Seattle Kraken forward Ryan Winterton has taken a temporary leave of absence to attend to a family matter, the team announced Monday. The 22-year-old forward, who had established himself as a key contributor this season, will miss an unspecified number of games. Winterton had appeared in a career-high 62 games this season, recording four goals and 14 assists.

Winterton's absence comes after a breakout campaign where he secured a two-year contract extension last month. General manager Jason Botterill praised Winterton's development, noting his speed and two-way play helped him carve out a regular role on the team. The contract runs through the 2027-28 season, reflecting the Kraken's confidence in his continued growth.

The timing creates a challenge for Seattle as they chase a playoff spot. The Kraken trail the Nashville Predators by four points for the second wild-card position in the Western Conference with 13 games remaining. Seattle holds one game in hand on Nashville, making every remaining contest critical for their postseason hopes.