Here\u2019s an odd Kraken coincidence:<\/p>\n
With rookie Jacob Melanson in the line-up, the club went 5-1-and-1 to start 2026. In the five games prior to that, just before the new year, Seattle went 4-0-and-1. That\u2019s nine wins and two post-regulation losses, points in eleven matches out of 12.<\/p>\n
To be fair, the Kraken did lose the first three games Melanson played in just after he was called up in mid-December, but his impact was limited by ice time; 7:47, 4:11, and 9:39 of total time-0n-ice in those three games. It was baptism by fire.<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t to suggest that the 22-year-old winger from Halifax, Nova Scotia is the answer to all of the club\u2019s problems, but his energy and approach sure haven\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n
Melanson\u2019s a catalyst<\/a>. Despite posting just a single goal and three assists along the way, he and his 4th-line mates were momentum changers. They provided the physicality, grit and energy the Kraken desperately needed coming out of their late 2025 slump. It\u2019s an approach the latest version of that line sort of continues without Melanson.<\/p>\n He\u2019s back in Coachella Valley with the American Hockey League\u2019s Firebirds where he\u2019s put up 15 points in 25 games this season.<\/p>\n At his current stage of development, the former right wing for three different teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League isn\u2019t around for his scoring prowess. He\u2019s around to help change momentum with hard work and a grinding style.<\/p>\n When healthy veteran NHL forwards gradually came back to the Kraken line-up from injured reserve, Melanson was expendable and sent down after Seattle\u2019s 4-2 win over the New York Rangers<\/a> on January 12th.<\/p>\n Ben Meyers, another hard worker, a center, and a skater with a higher offensive upside, has stuck around.\u00a0Ryan Winterton is the rookie winger who\u2019s remained in Seattle for the time being. He has just eight more points than Melanson while playing in three times as many games.<\/p>\n Winterton was a 3rd round NHL Draft pick of the club in 2021; Melanson a 5th-rounder the same year.<\/p>\n Both have had four-game NHL point streaks this season.<\/p>\n There\u2019s your competition. It might be time to give the number-63 fireplug another look<\/a> as the Kraken slog through a three-game losing streak while going 0-3-and-1 in their last four.<\/p>\n Earlier Kraken:<\/p>\n \u2014 Kraken Lose Key Battle To Penguins, 6-3<\/a><\/p>\n Earlier Canucks:<\/p>\n