Burakovsky did not make the short trip to Vancouver with the team and will sit out Saturday's game with an illness. Daniel Sprong is the most likely candidate to fill Burakovsky's spot on the Kraken's fourth line and second power-play unit.
Olofsson was a second-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft but has only played three NHL games since the 2019-20 season. The 30-year-old defenseman has 11 points (2G / 9A) in 27 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) this season.
Stezka was recalled on an emergency basis, a sign that Joey Daccord might be unable to suit up after battling through an injury in his previous game. The 27-year-old Stezka has a 2.94 GAA and .906 SV% in 18 games this season (6-9-3).
The Kraken will turn to Daccord for the 22nd time this season when they travel to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks on Thursday. Daccord came out on the losing end of his last start, allowing three goals on 27 shots in a 3-0 defeat to the Senators. Despite the loss, Daccord still owns a respectable 12-7-2 record on the season to go along with an impressive .915 SV%. He's a solid bet to get back in the win column on Thursday as the Kraken enter action at -140 on the money line.
Kartye will take a seat on Thursday in order to make room for the debut of Kaapo Kakko. Kartye has three goals and three assists in 32 games this season.
Gourde was limited to only 11:32 time on ice in last Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, exiting after suffering a lower-body injury, and has not played since. The 32-year-old Gourde has 14 points (5G / 9A) in 29 games this season and had been playing well lately, scoring 10 points (5G / 5A) in his last 12 contests.
Gourde was limited to only 11:32 time on ice in last Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, exiting after suffering a lower-body injury, and has not played since. The 32-year-old Gourde has 14 points (5G / 9A) in 29 games this season and had been playing well lately, scoring 10 points (5G / 5A) in his last 12 contests.
The Kraken acquired Kakko from the New York Rangers on Wednesday in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round draft pick, and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick. Kakko was the second-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and was never able to live up to lofty expectations in New York, averaging just 15 goals and 17 assists per 82 games across parts of six seasons with the team. Kakko joins a much younger roster in Seattle where he should see an expanded role at 5v5 and potentially on the power-play after being limited to a bottom-six role for the majority of his time as a Ranger.
Stephens has played the last nine games with Seattle, recording one point (0G / 1A), but will be returning to Coachella Valley (AHL). The 27-year-old Stephens had four points (3G / 1A) in 11 games with Coachella Valley before his call-up in November.
The second-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft was never able to live up to those lofty expectations in New York, averaging just 15 goals and 17 assists per 82 games across parts of six seasons with the team. Kakko joins a much younger roster in Seattle where he should see an expanded role at 5v5 and potentially on the power-play after being limited to a bottom-six role for the majority of his time as a Ranger.
Winterton played the last two games for Seattle but has been reassigned to the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL). The 21-year-old has 15 points (7G / 8A) in 16 games with Coachella Valley this season.
