Seattle Kraken goaltender Chris Driedger revealed a unique new helmet this week, which pays tribute to two legendary bands tied to the city’s historic grunge scene.
Driedger shared a detailed look at his new mask on social media (h/t nhl.com ), featuring on one side Kurt Cobain, the late lead singer of Nirvana, and the voice of Pearl Jam, Eddie Vedder, on the other.
According to Dan O’Leary of nhl.com, the top of Driedger’s helmet, adorned with Seattle’s skyline and the neck of a guitar, was painted by DaveArt’s David Gunnarsson.
On the back of Driedger’s mask, where goalies usually place something more personal, the Kraken goaltender went with Baby Yoda and Rafiki from The Lion King.
It’s no surprise Driedger came up with such a creative idea. When Driedger first arrived in Seattle in 2021, the veteran told reporters that mask design was, “the first thing,” that came to mind. Last season, keeping with the hometown theme, Driedger wore a helmet, also made by DaveArt, paying homage to the Seattle Metropolitans of the 1920s, and their goaltender, Hap Holmes.
Whether it’s something meaningful to the player, or a tie-in to the town they play in, goalies have displayed unique artwork on their helmets for decades. And Driedger isn’t the only goaltender in the NHL donning a helmet with rockstars. On the other side of the continent, Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart sports a mask with former Nirvana drummer and current frontman of the Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl, and the band’s late drummer Taylor Hawkins.
