October opens with a familiar Pacific Division test for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, and the schedule wastes no time leaning on Ontario.
The Kraken’s AHL affiliate begins the 2026-27 season Friday at Acrisure Arena against the Ontario Reign, then heads to Ontario for a rematch Saturday. The clubs will meet again at Acrisure on Sun., Oct. 11, giving the Firebirds three games against their division rival right away. That stretch comes after a preseason meeting Sept. 27, when Ontario beat Coachella Valley 2-1.
That exhibition had plenty of grit on the Firebirds’ side. Coachella Valley killed off all five penalties, but the Reign still tied the game with 1.3 seconds left and eventually won in a shootout.
Coach Derek Laxdal said he’s comfortable with the condensed lead-in to the season. Speaking to NBC Palm Springs, he pointed to the quick turn from NHL camp to the AHL ramp-up.
“I think the shorter the better. If you look at the NHL camp, we were in there for about a week and a half.
Back down here, we had a 3-4 day camp, played a (preseason) game, and now we’re in the full season mode.”
Laxdal also laid out what he expects from a roster heavy on Kraken prospects. Before leaving Seattle, he said the young group should bring pace and energy every night, especially through the grind of back-to-backs and three-games-in-four-nights stretches. He also made clear that mistakes will come with the territory, but the goal is to build habits that stick.
“One, the energy the kids are going to bring every day, to the back-to-back (games), to the three games in four nights. They’re going to have the young legs, the exuberance to step up and play every night.
“The second part is, we know they’re going to make mistakes. Those are the areas they’re going to learn.
There’s no difference in the games. There’s difference in the execution, the size, the speed, the details of the game.
“But if we get them in the right areas, doing the right things, like making our first breakout pass, getting pucks deep, that allows them to gain the trust of the coaches, gain the trust of teammates, and put them in a position to succeed. With that growth, you have that next level of Seattle Kraken going forward.”
Players around the room echoed that the group is ready to get rolling. Forward Mitchell Stephens told KESQ-TV, “It’s another year of guys getting older, guys figuring out their games a little bit more and, you know, the development of everyone, too,”
Ty Nelson, a 2022 third-round Seattle pick, said the atmosphere in the desert is part of the appeal. “We love the desert.
Love playing in front of the fans here. It’s awesome,” he said.
“We want to run it back to where we want to go even further this year.”
Alexis Bernier, the Kraken’s 2024 third-round pick, described himself as a defenseman who leans on his physical play and work in his own zone. Speaking to NBC Palm Springs, he said, “I like to play a physical game, I’m good in my own zone, shutdown defenseman. I’ll do anything to help the team win.”
Bernier is from Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, where Friday’s high is a rainy 65 degrees. Palm Desert, by contrast, is set for a sunny 98. Bernier said that suits him just fine: “I’m a big golf guy, the golf courses are amazing, so I’m excited to be here.”
In Other News...
Former Kraken Winger Faces Uncertain Next Step After Utah Move
Brandon Tanevs latest career turn came this week after the Utah Mammoth waived the former Kraken winger, a move that puts him on the sort of uncertain path veteran players know can arrive quickly this time of year. The transaction comes with the broader NHL calendar tightening up, as teams around the league finalize rosters and head toward season openers, while the nearby hockey picture also includes preseason notes on the Coachella Valley Firebirds and the usual early-season churn elsewhere in the sport.
For Seattle fans, Tanevs situation is one more reminder of how quickly a familiar name can move from a lineup conversation to roster limbo. The immediate next step is not a spot with the Mammoth, and the open question is how this stretch plays out for a player whose energy and straight-line game made him a memorable part of the Krakens early identity. [Read more 🡒]