In broad daylight, under the cover of a new Seattle Mariners season, the Kraken players and head coach fulfilled their media obligations, held their meetings, and began shimmying out of town.<\/p>\n
In olden days, let\u2019s say the 1970\u2019s or \u201980\u2019s, NHL players would have skulked or moved stealthily away from their shortcomings. Then again, in olden days, players didn\u2019t have to do media availabilities once the locker room door closed for the last time.<\/p>\n
It was a simpler era.<\/p>\n
Over a few hours on Friday, a dozen or so Kraken answered questions. Among the routine stuff, an injury update here or there, and a consistent expression of disappointment.<\/p>\n
The most humorous moment came when goaltender Philipp Grubauer made reference to the improvements he made in his game this past year. After complementing current head coach Lane Lambert\u2019s systems and his teammates for executing them, he said of the previous season under bench boss Dan Bylsma; \u201clast year I\u2019m not sure what system we played, if we even played a system, right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ouch.<\/p>\n
As for overcoming disappointment, I asked Matty Beniers if he\u2019d watch any of the Stanley Cup playoffs<\/a>, and maybe pull for his buddies?<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s tough, it\u2019s tough to say,\u201d Beniers answered. \u201cI don\u2019t know. Kind of depends. I think sometimes watching it is like salt in the wound a little bit, but you\u2019re right, I do have a lot of buddies who are gonna be in it and I\u2019ll be rooting for them. So, if I see someone playing I\u2019ll put it on and I\u2019ll watch \u2019em, but other than that, if I don\u2019t have anyone that I\u2019m cheering for, I\u2019m not gonna watch it.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s lots of work this summer as individual players and coaches. Beniers and young Berkly Catton both said they\u2019re hitting the gym extensively to continue getting stronger. Catton, still a developing 19-year-old kid, didn\u2019t enjoy getting pushed around in the corners.<\/p>\n Head coach Lambert repeatedly summed things up for this club in different categories. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier Kraken:<\/p>\n \u2014 Kraken Front Office Scrambles Into \u201cOn\u201d Season<\/a><\/p>\n Earlier Canucks:<\/p>\n