Goaltender Chris Driedger was claimed by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 Expansion Draft after a breakout season with the Florida Panthers. He was quickly relegated to the role of backup to Philipp Grubauer. After a string of injuries in his first season with Seattle, Driedger tore his ACL while competing in the IIHF World Championship for Team Canada. He missed the majority of the 2022-23 season due to his injury, returning to the ice with the Coachella Valley Firebirds on February 27, 2023. He spent the rest of the season rehabbing in the AHL.
January 16, 2024: Chris Driedger photo by Brad Penner | ImagnThe 2023-24 season was the final year of Driedger’s contract with Seattle, and he found himself back in Coachella Valley as the primary goaltender while Joey Daccord made the move to the Kraken to fill the backup position. When Philipp Grubauer was injured early in the season, Driedger returned to the NHL to fill in. In his first NHL game since the 2021-22 season, December 27th, 2023, he posted a 37-save win over the Calgary Flames.
When Grubauer returned from injury, Chris Driedger found himself back in Coachella Valley where he finished out the season. The team made their way to the Calder Cup final where they lost to the Hershey Bears.
May 16, 2024: Chris Driedger photo by Taya Gray | The Desert SunIn 2024, Driedger made his way back to Florida and joined the Panthers. He spent the majority of the season with their AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers before being traded to the Winnipeg Jets on March 6, 2025. The move to his hometown did not include a move to the NHL, however; Driedger once again found himself in the AHL playing with the Jets’ affiliate Manitoba Moose.
The 31-year old made a big change at the end of the 2024-25 season. Chris Driedger has signed with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia.
Featured Image: Sergei Belsky | Imagn
Title Image: Jerome Miron | Imagn
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