Firebirds Extended Playoff Run Provides Multitude Of Beneifts
The secret reason college football teams love an invitation to a bowl game - even the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Presented By Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop* - is that it gives teams an invaluable extra few weeks to work with their players.
(*This is an actual thing, I swear.)
In the same way, the postseason success of the AHL Coachella Valley Firebirds is offering that service to their parent club, the Seattle Kraken.
The Firebirds, currently leading the Calder Cup Final two games to one over the Hershey Bears, have provided weeks of additional practices and high-stakes games to Kraken prospects.
Tuesday's Game 3 of the Final alone paid handsome dividends. 2022 4th overall pick Shane Wright scored a goal plus two helpers. Free agent signee Lleyton Roed also scored. So did 2021 draft pick Ryan Winterton.
General manager Ron Francis talks about a cupboard full of potential future Kraken in this Kraken Reaction.