Regardless of being within the league for simply three seasons, the Seattle Kraken have assembled fairly the prospect pool. Whereas they’ve had just a few early choices within the first spherical, they’ve additionally discovered hidden gems in current drafts within the second and third rounds, serving to formulate one of many league’s greatest prospect swimming pools. The honorable mentions record alone is arguably higher than some group’s prospect swimming pools, and the highest 5 is stuffed with All-Star potential expertise.
Honorable mentions: Julius Miettinen, Clarke Caswell, Oscar Fisker Molgaard, Ryan Winterton, Logan Morrison, Lukas Dragicevic, Kim Saarinen, Zeb Forsfjall, Alexis Bernier, Nathan Villeneuve
10. Ty Nelson, 20 years outdated (RD)
Ty Nelson has an exceptionally arduous shot regardless of being simply 5-foot-10. He has a really excessive hockey IQ, often making exact passes look routine. His greatest qualities are his passing and playmaking skill, largely because of his skill to manage puck possession within the offensive zone whereas preserving his head as much as discover an open teammate. He’s on the youthful aspect of 2022 draftees, so he’s a bit behind in improvement, however just a few seasons within the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Coachella Valley Firebirds might see him develop right into a top-four defenseman who performs on the powerplay, producing north of 30 factors per season whereas offering common to above common protection.
9. Eduard Sale, 19 years outdated (W)
Eduard Sale was chosen twentieth total by the Kraken within the 2023 Draft and struggled final season. Rising up in Czechia, he had by no means performed on North American soil, so suiting up within the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) introduced a problem. He scored simply 15 objectives and 38 factors in 49 video games break up between the Barrie Colts and Kitchener Rangers. These are disappointing numbers for a first-round decide, particularly within the OHL as a 19-year-old. Nonetheless, there’s purpose to imagine he’ll flip his recreation round.
Associated: Kraken Make NHL Historical past with Jessica Campbell Rent
Sale will start this season with Kitchener and he’s certain to enhance his offensive totals since he can be extra accustomed to their system. When he performed for Czechia on the 2024 World Junior Championship final season, he dominated, scoring three objectives and 4 assists in seven video games. He’s an distinctive passer and powerful skater, two qualities that bode effectively within the OHL, so a bounceback must be within the playing cards. Solely time will inform, however Sale might nonetheless turn into the participant Seattle was going for after they chosen him final offseason.
8. Caden Value, 18 years outdated (LD)
One other 2023 draftee of the Kraken is Caden Value. He’s nonetheless simply 18 years outdated and was just a few weeks away from being ineligible to be chosen within the 2023 Draft, however his movie wouldn’t present it. The sleek-skating, two-way defenseman has nice defensive consciousness and infrequently makes errors within the defensive zone. Whereas his 13 objectives and 55 factors in 62 video games for the Kelowna Rockets are spectacular, he’s able to far more.
Value will be a part of the Rockets once more subsequent season and may very well be among the best defensemen within the Western Hockey League (WHL). He’s a really enjoyable prospect to look at, and it’s arduous to think about he doesn’t turn into an NHL defenseman. He could also be shut to a few seasons away from reaching the NHL, however his upside of growing right into a dependable, two-way top-four defenseman warrants his place on this record.
7. David Goyette, 20 years outdated (C)
David Goyette was chosen 61st total within the 2022 Draft, however his manufacturing would make you assume he was chosen within the prime 10. Final season he scored 40 objectives and 117 factors in 68 video games for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. He led the league in factors and completed second in assists (77). His elite skating could swimsuit him higher as a winger on the NHL stage, however his upside is ridiculous.
Goyette’s greatest trait is his elusive, high-paced skating, however he’s a well-rounded offensive prospect. He has spectacular arms and might rating from all areas on the ice. He does battle within the bodily facet of the sport, which is why he’s not ranked top-five within the prospect pool, however that may be a weak spot that may very well be overcome. He can be beginning this season with the Firebirds, which can be a take a look at of his physicality, so it is going to be fascinating to see how he handles the adversity. If all goes effectively, he may very well be rushed to the NHL as a middle-six ahead with a 50+ level upside. If not, he could battle to see constant shifts within the NHL.
6. Jani Nyman, 19 years outdated (W)
Jani Nyman could also be some of the underrated prospects in all the NHL. The 6-foot-4 winger completed final season with 26 objectives and 43 factors in simply 48 video games for Ilves in Liiga, Finland’s premier Males’s league. Liiga is usually thought of a top-three hockey league on this planet, trailing simply the NHL and arguably the Kontinental Hockey League. Nyman completed the season twenty sixth in factors and second in objectives as a youngster whereas taking part in in opposition to grown males primarily of their 20s and 30s. He additionally missed 12 common season video games. On a point-per-game foundation, he completed 14th in factors and first in objectives.
Nyman has a powerful shot and hockey IQ and isn’t too far-off from taking part in within the NHL. This season he’s anticipated to hitch the stacked Firebirds lineup, which may very well be a useful litmus take a look at for the teenager. Whereas final season was no fluke, it is going to be fascinating to see if he can proceed his offensive dominance in his first season in North America. If he can, his future as an elite middle-six winger will change into extra probably.
5. Carson Rehkopf, 19 years outdated (C/LW)
Carson Rehkopf is a 6-foot-2, 194-pound ahead who put up 52 objectives and 95 factors in 60 video games for Kitchener final season. He was a 2023 second-round decide by the Kraken because of his spectacular pace, shot, consciousness, and well-rounded playstyle. He fell within the draft because of worries concerning his consistency, however he put these feedback to mattress final season.
Whereas Carson Rehkopf is returning to Kitchener subsequent season, there’s not a lot left he has to show in junior hockey. He has showcased a capability to manage play within the OHL, evident in his level manufacturing and two-way dominance, so it is going to be fascinating to see how he improves his recreation this season. The Kraken have an abundance of facilities each on the NHL roster and within the system, so he’s more likely to transition to the wing full-time, however this may very well be good for his improvement. His playstyle would mesh effectively alongside Matty Beniers, permitting the 2 to change into the way forward for the Kraken’s top-six.
Rehkopf’s offensive upside within the NHL is round 20-30 objectives and 60-75 factors per season with spectacular defensive play. His flooring is a dependable, two-way ahead on the Kraken’s third line, scoring round 10 objectives and 30 factors per season. He’ll probably develop right into a center of those two outcomes.
4. Niklas Kokko, 20 years outdated (G)
Niklas Kokko is among the higher goaltending prospects within the NHL because of his 6-foot-4 body, consistency, and monitor document. He spent final season in Liiga, going 11-5-5 with a .917 save share, 1.86 objectives in opposition to common, and 5 shutouts. He hardly ever makes errors within the internet, offering him with a comparatively excessive flooring in his NHL journey.
Projecting goaltenders is all the time a tall ask, not solely as a result of they’re so fickle but additionally due to their inconsistency. Kokko is just a few seasons away from reaching the NHL, so re-assessing him in a yr or two can be a greater solution to gauge his potential. For now, he’s only a title Kraken followers ought to observe as he continues his improvement.
3. Jagger Firkus, 20 years outdated (RW)
Jagger Firkus is not only among the best names in hockey, he’s additionally a prime prospect. The 2022 second-round decide scored a whopping 61 objectives and 126 factors in 63 video games for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL, main the league in factors and ending second in objectives. He stands simply 5-foot-11 however possesses a deadly wrist shot because of his energy and skill to attain whereas skating. He likes to assault the online and discover essentially the most opportune angles to place one previous the netminder.
Firkus has an actual shot at making the Kraken’s lineup out of the preseason, though it’s unlikely as a result of groups’ historical past of prioritizing participant improvement. So, he’s extra more likely to be a part of the flood of younger expertise in Coachella, main the way forward for hockey in Seattle. His upside may be very excessive because of his skillset being so translatable to the NHL, so a future spot within the Kraken’s top-six is sort of probably. On the scoresheet, he might develop right into a 30+ purpose, 75+ level winger if all goes effectively.
2. Shane Wright, 20 years outdated (C)
Shane Wright acquired exceptional-player standing from Hockey Canada in March 2019 however didn’t get a lot use of it as a result of COVID-19 outbreak shortening and eliminating a lot of his improvement. Regardless of this, his improvement has gone fairly effectively to the dismay of many hockey followers.
Wright showcased his scoring prowess final yr with 22 objectives and 47 factors in 55 video games for the Firebirds, rating among the many prime u21 prospects within the AHL in factors per recreation. This upcoming season is pivotal for his NHL aspirations, presenting a major alternative.
A robust offensive efficiency might solidify Wright’s path to turning into a top-six heart with 25+ objectives and 80+ factors upside. Nonetheless, struggling beneath stress might diminish his upside, although he might stay on monitor to turn into an above-average middle-six heart who underwent an extended developmental trajectory.
1. Berkly Catton, 18 years outdated (C/LW)
Berkly Catton was chosen eighth total by the Kraken within the 2024 Draft and instantly turned the group’s prime prospect. He’s an elite playmaker who has the imaginative and prescient and arms to dominate the NHL. He additionally has a sneaky-strong shot, evident in his 54 objectives in 68 video games for the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL final season.
Catton is anticipated to return to Spokane this season however must be within the NHL not lengthy after. Primarily a winger, although succesful at heart, he’s in the identical tier as essentially the most promising NHL-affiliated prospects. His ceiling may be very excessive, with many scouts suggesting he might attain 30+ objectives and 85+ level seasons in his prime, although aiming for 20+ objectives and 70+ factors is likely to be a extra real looking goal.
Whereas the Kraken should not critical Stanley Cup contenders at the moment, their future may be very vivid. They’ve some younger expertise on the present NHL roster and a stacked prospect pool with upside and depth at every place. The subsequent few seasons could not see a lot success, however 4 to 5 seasons from now this group may very well be a favourite for the Stanley Cup.
