The Seattle Kraken have been dealt a difficult blow with the recent injury to starting goaltender Philipp Grubauer. The team will now have to rely on the young and inexperienced Joey Daccord to shoulder the load in net.
Daccord, 24, was acquired by the Kraken in the 2021 Expansion Draft from the Ottawa Senators. He has only played in a handful of NHL games, but he has shown promise in his limited appearances. He has posted a .919 save percentage and a 2.50 goals against average in his three games this season.
The Kraken will need Daccord to step up and take on a larger role in net with Grubauer out of the lineup. He will be expected to carry the team through the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs.
Daccord is no stranger to pressure situations. He was a standout goaltender for Arizona State University, leading them to the NCAA Tournament in 2018 and 2019. He also represented Team Canada at the World Junior Championships in 2018 and 2019.
The Kraken are confident that Daccord can handle the increased workload. He has shown that he can perform under pressure and has the skill set to be a successful starting goaltender in the NHL.
It will be an uphill battle for Daccord and the Kraken as they attempt to make a deep run into the playoffs without Grubauer. But if Daccord can rise to the challenge, he could prove to be a key piece in the Kraken’s success this season.
