As the season kicks off, I thought it would be a perfectly productive use of my time to come up with 41 reasons to check out a Kraken home game—one for every game to be played at Climate Pledge Arena. Some reasons are serious (kind of), some are completely ridiculous, and all are valid excuses to grab a ticket, a college soda, and watch some hockey.
10/9/2025 vs ANA – Opening Night! I’ve been buzzing all week waiting for meaningful Kraken hockey that actually counts in the standings. Nothing beats that first Climate Pledge roar.
10/11/2025 vs VGK – Mitch Marner’s third regular-season game with Vegas. Still feels weird typing that sentence.
10/25/2025 vs EDM – Sure, you could come for Connor McDavid—the sixth-highest-paid player in the NHL—but that’s too easy. Instead, watch former Seattle Thunderbird Noah Philp, who made his NHL debut at 26 after taking a year off from hockey. Gritty comeback stories hit different.
10/28/2025 vs MTL – Montreal fans get weirdly defensive when I mention Shane Wright has more goals and assists than Juraj Slafkovsky in their respective first 95 games. Not our fault they didn’t draft Shane with their first overall.
11/1/2025 vs NYR – Will Borgen returns to Climate Pledge for the first time since being traded to the Rangers. Expect at least one thunderous hit to remind us what we’re missing.
11/3/2025 vs CHI – Andre Burakovsky’s back! But so is Ryan Donato, the first goal scorer in Kraken history. You’re legally obligated to cheer for him (until puck drop).
11/5/2025 vs SJS – The Sharks’ young core gave the Kraken fits last season, including those brutal back-to-back losses in November. Let’s not do that again.
11/11/2025 vs CBJ – Columbus is a sneaky fun team: a lot of young talent, plenty of chaos. Should be a good one.
11/13/2025 vs WPG – If everyone’s healthy, you’ll see two U.S. Olympians in Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebuyck. Bonus points if you can spell “Hellebuyck” without peeking.
11/15/2025 vs SJS – Most national analysts have written off San Jose this year, so let’s help them stay right about that.
11/26/2025 vs DAL – The Kraken are giving away gravy boats to the first 10,000 fans. Gravy boats!
11/29/2025 vs EDM – A 1 p.m. game on Thanksgiving weekend, perfect for bringing the family, also gives you an opportunity to take a break from leftovers.
12/6/2025 vs DET – Patrick Kane may have lost a step, but those hands still belong in a museum. Always worth watching.
12/8/2025 vs MIN – I could see Minnesota missing the playoffs this year after squeaking in last season. This game might mean something real for both teams.
12/10/2025 vs LAK – The first bobblehead giveaway of the season. Collect them all!
12/14/2025 vs BUF – Seattle is 7-1-0 all-time against Buffalo. The Kraken just seem to have the Sabres’ number, and we’re fine with that.
12/16/2025 vs COL – Cale Makar. You either love to watch him play or still hold some animosity toward him for taking out Jared McCann in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. I choose the latter.
12/28/2025 vs PHI – The Flyers might not be contenders, but seeing Trevor Zegras in a Flyers uniform after a summer trade will be interesting.
Trevor Zegras takes an ill-advised four-minute cross-checking penalty.
Strange, though, the official put his arm up on the original hit but only called 4 minutes for cross checking. 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/6RCVUI2Je4
— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) March 29, 2024
12/29/2025 vs VAN – The Kraken went 3-0-1 against Vancouver last year, including that glorious 5–0 win in the middle of their playoff chase. Wouldn’t mind seeing a repeat of that embarrassment.
1/1/2026 vs NSH – There’s no better place to be on New Year’s Day than watching Kraken hockey. Resolutions can wait until the second period.
1/6/2026 vs BOS – Morgan Geekie.
1/8/2026 vs MIN – If the Kraken are pushing for a playoff spot, this could be a big one. Minnesota might be the team standing in their way.
1/19/2026 vs PIT – The Kids Game! Always a fun game to check out with or without the young ones in tow.
One of my favorite #SeaKraken games of the year…the KIDS GAME!!!
More pics to come throughout the game. pic.twitter.com/kYrg751GGi
— NHLtoSeattle (@NHLtoSeattle) January 25, 2025
1/21/2026 vs NYI – If everything goes as expected, this could be Matthew Schaefer’s first game in Seattle, the first overall pick from the 2025 NHL Draft. It should also be former Seattle Thunderbird, Mat Barzal’s first game in Seattle in over two years.
1/23/2026 vs ANA – By this point we’ll know if Anaheim is a legit playoff contender or still a fun-but-not-quite-there team. Either way, Leo Carlsson might be worth watching.
1/25/2026 vs NJD – New Jersey is a sneaky Cup contender this season. If the Devils stay healthy, look out. Should be one of the better hockey nights of the year.
1/27/2026 vs WSH – There’s a real chance this is your last chance to see Alexander Ovechkin in Seattle.
1/29/2026 vs TOR – Toronto is 4-0-0 all-time at Climate Pledge Arena. They’re the only team the Kraken have never gotten a point against. When the Kraken win this one, you’ll witness actual history.
2/28/2026 vs VAN – The first home game after the Olympic break. After weeks of Olympic and junior hockey, it’ll just feel good to be back watching the Kraken again.
3/2/2026 vs CAR – With Aleksander Barkov out for the season in Florida, Carolina might be the team to beat in the East.
3/4/2026 vs STL – No idea where the Kraken will be in the standings by this point, but it’s the last game before the trade deadline. Expect some drama.
3/7/2026 vs OTT – Ottawa’s another trendy “they’ll take a step” team. Let’s make sure that step is backward.
3/10/2026 vs NSH – Remember last year when people picked Nashville to win the Stanley Cup? That was cute.
3/12/2026 vs COL – Colorado will be out for revenge after an early season loss. Too bad they’re not getting it.
3/15/2026 vs FLA – The two-time Stanley Cup champs come to town. The Kraken are a tidy 2-1-1 at home against the Panthers, so there’s that.
3/17/2026 vs TBL – This one will sting. Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand’s first game back in Seattle. It’s also my birthday, so Kraken, please win. For me.
3-1 #SeaKraken
Gorgeous passing series among the Gourde line after a Bjorkstrand steal gains possession. Tremendous work by all three skaters. pic.twitter.com/RNoMVtk6l9
— Alison (@AlisonL) January 27, 2024
4/2/2026 vs UTA – Assuming Adam Larsson keeps up his ironman pace, this could be his first home game after hitting 1,000 career NHL games. Expect a well-deserved pregame celebration for one of the OG’s.
4/4/2026 vs CHI – Chicago’s loaded with young talent: Bedard, Nazar, Levshunov, Rinzel and maybe even ex-T-Bird Kevin Korchinski will be playing for them by this point in the season.
4/9/2026 vs VGK – I hate the Golden Knights with a passion and fully expect them to be elite again this season. That’ll just make beating them even sweeter.
4/11/2026 vs CGY – Calgary’s only trip to Seattle this year. Good news for Martin Pospisil: Vince Dunn (and Kraken fans) definitely haven’t forgotten.
Calgary’s Martin Pospisil has been suspended for three games for boarding Seattle’s Vince Dunn. pic.twitter.com/txyHOXc7Rp
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 7, 2024
4/13/2026 vs LAK – Final game of the season—before the postseason, ideally. How poetic would it be to eliminate the Kings from playoff contention right here?
So, there you have it: 41 very scientific, deeply thought-out reasons to check out every Seattle Kraken home game this season. Whether you’re a diehard fan, a casual observer, or just someone who likes seeing Buoy shine a bald guy’s head, there’s always something to enjoy at Climate Pledge Arena.
And hey, beyond the theme nights and visiting stars, there are plenty of reasons to tune in every single game. You never know when you might witness Jani Nyman or Berkly Catton’s coming-out party, a random hat trick, a ridiculous comeback, or maybe—just maybe—that elusive goalie goal we’ve all been waiting for from Joey Daccord.