Unquestioned #1 Seattle Goalie Looking To Extend 2023 Playoff Excellence
One Seattle Kraken mystery dwarfs all others: how to get regular-season Philipp Grubauer to play as well in goal as 2023-playoffs Philipp Grubauer.
The key to solving the Grubauer mystery may have already been revealed - in one sentence uttered almost four months ago. Not only could applying this one sentence upgrade his play, it could render the training camp backup battle between Chris Driedger and Joey Daccord far less important.
To understand the value of the quote in question, let's return to goalie deployment during the 2022-23 Kraken regular season.
Between an early-season injury and Martin Jones having the hot hand in January, Grubauer started back-to-back games just four times prior to mid-February. Between then and the end of the regular season, Grubauer on three occasions appeared in three or more consecutive games.
Grubauer went 3-0-1, allowing 11 goals, in four consecutive starts between Feb. 12-18; he went 4-1-1, allowing 16 goals, in six consecutive starts between March 2-11. Grubauer won twice with one no-decision, allowing three goals, between April 6-10.
Those shining numbers come with obligatory caveats: statistics are easily manipulated, the Kraken offense was humming, and other factors, including quality of opponents, contribute to goalie results.
But it certainly appears Grubauer played best when he played most.
That was undeniably true in the playoffs, when Grubauer faced quality opposition for 14 straight starts. He authored the Kraken's seven-game upset over his former club, the defending Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. His continued stellar play extended the Dallas Stars to seven games in the second round.
At the conclusion of the season back in May, players individually conducted media interviews at Kraken Community Iceplex. When it was Grubauer's turn, he was asked how he'd held up under the playoff grind of 14 consecutive starts. As Kenny Rogers sung in The Gambler, "In his final words, I found an ace that I could keep."
Grubauer on workload: "I like the grind. It's easier to get into a game flow once you play like every other day. You play once a week, it's hard to get into that rhythm. Obviously, you have to earn it."
Attention, Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol and goalie coach Steve Briere. There will be no veteran backup in training camp (which starts Thursday), like Martin Jones was last year. Whoever wins the number-two goalie slot between Driedger and Daccord will be happy with 20-25 starts. Give Grubauer the chance to develop the rhythm which served him so well in last year's postseason.
Given this analysis, I will indulge in that which I normally abhor: the HOT TAKE (Two of 'em!).
(1) If Philipp Grubauer stays healthy enough to earn 55+ starts, he will achieve his best Kraken regular season, and thus help Seattle avoid the regression many foresee.
(2) If Hot Take #1 doesn't come true, Kraken GM Ron Francis will be in the market for a new netminder in the next off-season - regardless of Grubauer's remaining contract.
