Kraken’s Ryker Evans, Brandon Montour set to return; Jordan Eberle out day-to-day

Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour (62) shoots against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena.

Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images

The Seattle Kraken will return to the ice Saturday against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers with a bolstered blue line as defensemen Ryker Evans and Brandon Montour are expected to return to the lineup, Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma confirmed to team broadcaster Alison Lukan on Friday.

Sidelined for five games prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off break due to an upper-body ailment, Evans has made 50 appearances on the season with Seattle in which he has registered five goals and 16 assists for 21 points alongside 18 penalty minutes and a plus-two rating. Originally chosen 35th overall by Seattle in the 2021 NHL Draft, the 23-year-old Calgary native is skating in his second season with the Kraken following the 2023-24 campaign where through 36 outings he scored once and added eight assists for nine points.

Beyond Evans, the Kraken will also see Montour’s return. Facing the Calgary Flames in the final game prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off break, Montour exited midway through the first period and did not return after suffering an upper-body injury. Skating in his first season with the Kraken after raising the Stanley Cup with the Panthers last spring, the 30-year-old Brantford, Ont., native has made 56 appearances this season in which he has tallied 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points to sit seventh in team scoring and first among defensemen. An unrestricted free agent last July, Montour agreed to a seven-year, $50-million deal with the Kraken.

Up front, the Kraken remain without Eberle, whose status has been updated to day-to-day after being sidelined since mid-November following pelvic surgery. Through 17 appearances this season, the first-year captain has scored six times and added five assists for 11 points coupled with six penalty minutes and a plus-three rating. During the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, Eberle joined the AHL affiliated Coachella Valley Firebirds as part of a conditioning loan but did not enter the lineup.