Ryker Evans To Miss Significant Time On Kraken Blueline

Ryker Evans, Seattle Kraken defenseman, skates with puck

After his first full season on the Seattle Kraken blueline last year, more big things were expected of defenseman Ryker Evans this season. Unfortunately, those plans will be on hold for six to eight weeks after Evans suffered an upper-body injury during the preseason.

An update on #SeaKraken defenseman Ryker Evans: pic.twitter.com/Kw57Jd0uiU
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) October 1, 2025

The announcement comes seemingly out of nowhere, as Evans not only played in Monday's exhibition game against the Calgary Flames, he actually logged a team-leading 25:40 minutes of ice time. Clearly, nothing too serious bothering him during the game.

He'll now be out until later in November, missing perhaps as many as 25 games.

Back in August, the 23-year-old RFA signed a two-year contract worth $4.1 million ($2.05M AAV), after establishing himself as a lockdown d-man for the Kraken.

Evans was a second-round pick of the Kraken (35th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. He had a terrific first pro season with Coachella of the AHL in 2022-23, posting 44 points in 71 games, with a plus/minus rating of +19. He added a sensational 26 points in 26 playoff games that year.

Evans recorded 25 points in 73 games in his first full year in the NHL last season, while registering 123 hits and 106 blocked shots. He earned 19:29 of ice time per night.

The six-foot, 195-pound defenseman has totaled 34 points (6g/28a) in 109 career NHL games.