Adam Larsson is About to Join an Elite Club, and His Family is Crashing His House for It
Adam Larsson is about to do something only a handful of players ever do: play his 1,000th NHL game. The Kraken's stalwart defenseman will hit the milestone Tuesday night during a road game against the Florida Panthers. But here's the thing, he's not thrilled about the distraction right now.
"Haven't thought that far," Larsson said when asked where he'd display his silver stick, the award given to players who reach 1,000 games. "Just keep it away from my daughter. She'll do damage to it, I think."
The real celebration happens April 2 back home in Seattle, when the Kraken honor him before a game against the Utah Mammoth. His mother, brother Hampus, sister Julia, and all their kids are flying in to crash at his place. He's bracing for "mayhem."
The Timing Isn't Ideal, but This Guy Doesn't Miss Games
Look, Larsson would've preferred this milestone to happen early next season, away from the pressure of a playoff race. But that would require him to miss games, and frankly, that's not who he is. The Kraken are clutching at their second-ever playoff spot, and he's not sitting out for anything.
His defensive partner Vince Dunn gets it. "He's one that doesn't like distraction, so I'm sure he's not enjoying all of this around it," Dunn said with a smile. "So he'll be excited, but I think he's ready for it to be over with, and to get it out of the way."
These two have been Seattle's top defensive pairing for nearly four years straight, linked up since March 22, 2022. Since the Kraken launched in 2021, Larsson has missed exactly one game: when his daughter Alba was born. His ironman streak of 343 games ended April 5, 2024, then he immediately started another one.
From Swedish Dreams to 1,000 Games
Growing up in Skellefteå, Sweden, reaching 1,000 NHL games was never the plan. "Growing up in Sweden, I'd dream about playing for our hometown team," Larsson said. "The NHL felt kind of far away at the time, and honestly, I didn't even know much about the NHL, because it wasn't as televised as it is these days."
When NHL games did air, they were on in the middle of the night. School was the next morning. Larsson followed Wayne Gretzky and the famous Swedes, but his real dream was Skellefteå AIK, the Swedish elite league where his father Robert once played. His father passed away in 2018.
But Larsson had other plans written in the stars. The New Jersey Devils drafted him fourth overall in 2011, and he made his debut that same year. He played 274 games in New Jersey and 329 in Edmonton before joining the Kraken for 396 and counting. In Seattle, he's the shutdown defenseman, the unglamorous but absolutely necessary anchor on the blue line. He's signed through 2029, when he'll be 36.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.