Anaheim Ducks vs. Seattle Kraken Picks and Prediction for Thursday, October 9, 2025
Anaheim Ducks (0-0-0) vs. Seattle Kraken (0-0-0)
The Anaheim Ducks head to Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA, on Thursday night to face off against the Seattle Kraken in their 2025 NHL season opener, and we’ve got you covered with our Ducks vs. Kraken prediction.
Last season, the Ducks won their three-game series against the Kraken. Seattle beat Anaheim 3-2 at Honda Center, and the Ducks responded with a couple of wins at Climate Pledge Arena, 5-2 and 6-4.
Let’s take a closer look at this Ducks vs. Kraken prediction, one of our NHL picks for Thursday’s slate. The Kraken are listed as -120 moneyline favorites, while the total sits at 5.5 goals and is shaded to the over.
The Ducks want to break out of their funk
The Anaheim Ducks went 35-37-10 this past regular season. They missed the playoffs for the seventh straight year, but it was their best season since 2018-19, when the Ducks also amassed 80 points.
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In 2024-25, the Ducks ranked 30th in the league in goals for (2.65 per game) and 32nd in power-play percentage (11.8%). On the other side of the puck, Anaheim was 22nd in goals against (3.18) and 29th in penalty killing (74.2%).
Despite a 21-point increase in the standings, the Ducks decided to fire head coach Greg Cronin in the offseason. They hired Joel Quenneville, a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks. Quenneville hasn’t coached in four years following a ban due to his role in the 2010 Blackhawks sexual abuse scandal.
The Ducks parted ways with goalie John Gibson and forward Trevor Zegras, too. Anaheim traded for winger Chris Kreider, who’s scored 149 goals for the NY Rangers over the last four years, and signed free agent center Mikael Granlund, who had 22 goals and 44 assists between San Jose and Dallas last season.
Lukas Dostal will be Anaheim’s starting netminder in 2025-26. The 25-year-old Czech went 23-23-7 with a 3.10 GAA and a .903 save percentage last season. Petr Mrazek will serve as a backup.
The Kraken hope for a respectful campaign
The Seattle Kraken went 35-41-6 last regular season, finishing seventh in the Pacific Division. They were four points behind the Ducks and 20 behind the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
The Kraken missed the postseason for the second straight year. They ranked 16th in goals for (2.99 per game) and 23rd in power-play percentage (18.9%). On the other side of the ice, Seattle was 24th in goals against (3.20) and 21st in penalty killing (77.2%).
It was a disappointing season for the Kraken, who recorded 100 points and made it to the second round of the Stanley Cup just two years ago. Seattle decided to part ways with head coach Dan Bylsma and replace him with Lane Lambert, who was fired by the NY Islanders in 2024.
Seattle’s roster hasn’t changed a lot. The Kraken lost winger Andre Burakovsky and center Mikey Eyssimont. They acquired defenseman Ryan Lindgren, winger Mason Marchment, and center Freddy Gaudreau.
Joey Daccord will be Seattle’s starting goalie in 2025-26. The 29-year-old netminder went 27-23-5 with a 2.75 GAA and a .906 save percentage last season. Philipp Grubauer remains a backup despite an ugly performance in 2024-25 (8-17-1 with a 3.49 GAA and a .875 SV%).
Ducks vs. Kraken Pick
Moneyline Pick for Ducks vs. Kraken
- Anaheim Ducks (5 units)
The Ducks think that their rebuild is done, and I expect them to prove it in their season opener. It looks like Anaheim has a lot of depth on the offensive side of the puck. The Ducks’ top two lines are loaded with talent, while Mikael Granlund will lead the third line.
Anaheim has a new assistant coach in Jay Woodcroft, who will try to improve the Ducks’ special teams. Under Woodcroft, the 2022-23 Edmonton Oilers had the best power-play conversion rate in NHL history.
Of course, the Ducks’ defense remains an issue. On the other side, the Kraken have a few talented forwards on their roster, but their blueline doesn’t look impressive either. Give me the Ducks at plus money.
Over/Under Pick for Ducks vs. Kraken
- Over 5.5 (5 units)
Last season, the Ducks’ goaltending was solid, but their blueline was pretty much awful. The Ducks’ defense should improve this time around, but I’m still looking for a high-scoring affair when they visit the Kraken.
Anaheim will score more than it did in 2024-25. On paper, the Ducks’ offense looks much better, and Anaheim has a nice mix of youngsters and veterans up front. The Kraken will find a way to create chances in this matchup, so give me the over on the total.
