Assessing the Kraken's schedule this season

We had a whirlwind week covering the Seattle Kraken, and the NHL schedule release for the 2024-25 season might have been overlooked. Every year, I dive into key data points to see how the Kraken's schedule compares to other teams.

Travel Distance by NHL Team

Certain NHL franchises, like Seattle, inevitably log more miles due to their location. This season, the Kraken are third in the league for most travel miles, marking their highest placement yet. They will travel 3,000 more miles than last season. The Pacific Division teams, including Seattle, generally travel more than teams in other divisions.

Number of Road Trips

Being based outside the northeastern U.S. means fewer, but longer, road trips. Seattle has the second-fewest road trips in the league. Due to the league-wide break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Kraken will not have any home stands starting in February.

Back-to-Back Games

The Kraken have a near league-average number of back-to-back games, totaling 11 this season. This is an increase from last season, where they had the fewest in the league with just seven.

Key Highlights of the Kraken Schedule

- Home Opener: October 8 against the St. Louis Blues at 1:30 p.m., part of an NHL triple-header on ESPN.
- Saturday Home Games:** The Kraken have 11 Saturday home games this season, up from nine last season. Despite a winless record on Saturdays last season, there's hope for better outcomes.

- Notable Matches:

- Alex Wennberg returns to Seattle with the Sharks on Nov. 30.
- The Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers visit on Dec. 10.
- The Utah Hockey Club, formerly the Arizona Coyotes, plays in Seattle on Dec. 30. Seattle visits Utah on April 8.
- Fun Road Trips: The Kraken play three games in four days in the New York area in early December.
- Concurrent Home Games: On Nov. 27, Jan. 18, and March 14, the Kraken, Seattle Thunderbirds, and Everett Silvertips all have home games.

During the summer months, we eagerly await September and the start of training camp, signaling the beginning of the season. The regular season officially starts in October, with the Kraken aiming for a return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.