On Jan. 29, 2025, the Seattle Kraken placed goaltender Philipp Grubauer on waivers with the purpose of sending him down to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. This was a huge surprise to fans, as he has had a long career in the NHL, spanning nine full seasons with three different teams.
However, the writing was on the wall: Grubauer was not having a good performance last season. This was their way to course-correct the issues he was having. While he might not have been happy about the decision, in the end, this was their best course of action.
Grubauer’s 2024-25 Performance Prior to Coachella Valley
Grubauer started four games for the Kraken in October 2024, winning only one. He finished with a .840 save percentage (SV%), allowing four goals on 25 shots. Ironically, his .913 SV% against the Dallas Stars in the prior game wasn’t enough, as the Kraken failed to score.
In November, Grubauer also played in four games, all of which resulted in losses. He recorded his lowest SV% of the season on Nov. 29 against the San Jose Sharks, where he allowed seven goals on 26 shots for a SV% of .731.
In December, Grubauer stepped up and had the opportunity to play in seven games and earned a record of 4-3-0. He earned his first win since Oct. 17 on Dec. 8 with a SV% of .865. He allowed five goals, but stopped 32 shots. The Kraken scored seven goals in this game, which gave them the edge for Grubauer’s second win of the season.
January 2025 was another rough month for Grubauer, after he earned a record of 0-5-1. Jan. 9 was the first game where he was pulled from the net, after he allowed five goals on 19 shots in the span of 35:45. His next game on Jan. 12, he only played 6:16 and allowed three goals on four shots, which notched him a SV% of .250. He played one more game on Jan. 28 and recorded another Kraken loss, where he made 17 saves on 22 shots from the Anaheim Ducks to get a SV% of .773. The following day, he was placed on waivers.
Grubauer’s Performance in Coachella Valley
Ten years after last playing in the AHL with the Hershey Bears, Grubauer spent February with the Firebirds, appearing in seven games and posting a 5-2-0 record, a 2.87 goals-against average (GAA), and a .893 SV%.
His first two games went into overtime, and he held it together for two straight wins. The San Diego Gulls got the best of him on Feb. 15, scoring five goals while the Firebirds only scored three. He recorded his lowest SV% during his stint with Coachella Valley at .826.
Grubauer went on to win his next two games, but lost the next one. The Henderson Silver Knights won 2-1, and he recorded a .909 SV%, which was his third-highest during this time with Coachella Valley. Although it might seem like a bad thing that the Firebirds lost, Grubauer’s SV% showed he was doing all he could to keep his team in the game.
Grubauer didn’t give up when he got to Coachella Valley; he made the most of the experience. He tried his hardest at the game he loves. He could’ve given up and acted like he didn’t want to be there, but he still gave it his all.
Grubauer Had a Decent Performance When He Returned to Seattle
Grubauer returned to the Kraken in March and played his first game on March 8. He recorded his first NHL win in seven games with a .958 SV% after allowing only one goal. His overall record to close out the 2024-25 season was 3-2-0.
The Kraken heavily relied on Joey Daccord while Grubauer was in the AHL, and continued to do so when he came back. Daccord became slightly worn down, but still did his best to give the Kraken their last line of defense. Of the 82 games in the season, Daccord played 57, and that takes a lot out of a player. As the season came to a close, it was clear this was not sustainable.
Grubauer’s Performance This Season
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, the Kraken elected to carry three goaltenders on their roster by signing Matt Murray to a one-year contract during the offseason. With Grubauer’s previous performance still fresh, they wanted to ensure they didn’t overplay their goaltenders.
Grubauer got his first start of the season on Oct. 16 against the Ottawa Senators. This game resulted in an overtime loss, but Grubauer kept Seattle in long enough to earn a point. On Oct. 20, Grubauer came into the crease after Daccord allowed five goals after 40 minutes of play. Grubauer made all six saves in the third period, but the Kraken couldn’t perform the comeback.
Grubauer went on to win his next four games, including on Nov. 15 when he recorded his second 1.000 SV%. He stepped in for Murray, who was injured in the first period. Grubauer made all 19 saves in the remaining two periods to ensure the Kraken’s win. Murray has been out of the lineup since.
Dec. 4 was another relief game for Grubauer, but he still allowed four goals from the Edmonton Oilers, which was a tough break for Seattle. Since Dec. 8, Grubauer has played in 14 games and has earned a record of 7-5-2. He might not have a true shutout yet this season, but he continues to put in a consistent effort, often earning .900-plus SV%’s because of it.
In his latest game, Grubauer took to the net on Jan. 27 against the Washington Capitals and only allowed one goal and recorded a SV% of .950. Of the Kraken’s 15 games in January, Grubauer has played in nine of them. Since Grubauer has stepped up his performance, the Kraken are finally utilizing Daccord and Grubauer as a goaltending tandem, giving each player a chance to defend the crease.
Related: 3 Takeaways From Kraken’s Strong 5-1 Win Over Capitals
He has put in the work to prove his spot on the team, and there is no taking it away from Grubauer now.
Grubauer Named to German Olympic Team
If his improved performance wasn’t enough of an indicator, Grubauer has earned the honor of being named to Germany’s Olympic team. He now has the opportunity to represent his home country at the Olympic level, which is something NHL players have not had a chance to do since 2014.
Grubauer will join the ranks of Leon Draisaitl and Moritz Seider as they head to Milan, Italy, for the Olympic tournament. Being named to an Olympic roster is a huge honor, and Grubauer’s selection after a poor season is a clear indication that he has stepped up to the plate and is ready for a challenge.
