Seattle Kraken Appoint Dolan Gilbert as Emergency Goalie
The team designates an internal researcher to fill the required league role for the current season.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Hockey
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The Seattle Kraken have appointed Dolan Gilbert, a member of their research and development department, as their official emergency backup goaltender. This move complies with NHL regulations requiring teams to maintain a designated emergency option for the regular season.
Why it matters
The NHL instituted this requirement to ensure teams have a qualified, accessible option available for games, reducing reliance on emergency local amateur tryouts. The Kraken selected Gilbert because his professional availability and background made him well-suited for the demands of long team practices.
Emergency goaltenders are restricted to those who have not played more than 80 professional games and have had no professional hockey experience in the previous three seasons. Dolan Gilbert previously appeared in 10 games for Concordia University Wisconsin and played 4 minutes and 17 seconds at Michigan State.
The players
Dolan Gilbert
The 25-year-old works in the Seattle Kraken research and development department.
Seattle Kraken
The professional hockey team based in Seattle competes in the National Hockey League.
The details
The Kraken scouting staff reviewed NCAA rosters and performed reference checks on potential candidates before appointing the 25-year-old researcher. Under league rules, emergency backups must not have previously played in an NHL game under a standard player contract.
Timeline
Dolan Gilbert was appointed to the emergency backup role in 2026.
New NHL rules for emergency goaltenders began during the 2025-26 season.
Jorge Alves played 7.6 seconds in a 2016 game for Carolina.
The Seattle Kraken signed Michael Matyas as an emergency goalie in 2024.
Season Trajectory
The formalization of the emergency goalie role reflects the league's shift toward ensuring professional readiness over last-minute amateur reliance. This appointment stabilizes the Kraken roster's depth chart, ensuring the team remains compliant with updated 2025-26 league standards throughout the season.
Fans should note that Gilbert is primarily an internal team employee rather than a traditional rostered player, meaning his appearance would only occur during extreme roster emergencies. The designation ensures the team remains compliant with NHL depth regulations without consuming a standard roster spot.
The takeaway
The appointment highlights the specialized operational needs of modern NHL franchises regarding depth and compliance. Teams prioritize internal candidates who can balance professional responsibilities with the physical demands of high-level practice.
Further reading
For more on the current team structure, visit the Seattle Hockey section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tri-City Herald.
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