Kraken Tanev, McCann & Oleksiak Power Canada At IIHF Championship

Time to take another spin around the World (Championship), and see how Seattle Kraken are faring for their native countries at the IIHF tournament in Czechia.

Team Canada

Seattle Kraken sparkplug Brandon Tanev got Team Canada off on the right skate in their game against Team Norway.

Kraken forward Jared McCann also scored a goal for Canada. Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak contributed two assists, took three shots, and finished +3.

Of greater significance, McCann celebrated Canada's 4-1 win with a helmet smooch for goalie Nico Daws.

Since Daws is a Devils prospect who played 21 games for New Jersey, shouldn't this be considered cheating by McCann? I mean, while Jared's living it up in Prague, the Kraken are patiently waiting for his return back in Seattle. Just sayin'.

After the game, Hockey Canada put up a poll on X, so fans could vote for the player of the game. Check out the three nominees!

Andre Burakovsky

A current Kraken, Andre Burakovsky, and a former Kraken, Marcus Johansson, collaborate for Team Sweden in their 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan.

Philipp Grubauer

Philipp Grubauer improved his record to 3-1 with 18 saves as Team Germany dismantled Team Kazakhstan 8-2. Grubauer has saved 104 of 116 shots against so far in the tournament.

Oscar Fisker-Molgaard

The Kraken 2023 2nd round draft pick helped Denmark outlast Great Britian 4-3. Watch Fisker-Molgaard's pretty spinarama and feed to pick up an assist on Denmark's first goal. Is this one of those "Fancy Dan" plays John Forslund and Eddie Olczyk are always debating?

Friday Games

By the time most of you read this, the Denmark-Switzerland and Latvia-Sweden games will already be complete. They were both scheduled for a 3:20 am puck drop Pacific time.

UPDATE: Switzerland shut out Denmark 8-0. Sweden topped Latvia 7-2; Burakovsky had one assist.

Other games on Friday involving Kraken players:

• Canada beat Finland 5-3; Tanev scored one goal
• Germany beat Poland 4-2; Grubauer DNP
• Slovakia beat France 4-2; Tatar had one assist*

*This game matched two members of the 2023-24 Kraken who are unlikely to be offered new contracts, Team France's Pierre-Edouard Bellmare and Team Slovakia's Tomas Tatar.

Here are the current standings. Keep in mind that the IIHF awards three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime victory, and one point for an OT loss.