PHILLIP GRUBAUER/CHRIS DRIEDGER, SEATTLE KRAKEN
Grubauer always seemed like he was on the verge of pushing some real hobby steam with the contending Avs, but the team's inability to drive deep into the playoffs le him as something of a regional flavor. Now, as a member of the Kraken, he stands a chance of benefitting from a different type of profile – the centerpiece of a rag-tag band of secondchancers out to prove the world wrong. It's a stage that revived Marc-Andre Fleury's fortunes aer they sagged in Pittsburgh, so it could propel Grubauer as well. Keep in mind that the 29-year-old German has a lengthy, albeit quiet, record of excellence. e finalist for the 2021 Vezina Trophy stands among the league's very best over the past five seasons, ranking second with a 2.33 GAA (behind only Rask), fih with a .920 save percentage (right behind four players at .921), and seventh in shutouts. Maintaining that excellence in Seattle might not be out of reach. Kraken GM Ron Francis has assembled a promising defense corps loaded with experience, so the team should be solid in its own end. And playing in a Pacific Division that lacks depth, a playoff spot is there for the taking. If he leads them to the postseason, Grubauer could take that next hobby step. e biggest impediment to that leap might be his partner, Chris Driedger. When the team selected the 27-year-old in the expansion dra, it was expected he'd parlay his recent success as a backup in Florida to the No. 1 job with the Kraken. Instead, he'll battle Grubauer for playing time. It’s a duel worth watching. Driedger emerged as a low-key hobby favorite last season when he carried the upstart Panthers for long stretches, going 14-6-3 with a 2.07 GAA and .927 save percentage. e question is, can he extrapolate that small sample size into similar success with a larger role? If he does, his key cards should get a second boost aer years in obscurity. Driedger has just nine 2015-16 RCs, with his Upper Deck Young Guns (#482) getting the most action since the move to Seattle. His sole RPA from e Cup (#127) is also getting some belated love, and don’t sleep on his SP Game Used (#188) which is serial numbered to just 32. If Grubauer keeps the reins, expect his 2013-14 e Cup (#124) to heat up. His 2013-14 Select (#238) is a bit of a sleeper with an autograph and a print run of just 399.