Seattle Kraken's Joey Daccord Faces Tough Choice: Canada, U.S., or Switzerland for International Play?

December 3, 2024
Seattle Kraken's Joey Daccord Faces Tough Choice: Canada, U.S., or Switzerland for International Play?
  • Daccord was a seventh-round pick in 2015 and played for the Ottawa Senators' AHL and ECHL affiliates before being selected by the Kraken in the 2020 expansion draft, becoming a full-time NHL player in the 2023-24 season.

  • He has been considered a potential candidate for Hockey Canada at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025.

  • Canada enters the 4 Nations Face-Off as the favorite, featuring star players like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, but faces questions regarding its goaltending depth.

  • Possible Canadian goaltenders include Jordan Binnington and Adin Hill, while the U.S. boasts reigning Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck among its options.

  • NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly stated that the NHL and NHL Players Association will consider players' eligibility on a case-by-case basis for the 4 Nations event, which is not IIHF-sanctioned.

  • Joey Daccord, a 28-year-old goalie for the Seattle Kraken, holds American, Canadian, and Swiss citizenship, which has led to discussions about his potential international representation.

  • Daccord has never played for the U.S. in IIHF events, allowing him to choose between Canada and Switzerland until he officially represents one of them.

  • The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) confirmed that Daccord is eligible to play for Canada, provided he has not previously represented another country in IIHF-sanctioned events.

  • He has spoken to the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation about potentially representing Switzerland at the 2026 Olympics, but has not committed to any nation yet.

  • In the 2024-25 season, Daccord started strong with 5.9 goals saved above expected, placing him among the top ten in the NHL for that metric.

  • He expressed pride in his diverse heritage and the honor of possibly representing any of the three nations at an international level.

  • During the 2023-24 season, he achieved a 2.46 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage, ranking sixth in the NHL among goalies with more than 25 games played.

Summary based on 1 source


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