The season saw a mind-boggling turnaround, but the Kraken wanted more.
They鈥檙e loaded with Stanley Cup winners, but also veterans whose time to lift the chalice is dwindling. There鈥檚 nothing to do but try again.
On Monday, his 33rd birthday, forward Jordan Eberle reflected on his latest, too-short chance to get his name hammered onto one of those silver rings.
鈥淵ou just grow. You remember how this feels,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is a tough league to win in 鈥� it鈥檚 a tough trophy to win. We have the foundation and the group here. We just want to keep building.
鈥淚t took me seven years to get to the postseason. You don鈥檛 want to take it for granted. These games are so much fun. This is why you play in the NHL 鈥� you play to win the Stanley Cup.鈥�
Eberle鈥檚 fellow alternate captain Adam Larsson, another veteran who hasn鈥檛 won a title, blocked six shots in Monday鈥檚 Game 7 that might have threatened the Kraken鈥檚 chance to advance. Two others sneaked by Philipp Grubauer (26 saves), however, and that was enough. The Kraken fell, 2-1, at American Airlines Center.
鈥淲e were one win away from having an opportunity to be one of the final four teams playing,鈥� coach Dave Hakstol said. 鈥淪o you see that pain in guys, especially in the veteran guys who really understand how hard it is to get here.鈥�
There was pain, but also plenty to look forward to.
鈥淚 love this group,鈥� center Yanni Gourde said. 鈥淚 think there鈥檚 something here.鈥�
There are decisions ahead this summer and fall. Does playoff call-up Tye Kartye, who replaced Jared McCann while he was injured and held on to the 40-goal scorer鈥檚 spot even after he returned to the lineup, earn a permanent spot with the squad next season? Does fourth overall pick Shane Wright, whose Kraken debut never got off the ground?
Will Matty Beniers grow into the top-line center role he took on, and the captaincy he seems pointed toward? Will Grubauer build upon the second half of the season, and particularly his playoff performance?
There鈥檚 the matter of what to do with unrestricted free agents Ryan Donato, held without a goal in these playoffs, and defenseman Carson Soucy. They have a glut at goaltender at the moment, with pending UFA Martin Jones, a healthy Chris Driedger and minor-league mainstay Joey Daccord, who played well for Seattle on an emergency basis this season.
They can work the numbers, if desired, on restricted free agents Morgan Geekie, Daniel Sprong, Will Borgen and especially defenseman Vince Dunn, who is coming off a breakout regular season but put forth a quieter postseason.
And fresh off a turnaround campaign that earned Hakstol Jack Adams Award finalist honors for the NHL鈥檚 coach of the year, Seattle鈥檚 coaching staff could be eyed for other positions. Assistant coach Jay Leach was reportedly considered a front-runner for the Boston Bruins鈥� head-coaching vacancy last summer and interviewed for it.
Together they all crafted a style that worked, with a group made from found materials, plus the results of offseason tinkering.
鈥淗ad kind of a feeling about this group, really back in training camp,鈥� Hakstol said Monday. 鈥淭here was a different feel to it. We knew there was something there. We didn鈥檛 know exactly how or when we鈥檇 be able to come together as a group, but absolutely, did we grow over the last month? One hundred percent.鈥�
Even if there was a lack of belief elsewhere, according to Eberle.
鈥淔rom Day One, everyone鈥檚 kind of written us off 鈥� they don鈥檛 expect us to make the playoffs, don鈥檛 expect us to beat Colorado,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 sure no one expected us to get to seven (games) here.鈥�
The desperation was there Monday night for the Kraken, who blocked six shots on a single first-period power play. The Stars actually got more shots through to the net on the penalty kill than they did on that power play. They forced Grubauer to make two short-handed saves, and registered none with the man advantage.
The Stars had the better chances at even strength, but the Kraken held them off the board for nearly 36 minutes of Game 7 before Jamie Oleksiak鈥檚 attempt to corral the puck on his blue line turned into an around-the-back pass for former Stars teammate Roope Hintz. Hintz tore across the offensive zone before Borgen could panic-skate across the ice, and roofed it over Grubauer, who had been unshakable to that point 鈥� he brushed that off, saying, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 my job.鈥�
It took an artist鈥檚 hands to beat him the second time. Midway through the third period, Wyatt Johnston flipped a masterful shot over Grubauer and under the crossbar to make it 2-0.
鈥淭hey were relentless right up until the buzzer tonight. Hats off to them,鈥� Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said. 鈥淩eally impressive season and effort from that group. They made us earn it.鈥�
Oliver Bjorkstrand wound up with all three of the Kraken鈥檚 Game 7 goals, scoring with Grubauer pulled for the extra attacker and 17.6 seconds left before elimination. It came soon for Seattle.
鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of this group and how we played the whole season and the playoffs,鈥� Grubauer said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a tough pill to swallow, for sure, in Game 7.鈥�
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