SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 03: Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Seattle Kraken looks on before the game against the Edmonton Oilers at Climate Pledge Arena on December 03, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
The Seattle Kraken will have their holiday break extended with the postponement of three consecutive games due to COVID-19 protocol, along with NHL teams who have undergone individual game postponements or a complete shutdown of club operations and closing of practice facilities until the conclusion of the league's holiday break on Dec. 26.
Games against Toronto (Dec. 19), Arizona (Dec. 21) and Calgary (Dec. 23) will be rescheduled at later dates by the NHL, while the league announced on Wednesday morning in a joint statement with the National Hockey League Players' Association that NHL players would not be competing in the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The NHL said in a statement that the originally scheduled three-week Olympic break in February will be used to generate rescheduled games.
“Our focus and goal have been and must remain to responsibly and safely complete the entirety of the NHL regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs in a timely manner," the league said in a statement. "Therefore, with stringent health protocols once again in place, we will begin utilizing available dates during the Feb. 6-22 window (originally contemplated to accommodate Olympic participation) to reschedule games that have been, or may yet be, postponed.”
Goaltender Philipp Grubauer (Germany) and forward Alexander True (Denmark) were among initial roster selections for Olympic teams back in October.
Forward Brandon Tanev also has been classified with injured reserve status on the Kraken NHL media website. Tanev was last seen in a 5-3 defeat against Edmonton last Saturday, leaving the ice with less than four minutes left after suffering a collision against the end boards in the Edmonton defensive zone.
Tanev, who previously scored a career-high 14 goals in 80 games with the Winnipeg Jets in 2018-19, has scored nine goals in 30 games with the Kraken this season.
The Kraken, 10-17-3 (23 points) in their inaugural season, are scheduled to return to play Dec. 27 against the host Vancouver Canucks and return home Dec. 29 against the Philadelphia Flyers at Climate Pledge Arena.
Kraken studio host Mike Benton and play-by-play voice Everett Fitzhugh discussed the Kraken and NHL developments, along with listener tweets in a recorded podcast Wednesday morning.