Philipp Grubauer spoke with NHL Tonight and expressed his confidence in the Seattle Kraken to make a push for the playoffs once again.
"For sure," Grubauer told NHL Tonight . "It was so tight last year, right? You can't miss a beat. You've gotta start from the beginning, from Game 1. And so many teams made so many upgrades and signed so many new guys. It's really tough to tell right now but we definitely have a good chance of making it to the playoffs again."
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The Kraken missed the playoffs in the team's inaugural season but were a different animal during their sophomore year. They finished with 100 points and in the first wild card spot. They had huge performances from Jared McCann, Vince Dunn, Jordan Eberle and Calder Trophy winner, Matty Beniers.
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The season proved too much to replicate as the 2023-24 season saw them finish with 19 fewer points and finish 18 points out of a playoff spot. The 32-year-old German netminder acknowledged the disappointing season the Kraken had.
"I don't think the year we had last year was our year, but cards are going to get dealt new again," Grubauer said. "We're excited to get back out there. We have players coming in who won recently, not 10 years ago, the game's changed quite a bit. They bring a certain type of experience. We have players, too, that feel more and more comfortable with their role, and we grow together as a team. We know what we're capable of."
Those additions he speaks of are cup winners Brandon Montour, Chandler Stephenson and depth defenseman Josh Mahura. GM Ron Francis believes in the core, as he proved with the Beniers contract extension and with the big UFA signings.
Related: BREAKING: Kraken Sign Matty Beniers To Seven-Year Contract Extension
Grubauer's Kraken career has not gone the way he and the team have hoped for. His save percentage has never eclipsed .900% and he's played in fewer games each season. Being paid $5.9M, the Kraken need to get more out of Grubauer and if they get the goaltender they thought they were getting that dominated with the Washington Capitals and the Colorado Avalanche, the Kraken could be locks to make the playoffs.
Without that certainty, the Kraken must pick up every point possible throughout the season to ensure they make it to the final dance.
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