Seattle, WA
Kraken Breakdown: John Forslund on missing Burkovsky, road success
The inaugural season didn’t go nicely for the Seattle Kraken, who completed 2021-22 with the third-worst document within the NHL. Issues have dramatically circled in Yr 2.
Adam Larsson’s OT objective lifts Kraken to 5-4 win over Stars
The Kraken are 39-24-7 with 12 video games remaining within the common season, giving them the seventh-most factors (85) and seventh-best level share (.607) within the NHL’s Western Convention. Meaning if the season have been to finish Wednesday, they’d be within the playoffs. What additionally helps Seattle is it’s six factors up Calgary and 7 up on Nashville, that are the 2 groups on the surface wanting in with the Western Convention playoff image.
So what ought to we all know in regards to the closing stretch of the Kraken’s season? And are they near getting one among their high gamers again from harm? John Forslund, the voice of the Kraken on ROOT Sports activities, joined Seattle Sports activities’ Bump and Stacy on Wednesday to debate these two questions and extra.
The ultimate stretch
The Kraken’s subsequent two video games might actually assist them solidify a playoff spot as they play in Nashville in opposition to the Predators (35-26-8, 78 factors) on each Thursday and Saturday.
“Disposing of Nashville will likely be good. I imply, Nashville is hanging round,” Forslund mentioned. “(The Kraken) have gotten a methods to go right here, however now they’ve head-to-heads with Nashville tomorrow night time and Saturday afternoon. You get out of right here with three or 4 factors, otherwise you win each video games and you may put that one to mattress and that’s good. That might principally put them in a terrific spot.”
Whereas there’s a excessive probability that the Kraken make the playoffs, Forslund doesn’t need anybody to get forward of themselves.
“With the street schedule and the truth that this crew has so much to do right here on this street journey – you’ve gotta go to Minnesota and so they’re an elite crew to wrap up the journey after which come dwelling – you don’t need to get forward of it,” he mentioned. “So I feel that’s a part of it. After which Calgary received a sport final night time, in order that they’re type of hanging round, too. They don’t play with plenty of jam proper now and so they have been hammered by LA the night time earlier than, however mathematically, they’re in it. So till all these equations are put away, you need to watch out.”
“But when the Kraken can simply preserve doing what they should do, win the video games which are forward right here and never depend on assist, not depend on the ultimate two weeks or week of the season to type of squeak in, they’ll actually be ok with the place they’re at proper now,” he added. “And they need to. They’re within the driver’s seat right here to get it executed. I actually imagine they may, I simply don’t need to jinx this factor.”
Lacking Andre Burakovsky
The Kraken have been largely wholesome this season, however they’ve handled one long-term harm that’s been loads noticeable.
Winger Andre Burakovsky, who the Kraken signed a profitable five-year deal in free company final offseason, has been out of motion since early February with a lower-body harm. When he went down, Burakovsky was Seattle’s high scorer.
Sadly, Forslund isn’t anticipating the 28-year-old ahead to return all that quickly.
“I do know that he’s had a tricky time with this harm,” Forslund mentioned. “He was presupposed to be nearer than I feel it’s presenting itself possibly every week in the past, however there appears to be a maintain up right here.”
Forslund mentioned he doesn’t see Burakovsky skating on the ice earlier than observe too typically, which is an indication that he’s not nearing a return.
“Till he has a number of practices and he will get in a contact sweater, then he’s nearer,” he mentioned, “and I don’t assume he’s shut proper now. However possibly after this street journey the state of affairs will change … However he’s a key piece. You’re taking a participant like that out, it adjusts the steadiness, it modifications their scoring, it modifications their four-line assault, which has been a trademark of the crew all season. However hopefully that’ll flip.”
Street warriors
The Kraken have a lovely new enviornment with Local weather Pledge Area, however they haven’t fairly made it dwelling simply but.
This 12 months, the Kraken are simply 16-15-4 in Seattle. However they’re 23-9-3 on the street, which is third-best within the NHL.
So why are the Kraken so a lot better away from dwelling? Forslund mentioned he bought a little bit of an evidence from the crew’s teaching employees just lately.
“It’s an easier sport on the street … You simply play a bit bit extra of a easy sport,” he mentioned. “At dwelling, you press, you attempt to placed on a present in your followers, you’re taking some dangers offensively that possibly you shouldn’t. So that they dumbed down their sport, if you’ll, on the street.”
The opposite purpose has a bit to do with teaching, Forslund mentioned.
“At dwelling, the coach will get the final change. The coach can regulate the gamers on the ice and the opponents or guests put their gamers out first. If he needs a sure line or a sure protection pairing in opposition to the ahead line from the opposite aspect, (Kraken head coach) Dave Hakstol can regulate and put his gamers on the market,” he mentioned. “And the coaches say on the street, they don’t get that luxurious, so they only roll their traces. Possibly they need to begin rolling their traces at dwelling as a result of it looks like that’s factoring in how they play.”
Figuring that out earlier than the playoffs begin will likely be crucial, Forslund mentioned.
“They’re going to have to realize some traction at dwelling if the crew makes the playoffs as a result of it’s a unique ballgame,” he mentioned. “So that you throw every little thing out, however you need to have some confidence at dwelling if you wish to be actual within the postseason.”
assist Andy Eide, Kraken insider for Seattle Sports activities
Seattle, WA
SPD investigating incident where local resident's dog was shot, killed at Seattle cemetery
A Seattle woman is working with the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and is seeking justice after she claimed her dog was shot and killed at a cemetery in December.
The local resident, Julia Einarsson, was finishing up a walk with her dog, Remy, at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery near Aurora Avenue on Dec. 17. The dog became spooked by a passing coyote and started barking, disrupting a large gathering by a nearby grave.
More local news: 5 taken to hospitals in 3 car crash in Issaquah
“I had him between my knees to hold him back, and he backed out of his harness and then ran around the car and barked at the family,” Einarsson told KIRO 7. “Scared the family.”
According to Einarsson, Remy didn’t bite anyone in the group, but did run up to them and barked at them from a few feet away. Everyone in the group got in their car after Einarsson asked them to, except for one man. The unidentified man tried to make the dog stop barking before walking over to his car and pulling a gun out of his jacket, firing at Remy.
“He repeated several times, ‘I’m very sorry, I’m very sorry. Do you want me to call the police?’” Einarsson said. “I said ‘I don’t even know what to do. I just need to get my dog to the emergency room.’”
She rushed to get her dog help, but Remy died approximately an hour later at a local animal hospital. According to Einarsson, she never saw the man again.
“I talk to (Remy) every day,” she said. “I tell him that I’m sorry that I couldn’t save him.”
According to KIRO 7, Einarsson rescued Remy after he was found on the streets and moved from shelter to shelter. She had him for approximately 2.5 years.
More on local animal shelters: Tacoma animal shelter caring for 264 dogs, highest number in 7 years
Seattle Police confirmed with KIRO 7 that the department is investigating the incident. As of this reporting, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) located a shell casing at the scene. The department is asking for any information regarding the large group that was visiting a grave on the east side of the cemetery on Dec. 17.
Einarsson is hoping the man turns himself in.
“Remy was my world,” she said. “Why did he have to kill him? Why couldn’t he have just joined his family in the car?”
Contributing: KIRO 7
Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here and you can email him here
Seattle, WA
Day and time for Seattle Seahawks' finale vs Rams announced
The day and time for Seattle Seahawks’ Week 18 meeting with the Rams is finally set, although it unfortunately doesn’t come with a chance for the Hawks to sneak into the playoffs.
Seahawks officially eliminated from postseason contention
After the conclusion of Sunday’s slate of NFL games, the league announced that Seattle’s trip to Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium will kick off at 1:25 p.m. next Sunday, Jan. 5.
The game previously had no announced day or time and had the potential to be played next Saturday or in a primetime slot, especially when it remained possible that it could be a de facto NFC West championship game. Any hope of that ended Sunday night when Washington’s overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons officially eliminated the Seahawks from postseason contention.
The Rams (10-6) have clinched the division after winning nine of their last 11 games, while Seattle (9-7) will have to settle for just a winning season in their first year after moving on from Pete Carroll and hiring Mike Macdonald as head coach.
If the Seahawks beat Los Angeles next Sunday, they would become the first team since the NFL instituted a 17-game schedule in 2021 to finish a season with a 10-7 record and miss the playoffs, according to Seattle Sports’ Cameron Van Til.
The radio broadcast of next Sunday’s Seahawks-Rams game will be carried, as always, on Seattle Sports 710 AM, KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM, and the Seattle Sports, KIRO Newsradio and official Seahawks apps. Coverage will begin at 10 a.m. with the pregame show.
The TV broadcast of the game will air on FOX.
More on the Seattle Seahawks
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• Does Seahawks DL Leonard Williams have a case for DPOY?
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Seattle, WA
Baltimore Orioles Considered ‘Best Fit’ Trade Match for Seattle Mariners Ace
Corbin Burnes is back in Arizona preparing for his first season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He had $210 million reasons sign that six-year contract.
But it also puts the Baltimore Orioles in bit of a pickle.
To date, the only free-agent starter the Orioles have signed is pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, one of the most accomplished pitchers in Japanese baseball history. But at 35 years old, he’s not seen as an ace at the MLB level.
The O’s still have Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer and Albert Suarez. But two other pitchers, Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells, are basically out for most, if not all, of 2025 due to elbow surgeries.
So, the Orioles can look in free agency, where a former Orioles starter, Jack Flaherty, is considered the top second-tier option, or they could try and swing a trade.
That could include Seattle Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo, who has been rumored to be on the trade market. MLB Trade Rumors gauged potential suitors for Castillo and listed the Orioles in the “best fit” category.
Why would the Orioles be a good fit? The Mariners are in need of some help in their infield and the Orioles are lousy with infielders, both at the minor league and Major League level.
MLB Trade Rumors noted that the Orioles have reportedly inquired about Castillo this offseason, but, naturally, nothing has happened — yet.
In the piece, the proposed trade could look something like Ryan Mountcastle, who can play either corner infield position but is more suited for first base, along with a pitching prospect like Cade Povich.
The Orioles have a system that is flush with prospects, so finding a package that could work for both sides may not be that difficult. But a Major League-ready infielder is likely a necessity.
For a starting pitcher of Castillo’s caliber, his cost is controlled through at least 2027, as he makes about $24 million each season. He comes with a vesting option in 2028 through $25 million before he becomes a free agent in 2029.
He may have a losing record for his career (73-76), but he has a solid 3.56 ERA and he strikes out nearly 10 hitters per nine innings. He also has three All-Star appearances.
It’s not as easy as a trade, though. Castillo has a no-trade clause, a result of the long extension he signed with Seattle. So he would have to approve a deal to move cross-country.
But if the Orioles can swing that kind of a deal, it would help both teams next season.
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