Defenseman Gustav Olofsson was called up by the Seattle Kraken on Monday from the American Hockey League’s Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Olofsson, 28, who fills a void on the left side of the team’s defense, made his Kraken debut in a Nov. 13 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets, and has five assists with a +8 rating in 15 games at the AHL level this season.
The Kraken are facing a situation where they are potentially short of two defensemen entering the week. Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak won’t be eligible to return from a three-game suspension until Sunday against the Jets, with two games currently remaining for his check to the head of Alexander Alexeyev last Friday at Washington.
Justin Schultz, also his routine defense partner, was knocked out of Sunday’s win at Florida on a third period hit from behind by Ryan Lomberg in the left corner of the Kraken defensive zone. Lomberg was given a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct.
The Kraken have yet to confirm any update on Schultz’s status.
Olofsson has 11 assists in 60 career NHL games with the Kraken, Montreal Canadiens, and Minnesota Wild.
The Kraken will continue their four-game trip on Tuesday, visiting the Tampa Bay Lightning at 4pm PT (93.3 KJR / Kraken Audio Network).