Dave Hakstol received a new two year contract after taking the Seattle Kraken from 30th in the NHL to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in their first two seasons as an expansion team. But this is about the future. The coach's contract now runs through 2025 26. "It's the next step for us," Hakstol said Thursday, the day after the contract was announced. "Obviously, we want to try to work to build a foundation, and we did that a little bit in Year One. We made progress in Year Two. So, for myself, our staff, I think we take pride in the opportunity to continue working towards building and continue in the right direction Devin Shore Jersey. "Hakstol faces a new challenge from this point forward. When the Kraken arrived for their inaugural training camp two seasons ago, no one knew what to expect. Hakstol had to take a group of players who had never played together before and mold them into a team. They finished 30th in the NHL in 2021 22 for a variety of reasons, from injuries to goaltending to COVID 19. When they arrived for camp last season, expectations were low. But they had upgraded the roster by adding goalie Martin Jones, defenseman Justin Schultz and forwards Matty Beniers, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Andre Burakovsky, and then they added forwards Eeli Tolvanen and Daniel Sprong during the season. Hakstol stuck with it, playing to their strengths speed and depth. "I was impressed Dave and the staff continued to stay solid in their approach and what they were trying to teach and the system they were trying to implement," general manager Ron Francis said in May. "I think [the 2022 23 season was] a little bit different. " Seattle inks head coach Dave Hakstol to extension The Kraken 46 28 8 improved by 19 wins and 40 points from 60 to 100 , earning the first wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference. They upset the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in seven games in the Western Conference First Round and took the Dallas Stars to Game 7 in the second round. Hakstol said he got away from hockey for probably 10 days afterward, then dove back in. He had to resist the temptation to bombard his players with preparations for this season. "It's hard to step back and kind of stop the communication," Hakstol said. "You want to get going. You want to jump right back to it. But that break, that breather, is really important. "Hakstol said he has started communicating with players via text and phone this month. When they arrive for camp in September this time, they will have mixed emotions about last season and higher expectations for this season internally and externally https://www.krakenproteamstore.com/oliver-bjorkstrand-jersey. "I really want our guys to have a sense of pride in what they were able to accomplish last year and what we were able to build, and I sense that," Hakstol said. "I feel that in the conversations with our players. But the other piece that I feel, and the part that is really important, is our guys are very disappointed in losing Game 7 in Round Two. "So, that combination, my hope is that it brings us into camp with our feet on the ground, with a highly motivated group and a group that understands each other a little bit better than we did at this time last year. We understand our formula a little bit better, and that's our platform to work off of and show advancement this year. "The roster will have some changes. Jones and Sprong are gone, along with defenseman Carson Soucy and forwards Morgan Geekie and Ryan Donato. Defenseman Brian Dumoulin and forwards Pierre Edouard Bellemare and Kailer Yamamoto each signed in free agency. Young players should push for jobs, most notably forwards Tye Kartye and Shane Wright. "I expect the competitiveness of camp to be excellent," Hakstol said. "I think everybody saw a noticeable difference in the level of camp last year from Year One. I expect that level to rise again a little bit this year. One of the things that I'm excited to see is some of the competition from youth within the organization, and we saw a little bit of that last year. You're going to see a continuation of that. "Veterans [are] coming back knowing their role, their place within the team, but continuing to compete for that role, and then the continued growth of ability and young players within our organization is going to be something that I believe will be very exciting for everybody to watch, just to see where everybody is at and how much pressure they can put to become full time members here https://www.krakenproteamstore.com/carson-rehkopf-jersey. "Hakstol was asked if he had received any memorable congratulations after the announcement of his extension. His answer was revealing. He talked about how the Kraken had fans across North America and how that showed the growth in the Seattle market and beyond. "It's nice to hear from people that are excited about the future," Hakstol said. "That's where our eyes and focus are on continue to grow and build. "

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. The 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium will be the first time the NHL stages two outdoor games with fans in attendance in back to back days.The League is up for the challenge. The New Jersey Devils will face the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, Feb. 17 8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN360 https://www.flyersprostore.com/custom-jersey, TVAS2 and the New York Rangers will play the New York Islanders the following day 3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS."We couldn't be more excited about having this great celebration of hockey in the New York New Jersey Philadelphia area, " NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday. " When you think about how much hockey means to this area and the number of people that are involved in the game at all levels, no better place to fill this magnificent 80, 000 seat stadium twice in less than 24 hours. It's going to be a great weekend."Tickets for each game are on sale. The logo was unveiled Wednesday and uniforms, details about a fan fest and a concert will be released at a later date.The home of the New York Giants and New York Jets will host the 40th and 41st regular season outdoor games in NHL history. The 38th was the 2023 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium on Sunday, when the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Calgary Flames 5 2. The Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken will play the 39th, the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Jan 1."You can't do it everywhere, " Commissioner Bettman said of hosting back to back outdoor games at the same stadium, "but you can do it in a place like this that knows how to bring events in and out and we don't see any difficulties. For us, it's the same ice surface. We did it in 2014 Stadium Series at Yankee Stadium where we played Sunday and Wednesday, but no problem doing it here. They can turn the stadium over as they do repeatedly for Jets and Giants games."The Flyers have played five outdoor games 1 3 1 , the Rangers four 4 0 0 , and the Devils and Islanders one each 0 1 0 respectively."I think everyone feels very fortunate. It is a great event, " Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury said. "Our players are excited as everyone has mentioned they circle the calendar right away for this game. Such a great venue." 2024 Stadium Series News Conference at MetLife Stadium Keith Jones never played an outdoor game but broadcasted numerous ones before becoming Flyers president of hockey operations May 11."We're really looking forward to our fans having an opportunity to come up here it's an hour drive to enjoy some great hockey outdoors that I know the players love playing in and their families love being a part of, " Jones said.Devils executive vice president of hockey operations Martin Brodeur played New Jersey's only previous outdoor game, a 7 3 loss to the Rangers at Yankee Stadium on Jan. 26, 2014. A decade later, they return to the outdoor stage."I think [a game like this] is for everybody your friends https://www.flyersprostore.com/emil-andrae-jersey, families, who you have a chance to invite to enjoy that moment, " Brodeur said. "These people will remember it forever. It's like being at your draft. It's like being at your first Stanley Cup [Final], if you have a chance to win one. It's all the same. It's a great moment for all the players."The Islanders' lone outdoor appearance also came against the Rangers at Yankee Stadium, losing 2 1 three days after the Rangers defeated the Devils."I've been fortunate enough to say [I've been to] two as Devils general manager in 2014 and Toronto Maple Leafs GM for the 2017 Centennial Classic , and both of them were just tremendous, " Islanders president and GM Lou Lamoriello said. " And now to be able to participate in something here, we get 80, 000 people, I mean, what more can you say about the game?" Four Metropolitan rivals face off at MetLife Stadium NHL Network and ESPN analyst Kevin Weekes emceed the press conference. He played for the Rangers, Islanders and Devils."I have a unique perspective because I understand what it is to play for them and their respective fans, " Weekes said. "All of those franchises have won the Stanley Cup, as have the Flyers. I could literally see Giants Stadium from my old house. For someone that lives around here, works around here, played around here, it's awesome."New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy expressed his excitement for his state to be showcased but didn't hide who he would be rooting for."The Stadium Series in Jersey for two games, back to back sellouts, is a huge deal. I can't tell you how thrilled we are. I'll be rooting for the Devils on Saturday. Apologies to the Flyers."The ice surface will be the same for each game, the respective setting different, changes reflecting how MetLife Stadium is set up for the Jets and Giants. A pregame concert is also in the works, one unlike any the NHL has ever had at its previous tentpole events."We're challenging our events team to make it different from Saturday to Sunday so when a fan walks in, they're looking at a different experience from the day before https://www.flyersprostore.com/ryan-ellis-jersey, " NHL chief content officer Steve Mayer said. "We looked at it as a cool challenge. This is a building with the Jets and Giants where they can and have changed the whole stadium from a Jets stadium to a Giants stadium, or a Giants stadium to a Jets stadium, so we can do it too."We've never done a 90 minute show pregame with a major act. It's trending that it would be Saturday before the game. Anybody with a ticket would not only get a chance to see the game but get a concert on top of that. That's something extremely unique and something we've never done before."

ARLINGTON, Va. Max Pacioretty thought he might have to retire after tearing his right Achilles tendon for the second time last season, but the forward believes he will be able to return to play for the Washington Capitals this season. 'I feel like we have a really good grasp as to what happened in the past and what we need to do in the present and the future for me to continue my career,' Pacioretty said Tuesday. 'I do know that I have a lot of hockey left in me https://www.hurricanesprostore.com/zach-aston-reese-jersey. There was a time where maybe I wasn't as confident in that, a time where I didn't know if I'd play hockey ever again, but I'm coming to the rink every day thinking that this could be my last day here and just enjoying it. 'Although when Pacioretty will play remains to be determined, the 34 year old has been making progress in his recovery, including skating three times in the past two weeks. He had not been on the ice previously since tearing his Achilles for the second time when playing for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Minnesota Wild on Jan. 19. 'I feel like I'm getting my life back,' Pacioretty said. 'I've only skated three times, but this is what I was born to do so it feels like some normalcy in my life, and definitely have much more of a smile on my face now that I'm skating. 'Pacioretty, who signed a one year, $2 million contract with an additional $2 million in performance based incentives with the Capitals on July 1, initially tore his Achilles during offseason training and underwent surgery to repair it Aug. 10, 2022, after being traded to the Hurricanes by the Vegas Golden Knights on July 13, 2022. He returned Jan. 5 of last season against the Nashville Predators and scored three goals in five games before tearing it again. After that, Pacioretty traveled the world seeking answers, including going to Turku, Finland, to have surgery Jan. 25. 'I've been to Finland, Germany, places in Canada, different places in the States,' Pacioretty said. 'I've seen a lot of people and a lot of what people would call the best in the world. A lot of opinions, but I think we painted a pretty clear picture now as to what I need to do to get back to being myself. 'Pacioretty believes his Achilles problems stemmed from playing through previous injuries. 'I dealt with two broken feet in two years, and I think that's when this really all started to happen,' he said. ' But in terms of all of that and working on my body, I feel like we're in a good place right now and I feel like the team has been really open to me seeing a lot of people and trying to find answers and they helped a lot with that as well, and I think we're doing a really good job of trying to make sure I come back and I try and stay healthy. 'Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said Monday that Pacioretty has a set schedule and is limited in how many times he can skate. Pacioretty said he's unsure when he can start skating more often and increase the intensity of his workouts. 'A lot of that is out of my hands,' he said Rod Brind'Amour Jersey. 'Really taking it one skate and one day at a time. Good news is I've responded well to being out there and whether that means we ramp things up quickly or slowly, that's kind of out of my control. So I'm just listening to what I'm being told in terms of that while giving feedback with how I feel, and the only thing I can say, the good news, is that I've responded really well to everything up to this point. 'Pacioretty said he has a couple dates on the calendar, 'circled in pencil,' for when he'd like to play his first game this season but hasn't shared them with anyone outside his family. He has 645 points 326 goals, 319 assists in 855 regular season games in 15 NHL seasons, including six seasons when he scored at least 30 goals. He believes he has plenty left to help the Capitals whenever he's ready to play. 'There was a good, solid two, three months where I was ready to stop playing,' he said. 'I've spent a good portion of the last year in bed, not being able to do things with my family and my kids, travel to their hockey tournaments, stuff like that Custom Jersey. And for me, that was really difficult. But when I do look at the situation and my kids and my family, I don't want to ever say that I gave up on something that I could have continued doing. It's important for me to do this for myself but also for my family and my kids to kind of show them that we can get through this together. 'I know I have so much more hockey in the tank. I'm a different person when I'm out there skating, even if it's for 15 minutes without pucks. This is what I was born to do, and I want to do this as long as I can. '

CHICAGO The Vegas Golden Knights became the first Stanley Cup champions to open the following season 6 0 0 with a 5 3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Saturday. Nicolas Roy broke a 2 2 tie 13 seconds into the third period. 'We just wanted to play a better third [period],' Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. 'We knew we weren't at our best for the first two periods https://www.edmontonoilersstoreonline.com/oilers-t-shirts. We had pockets of good hockey, pockets where we were fighting the puck, lost our structure at times. So we just wanted to have a good period. Yes, it helps. 'Connor Bedard, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, scored his second NHL goal 90 seconds into his first home game for the Blackhawks 2 4 0. Arvid Soderblom made 19 saves. VGK CHI: Bedard opens scoring with PPG Paul Cotter had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights, who passed the 1920 21 Ottawa Senators and 1985 86 Edmonton Oilers for best start by a Cup champion. Adin Hill made 21 saves. 'It's cool,' Hill said of the start. 'We came in with the mentality of trying to repeat what we did last year. I think it's carried over. The last couple of [preseason] games, we started getting a little smoother and a little more crisp with things, just to implement our system. I think we carried that through into the season, and it's been pretty seamless. It's been a good start, so yeah, keep building on it. 'Bedard made it 1 0 at 1:30 of the first period on the power play. Off the face off, a wide open Bedard took a pass in the slot from Taylor Hall and put a wrist shot past Hill. It was Bedard's second goal of the season, and it came after he was held scoreless in his previous two games. 'It's always nice to score,' he said. 'Whether it was first career goal or first goal here, it's always nice to get that, and it feels good to get it quick. It was big for our power play to see one go in, but obviously now it doesn't feel as good, but in the moment, it was great for sure. You can remember it, for sure, when you're looking back on it. But obviously now, you're focused on what we can do better to win. But obviously, as a moment in your life, looking back you'll remember it. 'It was electric in there. It was cool for me and all the guys there. You get energy from that. For us to get one early and get [the fans] up like that was great. They're awesome, so it was a lot of fun to play in front of them. 'William Karlsson tied it 1 1 at 4:05 on a backhand shot on the power play, picking up the rebound of a shot by Cotter from the edge of the left circle. VGK CHI: Karlsson ties the game at 1 1 with a PPG Jonathan Marchessault put Vegas ahead 2 1 at 7:30 of the second period. He moved into the slot, and his wrist shot got between Soderblom's pads https://www.edmontonoilersstoreonline.com/al-hamilton-jersey. Chicago tied it 2 2 at 8:50 when Reese Johnson deflected Connor Murphy's point shot past Hill. Roy gave the Golden Knights the 3 2 lead 13 seconds into the third period, taking a backhand pass on the rush from Keegan Kolesar and scoring from in front of the net. 'For sure, I think that was a bit of a killer for them,' Karlsson said. 'If you let one in right off the bat, that's going to give us momentum. 'Mark Stone scored at 13:47 for a 4 2 Vegas lead, putting the puck in after Michael Amadio circled the net and fed it out in front. Cotter scored on the power play at 16:09 to make it 5 2. VGK CHI: Stone finishes Amadio's feed in front Corey Perry scored from the right circle for Chicago for the 5 3 final at 19:45. Bedard's power play goal was the lone goal on the man advantage for the Blackhawks, whose power play is 2 for 27 in the first six games. 'I thought the end of the second period we had some really good opportunities there,' Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said. 'Unfortunately [they] didn't go in. AA' Andreas Athanasiou had one on the back door, Tyler Johnson had one in the slot. I think we hit the post again tonight on that. So we've just got to keep shooting Zach Hyman Jersey. I'd still like to see quicker movement, more shot mentality. I think at times we had it, and at times when it doesn't go in, they want the perfect play which, you have to go with works. 'We'll keep driving that home and hopefully they fall. 'NOTES: Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo upper body injury has skated the past two days. Cassidy said he hopes Pietrangelo 'rejoins the group' for practice Monday. The Blackhawks had a pregame video tribute to late owner Rocky Wirtz, who died July 25 at 70 Bedard 18 years, 96 days became the second youngest player in Blackhawks history to score in their home opener behind Eddie Olczyk 18 years, 56 days on Oct. 11, 1984. The only other teenagers to do so for Chicago were Stan Mikita 19 years, 140 days on Oct. 7, 1959 and John Harms 19 years, 187 days on Oct. 29, 1944.