“I liked that I scored and last year I liked the way I played,” Nyman said. “But it’s the first game and I’ll try to do the same for next game.”
Nils Aman closed out the scoring for Vancouver in the third after Nikke Kokko had come on to replace Daccord in net for the final 20 minutes as planned in advance. Victor Mancini also scored for the Canucks early in the second period to erase an initial goal in the opening frame by Kraken prospect winger Eduard Sale.
The goal by Sale, drafted in the first round, 20th overall in 2023, came off a neutral zone turnover caused by Jordan Eberle. Sale raced down the right side on a 2-on-1 break, using centerman Berkly Catton as a decoy before firing a wrist shot up high, short side on netminder Tolopilo.
It was an alert play by Sale, who kept looking at Catton until the very last second and enticed the goalie to start cheating to his right just a little too early. Sale was one of five Kraken first round picks on the ice in this one, along with Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, Catton and Jake O’Brien.
Wright and O’Brien both had opening period breakaway chances that were stopped by Tolopilo before Sale finally converted.
But it’s Nyman, 21, a second rounder taken in the second round, 49th overall in 2022, who looms as the most likely among the franchise’s higher-line AHL wingers to earn a coveted promotion.
Beyond the 28 goals scored in 58 games his AHL debut season, Nyman also found the net early and often in limited Kraken opportunities. For a Kraken team wanting more size up front and some additional goal scoring, the combination offered by Finland native Nyman is an enticing one so long as his skating takes a step forward as well.
That’s why these preseason games present a huge opportunity for Nyman to show he belongs.
The Kraken were impressed by some of Nyman’s chemistry alongside Finnish countryman Kakko last season and the pair picked right up again in this contest on a line centered by Beniers. Kakko assisted on both of Nyman’s goals, the second one seeing him feed the puck gingerly toward the youngster in the right faceoff circle where he could tee-off one of his patented slappers he didn’t miss often on from that range a season ago.
“Of course, he’s the Finnish guy so we’re both speaking the same language,” Nyman joked with a smile. “But Kaapo (Kakko) and (Matty) Beniers are very good players and I like playing with them.”