Seattle Kraken Acquire Winger Tomas Tatar From Colorado

More Roster Moves Made To Address Injuries, Salary Cap

Seattle Kraken fans might want to keep a compass handy, because the team made all kinds of player moves Friday.

IN: Veteran left wing Tomas Tatar, acquired from the Colorado Avalanche for a 2024 5th round draft pick. 

The 33-year-old Slovakian native is a seven-time 20 goal scorer in the NHL, but had recorded just one goal and nine points in 27 games with the Avs this season.

(Much more on Tatar in an upcoming story.)

FURTHER OUT: Jaden Schwartz, in a paper move, put on long term injured reserve. Being placed on LTIR, retroactive to Schwartz's last game on Nov. 28 in Chicago, gives the Kraken cap flexibility.

STILL OUT: Two other former Avalanche, goalie Philipp Grubauer and winger Andre Burakovsky. Also, defenseman Justin Schultz is still recovering from a puck to the face.

UP: From AHL Coachella Valley for the second time this season, 2022 1st round draft pick Shane Wright. Wright has nine goals and 16 points in 18 games with the Firebirds. This may not be an extended stay; cap-juggling is part of the reason for his callup.

DOWN: To Coachella Valley, Tye Kartye. Seems like a rude way to treat a guy the day after he scored a goal (in Thursday's 7-1 demolition of the Blackhawks). Again, this isn't a performance-based demotion, it's a cap-management move. Kartye will return soon.

ALSO DOWN: Depth forward Marian Studenic has been returned to the Firebirds.

ARRIVED: Goalie Chris Driedger's Winter Classic equipment.

Grubauer's week-to-week status on the injured list means Driedger will be remaining with the Kraken for an extended stay. Long enough, in fact, that he may suit up for the New Year's Day game.

Against the L.A. Kings Saturday, Adam Larsson is expected to play in his 300th consecutive game, the fifth-longest such streak in the NHL. He's one of 10 players to have an active Iron Man streak of at least 200 games.

Those fun-loving Kraken players have been wearing T-shirts with the unsmiling visage of the defenseman. Larsson's image on the T-shirt appears to be sporting a less than flattering bowl cut.

Adam is 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, so don't tell him I asked this, but is anyone else getting Moe Howard vibes?