While defenseman Vince Dunn is being evaluated for a mild injury, the Seattle Kraken are confirmed to be without at least one defenseman to begin the 2025-26 campaign. The Kraken announced that Ryker Evans will miss the next six to eight weeks with an upper-body injury.
It’s an unfortunate circumstance for Evans on the Kraken, as the defenseman was likely to start the year as the team’s next best option on the left side behind Dunn. Seattle signed Evans, who was a restricted free agent, to a two-year, $4.1MM contract in mid-August this past offseason.
He played well in his first full-time opportunity at the NHL level, scoring five goals and 25 points in 73 games for the Kraken last year, averaging 19:29 of ice time per night. Although his possession and defensive metrics left much to be desired throughout his first full campaign, Evans still finished with more than 100 blocked shots and 100 hits.
Although missing nearly two months to injury could hurt Evans’ development, the Kraken shouldn’t have much to worry about if his past AHL performances are any indication of his future ability. In one-and-a-half years with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, Evans became one of the most efficient scorers on defense, registering eight goals and 59 points in 96 games, including an additional nine goals and 36 points in 44 Calder Cup playoff contests.
Fortunately, despite the Kraken losing their fourth-best scorer from the blue line last season, they should have the depth to hold down the fort while Evans recovers. The team inked defenseman Ryan Lindgren to a four-year pact this summer, meaning they’ll have a suitable replacement for the time being behind Dunn.