SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 08: Jared McCann #19 of the Seattle Kraken celebrates his goal during the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at Climate Pledge Arena on April 08, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
Jared McCann’s value to the Seattle Kraken lineup, laced and littered with 20-goal scorers, career years and point producers, comes with a transcendent fact that 40 goals isn’t easy to replace.
They’ve done it though, with the most visual proof coming in a 7-2 thumping of the Dallas Stars in game three of the second round. Seven different Kraken players scored a goal, while the Kraken won for the fourth time in six Stanley Cup Playoff games in McCann’s absence, taking a 2-1 series lead over Dallas after upsetting Colorado in seven games.
Still, McCann would be a welcomed addition, though head coach Dave Hakstol said there was “no change” to McCann’s status, day-to-day with an official undisclosed injury. Cale Makar of the Avalanche delivered a late hit on McCann, into the corner after a whistle in a game four win for the Kraken, and McCann has been out ever since.
Add to that, Andre Burakovsky, leading the team in scoring for much of the season, has been out since February and recovering from surgery on a lower body ailment.
“I’d like to be around long enough to get them both back,” said Hakstol, who cracked a smile for the best-case scenario, with a deep playoff run.
“Jared’s a really important part of our team. It’s not just the 40 goal part. He’s one of our four penalty killers. So, we’ve had to fill that role, which puts added stress and minutes added on another player. It changes the look of your power play. He’s a huge part of our team. We want to get him back as soon as we can, hopefully that’ll be sometime this series.”
McCann returned to the ice for an informal skate on Monday morning in a regular white colored jersey, the third straight day he has publicly appeared on the ice after emerging on Saturday in a red-colored, “non-contact” jersey which was swapped for the regular jersey after just one day.
Hakstol also said it was too early to officially evaluate any status on Daniel Sprong, who left in the second period on Sunday night with an injury.
The Kraken will aim for a 3-1 series lead on Tuesday in game four against Dallas, 6:30pm PT (93.3 KJR / Kraken Audio Network) at Climate Pledge Arena.