The Seattle Kraken just dropped a tough one to the Vancouver Canucks, falling 3-4 in what was surely a barn burner. That stings, no doubt, but guess what? This is it. This is the week. Real, honest-to-goodness NHL hockey is finally here, and the league is already buzzing. Every single team, including our boys in teal, are locked in for the long haul.
The Roster Hustle and Leafy Business
Before the puck even properly drops for everyone, teams are scrambling. Every Salary Cap compliant roster has to be finalized by 5:00 p.m. on Monday. That means GMs and coaches are making those final, gut-wrenching decisions *today*. Like, right now! You know the pressure cooker that is. The Toronto Maple Leafs, who open their season Tuesday against the Habs, were doing some team bonding in Arizona,or maybe they red-eyed it home last night, who knows with these travel schedules? What we do know is they made a super cool gesture, visiting the Mayich family before their practice at Arizona State. Class act, for sure.
Their AHL affiliate, the Marlies, already got a taste of game action, dropping their first preseason tilt 3-1 to the Rochester Amerks. At least we got a preview of their lineup, with Blake Smith rocking as first-line D! And speaking of things that stick with you, someone out there is *still* fuming about that Marchment trade. Seriously, they HAT IT! With all caps and exclamation points! You gotta respect that level of dedication to a beef.
A Decade for Vegas and a Wild Penalty Call
Can you believe it? The Vegas Golden Knights franchise is hitting their TENTH season! Seriously, when did that happen? Ten years ago, apparently. They’ve made a massive impact on Las Vegas, paving the way for pro sports on The Strip, and let’s be real, they’ve sustained excellence on the ice. That’s a wild ride for a new franchise.
And get this, apparently the preseason is when refs decide to actually enforce *all* the rules. We just saw the first jersey tuck penalty in 13 years! Flyers’ Trevor Zegras got hit with a delay of game against the Bruins for having his jersey tucked in. THIRTEEN YEARS! That’s a throwback for sure, and definitely something to keep an eye on now that the regular season is truly underway.
So yeah, the Kraken loss stings, but it’s just one game in a looooong season that’s just kicking off. With rosters locking in and pucks dropping everywhere, the real grind starts now. We’ve got more regular season hockey heading our way in just a couple of sleeps. Get ready, Seattle, because this league is about to go full throttle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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