Jared McCann didn’t travel with Seattle Kraken to start second round

Seattle Kraken coach Dave Hakstol has confirmed that forward Jared McCann will not travel with the team to Dallas for the series’ first two games.

McCann hasn’t been with the club since getting injured in Game 4 of the team’s first-round series against Colorado on April 24. It was a big blow for the Kraken, with McCann leading the team with 40 goals and 70 points through 79 games this year.

The Kraken beat the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 on Sunday, securing a spot in the second round for the first time in franchise history. McCann had just one assist in four games, but only played 3:38 in Game 4 before getting pulled due to injury. He had four shots in that contest.

There’s no clear timeline for McCann’s return at this point.

McCann had two points against the Stars in the final meeting between the two teams back on March 21. He was held off the scoresheet in the other two games earlier that month but has five points in six games against Dallas while a member of the Kraken.

McCann has typically been a quiet playoff performer, recording just four assists in 16 games over four years. If McCann is able to play in the second round, it’ll be the first time he has played that late in his NHL career.

Rookie Tye Kartye, a dominant rookie with the Coachella Valley Firebirds this season in the AHL, has assumed the top left wing spot alongside Matthew Beniers and Jordan Eberle during McCann’s absence. Kartye, who turned 22 over the weekend, scored in his debut in Game 5, scoring in just 8:41 of ice time.

Game 1 will be played Tuesday evening at 9:30 PM ET, with Game 2 set for Thursday. The Stars beat the Minnesota Wild in the first round and come in as the higher seed and had the 2-0-1 edge in the season series.