who assured his dad he was okay when he walked into a locker room alone. He continues to clap for his peers and when he turns to his dad, Shane puts on a smile, accepting it when his dad says it’s okay. But when he turns away, he has a sadder look on his face.
The only sign of emotion comes here as he tells his dad, “It hurts.”
Away from him, as Juraj, Simon, and Logan take the traditional photo of the three first picks, the first thing Juraj asks is, “Shane is four?” He’s just as surprised as anyone.
#4, Seattle Kraken
When Ron Francis chooses Shane Wright at fourth, I believe there’s a part of him that feels he was choosing himself.
Ron Francis was also once a projected first overall pick that dropped to fourth, but he went to a team that hadn’t intended on choosing him.
I want to say that Francis likely sees himself in Shane, and wants to make sure that Shane knows he is beyond wanted.
So when Francis steps to the podium and proudly announces his pick, he’s smiling like mad. He’s clearly so happy.
Which then makes Shane Wright’s awkward, steely-eyed reaction to shaking Bettman’s hand that much more noticeable.
Much has been said on this. I don’t know the truth. I think it’s just as likely and reasonable that Shane was staring down the Montreal table (as everyone assumed) as the other answer, which is just that he was overwhelmed and trying to hear what the handlers there were telling him.
Whatever it was, Shane’s fate was sealed at that moment. Montreal’s fanbase turned entirely on him, and so did many others.
2022
Shane doesn’t make the NHL roster. He isn’t really supposed to. The Kraken’s roster is fine without him and they’d rather let him develop.
Doesn’t matter how logical that is. He’s called bust. He’s called attitude problems.
Shane still gets a few NHL games. He looks fine but not quite ready, as you might expect from anyone his age.
Doesn’t matter the logic. He’s called a disappointment.
Shane is sent to the AHL for conditioning, because it’s something they can do. Famously, the Firebirds adore him and actually refuse to send him back up because they insist he attend the rookie holiday party like any other rookie.
Doesn’t matter, though. Fans outside the Kraken fanbase question what Shane Wright is doing in the AHL or in the press box. Montreal fans taunt him with Juraj’s name in his comments. They post gifs of Juraj’s goals in replies to tweets that mention Shane.
So it’s very predictable that when Montreal comes to play in Seattle in December, all eyes are on Juraj and Shane. (Who love each other, by the way) (have I said that? They’re liking each other’s insta posts all the time during this time period)
(Doesn’t matter.)
It’s very clear during this game that the Kraken want this game to be Shane’s. They play for him.
And it happens.
Shane Wright scores his first NHL goal against Montreal.
The Kraken lose the game but it almost doesn’t matter. The story is still his goal.
The media asks him about his goal in the scrum and while he initially brushes it off, he’s perhaps too honest and earnest for his own good as he acknowledges that, yes, it felt good to score against Montreal.
WJC 2023
After that, Shane goes to the World Juniors Championship, where he’s reunited with Brennan Othmann and Brandt Clarke. They’re all aware this is likely the last time they’ll be playing together as they’ve all been drafted to different professional organizations.
Shane is named captain. More question this choice than congratulate it. Fans simply can’t fathom that the kid they’ve decided has attitude problems is good.
The reality is that he’s the kid setting up the goal posts for the team, helping the equipment managers for the tournament. But you don’t hear that as much.
It doesn’t really matter. The story is Connor Bedard. And for good reason! He is truly magnificent.
Shane is solid but not magnificent in the way Connor Bedard is.
Canada still wins gold in a white-knuckle OT win.
They win on Shane Wright and Brennan Othmann’s birthday.
It’s a good day.
2023
Before and after the WJC, it’s rumored Shane wants a trade out of Kingston.
There are a few rumors about why.
One is that Kingston just isn’t competitive and he wants to win.
Two is that he doesn’t feel very safe there, that he’s being targeted and the team around him isn’t well-equipped to defend that or rally around him.
Three, of course by now, is that he’s got an attitude problem and he’s the worst kid ever.
And if you’re rolling your eyes or asking for proof or so annoyed by this, yeah lol. Yeah. It’s constant. The constant deluge of people who don’t give a shit about Shane’s development except to call him a lost cause for no reason is really something to behold.
But he’s traded out of Kingston, losing the captaincy in the process, and joins the Windsor Spitfires. Like let that sink in: he loses his captaincy. Whatever the reason for wanting a trade out of that team, he gives up leadership. It matters to get out of there.
It goes okay for him, but not great.
He also gets injured almost right away. Like when I say he’s getting targeted, I MEAN IT. These kids are brutal and they know that they can get noticed if they attack the kid that everyone else is watching.
After the juniors season concludes, he joins the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the AHL for their playoff run, getting all the way to a heartbreaking game 7 OT loss in the finals.
And after that, his project is set: make it impossible for them to send him back to juniors.
2023-2024
Okay so. Here’s what we’re looking at during the start of the 23-24 season.
First, due to his exceptional status way back when, Shane should be eligible to join with either the AHL or the NHL (for those unaware, you have to put in a certain number of games/seasons in the juniors leagues before being eligible to go “pro” in the AHL.)
Second, though, due to all the injuries he incurred, he is technically one game short of eligibility. ONE. But this would mean he would have to sign an entire season with juniors.
Third, Ron Francis announces he’ll seek an exception.
The internet reaction is caught between making fun of him for not making the NHL, crying about him getting special treatment, and again calling his character into question.
It’s just the same shit. It’s the same. Shit.
He’s granted eligibility because it’s the right thing to do, and he’s actually able to enjoy a full season in one place.
He thrives with the Firebirds. He’s able to develop at his own pace without the pressure of a letter on his chest. He’s allowed to make friends and grow.
Shane becomes more comfortable joking in front of media, though still delivers the most earnest answers out of his peers that I’ve seen. He can’t turn it off, I fear.
Shane’s up a couple times with the Kraken which is great, too. He and Matty Beniers room together whenever he’s up with them and they report being close! It’s so good!
The Firebirds make it all the way to the finals and lose again and I don’t want to talk about that or I’ll cry.
Actually I want to cry maybe. Because in the immediate aftermath, Shane is seen skating to each and every one of his teammates, picking up their heads.
Like physically holding their chins up so they can face the handshake line.
Kneeling on the ice with those that can’t stand in the heartbreak.
He’s that guy.
But attitude problems, right?
2024
That brings us to right now.
After a summer of more training and development, Shane shows up at rookie camp. He’s there as a leader, pulled out before the rookie tournament.
Finally, he’s protected. He won’t be there to be beaten up, a sacrifice for some kids who want to be noticed.
Shane will likely make the NHL roster this year and it matters so much because of…all of this.
It matters because questions of his character and attitude won’t just vanish. If they haven’t disappeared by now, with all the evidence out there to the contrary, they won’t disappear ever.
Shane matters to Kraken fans because he has become the picture of our early identity. To be dismissed without even a chance to prove people wrong? That’s Kraken hockey, baby, and it’s also Shane Wright’s professional trajectory thus far.
But his time may have arrived. So maybe ours has, too.
Oh baby, is it time.
normally this is where you'd expect to see @yamball and her magnificent primers.
Alas, it is but me and my attempt to let the world know about the puck-slinging, hit-throwing, scared of haunted houses, pale as a vampire forward that has captured our hearts:
Tye Kartye
photo credits: steph chambers
*disclaimer: all of this information is googleable & found across various interviews from Tye, his parents and other information surrounding him & games he has been in! If you want a link to a specific article, please feel free to ask! Also, feel free to send this to others, but keep the primer on tumblr & don't crosspost to other platforms :) keeping fourth walls intact is very important to me.
Childhood
Tye Kartye was born to Richelle & Todd Kartye on April 20, 2001.
His mom is a clinical nurse educator & his father is a chemistry teacher in Kingston.
Tye also has a younger sister, Talya, who is two years younger. They were both also incredibly athletic kids. Tye played soccer and hockey, plus touch football while Talya played basketball and volleyball.
This boy is also so hardworking. Well-known by the nickname, "No Quit" Kartye, he is constantly lauded by numerous past coaches as incredibly hard-working, and focused. To quote his dad, he knew from his childhood that, "he wanted and was going to be in the NHL."
included also, since there are very few photos of Karts as a kiddo: here are some of his Prezi's. Note from topics like stick flex to environmental effects, he is so dedicated and focused in his details. Truly a teachers' son
Stick Flex Prezi
Environmental Effects Prezi
Tough Road Ahead
Of course, Tye's path hasn't been easy to where he is and it starts pretty young.
He took the more traditional route, played in house leagues before going up into high school hockey and then AA & AAA.
Of course, then comes time for the OHL draft. Karts isn't drafted in the first round, nor the second round, not even the third.
Tye is drafted by the Soo Greyhounds in 2017 in the eighth round. Not only is he selected dead in the middle, but he also was cut his first training camp. Instead, he went back to midget AAA and worked his ass off.
In fact, his former coach John Dean, who was named HC of the Greyhounds in 2018-2019 had heard about the skinny kid told to get bigger/stronger in his exit meeting. He came in that year, and said about Karts that "Here comes this moose of a man, who clearly took direction very literally and took it to heart."
Karts took his time in the OHL, and spent a good bit of it working to improve. As it came closer to draft time, he bumped up his work to a more physical level. This was supposed to help his game, but also his potential for the draft. Keep this in mind.
Karts was first eligible for the 2019 draft. He was not selected. Now, he'll mention that he didn't feel he was ready at all at the time.
But! He does partake in the 2019 Development Camp for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
So, Karts plays another year and, is eligible for the 2020 draft.
He isn't selected again. In fact, routinely his scouting reports talk about his skating ability, or lack thereof. Even for a larger player for his age (6'0 and 175+), his skating was seemingly enough of a deterent. He was disappointed, especially after a good season.
Then 2020-21 hits and the OHL season is cancelled. Tye keeps practicing.
photo credits: this blog post about tye
The Undrafted Kid
2021 comes, and the Kraken need bodies for their first development camp. They've got draft picks (Matty Beniers, Ryker Evans, Ryan Winterton to name a few) but they've gotta invite a few more for the incoming guys to spend time with.
Mike Dawson, a scout for the Kraken, started doing his homework. He noted how weird it was this kid hadn't been picked, mentioned it might be because he's a later bloomer.
He gets an invite to the 2021 Development Camp, and while he doesn't get a contract the Kraken now know his name.
He begins to push in his 2021-22 season with the Greyhounds. Not only did he recieve an A, he also scored over 100 career points with them, but also ended the year 4th overall in league scoring, and led the league in PPGs and GWGs as well as ended the season with 79 points (and 57 PIMs, he's been a bit of yapper his whole life).
So March 2022 hits, and the Kraken finally bite. Tye gets an ELC, and he's ready to work.
Also additionally, Ron Francis is an ICON for Tye, who is a Soo Greyhounds alum. The Rink in the Soo is literally on Ron Francis Way.
CVF + Hard Work makes the Dream Work
Tye comes into the new CVF team for the 22-23 season. He attended Kraken training camp, but let's be real. Tye needed more time to prepare.
Karts comes in, and is ready to show off what he can do. He also is trading cold, Canadian weather for the hot Valley and grabbing his golf clubs.
Note of importance: he becomes really good friends with Ryker Evans & Luke Henman.
He starts as a fourth-liner. And, he struggles. He has little ice time, as well as few opportunities.
But, he gets better. And better, and better and better. Soon, he's one of the Firebird's top 6 forwards, and he's skyrocketing towards being a potential call up.
Although it comes later, by the end of the 22-23 Firebirds season (off of a devastating Game 7 loss to the Hershey Bears), Tye is awarded the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award for AHL Rookie of the year and is also placed on the AHL Rookie All-Star Team. He led all rookies in points, and appeared in every game for the Firebirds that season.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves, because Tye's breakout moments in the AHL don't just end there. They lead to the real deal.
photo credits: Firebirds Media
The Call Up & Goal Heard Round Colorado
So come April, Tye gets recalled to the Kraken who are going on a completely unprecedented and expected playoff run. Not only is it a little unexpected (he's a rookie coming up from his first year in the AHL instead of a vet, and he's having to replace the Jared McCann).
But, Tye gets it because of what has always been the case. He's a hardworker, a grinder and he will make others notice him through it.
So, he comes in for Game 5 of the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs versus the Colorado Avalanche. He finds out that morning he's playing, and sends a single word text to his mom, just saying "playing" at 12:00 PM EST.
His parents begin their journey to Denver, arriving just a few minutes into the first period.
The first period stays scoreless, and the second begins. Geekie scores, before a response by Nathan MacKinnon.
Then a few moments later, Nate MacKinnon trips and is laying on the ground. The crowd is roaring for a call, and Eberle is skating the puck up and around Colorado goal. A quick shot down and a one-timer from Karts nails the puck in the back of the net past the Avs goalie.
Let me say, even for those as a fan of the Avs, the look on NateMac's face when this happens is unbelievable. He's in shock, completely. And meanwhile, Tye is having a fantastic time grinning and celebrating what only 7 other players have done, scoring their first goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Also, let it be noted that Karts gets back to the locker room after the game. Pure joy from his goal, and what is the first thing he does? Check his phone to see the Firebirds game and how they did.
Not only was that his first instinct, he also was almost more excited about the potential to be back down with the Firebirds. He loves following his dream, but god did he love the Firebirds and family he built there.
Of course, the Kraken’s road to the Stanley Cup is ended in Game 7 of the Second Round vs. the Stars. But! In this time, Kartye has stayed up and even in the place of Jared McCann in some spots.
And then he goes back down to CV for the harrowing journey that was their 22-23 Calder Cup Playoff Run.
photos credit: Steph Chambers & Icon Photography
The Summer After & Rookie Experiences
Of course, Tye became one to watch in the lead up to the 23-24 season.
During which included a delightful video with bestie Ryker Evans and Matt Tennyson, on Episode 7 of Tenny Talks.
I'm simply going to link to the video, because it is insanely funny and it also shows off Tye's personality so well.
So, the summer ends and Tye ends up with the Kraken for 23-24 season.
I could probably spend hours discussing this season, but for our key highlights we're gonna focus on just a few things.
Throwback to our note of importance: anytime Ryker gets called up, he stays in a hotel. Not only does he end up knowing the car valet by name, any time he does almost anything, it is with Tye & Joey. He literally went over to Tye’s to do laundry while Tye’s girlfriend cooked them dinner. Besties for real.
First and foremost, Tye doesn't get a ton of chances. First rookie up (really the only rookie during the season for the Kraken minus other call ups), he gets scratched first a decent amount of times, especially prior to December. But! He keeps working hard, and by the end of the season he has well cemented his place as a fourth liner (who can def move up the line up if needed to).
Second, he really starts to gain a lot of perspective & skills from Yanni Gourde. Note, not only did he dress up as the Easter Bunny in 2024 for the Kraken's kiddos (like Matty did in 2023), but he also really focuses on the aspects of his game that he can improve and make stronger. So what does he do?
He gets into a few scrums (which early on he loses badly), and becomes known as a player who will fight for his teammates. (key fights include: him absolutely lighting up Pospisil after the first period hit on Adam in the Kraken v. Calgary game on March 3).
He also starts to up his physicality. And when I say up, I mean up. Tye ended the 23-24 season with 229 hits, placing him 19th in the entire league.
And of my favorite: Tye is a Grade A yapper. Like literally, this man will yap whenever he needs to. And one of the most iconic times might I add is against Connor McDavid, who Karts almost succeeds to into scrapping with. Known non-fighter Connor McDavid. (Note: this occurred after McDavid checked Ryker Evans, these firebirds turned squids don't play about each other).
photo credits: steph chambers (i believe, but if not, please correct me!)
gifs from: @starshipoftheseus
This Season and Beyond
So where does that leave Tye now? Well, if you tune in to almost any Kraken game, you're sure to see him on the fourth line (likely with Yanni Gourde & Brandon Tanev).
He’s likely to be spotted hanging out with fellow former firebirds Joey Daccord, Shane Wright, and Ryker Evans. They all went to the Halloween party in a group costume and are frequent dinner buddies, with Joey finding gluten-free restaurants for himself and Ryker.
There's also some interest bubbling up, especially because as of posting this, the Kraken re-acquired Daniel Sprong. What does that mean? Well, due to lots of cap things & money stuff, the Kraken essentially with every player healthy can only carry a 20-man roster. This means either someone has to be traded, or you've gotta send the 13th forward down to the AHL. While Karts hasn't been rumored in any trades (and frankly his contract isn't big enough trade value-wise to really help), there is still the possibility he could go on waivers and be sent back down to CV if not performing. So this is definitely a step-up time while the Kraken wait for Vince Dunn to get off of LTIR (which we saw on the 11/12 game against CBJ, where Karts scored the first goal in the second period and his second of the year).
I am so deliriously happy over the discovery of this adorable bit of new Kraken lore......
Yanni's daughter Emma has Matty and Borgy's number in her contacts (the best babysitters) (+see side note below about my thoughts on Borgy being kids' favorite) They let Emma pick out their contact photos and when I say she did good.......she did really goooood....Hahahahahaha
LOOK AT THEIR REACTIONS LOL
Also, I love how Marie says Yanni's name..... 🥺👉🏼👈🏼
Anyway, thank fucking goodness for the Bellemare's! The whole video has other kraken lore bits to be discovered and explored..... Go watch the full video below and please don't forget to follow/support Hannah's channel because she's just a beautiful fucking soul with great content 👌🏼
+++++ remember that recent vid of Wenny's son Rio talking about who he's most excited to see (they're in Sweden) and he says, "Borgy" (who's definitely not in Sweden) so both Alex and his wife Felicia laugh because even though he went SEA>>NYR>>SJS in a matter of months baby Rio still picked our fucking Will Borgen. MY OVARIES ARE SCREAMING +++++
Before the season started, I wrote about how the Kraken were looking to further cement their foothold in Seattle and gain new fans-- and part of that was moving game broadcasts off Root Sports (the Seattle-area regional sports network) and back onto non-cable airwaves. This lead to what is now the Kraken Hockey Network (KHN) which airs in Seattle locally on KING/KONG and also on Prime.
Today Kate Shefte published an article in the Seattle Times looking at the creation of KHN and giving us an update on how things are going roughly a month in. The biggest take away right now is that yes, the shift has resulted in more eyeballs on the Kraken.
That’s a pretty big jump, and if the number holds, definitely seems to indicate that the jump has been worth it. A month and a half probably really isn’t enough to call it a clear success in terms of actual dollars but suffice to say that more households are definitely seeing the Kraken. As a local, I definitely feel like there have been more commercials advertising the Kraken, which didn’t feel as common the previous two seasons.
You can read the entire article here. There’s a lot more info about the creation of KHN and what goes into production, including some great quotes by John Forslund. And frankly, I need some of these ideas to come to fruition:
(Photos from the article are from Dean Rutz, ST photog.)
Oh hell yeah. (Hope it’s okay I’m posting this as a text post rather than an answer love u)
Kaapo Kakko & Mikko Rantanen
Disclaimer here: this is going to be as quick as possible. It’s not a full primer; please don’t expect one. If I was doing a full primer I would need to learn Finnish because there’s actually so many more articles in Finnish that tie them together. I am also not what you would call a fan of the Rangers or Avs, so I am going to breeze past the nhl seasons to get to the joint stuff. So here are the sources I’ve been rotating around in my brain:
Okay, so Mikko Rantanen. He had been playing in Liga since he was 16 and was the highest rated European skater by the time his draft rolls around. He is drafted in 2015 (like freakin everyone else we end up talking about on tumblr) and he goes 10th overall to the Colorado Avalanche. He makes his debut that year though he is sent down to the AHL and ends up winning rookie of the year there. He will rejoin the Avs and eventually claw their way to the Stanley Cup in 2022.
And Kaapo Kakko. Kaapo Kakko who will be watching Mikko’s career, attending Liga games to watch Mikko play in person before he went to North America. Who plays for the same team (TPS in Turku) that he watched Mikko play for. Who continues to try and copy him as Kaapo himself becomes one of the highest rated Finnish players in some time. He helps to win Finland gold in WJC.
No, wait, that’s actually an understatement: he scores the game-winning goal in the gold medal game against the U.S. in early 2019.
2019 is his draft year, and it should be noted that he plays against the projected first overall pick in that tournament, Jack Hughes. He would’ve already gotten attention for his skill, but this raises everything to a fever pitch.
So of course, before the draft, they ask Kaapo what style of play they can expect from him in the NHL. And here’s where it starts.
In the leadup to his draft, Kaapo says in no uncertain terms: “Mikko Rantanen is someone that I look up to and try to copy some of his moves.”
And he doesn’t stop there, going on: Some people liken Kakko to Patrik Laine, […] Kakko doesn’t see the parallel. “Nobody can shoot like Patrik,” Kakko said. […] “I play more like Mikko.”
Reporter: so—
Kaapo: I PLAY LIKE MIKKO
Mikko knows this, is the thing. He’s asked about Kaapo along the way, and says clearly that he’s rooting for the kid as he roots for all Finns.
The Finnish media knows all of this, too. During the WJC madness, a podcast posts a video of a Kaapo Kakko highlight and — god, forgive my interpretation here — asks if Kaapo is even old enough to watch this content (aka: this is hockey p*rn). The caption imagines Mikko shedding a fatherly tear in pride. Kaapo’s open excitement about Mikko works: they’re talked about in the same breath.
Kaapo goes second overall to the New York Rangers (following Jack Hughes to the New Jersey Devils). And he struggles. There are bright spots, but he does not take the sort of strides many who are managing and coaching him want him to take. It should be noted, maybe, that the fanbase does not give up on him.
And neither does Mikko. Kaapo starts training with him every off-season and probably has been at least since he was drafted.
The COVID time sees them back in Finland, where they are again tied together. If anyone wants to translate this, be my guest, but I am assuming it’s just bland hockey player shit. (ETA: I was right; they say it’s nice to train with others rather than alone, that they’re trying hard so they don’t get chirped in the locker room, typical stuff, thank you tumblr user glimmermann!) THEY LOOK SO CUTE THOUGH.
But yes the NHL gets back to itself with a full season with increased crowds back in 22-23.
In the 2022-2023 season, both their teams make the playoffs. And in April 2023, both lose in the first round. It was a painful loss for both teams— the Avs were defending cup champions and favored by literally everyone to win against the Seattle Kraken. But the Kraken hold on and hand the Avs a defeat on their home ice.
A few days later, the Rangers lose to their closest rivals the New Jersey Devils. A bright spot in these years is the Kids Line, in which Kaapo is a significant player. It’s fun! It’s exciting! But they still lose to Jack Hughes and his Devils.
And the very next day: Kaapo gets a phone call.
Mikko convinces him to play in worlds. He shares that he had been watching Kaapo’s series and wanted him to win, and when he didn’t—he gets him to worlds so they can finally play together.
Mikko shares they’re good friends by now and "He's been growing a lot. I think off the ice he might be the same guy still, funny guy, but on the ice you can tell he's more mature. Still a really good player. His best years are ahead. He's only what, 22 years old, this year? He's very young. His best years are ahead."
Unfortunately they lose lol they get paired up with Canada in the first round of those playoffs and Canada ended up winning the whole thing. WHATEVER! Let’s speed up because the 2023-2024 season is quite rough and there’s not a ton of content for our interests here.
The 2024-2025 season proves to be a pivotal one. Kaapo is off to a more inspiring start than he’s had in previous seasons, but the Rangers are a hot mess. So he gets healthy scratched.
He’s mad as hell about it, publicly questioning the move.
And then he’s traded, all the way across the States, to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round pick, and a 2025 sixth-round pick.
Kaapo joins a struggling team on a road trip and is immediately added to the top line of fellow 2nd overall pick Matty Beniers and the beautiful gorgeous sweet Jaden Schwartz. It takes Kaapo a couple games and then—
Well. Let’s add Mikko Rantanen back in here.
Because Kaapo’s first goal as a Kraken came in front of Rantanen’s Avs (even though he was overshadowed by another Finn 😔)
While they lose this game (look, the Kraken haven’t been good against the Avs since late April 2023), it becomes clear after this: Kaapo Kakko is thriving. He racks up points and helps Matty look like the Calder Winner he is once more. He reports he’s living with old friend Eeli Tolvanen and that Jaden Schwartz asks him all the time if he needs anything. He says it’s easy to find Matty on ice. The fanbase has been begging to keep him immediately and perhaps most importantly:
He reports he feels confident.
In addition to regularly smiling through intermission interviews (or eating special soup!) and gushing about his linemates, Kaapo quickly becomes a darling of social media content and radio interviews in Seattle. And somehow finds a way to talk about Mikko. On January 8th, Kraken Audio Network asked Kaapo about the guys he looked up to. He agreed with the host that all the kids from his town looked up to Sami Koivu and then IMMEDIATELY mentions Mikko lmao he happily notes that he’s good friends with the guy he looked up to all those years now!
And meanwhile: The Colorado Avalanche trade Mikko Rantanen.
And if that feels out of nowhere in this info dump…yeah. I think that’s how everyone feels. He goes to the Carolina Hurricanes.
And he…doesn’t thrive. He doesn’t do poorly, to be sure, but it seems like as soon as Mikko gets to Carolina, there are reports that the Hurricanes want to trade him again because he wasn’t instantly effective.
Anyway — time for a refreshing break 😌 as we all know, the 4 Nations Faceoff was a peaceful time!!
Kraken Audio Network in the leadup to the 4 Nations Faceoff asked about Mikko in the four nations faceoff specifically. Kaapo was pretty chill about it but it’s part of a steady pattern with Kaapo openly admiring Mikko and wanting to play with him.
The first game of the tournament is on Kaapo Kakko’s birthday and they have all the guys describe Kaapo. They call him a leader, a funny guy, and playfully poke fun at his Turku dialect.
But Mikko? Mikko says “Kaapo…” and then says “turkulainen ja niin nuori söpö poika” or “from turku and such a young cute boy.” (Thank you again glimmermann!)
So it’s his birthday. The guy he’s been obsessed with since he was a teenager is calling him cute. And he…wait. He’s healthy scratched?
Yeah. Kaapo is scratched. Kaapo is scratched during a 7-1 loss to the United States.
HE’S IN FOR THE NEXT ONE THOUGH LMAO. Finland plays Sweden the next game and Kaapo is slotted as a depth player.
Not for long lmao. Because as the game goes on? Kaapo starts playing on the top line.
On the top fucking line with Sasha Barkov and — of course, Mikko Rantanen. Mikko Rantanen who cellies with him as he scores a goal (IM SORRY BUT IT WAS KK’s GOAL DONT PLAY WITH ME).
Finland loses and can effectively wash its hands of being an unwilling participant in what became the closest thing to the Super Series ‘76 we might get until…idk probably until next year lmao. I love living in unprecedented times.
Jfc this was longer than I wanted it to be but :) lore
Oliver Bjorkstrand: A Belated Goodbye
(and hello Lightning Lb)
So! Oliver Bjorkstrand is so longer a Seattle Kraken. As he moves on to his new home in Tampa Bay, I wanted to take a moment and send along some of his lore. He deserves a run; he deserves a home. We’re sad we couldn’t be that for him. Let’s review here… lore featuring a textbook portrait of a gifted kid, complete with a demanding father, psychological mind games from his father’s friend, grief, heartbreak and also…enduring friendship and resilience. Let’s go!
Bjorky is from an American family but born in Denmark since his father was a hockey player who was incentivized to play in Denmark.
His dad was friends with John Tortorella in college hockey.
This is important.
While Ollie was growing up, his dad was probably one of the most well-known names in hockey. Which made the attention on Ollie all the more intense. Plus: his dad coached him. (Ollie is the little baby in the blue helmet)
Of that time, reflecting back on it later, Ollie has said: “My dad’s pretty demanding. He expects hard work and so on.” His dad fairly infamously suspended 5 teenagers from his own team from the World Juniors for goofing off during a media apperance. Oliver has said he noticed that his dad has softened his approach since those times coaching his son.
And of coaching Oliver, his dad says: “Oliver was young. He was only 16. And he was pretty easy. He pretty much just tries to do his best when you give him instructions.”
Overall, the coaching worked: Oliver becomes excellent.
He begins his career in Denmark and quickly outpaces the skill level there, leading him to being selected 26th overall in the WHL import draft in 2012. He moves to the States to play for the Portland Winterhawks.
In 2013, he is selected 89th overall in the NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
He will return to the WHL for the next couple seasons, where he wins championships and overall dominates the league. People know Oliver Bjorkstrand’s name.
He starts professionally in the AHL for the 2015-16 season, then makes his NHL debut in March of 2016.
He scores two goals in his second NHL game. The kid’s good.
He’s sent back to the AHL for their Calder Cup run and lmao Bjorkstrand literally wins them the Calder Cup dude like he scores the game winning goal in SO many of these games, including the final one!
HAHA FUCK THE HERSHEY BEARS (sorry, kraken fan, I have to say this, sorry) the Monsters win against them for the Calder Cup!
And Oliver is named the Most Valuable Player :)
Oliver belongs up with the NHL the next season and now we have to talk about a very important part of his lore.
John Tortorella is in charge of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
And he is. Very intense with Oliver Bjorkstrand. Oliver deflects a lot of the intensity by saying that he was prepared for Torts style by being coached by his dad, who is very similar. Which. Okay. Feeling normal about that!!
Where to start…there’s so much:
Torts tells Bjorkstrand that, to be a good player, he needs to copy Artemi Panarin. He doesn’t need to be Oliver Bjorkstrand; he needs to be more like an entirely different player. A player with a language barrier so high that Oliver can’t even become friends with him or have many conversations with him. He just has to try (and he fails) to become more like him.
He tells Bjorkstrand to be more like Panarin in front of the whole team, on the ice at practice. And the whole team is asked to support it, with Nick Foligno stating “[Bjorky] would be stupid not to learn from [Panarin]. And we know he’s not stupid.”
Torts pits Bjorkstrand and Anthony Duclair against one another, publicly, stating that there’s only room for one of them on the third line and the other one will be scratched if he isn’t good enough. This is discussed openly. Multiple articles about it.
The media has a field day, getting quotes from all parties involved and seeing who will please Tortorella the most.
This drags on, as Bjorkstrand struggles to get basic respect and regular ice time, but eventually he does. The Jackets enter the playoffs consistently from 2016-17 onwards.
Upon elimination from the playoffs in the 2020-2021 playoffs (a very strange pandemic series) he makes a statement: he wants to keep going. Despite the struggles of these early years with Torts, he is a committed Blue Jacket. He signs a five-year extension to remain with them in 2021.
That summer, he suffers the loss of Matiss Kivlenieks with the rest of his teammates. It could break them, but they show up to training camp ready to go for him.
And Oliver Bjorkstrand shows up with a brand new A on his sweater. They win in their home opener, and Bjorkstrand says of their lost goalie, “We played for him.”
He is a leader in this team. He certainly worked for it. But moves are necessary to bolster a broken team.
The Jackets don’t make the playoffs in the 21-22 season and Oliver Bjorkstrand spends his long summer getting married.
And then, during his honeymoon, he picks up his phone to find multiple missed calls and messages from his GM.
Oliver Bjorkstrand has been traded. On his honeymoon. To the very much struggling Seattle Kraken heading into their second season.
General manager Kekalainen says this was “the toughest decision” he’d made as a GM, sharing how wonderful Oliver is as a person.
He is gracious about it. He understands. He knows that his salary is high and space needs to be made, mostly for Johnny Gaudreau who is bringing much needed stardom for the team.
Ever the team player, ever the class act, Bjorkstrand and his wife reach out to Johnny and Meredith and personally sell them their new house so they don’t need to look too much for a house to move into. To make the move easy on two people even as they’re forced out.
So Oliver comes to Seattle. He struggles but he also doesn’t have to be EXCELLENT. He can be steady.
When Seattle adds on Eeli Tolvanen, Bjorky seems to bloom a little more. They become very close, laughing and talking constantly during games.
Those two get put on a line with Yanni Goirde and become affectionately known as the Brothers Line. Why?
“Those guys bicker like brothers,” head coach Dave Hakstol says of the three. They push each other. They joke. They’re goofing off and they’re also productive.
Oliver and his line get all the way to the first playoff appearance of the Kraken’s history.
And Oliver Bjorkstrand gets the game winning goal in game seven of their first playoff series.
No, the Kraken did not win the Cup. Of course not. But he did win them a playoff series that NO ONE expected them to win. And that secured him a spot in our hearts.
The next season, the Kraken are back to struggling, but Bjorkstrand continues to put the work in to be the steady presence with occasional game-breaking goals that we’ve grown to expect from him.
He is named all-star and he is…so Oliver Bjorkstrand about it lmao it’s so funny. If you know anything about him before this, it’s most likely this? Here’s an article.
At the All-Star game, he’s last to be chosen at the draft :/ but he scores first in the game for his team :)
Unfortunately, the Kraken continue to struggle after this and beyond, into the next season.
In November 2024, he’s healthy scratched for the first time in years. Coach Dan Bylsma (who replaced the fired Hakstol) sent the message that no one on the team was beyond reproach, including our current all-star.
And the media, they, uh. They asked Oliver’s dad about it.
Imagine getting scolded at work and then some people go and ask your dad about it lmao but he says: “He’s just got to take it and learn from it and try to be better.”
Great lmao
Bjorkstrand isn’t radically different after that, and his name begins to be floated around as a trade piece because he still isn’t to the level the Kraken hoped he would be when they traded for him in 2022.
He is traded during trade deadline week in 2025, along with Yanni Gourde, to Tampa.
And this is where we are now.
So this is who Oliver Bjorkstrand has been: a father’s protege, a juniors’ phenom, an AHL champion, a coach’s project, a gracious trade piece, a man who sells his home to the guy who pushed him out of town, a player who cancels his vacation to represent his team, a guy who looks like a professor but will drop the gloves in a second if so asked.
His NHL playoff appearance over the five years has only ever come in unexpected seasons, as the underdog. He was excellent in that appearance. EXCELLENT. I’m so excited to see how being a true contender ties in with that play.
And if we can stop asking his dad’s opinion when he fucks up, that would be AWESOME that would BE GREAT.
Anyway. I love him. Here’s him being really hot in Columbus.
Hello Krakenblr (and those that may be joining for just these two). I think we should talk. Because it’s been a journey and it continues to be a journey. If you’ve ever wondered why we’re all going insane, feel free to jump in here. My hope is that this gives you a basic idea of what’s happened, and you can read as your heart desires.
Today is November 19, 2023. And this is a source library for our favorite defense pairing, full of declarations of love, devotion, and codependence so far. Let’s talk about…
Adam Larsson and Vince Dunn
On March 22, 2022, Coach Dave Hakstol moves defenseman Vince Dunn up to the first pair, slotting him beside Adam Larsson. Not much had gone well for the Seattle Kraken during their inaugural season, and this pairing—plus Matty Beniers signing his ELC and a host of draft picks ready from being a seller at the trade deadline—would prove to be one of the longest-lasting and impactful moves the Kraken have thus far made.
They’d played together before, but this was permanent. And it's been remembered ever since.
Why was this so important? How did we get here? Where are we going? Let’s begin.
Adam Larsson
Nils Erik Adam Larsson was born November 12, 1992 in Skellefteå, Sweden. His father, Robert Larsson, was also a hockey player who was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings, though never played in North America. He has an older brother, Hampus, who also plays hockey, and a younger sister, Julia.
He is projected to go first overall for some time in his draft year, but ends up going fourth overall to the New Jersey Devils. The first overall pick was Ryan Nugent Hopkins, to the Oilers.
Larsson does well on the Devils. During the 2012-13 lockout, he goes to play in Albany with the AHL. While there, he’s paired with Jay Leach, who mentors him quite a bit.
In June 2016, an infamous trade hits Twitter:
Adam Larsson thus replaces Jordan Eberle's husband Taylor Hall, a defenseman for a forward. He receives the A on his sweater when Ebs is traded away.
Lars came to Seattle a few years after tragedy. I won’t put information about it here because it’s easy enough to look up and this is a silly primer. He signed with Seattle as a free agent, explaining later that he needed a new start.
Vince Dunn
Born October 29, 1996 in Mississauga, Ontario. He’s shared that he spent some time in hospitals when he was a baby, but we don’t know much about it.
He cheered for the Maple Leafs growing up.
He was drafted 56th overall (second round) by the St. Louis Blues. During juniors and his time in the AHL, he got into a few memorable fights lmao they’re worth looking up
Dunn was in the 5-6 D role in St. Louis, especially because he was so young. He was part of a rookie group that lived together and roomed together and did a bunch of dumb shit on the internet together.
Through it all, he had Jaden Schwartz. Whom he loved. (I really recommend this video ok)
He won the Stanley Cup in 2019 at 22 years old. During that run, his jaw was severely injured, but he battled back and had some of his best performances. (He’s also a total mama’s boy. Here’s a great article about that injury told mainly from his mom’s POV)
As for how he comes to Seattle, it’s the quintessential expansion draft story: he was exposed; he was taken in the draft at Seattle’s pick from St. Louis.
2021-2022
There is a lot I could say about the 21-22 season but I’m going to try to move along to the sources I promised. The d pairings and lines change a lot during this season.
Lars is paired up with Giordano a lot this season, and Dunner’s paired with a few. Here’s a visual to see how they switched.
And because it’s important, here’s a preview of the 2022-2023. (they got married….)
Along the way, though the team lost a LOT, there was some fun
Here are matching videos where Lars and Dunner did not give a fuck about the respective sports they were asked about
Another interesting thing: remember Larsson’s first pro d partner? Jay Leach? He’s the Kraken defense coach. But anyway.
Through all the ups and the MANY downs of the first season, through a chaotic trade deadline of trading away so many players including their first captain and lead defenseman Mark Giordano:
March 21, 2022.
They're paired together and, by all accounts, even though the team struggles...they're a good match. They play a TON of minutes together. They like playing together a lot.
Ofc, this season blew chunks, so it was not long after that that Dunner was injured and missed the rest of the season.
However, before the team separated, he made plans to train with Brandon Tanev. Why? Because Tanev has some of the best endurance on the team. And Vince Dunn knew that if he was gonna be playing with Adam Larsson, he needed to work. Hard.
So he simply worked hard
2022-2023
Before the season even starts, it’s different. The team meets in Alberta in October for a bonding trip that ends with Lars, Dunn, and Tanev sticking around for a little extra time together. (Video)
It’s a little rocky at first, including Grubauer getting injured. But it’s in this injury that it becomes clear how the hell Seattle is stringing together wins
And so the Lars and Dunner show begins:
A closer look at consistent Kraken defensemen pairing of Dunn, Larsson:
“I think he knows I like to have the puck and gives me it when I demand it,” Dunn said. "He’s someone that’s easy to talk to before games, during the games, on the ice, so yeah, I love playing with him."
“I think obviously chemistry, you build that,” Larsson said about what’s been key for the two. “It’s hard to build it if you don’t get time on the ice together. So, I mean, we talk a lot on and off days, like on the bench and in the locker room.”
A November broadcast clip, which gives us the detail that they get off the plane last together during road trips
They’re asked about bucketless warmies and Vince overshares about Lars’ haircare routine for some reason
Blue Line Consistency:
"As long as we like to play together, I'd like to stay this way," Larsson said. "We're there for each other, on and off [the ice], which builds the trust."
"Before the season, Dunn called him one of his best friends."
"I've always been in the 5-6 D role so those get jumbled a bit more. It's probably the longest I've ever been with someone," Dunn said.
Stories about the Kraken, eating habits, team meals, guilty pleasures. by Mike Benton
Lars said Dunner's a good chef but he doesn't know for himself. Dunner responds by:
I hate them.
December is harder. Dunn actually goes the whole month without a goal. At the end of the year, there’s an infamous practice where everyone seems angry.
And then January. The Kraken are the first team in history to sweep a road trip that long. Here’s what happens:
Vince Dunn's friends and family are extremely rowdy during an Ottawa game
Vince Dunn is named NHL's Third Star of the Month
Sunshine moment here when he's asked about Lars' point streak
Two games where Lars appears to be talking him down
The All Star Skills Showcase has them relaxed but no less attached to each other. During a goofy little three v three game, they have Lars and Dunn take a faceoff together which quickly turns into flirting shoving.
Them just existing, too
February is a funky time! One of my favorite genres of interactions arrives which is:
Lars hitting someone, That someone wanting a fight...But only going after Dunner
From the Philly Game
And the Philly game and Winnipeg game compiled together
March is notable for the Dallas game alone
Lars gets an insane goal in OT (after completely devastated on the bench when the Stars tied it with seconds to go).
There’s footage in the locker room with Dunner accepting fist bumps like a gracious First Lady
And he looks at lars like this I mean come on
In April, the Kraken eventually clinch their first playoff spot
We get more articles, including one about Dunn having an “attitude adjustment” to thank for his improvements:
“But something happened to Dunn before the start of this season -- he declines to get any more specific, saying it was "nothing too crazy" -- that made him take a closer look at how he was approaching the game, at how he was attacking practices and how he was feeling about the grind of NHL life. "There were some things that happened outside of the rink, some personal issues, where I was like, 'Whoa, I am pretty lucky to be doing what I'm doing,'" Dunn said.”
We also get the Making Noise article, which is a full circle of sorts to the earlier articles from November imo:
Vince, on Lars: "Having him by my side grounds me a little bit out there."
"The two are constantly talking. In the locker room their stalls are next to each other. And they chat about everything from what happened in practice, to jokes and plans away from work."
AND Lars uncharted video, in which he’s asked point blank what he thinks about Vince spending his off season to work alongside Lars:
On Dunn: "I can just see a different sort of drive in him this year and I'm very proud of him," Adam said. "I feel like he realized how good he can be this year.
"When asked if he can see his impact on the 26-year-old, Adam humbly defers with a little smile."
We also get Alison L. calling Vince out for a two minute long monologue when he’s asked about Lars
There’s also some photos of them entering the plane with Vince holding no coffee and Lars holding two coffees…and we know they sit next to each other on the plane…so.
In May, they’re eliminated from the playoffs. There’s a lot to be said for the team at large during the playoffs, but I very much want to mention that Dunner is effectively neutralized
We do get this Mic’d Up TikTok video from him, in which he flirts speaks briefly with Tyler Seguin as well as proudly tells Schultz and anyone else who will listen that he’s “not a yeller this year” and that in the first season he got “84 PIMs,” which simply is not true (he got 63). (And honestly, he got 55 in the 22-23 season so he's not reformed, don't listen to him)
I don’t know what the Stars and Avs were told but whatever they were, it was useful. He spends so much time in the penalty box and being guarded well
During exit interviews, Vince says very strongly he wants to remain with the organization. He’s heading into the summer as a restricted free agent. Seattle has to offer him something good, but he very strongly says he wants to stay
2023 Off-Season
It’s largely quiet at first. Lars goes back to Sweden (in part to train with longtime friend Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, which he has done every year since he was a teenager, and in part to go on a sexy couples’ vacation with Leon Draisaitl. But whatever)
Vince goes to train with Tanev as he did last year
A short article from June: Kraken's Vince Dunn On Why His D-Partner Is "A Sleeper":
"He's a big presence on the ice, and for me, it's just someone that's easy to play with. He's calm, he's steady. He brings the same game every single night, lets me do my thing on the left side, and I'm really thankful to be playing along his side every single night."
The fanbase waits for contract news. We hear he gets an offer. We hear nothing else as his arbitration date is set and creeping ever closer.
And then, on July 21, 2023, with no other news breaking, he posts this:
Where other players let the insiders and the agents break the news, he’s too excited. He posts the photo from the very first home goal from long ago. And he makes a statement: not only is he back, but they’re back.
The contract becomes the biggest thus far in the franchise. Babygirl is getting paid.
The main Kraken account gets in on the fun, which is when Vince Dunn himself seems to correct the ship name
Something else that’s funny (and is just me being insane): There’s a period in which Vince only likes two posts on the Kraken official Twitter. One includes himself. The other is about Lars. He simply doesn’t like any other post. (August 25 until August 31)
Camp gets closer! Seattle Kraken Roll Call: Vince Dunn:
“I think he impressed everyone who watched our games throughout the year,” Larsson said of Dunn just after the season. “I’m very impressed with him, and I think he still has another step, but he really elevated his game on all levels.”
Soon after that, it’s time for training camp.
We get the polaroid post.
We get Vince saying his favorite television show is Peaky Blinders (REMEMBER THIS)
MEET THE KRAKEN: Vince Dunn's summer, food, and Adam Larsson: The infamous radio interview. We get Vince Dunn oversharing on a radio program, fussing over Lars’ feet swelling up and sharing he loves candy. This radio program is also Mike Benton asking about food, which he did last November. He hadn’t forgotten!
We also have Dunner getting a little injured and sitting out a couple preseason games.
Which is when Lars is asked about Ryker Evans, Kraken defenseman of the future, mini Vince Dunn waiting in the wings tbh, and he responds in the most codependent way imaginable. (Yes, this is the infamous, “I would like to see my partner at some point” moment.) Excellent detective work here to show that Dunner was literally there.
Dunner is then asked about it and lights up. Because of course he does. He’s delighted.
He also says other insane things like, “We’re pretty familiar with each other,” sharing that they sit next to each all the fucking time, and stating, “I get enough of him and he gets enough of me.”
Which, idk if I agree with, given their whole…thing, but sure.
He’s all good though, and then it’s time for the beginning of the season.
2023-2024
It’s still early in the season, but a few stories are emerging (adding onto this as we go)
A major “oh my god these two…” was Lars (and others, including Vince’s beloved Jaden Schwartz, but Lars is important for this primer) dressing up as Peaky Blinders for Halloween
Another: remember how the teams neutralized Dunner by getting him in the box? That’s happening. A lot. He may actually get his 84 PIMs!
He is still being equal parts a ray of sunshine and a gremlin. And Adam Larsson still stares at him like he’s the best thing he’s ever seen.
Mike Benton asked Lars about Vince during an excellent interview. Lars also shared that Vince still hasn’t cooked for him but sends him photos and videos of what he cooks “to tease [him] a little.” Here’s the clip.
I hope you’re in this now. This is definitely not exhaustive, but it’s my personal library of important sources. I reserve the right to come back and make edits <3 But I hope it helps to spread the Gospel and to explain how we all got to this point.
Live laugh larsdunn 👬
