Several Seattle Kraken players praised the speed and competitiveness of HC Dan Bylsma’s practices.
With each new season, players get faster and stronger, and to be competitive in today’s NHL, one of them has to be part of the team’s identity. The Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup by fielding puck-heavy lineups that won every puck battle and dominated the boards. In the past, the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning used speed to their advantage.
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As training camp begins, it appears the Kraken are moving toward a fast team. The Kraken have players on the back end who are capable of playing a physical game, but their roster composition leans toward speed.
Josh Mahura, Matty Beniers, Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour all praised the team’s speed and competitiveness during the first practice. Practicing quickly will not only help the team get into shape faster, but also set the pace for what’s expected when the games start counting.
Mahura signed with the Kraken in the offseason after winning the Stanley Cup with the Panthers and mentioned how competitive the first practice was.
“The first day was very competitive. It was a lot of fun, we learned a lot about getting closer to the guys and getting that physical contact back. So I think you always expect that on the first day, but to see the guys really embrace it and practice to try to get better, especially on the first day, it’s a good sign.”
Beniers also discussed some of the drills they did and talked about his enjoyment of seeing drills involving winners and losers, especially ones where the losers have to skate.
With the ambition of making the playoffs, every game and every point is extremely precious. A good or bad start to the season could be the difference between this season and the current season, and Bylsma seems to be doing everything in his power to make that happen.
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Related: Kraken Training Camp Day 1 Recap
Related: Photos: Brandon Montour makes Kraken training camp debut
