Daccord did not practice again on Wednesday and is not expected to be able to back up when Seattle takes on Vancouver on Thursday due to a lingering upper-body bruise. The 28-year-old goaltender last appeared for Seattle on December 22nd and currently has a 12-9-2 record, 2.51 GAA and .912 SV% in 23 appearances.
With Joey Daccord still sidelined with an upper-body injury, the Kraken will hand Grubauer the start for a second straight game on Monday. Grubauer got the win his last time out, allowing four goals on 22 shots in a 5-4 overtime victory in Vancouver on Saturday. It was a much needed win for the 33-year-old netminder, who has lost ten of his 14 starts on the season. He's got a good chance of staying in the win column on Monday as the Kraken enter action against Utah as slight underdogs at +125 on the money line.
In his first NHL action in nearly two years, the 30-year-old Murray posted a 3.54 GAA and .879 SV% in two games with the Maple Leafs (1-1-0). Before being recalled earlier this month, Murray had been impressive in limited AHL action this season, posting a 1.85 GAA and .931 SV% in eight games (4-1-2). The Maple Leafs recalled Dennis Hildeby from the Marlies (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Daccord reportedly suffered the injury in Seattle's last game before the holiday break but was able to stay in. The team did not provide any further details on his injury. Philipp Grubauer is the projected starter in Daccord's absence.
Dennis Hildeby was reassigned to the Marlies, swapping places with Murray. The 30-year-old Murray has not played an NHL game since the 2022-23 season, when he recorded a 3.01 GAA and .903 SV% in 26 games with the Maple Leafs (14-8-2), but will make his season debut with the club on Friday. He has been impressive in limited AHL action this season, posting a 1.85 GAA and .931 SV% in eight games (4-1-2). The Maple Leafs enter Friday's contest as -148 road favorites against a Buffalo Sabres club amid an 11-game losing skid (0-8-3).
Dennis Hildeby was reassigned to the Marlies, swapping places with Murray. The 30-year-old Murray has not played an NHL game since the 2022-23 season, when he recorded a 3.01 GAA and .903 SV% in 26 games with the Maple Leafs (14-8-2). He has been impressive in limited AHL action this season, posting a 1.85 GAA and .931 SV% in eight games (4-1-2).
The Kraken will turn to Daccord for the 22nd time this season when they travel to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks on Thursday. Daccord came out on the losing end of his last start, allowing three goals on 27 shots in a 3-0 defeat to the Senators. Despite the loss, Daccord still owns a respectable 12-7-2 record on the season to go along with an impressive .915 SV%. He's a solid bet to get back in the win column on Thursday as the Kraken enter action at -140 on the money line.
Kartye will take a seat on Thursday in order to make room for the debut of Kaapo Kakko. Kartye has three goals and three assists in 32 games this season.
The Kraken acquired Kakko from the New York Rangers on Wednesday in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round draft pick, and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick. Kakko was the second-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and was never able to live up to lofty expectations in New York, averaging just 15 goals and 17 assists per 82 games across parts of six seasons with the team. Kakko joins a much younger roster in Seattle where he should see an expanded role at 5v5 and potentially on the power-play after being limited to a bottom-six role for the majority of his time as a Ranger.
Stephens has played the last nine games with Seattle, recording one point (0G / 1A), but will be returning to Coachella Valley (AHL). The 27-year-old Stephens had four points (3G / 1A) in 11 games with Coachella Valley before his call-up in November.
