The Vancouver Canucks open their 2025–26 preseason tonight against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 5:00 PM PT (8:00 PM ET). U.S. viewers can watch on KONG/Prime Video and stream on ESPN+, with radio on KJR 93.3 FM in Seattle. Vancouver concludes training camp in Penticton today and travels to Seattle for this game.
Regional TV in Seattle is KONG (with the Kraken Hockey Network simulcast), plus ESPN+ for streaming; local radio in Seattle is KJR 93.3 FM. Check your local listings in British Columbia; Sportsnet 650 carries radio for Canucks regular-season games, but preseason radio/TV varies by date and market.
Seattle holds the recent head-to-head edge, sweeping last season’s series 3–0–1, including a 5–0 shutout in their most recent meeting on April 2, 2025. Since joining the NHL in 2021–22, the overall series is close, with the Kraken narrowly ahead. Expect a competitive, physical tone even in preseason—these matchups have produced tempers in prior exhibitions.
Lane Lambert makes his Kraken bench debut after being hired in June to replace Dan Bylsma. Seattle also retooled down the middle and on defense over the past season, with key adds and extensions that aim to stabilize structure and puck movement. Vancouver’s biggest roster change from last season was the January 31 trade of J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers for Filip Chytil, prospect Victor Mancini, and a first-round pick; hours later, Vancouver flipped that pick with pieces to acquire defenseman Marcus Pettersson and winger Drew O’Connor from Pittsburgh. Vancouver previously signed Jake DeBrusk to a seven-year deal, adding a fast, finishing LW to ride shotgun with their top center.
Early-preseason games typically skew prospect-heavy. By team guidance this weekend, several Vancouver veterans are being held back for the midweek Abbotsford game. As such, Vancouver’s Seattle lineup should feature a blend of a few core veterans plus a larger group of prospects and bubble players fighting for jobs.
Goaltending: With Thatcher Demko earmarked for Abbotsford midweek, Kevin Lankinen is the most likely starter in Seattle, with a prospect backup to split or close. Lankinen’s composed road form last year makes him a sensible pick to open the slate.
Defense: Expect at least one of Quinn Hughes or Filip Hronek to dress to run the first power play and shepherd younger partners. If only one veteran anchor goes, Derek Forbort and Pierre-Olivier Joseph are logical complements, with a youngster cycling in for third-pair minutes.
Forwards: Camp groups have consistently shown Jake DeBrusk — Elias Pettersson — Brock Boeser as the top trio. If Pettersson and Boeser are held for Abbotsford, Vancouver can still ice a competitive mix built around DeBrusk and reliable two-way pieces (Teddy Blueger, Drew O’Connor) plus skill prospects (Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Linus Karlsson, Aatu Räty). Arshdeep Bains and Kiefer Sherwood are strong bottom-six candidates who can help the penalty kill and forecheck.
Under Lambert, Seattle is emphasizing a tighter defensive shell and cleaner breakouts. Their likely use of Matty Beniers and Shane Wright at home, and extended looks for Berkly Catton and other prospects, means Vancouver’s matchups will swing between experienced NHL forwards and high-motor kids. Vancouver’s best counter remains a sharp puck-moving first pair and a disciplined penalty kill to blunt Seattle’s cycle.
Special teams: Vancouver’s penalty kill was a strength last season and should remain organized even with partial-NHL personnel, especially if Blueger/O’Connor dress. If Quinn Hughes plays, the first power play keeps its quarterbacking clarity, with DeBrusk offering a net-driving finishing option.
Rush vs. forecheck: Vancouver’s rush offense can expose Seattle’s young D pairs if exits falter. Conversely, if the Kraken pin Vancouver’s third pair and younger wings, Climate Pledge’s momentum can tilt shifts quickly.
Given Seattle’s recent dominance, home ice, and the likelihood of a prospect-forward lineup on both sides, Seattle starts as a slight favorite. That said, preseason volatility plus Kevin Lankinen’s steady road form and a Hughes- or Hronek-led back end can swing a one-goal game. If one of Vancouver’s youngsters pops with finishing or PP impact, the Canucks can nick this opener.
Forwards (by role): DeBrusk — Pettersson — Boeser if veterans dress; otherwise DeBrusk — Blueger — Garland as a fallback look, with prospect lines like Lekkerimäki — Räty — Karlsson and Bains — Åman — Sherwood rounding out. Expect mixing and matching mid-game to stress-test combinations.
Defense: Hughes — Hronek if both dress or Hughes with a stay-at-home partner; Forbort — P.O. Joseph as a steady third pair; one of Willander or Knyzhov competing for sheltered minutes.
Goalies: Lankinen to start (projected); prospect relief for the second half.
Elias Pettersson: Drive entries, distribute on PP1, and test finishing chemistry with DeBrusk. If held out, focus shifts to evaluating Räty or Åman at center.
Jake DeBrusk: Primary finishing threat off the rush and below the dots; early reads with either Pettersson or Blueger are a camp priority.
Brock Boeser: Net-front timing and one-timer threat on PP1; five-on-five goal threat off Pettersson feeds, or veteran stabilizer if slotted with kids.
Quinn Hughes or Filip Hronek: One (or both) to manage pace, exits, and power-play touches. Evaluate pair chemistry and protect young defensemen in tough shifts.
Teddy Blueger or Drew O’Connor: Penalty-kill backbone, defensive-zone faceoffs, and forecheck pressure; keep expected goals against low when kids rotate through.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Linus Karlsson, Aatu Räty, Arshdeep Bains, Kiefer Sherwood: Earn trust via wall work, pace, and retrievals; convert looks with quick releases; avoid extended defensive-zone shifts versus Beniers and Wright usage.
Seattle’s slight edge comes from venue and recent form, but Vancouver’s top-end talent and penalty-kill structure can flip the script quickly. As with any preseason opener, tonight is more about answers on combinations and kids than the scoreboard—yet a sharp special-teams showing and a composed Lankinen start give the Canucks a real shot to start with a win.