The Stanley Cup Playoffs have been devastating to your bracket, probably. Early exits from Boston, Colorado, and Toronto meant that a ton of pre-loffs favorites have lost their chance at a Cup. They’ve also meant that a ton of former Capitals players have been eliminated from the postseason, leaving just a scant few remaining.
Here are those losses and survivors.
By Peter Hassett 4 weeks ago
Sunday night saw a pair of Game Seven wild-card upsets. While the Florida Panthers bested the Boston Bruins out east, the Seattle Kraken sent the reigning champion Colorado Avalanche packing in a tight 2-1 game.
Much of Seattle’s success, both in Game Seven and in the series as a whole, can be credited to former Capital Philipp Grubauer, for whom beating Colorado bore extra significance. Before joining the Kraken in free agency in 2021, Grubauer had spent three seasons with the Avalanche, ending with a third-place bid for the Vezina Trophy.
“Means a lot, ending their season,” he said postgame. “Beating the defending Stanley Cup Champions. Lots more to come for our group, but it’s only series one.”
By Katie Adler 1 month ago
Andre Burakovsky was a beloved, but kinda annoying teammate (I think in the best way?) during his time in Washington. Now he’s bringing his Burkie Chaos to Washington state.
After winning a second Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in June, Burakovsky hit the free agent market as one of the best wingers available and signed a five-year deal worth $5.5 million per season with the Seattle Kraken.
Not only was the deal Burakovsky’s biggest to date, but it also reunited the Swede with a few former Capitals teammates in Philipp Grubauer and Michal Kempny — both players from the Caps’ 2018 Stanley Cup team.
2018 Stanley Cup champion and current Seattle Kraken goaltender, Philipp Grubauer, received a= cool honor before Tuesday’s Seattle Mariners game.
The German netminder threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Mariners took on the San Diego Padres.
By Chris Cerullo 9 months ago
The Washington Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights four games to one to win the Stanley Cup four years ago this week.
Since then, the Capitals have not won a playoff series since, getting first-rounded four consecutive times. While the Caps’ core and identity have largely stayed the same, the 2018 team’s supporting cast has moved on. Only nine of those 27 players are still on the team while two others, Shane Gersich and Pheonix Copley, remain in the organization.
Some key members of the 2018 championship team have flourished elsewhere. Others have wound down their careers or retired in different organizations or leagues.
By Ian Oland 12 months ago
The Seattle Kraken are off to a 4-12-1 start, ahead of only Ottawa and Arizona in the league’s basement. On Friday night, the Kraken hosted the Colorado Avalanche, losing 7 to 3 in their worst game of the season. In net for the last three of those Avs goals was ex-Caps goalie Philipp Grubauer, who is the biggest reason why the NHL’s newest franchise has stunk coming out of the gate.
Grubauer is currently the worst goalie in the league, by a lot.
By Peter Hassett 2 years ago
The NHL is set to debut its 32nd franchise in a media orgy of celebration tonight, so maybe not a great time for a bunch of them to go on the COVID protocol.
Up to five players on the Seattle Kraken could miss the team’s first game due to to COVID.
By Peter Hassett 2 years ago
Former Capital and 2021 Vezina Trophy finalist, Philipp Grubauer, signed a six-year, $35.4 million contract with the expansion Seattle Kraken on the first day of free agency, leaving the Colorado Avalanche — the team Washington traded him to after he won the Stanley Cup in 2018 as a backup.
In late August, Grubauer first toured Seattle’s new facilities. Now, he has the equipment to play the part. Sunday, Grubauer’s longtime mask designer, David Gunnarsson, released the design of his first mask.
“I am very happy to release the first Kraken mask for my friend Philipp Grubauer,” Gunnarsson wrote. “It is a design built on the awesome team logos, loaded with 3-D effects and vintage style. Thanks Grubi for the paint adventure!”
Ex-Caps goalie Phillipp Grubauer and the expansion Seattle Kraken will have to restructure and resubmit their contract after the league rejected their first draft.
As reported by CapFriendly, Grubauer’s initial deal was front-loaded in violation of league rules.
By Peter Hassett 2 years ago
The Seattle Kraken nabbed the best goaltender available in free agency, signing 2021 Vezina Trophy finalist and former Capital Philipp Grubauer to a six-year deal worth $5.9 million per season.
The news was first reported by The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.
But you’ll never believe what happened next.
By Ian Oland 2 years ago
