2024-25 Kraken Roster discussion

[The Marquis]

Bjorkstrand and Kartye likely healthy scratches tonight. Yikes.

Wow. I mean… I’m a huge Bjorkstrand homer, but he has been invisible for the last 3.. or perhaps there’s a trade brewing. Kartye I feel has been more present, but still hasn’t done much of anything. That’s a big move holding out Bjorkstrand… who the heck is replacing him? I figure Hayden for Gourde and Gourde on the wing? Something like that? But I thought our other suite dweller was Fleury.

Edit: Didn’t realize Winterton was up.

 

[Fuhrious]

Kartye has been one of the team's best forwards the last two games per Hockey Stat Cards, so that's a bit surprising. Honestly the player that needs scratched is Burakovsky. I feel like I'm ready to accept that the guy is just cooked.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Wow. I mean… I’m a huge Bjorkstrand homer, but he has been invisible for the last 3.. or perhaps there’s a trade brewing. Kartye I feel has been more present, but still hasn’t done much of anything. That’s a big move holding out Bjorkstrand… who the heck is replacing him? I figure Hayden for Gourde and Gourde on the wing? Something like that? But I thought our other suite dweller was Fleury.

Edit: Didn’t realize Winterton was up.

While listening to ECH yesterday they did say that Bjorky did well under Hakstol but has struggled under Bylsma because he plays an east-west game as opposed to a north-south game. Still too early in the season to see trades, BUT given how much Francis spent in the off-season, I would not be surprised if they try some trades.

Kartye has been one of the team's best forwards the last two games per Hockey Stat Cards, so that's a bit surprising. Honestly the player that needs scratched is Burakovsky. I feel like I'm ready to accept that the guy is just cooked.

I don't see Kartye as a problem, either. Burakovsky on the other hand, has been very disappointing, considering he is now healthy. Schwartz has looked decent to me so far this season which has been a net positive given my expectations.

 

[majormajor]

While listening to ECH yesterday they did say that Bjorky did well under Hakstol but has struggled under Bylsma because he plays an east-west game as opposed to a north-south game. Still too early in the season to see trades, BUT given how much Francis spent in the off-season, I would not be surprised if they try some trades.

What practically speaking do you see as the difference with the east-west? I know what those words mean but when I've been watching I haven't quite picked up on where the responsibilities differ under Bylsma.

Bjorkstrand is definitely a forechecker first and foremost and benefits from a system with a lot of aggressive dump and chase, but it didn't look to me like we had stopped doing that under Bylsma.

FWIW, you'll find plenty of Jackets fans willing to trade a good return to get him back. They've gone back to an aggressive forechecking system under Evason and he would work there. But then I'm just kind of more lost on what the Kraken are supposed to be. You take the forecheck away from this team then what's left?