Goaltender Chris Driedger rejoins Seattle Kraken practice
Chris Driedger returned to the Kraken Community Iceplex on Wednesday.
Seattle’s backup goaltender was placed on injured reserve the day after the Kraken’s 6-1 loss to Philadelphia on Oct. 18. Driedger relieved starting goalie Philipp Grubauer in the contest, suffering a knee injury on the lone goal he gave up.
Speaking with the media after practice on Wednesday, Driedger said the injury was “pretty minor.”
“Didn’t really think it was going to be a huge deal,” Driedger said. “Kind of felt it a little during the game and then the next day it was no bueno. So pretty much, I realized OK, I got hurt. So we started the rehab process. As a goalie, you kind of need to get into those positions so you can’t really just slap a brace on it and get back in there. It’s a little bit more of a longer process.”
After Driedger’s injury, the Kraken called up Joey Daccord as an emergency starter for the next game against the Devils. When Driedger was activated on Tuesday, Daccord was re-assigned to the Kraken’s American Hockey League affiliate in Charlotte. Daccord appeared in two games — a 4-2 loss in New Jersey and a 5-2 loss in Edmonton.
“Joey did a good job while he was here,” head coach Dave Hakstol said Wednesday. “Just like any player that we put into our dressing room in an injury situation, you’d expect that player to be ready to play and step up and help us win.”
Driedger is a piece of what should be a formidable goalie tandem for the Kraken, with Grubauer in the No. 1 spot. Due to the injury, Driedger has yet to start a game for Seattle. His first start would’ve been against New Jersey in the final game of the Kraken’s season-opening road trip. Driedger was 14-6 with a .927 save percentage and 2.07 goals-against average for the Panthers last season.
“Ideally, you get in there earlier, but things happen,” Driedger said. “It gave me some time to get a little more practice time in. I’m just looking forward to getting out there.”
Hakstol said he didn’t have a schedule set yet for Driedger’s return, noting that the media talked to the goalie after practice before Hakstol got the opportunity.
“I’ll get a chance to talk with him and get a good feel for how the day went,” Hakstol said. “He looked good out there. He went through a good 50-minute practice, so it’s a good first step for sure.”
Hakstol’s not ready to forecast how Grubauer and Driedger will split games over the remainder of the season. With Driedger out, Grubauer understandably took on a heavy workload. Whether that remains the same — or if Driedger steps in more often — remains to be seen.
So far this season, Grubauer has played in eight games with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage.
“Too many things change in the short term,” Hakstol said, “from injuries to performance to different segments of the schedule. For the rhythm that we’ve had Phil in, we feel comfortable. We’ve had good practice time.
“Over the last two weeks here, we’ve had pretty good rhythm in terms of rest and days off. The games for Chris ... to step in will be very, very important. In terms of the numbers of them, I don’t have a prediction for you right now.”
This story was originally published November 3, 2021 at 2:49 PM.
