How Kraken’s newest addition, Mikey Eyssimont, can find home in Seattle

On March 5, Mikey Eyssimont joined a Kraken group where he hadn’t played with anyone, but played against them plenty — “took some punches, gave some punches.”

It wasn’t hard to find other commonalities. Top-line center Matty Beniers and fourth-line winger Eyssimont are both American and former college players. They’ve both lived with former Kraken defenseman Will “Belligerent Bill” Borgen.

Eyssimont and Borgen, both 28, were roommates throughout their time at St. Cloud State in Minnesota. Beniers, 22, and Borgen lived together in Seattle for several years until Borgen was traded to the New York Rangers in December.

Of course they’ve discussed it.

“Definitely have a connection there. Will is still a friend of mine,” Eyssimont said.

“He was a great roommate. I don’t have anything negative to say about being a roommate, and I’m kind of picky that way.”

OK, one comment, but not a cohabitation jab.

“He thinks he’s a little bit cooler than he is,” Eyssimont said with a chuckle.

Eyssimont was born and raised in Littleton, Colo., and got caught up in a wave of interest in the sport. The Avalanche relocated from Quebec City and right away won two titles in five years, the first of which was 1996, months before Eyssimont was born. Big-name players such as Joe Sakic and Adam Foote were active in the community, coaching their own kids. Eyssimont wears No. 21 in honor of Peter Forsberg.

Eyssimont grew up playing alongside several other future NHLers including Maple Leafs defenseman Brandon Carlo and Anaheim Ducks forward Troy Terry. He started with roller hockey before moving to the ice.

“My dad would bring out the [leaf] blower, the backpack, and blow out my elementary school parking lot of all the pebbles, then bring a net down,” Eyssimont recalled.

Something much bigger than a pebble threatened to trip him up. Eyssimont was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. He was hospitalized just before his junior year of college.

There is no cure, but it can be managed, which prompted a lifestyle change. Greasy foods, alcohol, dairy, red meat, butter — all of the fun stuff, really — tend to cause the disease to flare. He cut out the junk, and said he doesn’t miss it.

“I eat for fuel,” Eyssimont said.

“Ultimately, I think it gives me kind of an edge around the league, just the way that I treat my body. Sleep, nutrition, rest, recovery, that kind of stuff.”

It’s not optional, and he can’t mess around with it. He’s had to scrap to get here. That plays into his mentality and approach.

“I feel like everything I’ve gotten, I’ve earned,” Eyssimont said.

He played 20 games for the Winnipeg Jets, was waived and played 20 more with the San Jose Sharks, then got dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning — all during the 2022-23 season. His longest stay with any NHL team was parts of three seasons in Tampa Bay.

Eyssimont was on his way to a second straight full campaign with the Lightning when they sent him and a package of draft picks to the Kraken for Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde two days before the 2025 trade deadline.

The writing was on the wall, as someone without a no-trade clause. But it was still jarring.

He made a strong first impression with the Kraken. Eyssimont’s Seattle debut was the day after the trade in Nashville. He beat Predators goaltender Juuse Saros on a third-period tip.

He made it two goals in six Kraken appearances on Sunday night. The league-best Jets, who have allowed the fewest goals this season on average by a wide margin (2.28), allowed Eyssimont to push off the boards, make a beeline for the net and score five-hole on Eric Comrie.

What Eyssimont has done, he’s managed despite the fact “he hasn’t gotten a huge opportunity,” Kraken coach Dan Bylsma noted. Eyssimont averages 9:54 minutes per game.

“He adds depth and speed and energy,” Bylsma said. “His other chances have been in and around the net. Cloud of dust, bringing it to the cage.”

He has 14 regular-season games left to leave a mark for the Kraken, who will soon formally be eliminated from postseason contention. Eyssimont’s two-year contract with a cap hit of $800,000 expires this summer, so the Kraken will have to decide whether to re-up.

Eyssimont’s 200th career game, spread across four NHL teams, will be Tuesday night in Chicago. Each one is still special.

“I still get the same butterflies in my stomach that I got when I was playing U16 hockey,” Eyssimont said. “That core feeling, it’s almost nostalgic now. It’s so familiar. It’s the best feeling in the world to get ready for a game.”