GAME 1: Anaheim Ducks (0-0-0) at Seattle Kraken (0-0-0)

When: Thursday, 7 p.m. Pacific

Where: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA

TV: Victory+ (streaming exclusive)

Starting Goaltenders: Ducks – Lukáš Dostál; Kraken – Joey Daccord

Injuries: Ducks – Ryan Strome (out, upper-body), Jansen Harkins (IR, upper-body); Kraken – Brandon Montour (day-to-day), Chandler Stephenson (day-to-day), Jared McCann (day-to-day), Vince Dunn (day-to-day), Kappo Kakko (IR, upper-body), Ryker Evans (IR, upper-body)

SEATTLE – There will be plenty of firsts at Climate Pledge Arena on Thursday night, as the Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Kraken drop the puck on their 2025-26 NHL seasons.

For Anaheim, top prospect Beckett Sennecke is expected to make his NHL debut tonight and, in a late surprise yesterday, in a top-six position, as he moves up to second-line right wing after an injury to Ryan Strome sent Mikael Granlund to third-line center.

“Excited,” Sennecke said. “That’s the only word to sum it up. Excited to get out there and play.”

His mom, dad and sister will be in attendance tonight, as the 19-year-old takes his opening NHL skate.

Sennecke is unable to play in the AHL this season due to age and junior-season tenure, so his only options are to stick with the Ducks or go back to OHL Oshawa. Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said that the plan for now is for Sennecke to be with the Ducks for the entirety of the season, and he will be held to a developmental schedule as Leo Carlsson did in his rookie season. However, the rhythm and duration of that schedule are yet to be divulged.

“Just go out every game, see if your name is on the board, and go out and play,” Sennecke said.

Chris Kreider will also make his Ducks debut with his first regular-season game in a non-New York Rangers sweater in 14 seasons.

“Every year it’s super exciting,” Kreider said. “This is what you train all summer for. Some people’s summers are longer than others. Long time to wait around and work toward one big day. Lot of butterflies. Lot of good nerves. Time to get to work.”

Behind the bench, it will Joel Quenneville’s first regular season game since Oct. 27, 2021, his last game with the Florida Panthers before an NHL ban resulting from the investigation into the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks sexual abuse scandal.

It’s been an energetic training camp, and Quenneville and the players have transferred that into day one in Seattle.

“Excited,” Quenneville said. “I always find the first game of the regular season, first playoff game. I get a little bit excited. I can feel it already today. Butterflies. First day of school. A meaningful game. It’s great to be back and great to get started.”

Full morning skate media with Sennecke, Kreider and Quenneville and Seattle’s Shane Wright, who went through a similar development plan as Sennecke in 2022, and Kraken coach Lane Lambert, who also makes his coaching debut tonight:

 

Chris Kreider-Leo Carlsson-Troy Terry

Cutter Gauthier-Mason McTavish-Beckett Sennecke

Frank Vatrano-Mikael Granlund-Alex Killorn

Ross Johnston-Ryan Poehling-Sam Colangelo

Jackson LaCombe-Radko Gudas

Olen Zellweger-Jacob Trouba

Pavel Mintyukov-Drew Helleson

Projected Ducks Scratches: Nikita Nesterenko, Tim Washe