The Seattle Kraken open their inaugural NHL season with a compressed, four‑game weekend that begins on October 1, a schedule that packs more opponents into fewer nights than most teams experience in a month.
Their first test arrives on the road against the Calgary Flames, a club projected to finish near the bottom of the Pacific Division and still preparing to move into its brand‑new arena for the 2027‑28 campaign.
A Familiar Foe Returns Home
The third contest of the opening stretch is a home opener at Climate Pledge Arena, where the Kraken will finally welcome the Flames back to Seattle, hoping the familiar surroundings can spark a turnaround after the early road tests.
Just two days later Seattle travels to face the Edmonton Oilers, a team that enters the season under new head coach Mike Babcock and anchored by the league’s most dynamic scorer, Connor McDavid, against whom the Kraken have historically struggled.
A Test Against the Champions
The final game of the opening weekend pits the Kraken against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Stanley Cup runners‑up from the previous season, offering a stark benchmark for a franchise still defining its identity.
With new systems, fresh coaching staffs and a roster still finding chemistry, the first two weeks of the season are expected to be unpredictable, making every early result crucial for momentum and confidence.
Avoiding a major slip‑up in these opening games could spare the Kraken from digging a deep hole, while a strong start might set the tone for a competitive campaign in the Pacific Division.