Seattle Kraken increase shootout practice using Dolan Gilbert

The Seattle Kraken are overhauling their shootout preparation by pushing high-volume repetition straight onto the ice, using emergency backup goaltender Dolan Gilbert to face roughly 150 attempts in a single post-practice session.

High-Volume Repetition on the Ice

The sheer weight of the recent practice gave players an extended window to experiment with their approaches. They could adjust on the fly when their usual moves were blocked. Gilbert admitted the session was long, but he embraced the workload.

“It was long, but it was fun. I think shootouts are fun in general,” Gilbert said, noting that observing player tendencies up close was a distinct benefit.

The Mental Chess Match of the Breakaway

For NHL skaters, the main goal during these extended sessions is spotting an opening without committing to a locked-in move that the goaltender can easily anticipate. Even with that level of rigorous preparation, success is never guaranteed.

Seattle Kraken increase shootout practice using Dolan Gilbert

Forward McMann noted in the report that while he usually knows whether he likes his approach as he bears down on the net, he cannot be sure he has beaten the goaltender until the puck actually crosses the goal line.

A Waiting Game for Goaltenders

From the netminder’s side of the puck, the core challenge is matching the shooter’s speed while holding onto absolute patience. Gilbert framed the duel as a strict waiting game.

“Whoever bites first probably loses,” Gilbert said.

Goaltending development coach Hannu Zulianello underscored that exact principle for full-time goalies. Netminders must absorb the information a shooter provides and wait for the player to launch a move before reacting.

Zulianello observed that players have applied this information relatively fast. They lean on their elite skill levels alongside video breakdown and individual coaching.

Elevating the Details at the Professional Level

The Kraken have scheduled shootout work on multiple occasions this season. This marks a clear shift beyond the occasional repetition seen in standard practices.

Gilbert juggles his emergency backup duties with office responsibilities inside the organization. He pointed out that the sheer level of shootout preparation detail stands out sharply against his college hockey playing experience.

“It’s impressive,” Gilbert said. “It’s the little details that separate this level from the rest.”