News Kraken Team Notes

[Seattle Kraken]

Friday Film Room: Dragicevic, Janicke, and Annborn

Welcome to Week 2 of Friday Film Room. In this recurring series, we provide new gameplay video of three players in the Kraken organization and analyze recent trends or progress in their play. Our goal is to cover as many players as possible as we proceed through the year—including those that aren’t always front and center in prospect reports. If you have questions or Film Room requests, don’t hesitate to reach out below or on social media @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey.

Lukas Dragicevic | Defense | 20 years old | 2023 second-round pick (signed)​

Video: All Shifts | Prince Albert Raiders vs. Edmonton Oil Kings (OHL) | Apr. 1, 2025

Notes: Dragicevic has put up rare offensive numbers as a junior hockey blueliner. Among all WHL defensemen since the turn of the century, Dragicevic’s 227 total regular-season points are sixth-most, just behind NHL players Tyson Barrie and Ty Smith.

The offensive package isn’t flashy, but Dragicevic has all of the tools to create points from the blue line in the offensive zone. His offensive vision and passing are strong attributes. He can manipulate the puck to create shooting lanes and rebounds for his teammates. And he has the feel to take open ice and tight-area handling skill to defeat challenges. To top it off, he does it all from a projectable 6-foot-2, 196-pound frame.

His skating will likely need to take a significant step forward if he is going to maintain his play style into the pro ranks moving forward, but his offense projects as NHL-worthy.

Why then has Dragicevic never earned national prospect reputation? The answer lies in his defensive instincts, which look inconsistent or worse, depending on your viewing. He flashed a broader range of defensive tools this past year, but when I watch him, I often leave perplexed by his play-to-play judgment and concerned that his defense is not going to work at professional levels.

In defensive transition, he’s not particularly effective disrupting plays at the blue line or breaking opponent momentum when he is skating backwards. It tends to be tentative and overly conservative. Even when he’s making the right reads, the results are inconsistent.

In the defensive zone, he is often either chasing the play around the exterior or deadening his feet in the crease and passively covering the middle of the ice. Either way, there’s too much puck watching and not enough anticipation. He concedes too much space for junior-level competition to make plays. He has the strength to win his share of puck battles in the open ice or along the boards if he committed to it, but he is often a step slow to engage, conceding advantages to the opposition.

His breakout passes are a strong aspect of his in-zone defensive play. For example, early in the first period in the game above, he recovers a dump-in, draws in the defense, and reverses the puck to his teammate for a clean, efficient breakout.

Overall, it could be that Dragicevic has not received the instruction and reps—both technically and schematically—that he needs. Remember, he’s only been playing defense for a few seasons after transitioning from forward. It’s possible that he takes big strides as he moves into the well-coached professional environment in Coachella Valley this season. If so, these concerns could eventually be a thing of the past. (Defensive skill can come later in a player’s development.) Even just a steady progression could yield a player capable of a sheltered, third-pair and second-unit power-play NHL role. That said, he may have fallen behind the older and smaller Tyson Jugnauth on the organization’s depth chart for that kind of role.

More on Dragicevic: Check out our interview with Lukas Dragicevic from 2024 training camp.

2025-26 season outlook: Competing for time for Coachella Valley (AHL).

System rank: No. 18 (No. 5 defenseman)

Peak projection (50th percentile outcome): NHL cup of coffee (ETA: 2027-28)

Justin Janicke | Forward | 22 years old | 2021 seventh-round pick (rights expired)​

Video: All Shifts | Notre Dame Univ. vs. Univ. of Wisconsin (NCAA) | Nov. 1, 2024

Notes: Justin Janicke is a just a solid, dependable player in all aspects. He can be trusted to do the right thing in all three zones, no matter the personnel or game clock situation. He was a leader at Notre Dame by his senior year, and that maturity comes across in talking with him. He seems a like a “glue” type in a dressing room that any team should be happy to have in the organization.

His skills top out in the average range. His shot is solid, including manipulation skills pre-shot to deceive the goaltender. His skating is solid, and he plays with adequate strength. He has good vision with the puck on his stick, but he’s not a volume scorer or creator. He’s more of a complimentary type who will do the little things like net drives, clear outs, screens, and cycles to create offense. He’s defensively responsible and doesn’t cheat that aspect.

By pro standards, he is a bit undersized and is likely limited to the wing. Lacking a dynamic skill or carrying trait, it is hard to project the additional development that will be necessary to achieve an NHL career. If he does get there, it will be through sheer force of will. Players in his category—needing four NCAA years to achieve top-end amateur production—rarely become long-term or impact professionals. That said, there is a lot to like in the way Janicke goes about his business.

2025-26 season outlook: ECHL lineup regular with some games at the AHL level

System Rank: Outside top 20

Peak Projection (50th percentile outcome): Middle-six AHL player (ETA: 2027-28)

Karl Annborn | Defenseman | 18 years old | 2025 seventh-round pick (unsigned)​

Video: All Shots Against | Sweden U20 vs. Switzerland U20 | Aug. 28, 2025

Notes: It seems the Swedish national team is higher on Karl Annborn than NHL draft scouts. Rewind to a year ago, and the defenseman was skating in a top-four and power-play quarterback role for the Sweden under-20 team—as a 17-year-old. Granted, that was in an August tournament bypassed by some of the top U20 players, but it was an impressive achievement nonetheless. Ultimately, Annborn fell a bit in the draft to the perception that his play had plateaued, but it is notable to me the national team confidence in him has not waned. As recently as Thursday, he was getting high-level U20 development opportunities on the international stage, and he never looks overmatched or out of place.

Another reason Annborn may have slid in the draft is the perceived lack of a standout, dynamic element. His size, skating, physicality, and skill level all check in as solid and pro-projectable at this stage, but there is not an obvious carrying trait as there is with some of Seattle’s more notable defensive prospects like Blake Fiddler (size and athleticism) or Dragicevic (offensive skill level). I like what I’ve seen from Annborn with the puck on his stick breaking out from the defensive zone and along the blue line in the offensive zone. While there may not be high-end creativity, he shows the ability to make efficient, sound plays.

Annborn has a long development runway ahead of him in the Swedish league, and there is plenty of reason to think he has a North American pro future if his skill level and production can continue to progress.

2025-26 season outlook: Cup of coffee in the SHL

System Rank: Outside top 20

Peak Projection (50th percentile outcome): Bottom-four AHL defenseman (ETA: 2029-30)

Curtis Isacke

Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.

Read more from Curtis

The post Friday Film Room: Dragicevic, Janicke, and Annborn appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/08/29/friday-film-room-dragicevic-janicke-and-annborn/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Five things to watch in the WHL for 2025-26

The ice is down, training camps are underway, and anticipation is building across the Western Hockey League. With the addition of the Penticton Vees, 23 teams now enter the 2025–26 season with hope, hunger, and high expectations.

Nowhere is that more evident than in the Puget Sound area, where both the Seattle Thunderbirds and Everett Silvertips have big aspirations—and even bigger spotlights—heading into the fall.

T-Birds vs. Tips rivalry should heat up​

Last season’s battles between Seattle and Everett were tighter and more intense than they’ve been in recent years.

Yes, Everett (49–15–3–1 in 2024–25) owned the season series by winning six of eight—and the playoff series—but when Seattle (32–33–2–1) found its stride in the second half of the year, it felt like Everett got the brunt of their surge.

Don’t be surprised if this rivalry reaches another level in 2025–26, especially with what feels like more even rosters. Speaking of which…

Time ticking in Everett: DuPont’s second act​

It’s Year 2 of the Landon DuPont Era in Everett—and the clock is already ticking on his junior career. DuPont dazzled in his first WHL season, living up to the hype by winning the 2025 CHL Rookie of the Year Award. His poise and talent are undeniable, but Everett knows these are the years they have to capitalize on his elite talent.

This year’s team should be on par with recent rosters. The key now is injury management. There’s still a lingering “what if” since Carter Bear’s draft year last season—he was lighting up the scoresheet before a torn Achilles cut his season short, though he was still drafted No. 13 overall by the Detroit Red Wings. Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen also missed time after getting hurt at the World Junior Championship with Finland. Injuries have been a theme in Everett.

Although they did finish with the best regular-season record in 2024–25, the Tips were knocked out in Round 2—again—by their rivals, the Portland Winterhawks—again.

With more roster consistency and health, maybe this can finally be the year head coach Steve Hamilton’s group breaks through and goes on a deeper playoff run.

I had the chance to check out Tips training camp on Friday afternoon, which fielded an intensely competitive atmosphere. Returning players like Cole Temple and Lukas Kaplan were names that made their presence known.

Also, keep an eye on some of the young emerging talent like ‘09 forward Mirco Dufour or ‘08 defenseman Cameron Dillard.

Braeden Cootes: The face of the Seattle franchise​

While it may be less than ideal for Seattle hockey fans to watch a Canucks first-rounder blossom here, I just can’t get enough of Braeden Cootes.

Still the youngest active captain in the WHL, even after a full year, the 18-year-old led the T-Birds in assists and points in 2024–25. His two-way game and leadership make him a cornerstone piece to watch for the T-Birds this year.

“He’s got the high hockey IQ, the 200-foot game, really cares about his own end, and the intangibles you need,” said head coach Matt O’Dette. “These NHL teams want guys who can win games in crunch time — and he’s that guy.”

T-Bird time: Seattle poised for a surge​

Finally, it looks like the pendulum is swinging in the right direction in Kent.

After spending the early months of last season well beneath the .500 threshold and in last place in the Western Conference, looking like they were on their way to another dud of a season, the T-Birds surged in the second half and jumped three spots to make the playoffs as the No. 8 seed.

With the talents of Cootes, Radim Mrtka, and Ashton Cumby coming off being drafted into the NHL, along with depth forwards like Antonio Martorana and Matej Pekar looking to take the next step, it sure does look like a strong year is in store at accesso ShoWare Center.

Kelowna to host the Memorial Cup​

The 2026 Memorial Cup will be hosted by Kelowna, adding even more urgency for WHL contenders—especially those in the Western Conference. Could a Puget Sound team make the trip? And if so, would that team have a chance to win it all?

---

This WHL season feels wide open, especially with the likes of generational talent Gavin McKenna leaving Medicine Hat and taking his talents to the NCAA and Penn State. There’s no obvious frontrunner now, and both Seattle and Everett are stocked with talent and motivation.

Whether it’s the leadership of Cootes, the brilliance of DuPont, or the rising stars across both teams, there’s plenty of reason for hockey fans in the Sound to be excited. It will all be made even more exciting now that you can watch every game for free on Victory Plus.

Strap in—it’s going to be a fun season.

Header Photo Courtesy of Brian Liesse and the Seattle Thunderbirds

The post Five things to watch in the WHL for 2025-26 appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/08/30/five-things-to-watch-in-the-whl-for-2025-26/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

The Seattle Kraken will be more fun (and better) this season

Everywhere I go, people keep asking me the same thing: “So, are the Kraken going to be any good this year?” My answer? Better than the “experts” think.

Now, let’s not get carried away, I’m not penciling them in for a Stanley Cup parade just yet. But I do believe this team will be noticeably better, way more competitive, and a lot more fun to watch than last season’s version. The front office didn’t make any headline-grabbing splashes this summer, but they made subtle moves that improved the roster while leaving room for young players to step in. Combine that with a healthier lineup, a new coaching voice, and a few kids ready to pop, and you’ve got reasons to be optimistic.

Here are five reasons I think Kraken hockey is going to be a lot more fun this season.

Better than the results of last season​

The Kraken weren’t nearly as bad as their record suggested. One of my favorite “sneaky” stats to look at is goal differential without empty-netters. Historically, teams hovering between zero and plus-five in that category have about a 50 percent chance of making the playoffs.

Last year, the Kraken finished at -11 in that stat, which is not good, but not bottom-of-the-league bad either. That put them 19th overall in this metric, while their actual spot in the standings was 27th. Translation: they played closer to a middle-of-the-pack team than the record showed. Close some gaps defensively, turn a handful of one-goal losses into wins, and you’ve got a much more competitive season ahead.

A new coach, a new mindset​

It’s no secret the Kraken were way too easy to score on last season. Enter Lane Lambert, who replaces Dan Bylsma behind the bench. Lambert’s reputation leans defensive, and that’s exactly the kind of adjustment this team needed. Whether you call it the “new coach bump” or simply a philosophical shift, a more structured, defense-first approach should chip away at that goal differential problem right away.

Starting healthier and deeper than before​

Injuries don’t get talked about enough when people assess the Kraken’s struggles last year. Jordan Eberle was off to one of the best starts of his career before missing 39 games. Vince Dunn, arguably the team’s most important defenseman, missed 20. And the real problem wasn’t just losing stars, it was the massive drop-off to their replacements.

This season, the Kraken are better positioned to absorb those inevitable injuries. The depth chart has more NHL-ready rookies and supporting players that appear ready to jump up from Coachella Valley without the same production cliff we saw last year. Jani Nyman, Ryan Winterton, Logan Morrison, Ville Ottavainen, and a whole host of others have significant pro experience now, and if they don’t make the Opening Night roster, they should be able to slide in and be more impactful than in past call-ups.

Complimentary new pieces​

No, the Kraken didn’t dominate the offseason headlines, but their moves were strategic. Mason Marchment brings a net-front presence the team has lacked since its inception. Frederick Gaudreau is a right-shot center who kills penalties, chips in offense, and happens to be excellent in the shootout (hey, that might even swing a game or two).

WHAT A GOAL FROM MASON MARCHMENT

He gives the @DallasStars the lead in the third period! pic.twitter.com/llWPZBn4Mv

— NHL (@NHL) December 1, 2024

On the back end, Ryan Lindgren adds depth and grit to the blue line, while also giving the Kraken penalty kill a lift. None of these moves are splashy, but together they round out a roster that already had a solid foundation.

The kids are coming​

This is the most exciting part. Shane Wright proved last year that he’s ready to be a real contributor. After a slow start and a short stint as a healthy scratch, he turned it on, finishing with 42 points in 61 games, a .7 points-per-game pace. If that’s his baseline, Year 2 could be a lot of fun.

Matty Beniers, meanwhile, hasn’t matched the offensive pace of his Calder season, but the talent is undeniable. Expect a motivated Beniers to take another step.

And then there’s the rookie watch. Berkly Catton, the Kraken’s 2024 first-round pick, has already proven everything he can at the junior level with 92 goals and 133 assists in his last 125 WHL games. He has the skill set to be a game-changer and will get every opportunity to stick with the big club. Jani Nyman might not start the season in Seattle, but after a strong cameo last spring, I’d bet on him playing significant NHL minutes before the year is out.

FIRST GAME, FIRST GOAL FOR JANI NYMAN

And his parents were here to see it happen! pic.twitter.com/gWelDQKhQu

— NHL (@NHL) March 13, 2025

The bottom line​

This Kraken team isn’t a Stanley Cup contender, and that’s fine. What they are is a team with an outside shot at the playoffs, a chance to be competitive deep into March, and, most importantly, a roster that’s a lot more fun to watch than last year’s.

If the top players stay healthy, if the defense tightens up, and if the kids keep progressing, Seattle could be playing meaningful hockey when it matters most. At the very least, fans should buckle up for a season with more goals, more growth, and more hope for the future.

The post The Seattle Kraken will be more fun (and better) this season appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/02/the-seattle-kraken-will-be-more-fun-and-better-this-season/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Kraken unveil all-black, glow-in-the-dark third jerseys

After much teasing, the Seattle Kraken officially unveiled their new third jerseys on Thursday: a black kit featuring a glow-in-the-dark version of the team’s primary logo as its main crest, glow-in-the-dark nameplates and numbers, and a lot of stripes up the sleeves and on the socks.

“When we set out to design a third jersey, we wanted to create something a bit more menacing and intense,” said Kraken vice president of brand Aaron Wiggan in a press release. “We drew our inspiration from the eerie shadows of the deep Pacific Northwest waters. The result is the franchise’s first all-black kit that includes an Ice Blue, glow-in-the-dark outline on the crest – a nod to the incredible bioluminescence found in these waters. We’re extremely proud of how it turned out, and we can’t wait to see our players and fans in this new look.”

Photos courtesy of Seattle Kraken.

Added Kraken captain Jordan Eberle: “This is an exciting new look for our team, and the jersey is phenomenal. The glow-in-the-dark element is really unique, and it’s such an eye-catching look. I love the inspiration behind it and all the details that went into the design. We hope it will add to the incredible atmosphere at Climate Pledge Arena.”

I’ve always been a sucker for black uniforms (I loved the all-black San Jose “stealth” jerseys, for example), so while I personally predicted these new jerseys would be red—since “Red Alert” was the only existing color in the Kraken’s palette that hadn’t yet been used as a primary—I was pleasantly surprised to see that the teaser videos’ references to “the abyss” were hinting at black uniforms.

I do like that, and the “bioluminescence”-inspired logo will pop nicely, especially when the lights go down in the arena for the pre-game show. What I’m not sold on yet, without seeing the kits in person, is the extra striping up the sleeves and socks (though the Kraken have said the stripes are a nod to sonar, which I admit is a neat touch). I recall giving the New York Rangers a hard time for their navy blue third jerseys that had a gazillion stripes on the sleeves because of how busy they looked. Seattle’s jerseys don’t have nearly as many stripes as those Rangers thirds, but that detail is the one that gave me pause.

Holistically, though, I think it’s a unique look, and it will be fun to see the Kraken don black. I also think there are opportunities for Game Ops to make the show at Climate Pledge Arena even more eerie on nights when the arena transforms from “The Deep” to “The Abyss.”

Seattle will wear the new uniforms for 12 home games this season, starting Nov. 1 against the aforementioned Rangers. Here’s the full list of when they will wear the new kits:

• Nov. 1 vs. New York Rangers
• Nov. 5 vs. San Jose
• Nov. 26 vs. Dallas
• Dec. 4 at Edmonton
• Dec. 8 vs. Minnesota
• Dec. 29 vs. Vancouver
• Jan. 6 vs. Boston
• Jan. 23 vs. Anaheim
• Jan. 25 vs. New Jersey
• March 4 vs. St. Louis
• March 12 vs. Colorado
• April 9 vs. Vegas

Preorder for the jerseys for Kraken season ticket members starts Friday and runs through Sept. 10. Presales for the public start Sept. 11.

What say you, Kraken fans? Do you like these new third jerseys?

Darren Brown​

Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email [email protected].

Read more from Darren

The post Kraken unveil all-black, glow-in-the-dark third jerseys appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/04/kraken-unveil-new-third-jersey/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

2025 NHL-affiliated prospects ranking

Welcome to our third annual analysis of all NHL-affiliated prospects and each organization’s prospect pipeline. With rookie camps and tournaments right around the corner and training camps following soon thereafter, there is no better time to get up to speed on the players that will soon take center stage across the league.

The “data score” approach​

Today’s analysis is a “data-only” look at the prospect landscape. This is not a traditional scouting assessment of prospects or organizational prospect pools. Think of it, instead, as a supplement to the scouting and analytical work on prospects being published by other sources like Elite Prospects and The Athletic at this time of year.

What do I mean by a “data-only” analysis? As I have done in years past when looking at NHL-affiliated players (or draft prospects), I have organized this player list by “Data Score”—a rough metric we came up with here at Sound Of Hockey. Data Score begins with the bedrock of an NHL equivalency (“NHLe”). NHLe is a method to compare the scoring proficiency of players in the various professional and junior leagues across the globe. I used Thibaud Chatel’s model, which is the most up-to-date public research in the area. Check out Chatel’s Substack for an in-depth discussion of NHLe. For this project, I used Chatel’s newest model, which has been updated to account for 2024-25 season data.

In contrast with years past when I looked at only a one-year sample to create this list, this year, I applied this NHLe to three years of scoring data—from the 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 seasons. More recent play is given more weight. I think this is an important upgrade to the approach and one I will be continuing to iterate on moving forward.

After deriving an NHLe from the scoring data, I then make adjustments for age, height, and position, as well as a modest upward adjustment to the NHLe for low-scoring players playing in high-level professional leagues. I then normalize the resulting output and call it the prospect’s “Data Score.” This number no longer projects NHL scoring but is (hopefully) useful in describing the relative strength of prospects. I’ve gone through the methodology in more detail previously here and here.

NHL-affiliated prospects list eligibility​

To be eligible for this list, the player (1) must be a skater on the roster or reserve list of an NHL team, (2) must be younger than 24 years old as of Sept. 1, 2025, and (3) cannot have played more than 50 NHL games. (I adjusted the age threshold downward from 25 years old this year.) This approach yielded approximately 850 players. The full list will be published shortly on the Sound Of Hockey Patreon. Let’s get into the top 200 players and prospect pipelines here.

Top-200 NHL-Affiliated Prospects​

While the flow of talent from Russia has understandably ebbed in recent years, two Russian-born players top our NHL-affiliated prospects list. Ivan Demidov was widely regarded as one of the most talented players outside of the NHL until his debut late in the 2024-25 season. Igor Chernyshov boosted his stock in the eyes of scouts and in this data-only analysis by posting 55 points in 23 OHL games in his first North American action.

Three other widely touted OHL prospects fall within the top 10: forwards Liam Greentree and Michael Misa and defenseman Zayne Parekh. Zeev Buium, who played for the University of Denver before debuting for the Wild late in the 2024-25 season, is the sole college hockey representative in the top 10. NCAA forwards Gabe Perreault and Matthew Wood narrowly missed.

Finally, four AHL players round out the top 10: former University of Maine forward Bradly Nadeau, QMJHL alumnus defenseman Tristan Luneau, SHL-experienced forward Filip Bystedt, and former Liiga standout and Kraken prospect Jani Nyman.

It may be surprising at first to see Nyman so high on this list, but that’s because he’s been a bit under-considered behind the high-profile centers Seattle has drafted. Two years ago, he scored the most goals by a 19-year-old in Liiga play in 40 years. This past year, Nyman was second in the AHL in goals among rookies, behind only Nadeau. He has scored in exemplary fashion at levels that fellow prospects Berkly Catton and Jake O’Brien have not yet reached. Nyman’s profile heralds a prolific NHL scorer.

Prospect pipelines and organizational outlook​

The San Jose Sharks appear primed to improve—and quickly. Even after graduating prospects like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, the Sharks have four of the top 15 NHL-affiliated prospects by our Data Score method: Chernyshov, Misa, Bystedt, and defenseman Sam Dickinson.

The Calgary Flames had the most prospects overall in the top 100 with eight. The Seattle Kraken and Montreal Canadiens followed with seven apiece.

Visualizing each organization’s top 100 prospects against 2024-25 regular-season standings points, we see which teams are well positioned now and into the future. Interestingly, only four teams were better than average in the 2024-25 standings and have more than the average number of top 100 prospects (i.e., at least four): Montreal, Calgary, Minnesota, and Washington. Otherwise, teams are clustered in either the “win now” range (with productive NHL rosters but few top-scoring prospects) or the rebuilding range.

Did we miss a player? (It’s possible; the information gathering for this project is challenging.) Do you have any questions? Reach out to us in the comments below or on Twitter/X @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey or on BlueSky at @deepseahockey or @soundofhockey.com.

Curtis Isacke

Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.

Read more from Curtis

The post 2025 NHL-affiliated prospects ranking appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/04/2025-nhl-affiliated-prospects-ranking/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Seattle Kraken trade for J.R. Avon, plus Catton and Saarinen film review

On Thursday, the Seattle Kraken announced an organizational first: a trade involving a team-drafted prospect. The Kraken sent their 2021 fourth-round pick Tucker Robertson to the Philadelphia Flyers in a one-for-one exchange for Jon-Randall Avon. As it turns out, there are a number of parallels and similarities between the two players.

The two forwards are 22-year-old Ontario natives born within two weeks of each other in the summer of 2003. After successful youth hockey performances, each was drafted to the Peterborough Petes with picks in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. They then played 150-plus OHL games together in Peterborough, culminating with each being part of the leadership group on the 2022-23 Petes team that won the OHL Championship.

Since departing the OHL, each has played in the professional minor leagues, mostly in the AHL. Avon has 35 points in 125 AHL games with Lehigh Valley in that span—for .28 points per game. For his part, Robertson has 19 points in 77 AHL games with Coachella Valley—for .25 points per game. Robertson also had 14 points in the 13 ECHL games. All of these statistical similarities put them in a very similar place in our recent “data-only” NHL-affiliated prospect ranking: Avon was No. 500 and Robertson was No. 535.

At this point you might be wondering (fairly) why the Kraken made this fairly minor prospect swap at all if the players are so similar. I suspect both long-term and short-term roster dynamics could be at play.

This is the last season of both Avon and Robertson’s three-year, entry-level contracts. My guess is the organizations had doubts the players they traded would factor into their future plans beyond the current contract. Now, each player gets a fresh start and opportunity to impress a team that may be more inclined to re-sign them beyond this year.

It’s also possible the teams doubted the traded players would be AHL regulars this season. Earlier this offseason, I had Robertson as low as sixth on the Coachella Valley center depth chart. Avon was in the Lehigh Valley lineup for the large majority of last season but was scratched for the team’s AHL playoff games. It’s likely Seattle views Avon, who has skated mostly as a winger professionally, as a better organizational fit and more likely to have an AHL role this coming year, given the team’s other options.

Why so? That’s where the film review comes in. In this special trade edition of the Friday Film Room, we’ll take a first look at Avon’s game, followed by our more typical game film and progress reports on forward Berkly Catton and goalie Kim Saarinen. If you have questions or Film Room requests, don’t hesitate to reach out below or on social media @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey.

J.R. Avon | Forward | 22 years old | Undrafted Free Agent (Flyers)​

Video: All Shifts | Lehigh Valley Phantoms vs. Bridgeport Islanders (AHL) | Apr. 2, 2025

Notes: J.R. Avon brings a starkly different set of physical tools from a 6-foot-0 frame when compared with the smaller, cerebral Robertson. Between the two, I’d rate Robertson’s hockey sense, skill level, and center aptitude ahead of Avon, whereas Avon has the decided advantage in size, skating, physicality, and compete.

I think it’s fair to say that Robertson’s pure offensive upside is higher; Robertson was a significantly better junior scorer, for example. Over the last two years, however, I’ve come to doubt whether Robertson will be able to manifest that production in the professional ranks. While he is creative and smart, his physical limitations both in terms of size and speed have significantly hampered his ability to create space for himself or teammates offensively. Even if he can break through at the AHL level, I suspect Robertson’s most optimistic peak might be an Andrew Poturalski-type career arc—i.e., a player who tops out just below the NHL level due to pace and size limitations.

In contrast, Avon displays NHL-level skating and tenacity both forechecking and backchecking from the wing position. In the two games I’ve viewed so far, his ability to pressure the puck on his own created turnovers and space for his team to make a line change in situations I would not have expected. When the play is mired through the neutral zone, he can flip the ice by winning simple dump-and-chase plays with speed and physicality.

While his size is only average, he displays a willingness and aptitude to engage physically. His ability to win puck battles and overall board work is above average. He was often the tip-of-the-spear F1 in a neutral-zone forecheck.

Avon does not standout as a plus playmaker or possession player, but he has enough ability with the puck on his stick to take open ice in transition and run effective offensive-zone cycles and give-and-go sequences. He does good work off the puck offensively to find open space and will shoot if he is uncovered. Most of his goals are of the “dirty” variety and come from his willingness to work to the net front when the play dictates.

Avon skated in a fourth-line role, without special teams responsibilities in the games I viewed. This puts him at the very bottom of the AHL depth chart. I would have liked to see if he could produce on the penalty kill, but I did not see those opportunities in the games I watched.

I’d project Avon to compete for a fourth-line left wing role with Coachella Valley (with Lleyton Roed perhaps moving up into more of a middle-six left-wing role). In a best-case scenario, I could see Avon’s skills translating to a similar role at the NHL level, but there is a lot to prove still in the AHL—particularly from a point production standpoint—before he could get into that conversation.

More on Avon:

Jon-Randall Avon with the silky backhander@LVPhantoms | #WBSvsLV pic.twitter.com/cD3mNrlbxA

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 10, 2024

2025-26 season outlook: Competing for bottom-six time for Coachella Valley (AHL).

System rank: Outside the top 20

Peak projection (50th percentile outcome): Multi-year AHL middle-six forward (ETA: 2026-27)

Berkly Catton | Forward | 19 years old | 2024 first-round pick (signed)​

Video: All Shifts | Spokane Chiefs vs. Medicine Hat Tigers (NCAA) | May 11, 2025

Notes: On a recent episode of the excellent Called Up podcast, Good-Friend-of-the-Pod and Flo Hockey analyst Chris Peters asked Elite Prospects‘ Cam Robinson about Elite Prospects’ decision to rank Catton below many members of the 2025 draft class (including Jake O’Brien) in its recent NHL-affiliated prospect ranking.

Robinson’s answer surprised me a bit. Robinson said that Elite Prospects was concerned whether Catton could translate his offensive production to the NHL level. In their view, Catton relied on lower-pace, ice-scanning plays to generate points and these plays do not work as well in the professional ranks where defenses deny space much more quickly. This may be a dated criticism of Catton’s game, though.

Toward the end of the 2024-25 WHL season and throughout the playoffs, I saw Catton working to create offense without losing any pace—and doing it effectively. Pair this with physical commitment off the ice (he came in second in the team’s athletic testing at development camp this summer), clear progress in his first-step skating explosiveness, and some added details in his off-the-puck play in all three zones, and I think Catton has taken strides to make his game “translate” professionally in every area he can.

If I were stretching to find areas to critique, Catton gets himself in trouble when he attempts to defeat a defender one-on-one at the offensive blue line or in other vulnerable positions. He often prevails—but when he does not he concedes advantages or takes penalties unnecessarily. Those types of plays will not work regularly at the NHL level, and he needs to learn when the situation dictates a simpler, conservative play. He also needs to use his skating more defensively because he can get caught reaching with his stick at times.

Beyond that, Catton is self-evidently limited in his size and physicality, but he has the speed, skill, and hockey sense to win in other ways. He could play center, but I continue to think of him as a playmaking, point-per-game winger at his peak. And I think we could see that version of Catton sooner rather than later.

More on Catton: Check out this mid-season interview Catton did with Sound Of Hockey’s Cameron Riggers.

2025-26 season outlook: Semi-regular NHL playing time.

System Rank: No. 1.

Peak Projection (50th percentile outcome): Second-line, playmaking winger (ETA: 2027-28)

Kim Saarinen | Goalie | 19 years old | 2024 third-round pick (signed)​

Video: All Shots Against | Finland U19 vs. Sweden U19 | Apr. 20, 2025

Notes: Kim Saarinen is coming off a standout rookie season for HPK in Liiga, Finland’s top professional league, finishing third in save percentage as an 18-year-old. Few goalies have achieved such success at such a young age in Liiga—not even fellow Kraken prospect Nikke Kokko was as productive at the same stage. Equally encouraging, Saarinen continues to earn starts for Finland’s national team on the international stage. Earlier this summer we profiled Saarinen’s strong work at the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase.

Corey Pronman of The Athletic arched my eyebrow a bit when he ranked Saarinen as Seattle’s best goalie prospect (above Kokko) in his recent prospect ranking. You could argue Saarinen has a pure skill advantage; it is close, but I’d probably still lean toward Kokko. And Kokko has successfully transitioned to the North American game already with a standout rookie AHL season. I like Saarinen a lot, but he will be behind Kokko in my forthcoming preseason Kraken prospects ranking.

2025-26 season outlook: Tandem starter role in Liiga

System Rank: No. 16 (No. 3 goalie behind Kokko and narrowly behind Semyon Vyazovoy)

Peak Projection (50th percentile outcome): NHL spot starter or backup (ETA: 2028-29)

Curtis Isacke

Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.

Read more from Curtis

The post Seattle Kraken trade for J.R. Avon, plus Catton and Saarinen film review appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/0...-r-avon-plus-catton-and-saarinen-film-review/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Four prospects to watch at the Kraken rookie camp

We are so back! The Seattle Kraken kick off their rookie camp on Wednesday at the Kraken Community Iceplex, which gives us another chance to check out players from their impressive prospect pool.

It goes without saying that Berkly Catton and Jani Nyman should be watched closely, as they figure to be in the conversation for the NHL roster, but we’re digging a bit deeper here to consider a few less-touted players that I’ll be closely monitoring.

I’m always excited for rookie camp to see how these prospects are sizing up in a slightly more competitive environment compared to development camp earlier in the summer. Without further ado, here are four players to keep an eye on in rookie camp.

Oscar Fisker Mølgaard​

“OFM” has been one of my favorite Kraken prospects since he was drafted. He’s been a strong two-way center for HV71 over the last three seasons, and he’s still just 20 years old. Mølgaard has attended three development camps with the Kraken, but this will be his first rookie/training camp.

His stat line from last season of five goals and 14 assists in 38 SHL games doesn’t exactly leap off the page. But considering the SHL’s lower-scoring environment, his age, and his role, that production is very good. Add in his experience playing for Denmark in Olympic qualifiers and World Championships over the last 12 months, and you’ve got a guy who already knows what it’s like to compete against NHLers.

Oscar Mølgaard with the first Danish goal of the tournament and it’s a beautiful shorthanded breakaway @Firebirds @SeattleKraken pic.twitter.com/4H4Nu15JL3

— Kara (@howbradly) May 10, 2025

When you watch him, pay attention to his defensive game. Many prospects struggle with that transition against NHL competition, but Mølgaard is ahead of the curve there. Don’t be surprised if he earns at least one preseason game… or two.

Tyson Jugnauth​

The left-shot defenseman’s development path has been well-documented here. Drafted in the fourth round in 2022, Jugnauth spent a season and a half at Wisconsin before moving on to the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. Late this past spring, he committed to Michigan State but ultimately chose to sign his entry-level deal with the Kraken.

Since joining Portland, Jugnauth has been a game breaker, racking up 179 points in 142 combined regular-season and playoff games. This summer, he took things a step further by moving to Seattle to train with Kraken staff, adding muscle and strength to his game.

On the ice, he’s always showcased plenty of skill, but now it will be interesting to see how that added strength helps him compete against pro-level players. Winning puck battles, holding opponents up defensively, and showing he can translate his WHL success are the big things to watch as rookie camp blends into main camp next week.

live laugh love Tyson Jugnauth goals pic.twitter.com/Qi32WTV0DF

— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) January 5, 2025

Lukas Dragicevic​

A right-shot defenseman taken in the second round of the 2023 draft, Dragicevic is one of seven Kraken prospects expected to play his first full pro season in North America this year.

A former forward, his calling card has always been his offensive ability, with the defensive side of his game lagging a bit. Word is he’s been focusing on his defensive play, so camp will be a good test of how far he’s come. He has the skill to create highlight-reel plays, but adjusting to the AHL level will be the next hurdle.

It’s worth remembering he looked out of place against Calgary in preseason last year, so I’ll be watching to see if he looks more comfortable this time around.

Carson Rehkopf​

Since the team’s inception, Kraken fans have been clamoring for a true goal scorer. Carson Rehkopf might develop to be that guy. Selected 50th overall in the 2023 draft, his shot has impressed me more than anyone else’s in the system (although Jani Nyman’s shot is lethal too).

He scored 52 goals in 60 games in the OHL in 2023–24, then followed it up with 42 in 57 games in 2024–25. The dip in production isn’t a concern, but to stick in the NHL, Rehkopf needs to round out his two-way game. Honestly, I think he would have benefitted from playing NCAA hockey last season (if the CHL/NCAA eligibility rule had changed just one year earlier). The AHL will now provide that same test of structure and responsibility.

This year in Coachella Valley should give us early clues about what kind of player he could become at the NHL level.

Other quick thoughts on players of note:

• Caden Price – The 2023 third-round pick continues to fly under the radar. He’s ranked higher on the Kraken’s internal prospect lists than most public analysts give him credit for.
• David Goyette – A dynamo in junior, Goyette’s first year in Coachella Valley felt a bit underwhelming compared to the astronomical numbers he put up in the OHL. This season will be a big one for his development.
• Eduard Šalé – The 2023 first-rounder had an ok year in the AHL as a 19-year-old, but for a first-round pick, you’d hope for a little more. Rookie and training camp could give us an early glimpse of him taking that next step.
• Logan Morrison – We didn’t mention him on last week’s prospect-heavy Sound Of Hockey Podcast, but “LoMo” might just be a dark horse to crack the Kraken lineup at some point this season.

Rookie camp is here​

The Kraken’s rookie camp is always fun, but this year feels especially intriguing with the influx of prospects expected to play in Coachella Valley this season. Some of these guys could be knocking on the NHL door sooner rather than later, and for others, it is going to be fun to see how they adjust to the next level. For fans, it provides a glimpse into the future and a benchmark to see these players in their respective development journeys.

Training camp schedule can be found here and rosters are here.

The post Four prospects to watch at the Kraken rookie camp appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/08/four-prospects-to-watch-at-the-kraken-rookie-camp/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Kraken offseason review – Seattle hoping changes to front office, coaching staff, and roster pay off

The time… has come. Seattle Kraken prospects will hit the ice at Kraken Community Iceplex on Thursday to commence rookie camp, a few days ahead of the organization’s full training camp, which gets underway in earnest on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

As we ramp back toward the regular season, we at Sound Of Hockey thought it was a good time to review what the Kraken did this offseason to retool their front office, roster, and coaching staff—and consider how things might look different in 2025-26.

Front office changes​

After their third losing season in four years of existence, the Kraken wasted no time making changes at the top. Head coach Dan Bylsma was handed his pink slip, while Ron Francis moved out of the general manager’s chair and into a newly created president of hockey operations role. Jason Botterill, who had served as assistant GM since Year 1, was promoted to GM.

At first, this shuffle felt superficial. But with Botterill holding final say, the approach has already been different. He’s been more forthcoming with media and fans than Francis ever was, and he wasted no time wheeling and dealing early in the offseason. Still, his moves were measured—aimed at complementing the roster with a new coach and a handful of shrewd trades and signings rather than blowing things up.

This marks Botterill’s second shot as an NHL general manager, following his tenure with the Buffalo Sabres from May, 2017, through June, 2020. To backfill his old AGM post, the Kraken hired Ryan Jankowski, most recently director of amateur scouting for the Arizona Coyotes / Utah Mammoth.

A new bench boss​

Bylsma’s dismissal after a 35-41-6 finish that left Seattle second to last in the Pacific Division led to a lengthy search for the team’s third head coach. After a thorough process, Botterill tapped Lane Lambert, the former Islanders head coach who had most recently been associate head coach with the Maple Leafs.

Lambert brings years of NHL coaching experience: four seasons as head coach of the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, followed by stints as an assistant with Nashville and Washington, then five years as Islanders associate head coach before replacing Barry Trotz at the helm. Lambert lasted two and a half seasons as New York’s bench boss, compiling a 61-46-20 record and earning one playoff berth.

Good morning!

There's a great new Sound Of Hockey Podcast episode featuring two HUGE interviews with Lane Lambert AND Jason Botterill. #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/tgcJT3s5yA

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) June 17, 2025

Known for his structured, detail-oriented approach, Lambert is expected to instill a tighter defensive system and decrease the breakdowns that plagued Seattle last season. To round out his staff, the Kraken parted ways with assistants Dave Lowry and Bob Woods and goalie coach Steve Briere, then hired Aaron Schneekloth (formerly Colorado Eagles head coach), Chris Taylor (formerly Devils assistant), and promoted Coachella Valley goalie coach Colin Zulianello.

Roster tweaks​

On the player side, Botterill came out firing with a June 19 trade for gritty-but-skilled winger Mason Marchment from Dallas. Marchment, 27, enters the final year of his deal but projects to play a top-six role. He scored 22 goals and added 25 assists in 62 games last season and should replace some of the offense lost when Oliver Bjorkstrand was shipped to Tampa Bay at the deadline.

Good morning!

In your favorite podcast apps, we have a fantastic new Sound Of Hockey Podcast interview with #SeaKraken forward Mason Marchment.

SUBSCRIBE!
https://t.co/dyZSQqT2jo pic.twitter.com/f5tMSBXcq4

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) August 14, 2025

Marchment also brings something Seattle sorely needs: the ability to get inside and create space for teammates, similar to Kaapo Kakko’s impact after his midseason arrival. Matty Beniers’ production surged once Kakko came aboard, and Botterill is banking on Marchment having a similar effect.

Two days after the trade for Marchment, Botterill shed Andre Burakovsky’s hefty contract, flipping him to Chicago for Joe Veleno, who was then bought out. Five days after that, he landed versatile forward Frederick Gaudreau from Minnesota. A respected locker-room presence who can play center or wing, Gaudreau put up 18 goals and 19 assists last year and should provide depth, versatility, and some secondary scoring.

In free agency, Botterill surprised many by signing 27-year-old defenseman Ryan Lindgren to a four-year, $18 million contract. Known league-wide as a warrior who will do whatever it takes to win, Lindgren should help stabilize Seattle’s back end. Botterill also added veteran goalie Matt Murray as depth; with Philipp Grubauer still in the fold, Murray is likely destined for Coachella Valley to start, but he gives the Kraken a veteran fallback option if Grubauer flounders again.

Botterill rounded out his summer business by re-signing restricted free agents Tye Kartye (two years, $2.5 million), Kakko (three years, $13.575 million), and Ryker Evans (two years, $4.1 million).

Did the Kraken improve enough?​

Seattle didn’t land any blockbuster names this offseason, but the front office believes last year’s group underperformed. So the focus was on adding character players and hiring a coach who can extract more from the roster through structure and consistency.

There’s also optimism that Shane Wright and Matty Beniers can take meaningful steps toward becoming leaders, while rookies like Berkly Catton—and possibly Jani Nyman—could step in and contribute.

Whether these changes to the front office, coaching staff, and roster will be enough to push the Kraken into the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history remains to be seen. But the journey begins now.

Darren Brown​

Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email [email protected].

Read more from Darren

The post Kraken offseason review – Seattle hoping changes to front office, coaching staff, and roster pay off appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/10/kraken-offseason-review-botterill-marchment/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

2025 Sound Of Hockey Seattle Kraken prospect ranking

As of Thursday, Sept. 11, the Seattle Kraken are officially back on the ice preparing for the 2025-26 season. As always, on-ice activities begin with a Rookie Camp for players not yet established at the NHL level. This year’s group includes includes all Kraken prospects except those scheduled to play college hockey or overseas.

With this activity ramping up, there’s no better time to debut our Sound Of Hockey Seattle Kraken prospect ranking. Without discussing in advance, John Barr and I provided our own personal preseason prospect rankings, and then we combined them to create our Sound Of Hockey rank. At the end of this post, we’ll debate how our rankings turned out, as well as a couple bigger-picture topics.

Today—as we do annually at this time of year—we’ll also pass along a composite ranking of Seattle Kraken prospects from public scouting and draft analyst rankings, which we have dubbed the “Deep Sea Blue Chips.” This year we gathered player and system rankings from:

• McKeen’s Hockey (link) ($)
• Elite Prospects (link) ($)
• Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff (link)
• Corey Pronman, The Athletic (link) ($)

Let’s start with these analyst rankings and provide some takeaways, then we’ll dive into our Sound Of Hockey Seattle Kraken prospect ranking and a debate between John Barr and me.

The 2025 Deep Sea Blue Chips​

Berkly Catton tops the Deep Sea Blue Chips as Seattle’s top prospect in the eyes of national analysts. This is hardly a surprise, but it may be a little more interesting that it wasn’t a consensus view. Elite Prospects ranked Jake O’Brien ahead of Catton in their recent rankings. I dug into their rationale last week. Overall, O’Brien checks in at No. 2 here.

Public analysts are bullish on Seattle’s 2025 second-round pick Blake Fiddler, who lands at No. 3 on this list. You can read up on Fiddler’s game in our Film Room feature. Next is 2023 second-round pick Carson Rehkopf, who has piled up goals at the OHL level, but will now look to transition that skill set to the professional level.

Interestingly, 2022 second-round pick Jagger Firkus rounds out the top five. After leading the CHL in scoring during his previous campaign, the undersized Firkus debuted in the AHL with a solid rookie effort last season, showing developed off-puck habits that could be a harbinger of better things to come. I’m inclined to believe that the national analysts have Firkus this high based on his junior resume. That said, I have to admit that I found a lot to like about his professional game last season, and while it will still take some time, I’m now fairly bullish on his future.

The Kraken have a deep prospect pool; is it elite?​

Group wisdom puts the Kraken prospect pool somewhere around No. 8 in the league. (Interestingly, this is also where Seattle’s farm system ended up when ranked by total number of Top-100 prospects in our “data-only” analysis. Check out our 2025 NHL-affiliated prospect ranking here.)

Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff, Corey Pronman of The Athletic, and McKeen’s Hockey all view the Kraken as a top-seven system, complimenting the organization both for its depth and the high-end talent at the top in the form of Berkly Catton. Elite Prospects, which ranked the Kraken No. 13 overall, is slightly cooler on Catton, which likely impacted the ranking significantly because Elite Prospects was also complimentary of the team’s depth.

At the end of the day, the progress and performance of Seattle’s high-end players, particularly Catton, will determine whether the system is “elite” or merely “good.”

The Sound Of Hockey Seattle Kraken prospects ranking​

Without further ado, let’s get to the inaugural Sound Of Hockey prospects ranking. Again, the ranking is an average of subjective assessments from John Barr and me. We broke ties by ranking the player with the higher “high” rank first. We proceeded accordingly through the top 20 and ties. Then we also ranked any player that received a top-20 vote from either of us. This process resulted in a ranked list of your top 24 Seattle Kraken prospects.

What stands out? What did we mess up? You can let us know in the comments. John and I will now debate it.

Seattle Kraken prospects ranking roundtable​

Which Kraken prospect is most overlooked by the general prospect community?

John Barr: Nikke Kokko probably doesn’t get talked about enough, and when he does, it feels like another Kraken goalie prospect, Kim Saarinen, often gets ranked ahead of him. I get that goalies are really tough to project, but Kokko was one of the youngest goalies in the AHL last season and still put up some of the best numbers. He’s trending really well to step into the NHL in a couple of years and has elevated his game at every stage of his career so far.

Curtis Isacke: I agree with you on Kokko, John. Extrapolating to the goalies generally, it was baffling to me last season when Kokko was topping AHL rookies, and Kim Saarinen and Semyon Vyazovoi were leading their respective European professional leagues in save percentage, that none of them could garner any national recognition. That’s slowly starting to come, with Elite Prospects mentioning Vyazovoi, Corey Pronman preferring Saarinen, and McKeen’s ranking Kokko highly. It still seems like Kokko’s work is under-recognized.

Which ranking on the other person’s list was the biggest surprise?

Curtis: On the upside, I was pleasantly surprised to see how high you were on the goalies. As mentioned, I think you’re onto something there. Also, I like the bet on Eduard Sale’s talent, even if I was hesitant to go there. We often forget how young he is still. I’ll throw Ville Ottavainen’s name out there. While I think his play plateaued a bit this past season, he has the tools and experience to be a third-pair NHL defender soon. If the goal is to sort NHL players from those who may fall short of that level, I think he may outperform the public analyst consensus (No. 19) and come closer to your ranking. If the goal is to project upside, perhaps the national consensus is closer. On the downside, I’ll say Ty Nelson for some of the same reasons. I think he has legitimate third-pair NHL defenseman potential, which likely justifies ranking him a bit higher than No. 26.

John: I think we’re in the same ballpark on most prospects, with just a few bigger variances here and there. But maybe the biggest surprise was you ranking Caden Price at No. 9 when I had him at 17. Funny enough, I wrote earlier this week that he tends to fly under the radar, so I do like the player, I just don’t see his ceiling being quite as high compared to some of the other guys in my top 10. I’m excited to see how he plays in the AHL, but I probably need to see a full year from him before moving him up.

Which prospect could make my ranking look bad in a year?

John: Eduard Sale. I haven’t given up on him, and he still shows flashes where you see exactly why he was a first-round pick in 2023. But the cold stretches are just too frequent right now. Last season he was a 19-year-old in the AHL, so it’s not like anyone expected him to dominate, but there are plenty of examples of 19-year-olds who had much stronger seasons at that level. For me, he absolutely needs to show progress this year if he’s going to hold his spot in my top 10 by the end of the season.

Curtis: Oh, interesting! I was just complimenting you on what I thought was already a high ranking. In a similar vein, I’ll say David Goyette. This is a player who paced the OHL in scoring a couple years ago and fell out of our top 24 after just one (admittedly difficult) professional season. He needs to make big physical and processing gains to get his head above water at the AHL level, but he has the skill to do it. He could make my ranking look bad.

Which prospect has the most to prove this year?

John: There are a lot of candidates, but I’ll go with Ryan Winterton. He needs to break through this year if he’s going to make it. We’ve been excited about him for a while, and he even made his NHL debut back in Nov., 2023, but he hasn’t really shown yet that he should stick. Compare that with Jani Nyman’s debut, Winterton was in a fourth-line role, while Nyman was paired with Eberle and got some power-play time. So maybe that’s not a totally fair comp, but the bottom line is Winterton needs to establish himself, either by lighting it up in the AHL or proving he belongs in the NHL.

Curtis: Several of the returning AHLers come to mind for me. You picked a good one in Winterton, John. I’ll mention Goyette and Sale as well, two players we have already touched on a bit. Both dealt with prolonged quite stretches last season. If either player is similarly unproductive this season, they could see their AHL playing time cut, given the increased competition in Coachella Valley this year.

Broadly speaking, what was the most challenging part of making your rankings?

John: Honestly? The whole thing. I like all the prospects and want them all to succeed, so ranking them almost feels like picking favorites. Obviously, some players are ahead of others, but I hate putting anyone outside the top 20. On top of that, comparing players in different stages of their development, playing in different leagues, with my limited viewings… it’s tough. At times it felt like putting chips on a craps table—sure, there are odds and probabilities, but in the end, anything can happen with these guys.

Curtis: Well put, John. I agree. We’ll leave it there for now. What did we get wrong? Let us have it in the comments below or X/Twitter or Blue Sky.

Curtis Isacke

Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.

Read more from Curtis

The post 2025 Sound Of Hockey Seattle Kraken prospect ranking appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/11/2025-sound-of-hockey-seattle-kraken-prospect-ranking/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Friday Film Room: Miettinen, Agafonov, and Fibigr

The return of Down on the Farm is right around the corner. Prospect seasons are underway. 2024 third-round goalie Kim Saarinen started HPK’s first regular-season game in Liiga, turning away 29 of 31 shots through regulation and overtime, only to lose in a shootout. 2025 fifth-round pick Maxim Agafonov has already played three regular-season games for his VHL club Toros Neftekamsk. (More on that in a moment.)

For now, we’ll continue with a Rookie Camp edition of Friday Film Room, breaking down on video of Julius Miettinen, the aforementioned Agafonov, and Jakub Fibigr. One tweak I’m making this week is to include a “best-case peak projection” alongside the “50th-percentile peak projection” I have been providing previously.

The former is what it sounds like: If everything comes together for this player, what could he become and when will he get there? The latter projection is an attempt to predict an “average” peak outcome and “average” timeframe to get there. If you have questions or Film Room requests, don’t hesitate to reach out below or on social media @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey.

Julius Miettinen | Forward | 19 years old | 2024 second-round pick (unsigned)​

Video: All Shifts | Everett Silvertips vs. Portland Winterhawks (AHL) | Apr. 16, 2025

Notes: Julius Miettinen is a workhorse with the size, physicality, and skating to be an NHL player. He can show pro-ready defensive skill and compete at times, too—particularly when the difficulty of the situation ratchets up. I thought his play at the 2025 World Junior Championship was a particularly compelling argument for Miettinen’s pro projection. He used his size to gain productive net-front positioning and win puck battles, and he used speed and anticipation to disrupt on the penalty kill and press the play on the forecheck. He was one of Finland’s best players en route to a round-robin victory over the more-talented United States and event runner-up status.

In junior, he was an indispensable player from the center position for the Everett Silvertips last season, often finding a way to score a gritty goal when his team most needed it. His ability to take tough matchups and win critical draws was also essential to Everett’s success. That said, there were quiet stretches for the player and times where his skill level with the puck on his stick looked closer to average by CHL standards. He’s not going to overwhelm in transition or off the rush, preferring to work in a support role that creates advantages for his teammates. This limited his point production and tempers his high-end projection.

2025-26 season outlook: Leading Everett (WHL) and Team Finland (WJC) in top-six roles, and developing his consistency and offensive production.

System rank: No. 7 (No. 6 forward)

Best-case projection: NHL third-line center (ETA: mid-2027-28) | 50th percentile projection: NHL fourth-line center (ETA: 2028-29)

Maxim Agafonov | Defenseman | 18 years old | 2025 fifth-round pick (unsigned)​

Video: All Shifts | Toros Neftekamsk v. Magnitka Magnitogorsk (VHL) | Sept. 8, 2025

Notes: As mentioned above, Agafonov’s 2025-26 season is already underway in Russia at the second-tier professional level VHL—a league that is often analogized by scouts to ECHL-level competition. This is strong experience for the 18-year-old defender, and if first impressions are any indication, he’s on solid footing at this professional level. In the Sept. 8, 2025, game excerpted above, Agafonov was deployed in a second-pair, power-play quarterback role, and his broad skillset translated.

He looks sturdier this season in his 6-foot-2 frame when compared with the player I saw last season. Even playing against older competition he was willing to engage physically at the net front and along the boards, and he held his own. If he can continue to add muscle, he’ll really look the part of a professional defenseman.

Agafonov moved the puck capably through the neutral zone, effectively reading when he had the advantage to take open ice and connecting on stretch passes. In the offensive zone, the skill level is there to be an effective shooter and passer from the blue line. At times he uses his skating to cycle down lower into the offensive zone to create advantages, which is a good sign that the offensive production should tick up.

Questions remain about his overall hockey sense and defensive instincts. He seemed to drift and lose his mark in the defensive zone at times, conceding open net-front advantages. The physicality and fundamentals in his own zone need to progress, but this is not atypical for a young player. I don’t see a true carrying trait but a broad set of skills that could carry him higher than his draft status might have suggested if he can continue to make across-the-board progress.

2025-26 season outlook: Regular playing time for Toros Neftekamsk (VHL).

System rank: Outside the top 20

Best-case projection: NHL third-pair defenseman (ETA: 2027-28)| 50th percentile projection: AHL second-pair defenseman (ETA: 2028-29)

Jakub Fibigr | Defenseman | 19 years old | 2024 seventh-round pick (unsigned)​

Video: All Shifts | Czechia vs. Switzerland (U20 Five Nations) | August 30, 2025

Notes: Fibigir’s 2024-25 season with the Brampton Steelheads was quieter from a point-production perspective than I would have anticipated, but his role never waned, and I saw strides defensively from a player that struggled at times in that regard as an OHL rookie the year before. He also continues to earn opportunities at the international level from Team Czechia in a top-four, power-play role—like he did at the 2025 U20 Five Nations tournament a couple weeks ago. All of this suggests to me that he’s well regarded by the coaches that work with him.

In the defensive zone, he leverages above-average skating skill and creativity to break the forecheck and quickly outlet the puck to teammates. He’ll disrupt the play at the blue line or along the boards at times, but overall could use a bit more decisiveness in his reads in those areas. He has enough skating speed to be a factor in transition offensively and save breakaways on the back check.

In the offensive zone, he has adequate skill with the puck on his stick at the blue line to find open teammates and get his shots through on net. I’d anticipate that the point production finally ticks up for Fibigr in the year ahead.

2025-26 season outlook: Top-four and power-play role for Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

System rank: Outside the top 20

Best-case projection: NHL No. 6 or No. 7 defenseman (ETA: 2028-29)| 50th percentile projection: Multi-year AHL second-pair defenseman (ETA: 2027-28)

Curtis Isacke

Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.

Read more from Curtis

The post Friday Film Room: Miettinen, Agafonov, and Fibigr appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/12/friday-film-room-miettinen-agafonov-and-fibigr/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

The Lapsed Fan’s Guide – Offseason changes in the Pacific Division (and what they mean to the Kraken)

So, you took a little break from hockey after the Kraken season ended? Totally fair. There was sunshine and vacations, and maybe you jumped on the roller coaster called Mariners baseball this summer. Hey, it happens to all of us… just not me.

I’ve been waiting for hockey, and hockey is finally back on the horizon.

A lot has gone down around the Pacific Division while you were away, and if you missed any headlines, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered in the Lapsed Fan’s Guide to the 2025 Pacific Division Offseason. We won’t cover Seattle’s moves here, since we covered those last week, but we’ll run through everything else you need to know about team’s divisional rivals heading into 2025–26. And of course, we’ll talk about how it all impacts the Kraken, because that’s what you really care about.

Anaheim Ducks​

80 points in 2024-25 (12th Western Conference, 6th Pacific Division)​

Additions: Chris Kreider (22 G), Mikael Granlund (22 G), Ryan Poehling (12 G)
Subtractions: Trevor Zegras (12 G), Isac Lundestrom (4 G), Brian Dumoulin (2 G), John Gibson (11 W)

The Ducks were very active this offseason, and one of their biggest moves came off the ice. They fired head coach Greg Cronin after a 21-point improvement over the previous season and replaced him with Joel Quenneville. Whether you think Quenneville should be back in the league is a debate for another time, but the bottom line is he’s here, and expectations are that he’ll make an impact.

This is a young, up-and-coming team. Assuming the Ducks sign RFA Mason MacTavish, they’ll have three players age 22 or younger who scored at least 20 goals last season. After finishing 30th in goals last year, they addressed that weakness by adding Kreider and Granlund without losing much.

Kraken impact: The Ducks finished ahead of Seattle last year and got better both on the bench and on the ice this summer. If the Kraken are playing meaningful games in March, I would expect Anaheim to also be in the conversation and a team Seattle will need to overcome in the standings.

Calgary Flames​

96 points (9th Western Conference, 4th Pacific Division)​

Additions: Ivan Prosvetov (20 W in KHL)
Subtractions: Dan Vladar (12 W)

The Flames tied St. Louis in the standings last year but lost the playoff tiebreaker, making them the final team out. For a team that close, you might expect a splashy offseason, but that didn’t happen. Their biggest roster changes came way back in January, when they acquired Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee from Philadelphia. Both struggled to produce in Calgary, but it’s too soon to assume they won’t be impactful as Flames.

Calling Calgary’s offseason “quiet” is a little misleading, though. The Flames did lock up several RFAs, including Dustin Wolf, Matt Coronato, Connor Zary, Morgan Frost, and Kevin Bahl. The big question is whether ninth overall pick Zayne Parekh sticks around this year. After a monster OHL season (33 goals, 107 points), he’s either playing in the NHL or heading back to junior, since there is no AHL option because of transfer rules.

Kraken impact: Calgary is still a team Seattle has to jump over to sniff a playoff spot. The surprising 96-point total last year was largely Dustin Wolf dragging the Flames into contention, though. Scoring remains their biggest challenge where they finished 29th in goals per game (2.68).

Edmonton Oilers​

101 points (6th Western Conference, 3rd Pacific Division, Stanley Cup Final)​

Additions: Andrew Mangiapane (14 G), Isaac Howard (prospect)
Subtractions: Connor Brown (13 G), Corey Perry (19 G), Jeff Skinner (16 G), Viktor Arvidsson (15 G), Evander Kane (DNP regular season)

Edmonton lost a lot of firepower this summer, and the biggest storyline remains whether Connor McDavid will sign an extension. So far, no rush from his camp. Meanwhile, the Oilers again ignored their shaky goaltending, which still looks like their Achilles heel despite back-to-back Stanley Cup Final trips.

Kraken impact: Believe it or not, Edmonton only scored 14 more goals than Seattle last year. Factor in the Oilers’ offseason losses, and it’s not crazy to think the Kraken could outscore them this season. That said, as long as McDavid and Leon Draisaitl wear Oilers sweaters, they’re a dangerous team. Expect a slight step back, but not enough to put them in Seattle’s neighborhood.

Los Angeles Kings​

105 points (4th Western Conference, 2nd Pacific Division)​

Additions: Andrei Kuzmenko (6 G), Brian Dumoulin (3 G), Corey Perry (19 G), Joel Armia (11 G), Cody Ceci (4 G), Anton Forsberg (11 W)
Subtractions: Jordan Spence (4 G), Tanner Jeannot (7 G), Vladislav Gavrikov (16 G), David Rittich (16 W)

The Kings got older this offseason, adding several 30-plus veterans, including 40-year-old Corey Perry (who just got injured in training and had knee surgery that will keep him out for six-to-eight weeks). But they still have talent spread across the age curve. Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, and Warren Foegele (all 29) combined for 94 goals last year, and a younger core of Quinton Byfield, Alex Laferriere, and Brandt Clarke continues to grow.

In goal, Darcy Kuemper returns for his second season. He was solid last year, but at 35, the risk of injury and declining play looms.

Kraken impact: The Kings added useful veterans without losing much. Unless their goaltending falls apart, expect another strong season. They’ll be tough to leapfrog in the standings.

San Jose Sharks​

52 points (16th Western Conference, 8th Pacific Division)​

Additions: Adam Gaudette (19 G), Philipp Kurashev (7 G), Jeff Skinner (16 G), Dmitry Orlov (6 G), John Klingberg (1 G)
Subtractions: Fabian Zetterlund (17 G), Mikael Granlund (15 G), Luke Kunin (11 G), Nico Sturm (7 G), Jake Walman (6 G), Cody Ceci (4 G)

The Sharks were bad last year, but at least they were fun. They’re building around Macklin Celebrini, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, and 2025 No. 2 pick Michael Misa. They lost some vets but replaced them smartly while leaving space for prospects to earn NHL spots.

Kraken impact: San Jose should improve but still finish behind Seattle. What matters is they’ll likely steal more points from division foes, keeping the playoff race tighter.

Vancouver Canucks​

90 points (10th Western Conference, 5th Pacific Division)​

Additions: Evander Kane (DNP)
Subtractions: Dakota Joshua (7 G), Pius Suter (25 G)

The Canucks’ biggest change came behind the bench. Rick Tocchet left for Philadelphia, and assistant coach Adam Foote steps in as a first-time NHL head coach. On the roster side, Evander Kane replaces some of Pius Suter’s goals, while Thatcher Demko enters the year healthy… for now. Additionally, I am sure this season won’t be filled with the same drama they had last season, right?

Kraken impact: With Tocchet gone, many expect regression. That’s good news for Seattle, who finished 14 points behind them last year. Still, Vancouver should be in the playoff mix late in the season.

Vegas Golden Knights​

110 points (2nd Western Conference, 1st Pacific Division)​

Additions: Mitch Marner (27 G), Colton Sissons (7 G)
Subtractions: Tanner Pearson (12 G), Nicolas Roy (15 G), Nicolas Hague (5 G), Alex Pietrangelo (injury, 4 G)

Vegas pulled off the move of the offseason, landing Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade deal with Toronto, and just like that, one of the league’s best offensive teams just got scarier. On defense, early in the offseason, Alex Pietrangelo announced that he will be stepping away due to health issues. He logged more ice time than any other Knight last season, and his absence should be substantial.

Kraken impact: Vegas will still be Vegas, annoyingly good. Seattle will face them four times this year (up from three last season), so buckle up.

How the Pacific Division stacks up​

So, there you have it. The Ducks got more dangerous, the Flames stayed quiet, the Oilers are dealing with big question marks, the Kings doubled down on vets, the Sharks are slowly climbing, the Canucks could slip, and Vegas just keeps flexing. For the Kraken, it means the path to the playoffs won’t be easy; too many rivals either held steady or improved.

But hockey’s funny that way. Seasons don’t play out on paper, and if Seattle can clean up its own micro-issues (yes, trailing first and back-to-backs, I’m looking at you), they can hang around in the mix. At the very least, it should make for a wild Pacific Division ride.

The post The Lapsed Fan’s Guide – Offseason changes in the Pacific Division (and what they mean to the Kraken) appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/15/2025-pacific-division-offseason-guide-for-seattle-kraken-fans/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Kraken rookie camp notebook: Thoughts on Catton, Nyman, Villeneuve, Goyette

We’re in that time of year where every passing day feels like one step closer to hockey season. A new milestone is met, a new storyline emerges, a new roster takes shape. One such milestone is the end of Kraken rookie camp, which officially wraps up Tuesday with the team’s prospects hitting the ice one last time before the veterans appear for main training camp.

“This is big-boy hockey now,” Coachella Valley Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal said Sunday. “Now you get the vets coming into your practices, tempo is going to pick up, the puck’s going to move a lot quicker… When that puck drops here on Thursday, training camp starts. You have to be ready, and they will, but this is where the kids really take that step in learning.”

So what did we learn about those kids during Seattle’s rookie camp? Plenty. Let’s dig into the biggest takeaways from practices and the two exhibition games, which the baby Kraken split against Vancouver’s prospects.

It really is a talented group​

The Kraken prospect pool is widely regarded as one of the NHL’s top 10, and in some rankings it lands even higher. But you don’t truly get a sense of the group’s quality until you see the players in real game situations—with referees, fans, and opponents in another club’s NHL colors.

Saturday’s dramatic 5-3 comeback win in Everett and Sunday’s 3-2 loss at Kraken Community Iceplex gave us two strong showcases of what Seattle has in its pipeline.

The Saturday lineup was noticeably stronger, thanks to the presence of the three prospects I believe have the best chance of cracking the Opening Night roster—Berkly Catton, Jani Nyman, and Jacob Melanson. All three sat out Sunday.

When Catton and Nyman were on the ice with linemate Jagger Firkus, Vancouver’s prospects spent most of their shifts on their heels. The trio was dynamic, creative, and productive: Catton posted a goal and an assist, Nyman added a goal, and Firkus collected two assists (though Nyman’s tally should have been credited to Firkus).

Catton, in particular, looked like he didn’t belong in a prospect showcase game—in the best way possible. He repeatedly blew past defenders and generated prime scoring chances, hitting the crossbar on one rush and later finishing a dazzling breakaway that tied the game as part of Seattle’s three-goal comeback.

Catton did everything necessary to prove he’s ready to at least compete for a full-time roster spot at main camp. And Nyman, with his massive frame and wicked shot, often looked like a man among boys.

Meanwhile, Melanson showed his trademark grit and pro-level motor. He won’t put up flashy numbers, but his straightforward, punishing style screams bottom-six NHL forward at some point in the near future. I expect him to push for a depth spot or at the very least be a first call-up candidate.

“Just look at him. He’s a killer,” Laxdal said of Melanson. “Jacob is the prototypical power forward. He’s the type of player that if he’s forechecking you, and he’s going to put you through the boards, he’s also going to have a stick on puck. He’s the type of player that nobody wants to play against, and those players are important on a franchise and in an organization.”

Even with Catton, Nyman, Melanson, Ville Ottavainen, and others sitting out on Sunday, Seattle’s prospects still came within a couple bounces of another win, hitting at least four posts that I can remember.

After those two games, and wrapping my head around the quantity of players that have a real chance to make the NHL one day (we haven’t even talked about Eduard Sale, Tyson Jugnauth, Jake O’Brien, Blake Fiddler, Caden Price, or the many other players that showed flashes of brilliance), I’m more convinced than ever that the Kraken have impact NHLers coming in the next couple of seasons.

Nathan Villeneuve continues to make his presence known​

Speaking of hard-nosed players, Nathan Villeneuve played in both games, and I noticed him nearly every shift. He has a knack for going to the hard areas and doing everything he can to get under the opponent’s skin.

He also scored Saturday’s game-winner, tipping a shot into Vancouver goalie Aleksei Medvedev’s pads before collecting his own rebound, waiting out the netminder, and burying the puck into a yawning cage.

“I love these games,” Villeneuve said. “I mean, it’s a gritty game because everyone’s trying to prove themselves. So it’s my game to play, and I get excited more than nervous to play these games.”

He didn’t score Sunday, but again left a mark—sneaking behind the defense for a breakaway in the second period and driving several odd-man rushes when the game opened up.

David Goyette “starting to decorate”​

David Goyette also made a strong impression and should bring confidence into the main camp after a sometimes bumpy 2024-25 season.

A prolific OHL scorer with 117 points in 68 games for Sudbury in 2023-24, his first pro season was more of a grind. With Coachella Valley, he managed just six goals and 12 assists in a depth role while learning the demands of a 200-foot game.

“As a first-year pro, you’re always trying to adapt as fast as you can to the level, just coming from junior hockey,” Goyette said. “But especially— you put in so much work during the summer. I worked really hard, and you’re trying to impress the coaching staff here and management to show them what you worked on this summer. And it’s always good for them to have an opportunity to see you compete against guys in your similar age group.

“I think I’m happy with my game… Every time you go on the ice, you’re trying to showcase yourself, show them what kind of player you are. So I think I did a good job, and it’s going to propel me leaving here into the main camp.”

He was particularly noticeable Sunday when Catton and Nyman were absent, creating several dangerous looks in the first period and scoring in the second by swatting home a rebound from the slot.

Back in 2022, Goyette was outstanding in his first Kraken camp and preseason before returning to Sudbury to torch the OHL. But his modest numbers with the Firebirds last year raised questions about his confidence and trajectory. Laxdal offered clarity on Sunday.

“There obviously is a skill set there that we want to build on, and for these young players to be able to survive at the next level—even if you just want to survive in the American Hockey League—you have to build a foundation of being able to play a 200-foot game.

“It’s like if you build a house, right? You can’t just build the four walls and the roof unless you have a foundation. So these kids have to build that foundation that allows them to survive at the pro level. And that’s one thing I think David went through last year. He was building his game to allow himself be able to perform and have those offensive numbers that we’ve seen in junior. So going forward now, he’s put the work in in the summer, and he committed; he’s in great shape. If you look at these two games here, kind of building a new book on this year, hopefully now the foundation is being built. We’re putting the floor on, the walls are going up, and now he’s starting to decorate.”

This is a big training camp and season for Goyette. He’s likely headed for another year in the AHL, but if he builds on this foundation, he can push his way back into the conversation as one of Seattle’s top prospects.

Darren Brown​

Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email [email protected].

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The post Kraken rookie camp notebook: Thoughts on Catton, Nyman, Villeneuve, Goyette appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/16/kraken-rookie-camp-catton-nyman-goyette-villeneuve/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Five storylines to watch at Kraken training camp

Seattle Kraken training camp FINALLY gets underway Thursday with its first on-ice session. The early stages of camp are always borderline overwhelming, with more than 50 players spread across three groups. But over the next couple of weeks, things will quickly condense to two groups and then—eventually—one group that resembles Seattle’s Opening Night roster, plus a few bubble players battling for the final spots.

With so much noise and so many moving parts, we wanted to highlight a few key storylines to help you make sense of what you’re seeing.

Here’s what to watch for in Kraken training camp.

Storyline 1: Is Berkly Catton truly ready?​

The Kraken front office has made no bones about its desire to save roster space for its “kids” rising through the ranks. Now that top prospect Berkly Catton has landed in that awkward in-between spot—too good for the WHL, too young for the AHL (by rule), and possibly still a bit green for the NHL—it will be fascinating to see how he fares against veteran Kraken players and in preseason games.

Catton has dominated every time he’s faced peers in his age category, including this past week at rookie camp. We still haven’t seen many instances of him competing against pros, though.

At last season’s training camp, he looked like he was in over his head. This time, the key question is: Does he look like he belongs? If you didn’t know he was a 19-year-old drafted No. 8 overall just a year ago, would you see him as an NHLer, or would his play still suggest he belongs in a lower league?

It’s worth repeating that Seattle may keep Catton around through the nine-game contract slide threshold, similar to what they did with Shane Wright two seasons ago—letting him practice and learn, get him some games here and there, and then eventually sending him to Team Canada for World Juniors before returning him to the WHL.

It would be fun, though, if Catton proves he’s fully NHL-ready and can make an impact for the Kraken this season. Keep a close eye on him.

Storyline 2: Which other rookies make the team?​

Earlier this summer, I wrote about the three prospects—Catton, Jani Nyman, and Jacob Melanson—I believe have the best chance to crack the roster out of camp. While Catton seems likely to stick around at least for the start of the regular season, it’s less clear who else could seize an opportunity.

Nyman and Melanson both have cases to make, albeit for very different reasons. But don’t overlook Ryan Winterton and Logan Morrison, either, both of whom have gotten tastes of NHL competition. Did either of them take a step in development this offseason?

Predicting who snags the last roster spot or two is always part of the fun of training camp. With multiple young players knocking at the door, this year’s competition should be especially intriguing.

Storyline 3: Which non-NHLers stand out?​

This is the last “young player” storyline that I’ll give, but it’s always a fun one. Every preseason, at least one newly drafted prospect forces us to take notice.

Two and three years ago, Carson Rehkopf and David Goyette raised eyebrows with strong performances. Last season, Nathan Villeneuve stole headlines with a preseason showing that suggested he might be ahead of schedule. (Villeneuve, by the way, looked outstanding again at rookie camp this week.)

So who will it be this year? Could Jake O’Brien or Blake Fiddler stick deep into camp and make us believe they’re on a fast track to Seattle? Or might someone from a previous draft—say Caden Price, Oscar Fisker Molgaard, Tyson Jugnauth, Lukas Dragicevic, Ty Nelson, Jagger Firkus, or somebody else—step forward and start banging on the NHL door?

Keep an eye out for flashes of brilliance; they often foreshadow bigger things.

Storyline 4: Early signs of line combinations​

Another thing worth tracking is which veterans skate together in practices and preseason games. In the early practice sessions, the veterans will be sprinkled into the three different groups. But you’ll see trios of forwards and pairs of defensemen that could end up being regular-season line combos at some point. This will be even more obvious in the preseason games, as new head coach Lane Lambert looks for early sparks of chemistry between players.

Line combinations change constantly throughout the season, but early looks also give us clues about the roles Lambert envisions for his players. With Seattle adding Mason Marchment, Frederick Gaudreau, and Ryan Lindgren over the summer, it will be interesting to see how Lambert deploys them initially.

What do those acquisitions mean for returning players? Thinking about a potential depth chart, it’s easy to see a scenario where Tye Kartye gets pushed out of the regular lineup, barring injuries. It’s also possible Eeli Tolvanen gets bumped down to a fourth-line role, as Seattle seeks to recapture the magical depth that propelled its playoff run three seasons ago.

Storyline 5: Could Matt Murray play a role?​

Alongside the trades for forwards and the free-agent signing on defense, the Kraken quietly added veteran goaltender Matt Murray this offseason on a one-year, $1 million deal.

The assumption was that Murray was destined for Coachella Valley, replacing Aleš Stezka in the AHL platoon with Nikke Kokko. But there’s also an element of insurance here—particularly if Philipp Grubauer doesn’t find a way to climb above a .900 save percentage for the first time in his Kraken tenure.

The backup job is Grubauer’s to lose, but if he stumbles in camp or gets off to another slow start, the leash may not be that long. In that case, Murray could end up being a factor this season.

Darren Brown​

Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email [email protected].

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Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/17/five-storylines-for-kraken-training-camp/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Early breakdown of the Coachella Valley Firebirds roster

As Kraken training camp gets into full swing, it’s a good time to also review the Coachella Valley Firebirds roster. Which new prospects are eligible to join, which veterans remain, and how will they impact the AHL’s veteran rule?

Veterans returning​

The AHL is a development league, and teams are limited to five veteran players in a gameday lineup. Veterans are defined as those with more than 260 games of professional experience.

Above are six players who fall into the veteran category and could see significant time in the AHL. However, one of these and possibly up to three players may start the season with the Kraken. Seattle currently has only 11 forwards locked into NHL roster spots, leaving one fourth-line role and as many as two healthy-scratch spots open. Most likely, either John Hayden or Mitchell Stephens makes the Kraken roster, with younger players like Jani Nyman or Berkly Catton filling the other openings.

If one veteran sticks in Seattle, the Firebirds would have five veterans to rotate while staying under the AHL limit. Ian McKinnon and Gustav Olofsson are on AHL-only contracts, so NHL time isn’t an option for them (unless Seattle wanted to elevate one of them, in which case the team could sign the player to an NHL contract).

McCormick played just 19 games last year before suffering an undisclosed injury and enters camp still on that designation. Fleury could see NHL minutes, but Seattle’s addition of Ryan Lindgren pushed him to eighth on the depth chart. NHL teams usually carry seven defensemen, although the Kraken have occasionally carried eight in past seasons. Being eighth likely means Fleury begins the season in Coachella Valley.

Prospects with AHL experience​

As the Kraken enter their fifth season, their prospect pipeline continues to deepen. The Firebirds will have 11 development players with at least one full season of AHL experience:

Nyman could also join this list, but for now we’ll assume he starts the year in Seattle. Sound Of Hockey’s own Darren Brown wrote about prospects to watch, including Melanson, who may push for NHL minutes. Ottavainen is also close to NHL-ready, but Seattle’s offseason moves created a defensive logjam. Because of that, he projects as a call-up option.

Fresh faces​

Adding the veteran players and experienced prospects gives Coachella Valley 11 forwards and four defensemen. That leaves one forward and two defense spots open on a typical gameday roster. The AHL has no hard roster limit, so more players can be carried over the NHL’s 23-man cap.

This year, eight new prospects could suit up in the AHL:

Tyson Jugnauth, Justin Janicke, and Oscar Fisker Mølgaard are strong candidates to be in Coachella Valley—Jugnauth has aged out of the WHL, Janicke has finished his college career, and Mølgaard has made the jump from the Swedish Elite League (SEL). The other five are 20-year-olds still eligible to return to the CHL, though all will push for AHL roles during training camp.

Given that only four defensemen are returning from last year’s team, it’s possible all four newcomers make the Firebirds roster, though it isn’t guaranteed. With Fleury and Ottavainen ready to step into a Kraken role if a need arises, the youngsters could fill any vacancies.

Among the forwards, Janicke is unique—he’s on an AHL-only deal and could be pushed to Kansas City in the ECHL if space runs out. Players on entry-level contracts (ELC) are also eligible to play in the ECHL, but overagers (20-year-olds) remain eligible for the CHL. Typically, those players would be returned to juniors for development rather than being assigned to the ECHL.

In short, performance at training camp will dictate outcomes, but with Seattle pulling some AHL veterans up, the odds are good that most, if not all, of these players land in Coachella Valley.

What about goalies?​

The veteran rule does not apply to goaltenders. With journeyman Matt Murray joining the organization and Nikke Kokko ready for a bigger role, the Firebirds appear set in net. Victor Ostman is likely to get playing time in the ECHL to continue his development.

Wrapping up:​

Training camp is just beginning, and nothing is finalized. Roster battles remain, and the picture will continue to evolve. While the big question is whether any of the 20-year-old prospects are returned to their junior teams, my view is that all eight will earn spots in Coachella Valley. That sets up a deep, competitive group ready to build on last season.

Key battles to watch in training camp include whether Nyman makes the Kraken, which would leave another forward spot in Coachella Valley, and who secures the right-wing role on the fourth line between Hayden and Melanson. If Berkly Catton makes the Kraken, that could also bump a top-nine forward into that mix. Watching Seattle’s young talent take on larger roles in Coachella Valley makes the future of Kraken hockey look even brighter.

Which Firebirds player are you most excited to watch take a step forward this season?

Blaiz Grubic​

Blaiz Grubic is a contributor at Sound Of Hockey. A passionate hockey fan and player for over 30 years, Blaiz grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an alumni of Washington State University (Go Cougs!). When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about hockey, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter or getting out on a golf course for a quick round. Follow @blaizg on BlueSky or X.

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Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/18/early-breakdown-of-the-coachella-firebirds-roster/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Down on the Farm – How Jagger Firkus is developing his professional game

Welcome back to Year 2 of “Down on the Farm,” your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. If you’re interested in Kraken prospects, we’ve had a lot of content on Sound Of Hockey for you recently, including our Sound Of Hockey Kraken prospects ranking, our NHL-affiliated prospects ranking, weekly Film Room breakdowns on individual players, and a Coachella Valley Firebirds roster preview.

But, here’s the thing. There is new on-ice stuff to talk about, finally. Kraken prospects playing in European professional leagues are playing actual regular-season games. And we’ve gotten a close look at most of Seattle’s North American prospects at Kraken rookie camp.

How have the players looked? Who is hurt already? And where can you follow the next week of games? We have all of that and more to talk about—starting with Sound Of Hockey‘s interview with Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus after the first day of Kraken training camp.

As always, if you have a prospect-related question you’d like to see featured in a future column, drop a note below or on X or BlueSky @deepseahockey. Let’s dive in. (We’re so back.)

Firkus is taking it one day at a time at Kraken training camp​

Jagger Firkus is coming off a solid rookie season in the AHL, scoring 15 goals and adding 21 assists in 69 regular-season games, before contributing three assists in six more playoff contests. The production is more impressive when considering that he played only 14:23 per game as tracked by InStat—an expected but stark decrease from his featured role in the WHL where often played 25-plus minutes per game.

Where did he see progress in his game in the AHL? “The biggest [step I took last year] would be my wall play. I think that’s something that [Coach] Laxdal [emphasized]. If you want to make that jump to the NHL, your wall work is something the next level looks at. You need it as a winger, and you need to get trusted by your coach.”

Firkus admitted that while his work along the boards has come a long way, it still needs development and remained a focus for him over the summer. In his exit meetings, the coaches gave him “stuff they wanted to see me work on, and wall play was one of them” along with “getting stronger and bigger and faster.”

He says his summer workouts in Irma, Alberta—where he trained with former Kraken defenseman Carson Soucy, among others—were productive and he thinks he is better prepared for the professional game this year. Last year he weighed in at 153 pounds to begin camp. This year, he says he weighed in at 170 pounds on the day we talked (Thursday, Sept. 18). He thinks that could help even more in those battle scenarios, and he credited Brandon Wickett and the strength and conditioning staff at Coachella Valley for staying on him.

Even at 170 pounds, he is noticeably one of the smaller players at rookie camp, not to mention training camp. Does he ever get tired of being labelled as a talented-but-undersized player? “Not really, to be honest. I know people think that sometimes, but it’s about your instincts, your mind. I think hockey IQ is such an important thing in the game given how quick the game is [at the professional level] and I think that’s what I can rely on.”

Firkus was part of the most dynamic line at Kraken rookie camp when he was paired up with Jani Nyman and Berkly Catton at practice last Friday and then again at the game in Everett on Saturday, Sept. 13. Few reps passed in practice without the puck finding the back of the net, and the group was instrumental to Seattle’s 5-3 comeback win against the Canucks prospects on Saturday.

“Rookie camp, it’s pretty quick. You just have a couple skates, and then you’re into the game. So, a lot of it is just relying on your instincts and your linemates, and when you play with guys like ‘Burky’ [Catton] and ‘Nemo’ [Nyman], you obviously know their strengths and the scenarios you want to put them in—putting the puck on [Nyman’s] stick so he can shoot, and for [Catton] find[ing] him in space.”

We talked after Day 1 of training camp where Firkus noticeably took a few hits that dropped him to the ice in battle drills, including at least one from the heaviest player in the NHL, defenseman Jamie Oleksiak. “It was a very tough skate. It was quick, up and down, [and] a lot of battle drills. It’s kind of what you expect, especially with all the older and bigger defensemen. Oleksiak or anyone like that, their role in the NHL is to put guys through the wall, and they want to show the staff they can still do that.”

When asked about his goals for the rest of camp, Firkus said he’s taking it “day by day.” Of course, “you want to make the team, make impressions on the staff. But [staying focused on the] day to day is the way to go about it.” He wants to take the coaching, make adjustments, and improve everyday. If he can keep doing that, the future is bright for the young forward.

On a lighter note, we asked Firkus about Firebirds Coach Derek Laxdal referring to him as “Yagger” (pronounced liked NHL Hall-of-Famer Jaromir Jagr’s surname) in Laxdal’s press conference earlier this week. Firkus admitted that he gets that a lot around the rink, given Jaromir Jagr’s prominence, and he doesn’t even really hear it anymore. That said, he’s pretty sure Coach Laxdal knows his name is actually pronounced like Mick Jagger’s surname.

I also had a chance to ask him about his starring appearance on the Coachella Valley Firebirds’ “Hot Ones” spoof, and he admitted that spicy food, particularly on camera, is not his thing. He was relieved that at least he didn’t get hot sauce in his eyes like teammate Jacob Melanson did.

For more from rookie camp, check out Darren Brown’s recap from earlier this week where he broke down what he saw in the practices and games.

Notes on four Kraken prospects​

Nathan Villeneuve | F | Sudbury Wolves (OHL)​

Villeneuve impressed throughout rookie camp and in the Everett game with his aggressiveness hunting the puck on the forecheck and tenacity in puck-battle situations. His relentless effort scoring a goal against the Canucks on perhaps a third- or fourth-effort play was one of the highlights of the entire rookie phase of camp. He continues to show a strong base of professional habits for a bottom-size professional career. In this regard, it was disappointing to hear that he left the first day of training camp with a lower-body injury that requires “further evaluation.”

Julius Miettinen | F | Everett Silvertips (WHL)​

Miettinen was a non-participant for much of Kraken rookie camp following an upper-body injury suffered in an Everett Silvertips preseason game. We noted he was on the ice skating separately in a red no-contact jersey after the last day of rookie camp and that continued on the first day of training camp Thursday. He seemed to be in a good spirits and released shots well. It’s not clear yet if his timing will allow him to get on the ice with the main group at training camp, but it’s good news that the injury doesn’t appear to be a long-term issue.

Lleyton Roed | F | Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)​

Speaking of injuries, the Kraken announced that Lleyton Roed is expected to miss two months with an upper-body injury. While I didn’t see the play where it happened, I did note that he left the bench midway through the Kraken’s second exhibition contest against the Canucks at Kraken Community Iceplex on Sunday, Sept. 14. His absence from the lineup will be felt in Coachella Valley, though it likely clears a path for regular playing time for recent trade acquisition Jon-Randall Avon.

Alexis Bernier | D | Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)​

Finally, the team also announced that defense prospect Alexis Bernier had offseason ACL surgery. While the timing of the surgery was not disclosed, it is notable that the 2024 third-round pick did not participate in Kraken development camp earlier this summer either. It is possible Bernier returns toward the end of the 2025-26 season, but his focus may be on getting back to 100 percent for the 2026-27 season when he could earn a professional contract.

Kraken prospects data update​

Moving on from the disappointing Kraken injury news, we can note that, on the positive side, Zeb Forsfjall returned to the lineup for his SHL club after missing the preseason and first few regular season contests with an injury. He only played about four minutes, so hopefully that is reflective of a ramp-up process.

In other news, Karl Annborn was active, but did not play, for HV71 this past week. He seems to be on the verge of his SHL debut. Over in Russia, Maxim Agafonov is looking like a capable professional while playing in the VHL, the second-tier professional league. And stick taps for Loke Krantz, who scored the first regular-season goal of the 2025-26 season among Kraken organization players.

2025-26 Sound Of Hockey prospects data update​

Goalie prospect Kim Saarinen began the Liiga season hot, posting a .938 save percentage across his first two games. He’s your first 2025-26 Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week.

Berkly Catton “won” the 2024-25 season-long contest with three prospect-of-the-week designations. Perhaps we’ll have to get him a trophy.

Previewing the week ahead​

With NCAA seasons not yet started and all other North American players still in camp, the schedule remains pretty light in the early going, but there are games to watch in the week ahead. This year, we’re including streaming video links with the schedule, which we will provide in two versions—one organized by date and one organized by player.

Curtis Isacke

Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.

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The post Down on the Farm – How Jagger Firkus is developing his professional game appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/1...r-firkus-is-developing-his-professional-game/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Kraken Notebook: Lane Lambert pushing hard, storyline and injury updates

Believe it or not, Sunday is game day for the Seattle Kraken… or at least for some semblance of the Kraken made up of players within the organization. And while their lineup Sunday against the “Vancouver Canucks” will look nothing like what we’ll see on Opening Night, icing a team in true game competition marks the next step in the long-awaited return to hockey after an offseason that felt like an eternity.

Earlier this week, I wrote about five storylines to watch at training camp. Already, we’ve seen movement and developments on some of them. So here’s an update on where things stand, plus a few new tidbits from the opening days of camp.

Let’s go!

Storyline updates​

Berkly Catton’s NHL readiness​

I’m not ready to proclaim that Berkly Catton is a full-time NHLer just yet, but he hasn’t done anything to suggest otherwise. After dominating rookie camp, he’s fit seamlessly on a line with veterans Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann.

One of my favorite camp moments so far came from that trio on Saturday. In a 3-on-2 rush drill, Catton swung wide to the left, hit another gear, and blew past defenders through the circle (I can’t recall exactly who they went against). He then zipped a cross-crease pass right onto Eberle’s tape, and Eberle one-timed it on net. Victor Ostman made a highlight-reel save on the initial shot, but the rebound popped out to McCann, who buried it into an open net. If that exact sequence were to play out in a game, it’s a goal 95 percent of the time.

“I think [the main training camp is] definitely heavier bodies in the corner [than in rookie camp],” Catton said Friday. “And the little details matter a lot more, but still, it’s just hockey. And it helps when I’m on a line with two really good players. They always make plays and stuff, and [they’re] even communicating with me where to be. So honestly, it’s been great playing with them. They’ve showed me a lot, even in two days.

“Obviously it’s pretty cool, playing on a line with Jordan Eberle and McCann, so just cherishing that. But I think they’re really smart hockey players, and I think I have the ability to make plays too. I think we have, honestly, even in two days, a little bit of chemistry, so it’s been fun.”

CHEMISTRY?! CATTON HAS CHEMISTRY WITH MCCANN AND EBERLE?!

McCann returned the praise Saturday, saying he and Eberle have been joking about “keeping up” with the 19-year-old.

“He’s just so skilled,” McCann said. “He controls the puck so well. I know he’s not a big guy, but he can fight you off in the corner.”

Last preseason, Catton showed flashes, but he mostly looked overmatched as an 18-year-old playing against pros. I can’t wait to see how he looks in actual game action this time around.

Early signs of line combinations​

In my “Training camp storylines” article, I noted it would be worth tracking potential line combinations for hints at how new head coach Lane Lambert might be stacking his players. From what I’ve seen, there are currently five forward lines worth of roster hopefuls:

Mason Marchment // Chandler Stephenson // Eeli Tolvanen
Jared McCann // Berkly Catton // Jordan Eberle
Jani Nyman // Matty Beniers // Kaapo Kakko
Jaden Schwartz // Shane Wright // Jagger Firkus
Tye Kartye // Freddie Gaudreau // Jacob Melanson

There’s still a lot of time for changes, but if the season started today, I think the Kraken would be picking 13 or 14 forwards from this group of 15.

We expected Catton, Jani Nyman, and Jacob Melanson to be in the roster conversation. What stands out, though, is seeing Jagger Firkus alongside Jaden Schwartz and Shane Wright. Firkus also played on the top line in last Saturday’s prospect showcase game in Everett with Catton and Nyman. I still think he needs more AHL seasoning, but his spot in this role shows how much the organization values him as a near-future NHLer.

Could Matt Murray play a role?​

Perhaps the most intriguing roster battle is in net, where the Kraken now employ three goaltenders with extensive NHL experience. Joey Daccord remains the clear No. 1, but the under-the-radar offseason signing of Matt Murray adds intrigue to the competition with Philipp Grubauer.

But wait… is there really only one backup spot available?

I asked general manager Jason Botterill how the club plans to handle the situation. Here’s what he said:

“We’ll continue to evaluate the situation. We have ideas on comparing three goalies. We also have ideas if there’s injury that we have to make an adjustment from that standpoint, but we’re ready, whatever materializes over the next couple of weeks.

“I think there’s competition [between Grubauer and Murray], for sure, and I think there’s different scenarios where we’ve looked at being able to carry three goalies… With how condensed some of the games are [because of the Olympic break], I think you’re going to need three goalies throughout the season.”

The plot thickens!

Health updates​

One (hopefully minor) concern popped up when the Kraken announced Brandon Montour would miss two weeks after having a bursa removed from his ankle. Montour had been skating in captain’s practices, so the timing is a little odd. Still, this procedure shouldn’t keep him out of regular-season action or set him back too far.

“He’s coming in in great shape,” Botterill said, adding that Montour should be ready for Opening Night. “It’s disappointing he can’t be out there right away, because he is a driver of our intensity and our pace of practices. But we tried to get this procedure done now so he doesn’t have to deal with it during the season, and our whole mindset is he’ll be ready to go for Game 1.”

Montour has been around Kraken Community Iceplex on crutches, chatting and laughing it up with team staff.

I also asked McCann how he was feeling after the surgery he had planned following last season.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time right now,” McCann said. “I wasn’t able to skate, really, much this summer, unfortunately. But I’m feeling pretty good. Just kind of going to keep at it.”

McCann was spotted chatting with trainers and stretching his leg Friday, and by Sunday the team confirmed he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Fingers crossed he’s good to go by opening night and back to filling the net like he has in his first four seasons in Seattle.

Meanwhile, prospects Lleyton Roed and Nathan Villeneuve both went down with injuries in the last week. Roed left the second prospect showcase game Sunday and is expected to miss two months with an upper-body injury. We spotted him this week with a cast on his left hand.

Villeneuve’s injury is more of a mystery. The team has only said it’s a lower-body injury and out for the remainder of training camp.

It’s a tough break for two players who impressed last camp with outstanding performances in preseason games. Here’s wishing them both a speedy recovery.

Lambert pulling no punches​

It must be said: In five years of covering the Kraken, this has been the most intense opening stretch of camp I’ve witnessed. Lambert has emphasized accountability and attention to detail, and so far he’s been extremely vocal—so much so that he lost his voice by Saturday’s media availability.

Lambert doesn’t call it yelling, though. He calls it “encouraging.”

What I appreciate is that he isn’t afraid to blow a drill dead to correct mistakes on the spot.

“If something’s not right, don’t let it go. Stop practice,” Lambert said. “It doesn’t matter who it is, doesn’t matter if you’re a 14-year veteran or a rookie or a junior player in training camp. Everybody wants to learn, everybody can learn. We’ll talk a little bit about development, but it’s not just development of younger players. You can still develop your older players with different concepts, different things you can give them and bring them and help enhance their game.”

Darren Brown​

Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email [email protected].

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The post Kraken Notebook: Lane Lambert pushing hard, storyline and injury updates appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/21/kraken-training-camp-montour-injury/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Three Takeaways – Jani Nyman stars in Kraken preseason win over Canucks

The Seattle Kraken got off to a strong start in the Lane Lambert Era on Sunday with a 5-3 preseason win over the Vancouver Canucks. Sure, it was a meaningless exhibition, and Seattle dressed a much more seasoned lineup than Vancouver, but the home team controlled long stretches of the game, giving fans—and their new head coach—plenty to like.

“I like the effort a lot,” Lambert said. “I thought we played hard. I thought we did things that we’ve been working on from a defensive standpoint, I thought we did a lot of good things offensively. In the first period, we controlled the game with a number of good-quality scoring chances. We took a four-minute penalty, but that was all part of it, in terms of just sticking up for your teammate. But I thought we did a lot of good things in a lot of different areas.

“What I really liked a lot was we were on pucks tonight. We were hounding pucks, creating turnovers, and then turning it into offense.”

Jani Nyman scored twice, while Eduard Sale, Jaden Schwartz, and John Hayden each added a goal. Vince Dunn had three assists, and Kaapo Kakko contributed two.

Here are our Three Takeaways from Seattle’s 5-3 preseason win over Vancouver.

Takeaway #1: Jani Nyman making his case​

Li’l Jani has been firmly on the radar as a young player with a chance to crack the Opening Night roster, after putting up six points (3-3=6) in 12 NHL games last season and leading the Coachella Valley Firebirds in goals with 28.

He looked too good for rookie camp last week, but the lingering question has always been whether his skating had improved enough to make him a full-time NHLer this season and allow him to consistently get into scoring positions to unleash his deadly shot.

Nyman made a convincing case Sunday. Midway through the second period, on a rush with Matty Beniers and Kakko, he hustled to the far post and managed to get his stick on Kakko’s seam pass, even after it deflected en route. That goal gave Seattle a 2-1 lead.

HELLO, NYMAN!

Nice buildup off the rush, and Li’l Jani does well to get his stick on Kakko’s pass that got deflected.

2-1 #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/zBOXIjyzpS

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) September 22, 2025

“It’s good to get some games before the real ones,” Nyman said. “It’s been a long summer, so I feel I’m ready. And I did a huge job [training] this summer. Hopefully I can see that on the ice.”

Added Lambert: “The thing that excited me about that goal was that it started in the D-zone. We killed the play, and then it ended up in the back of their net. So from my perspective, that’s what we’re talking about when we’re talking about defense translating into offense.”

Nyman followed up with an even prettier tally four minutes later, again connecting with Kakko. This time, after the two Finns switched positions just inside the blue line, Nyman drifted into a soft spot at the top of the right circle. Kakko slid him a perfect pass, and Nyman—who had cleverly opened himself up for a one-timer—ripped it off the far post and in.

JANI TWO-MAN!

Nyman’s second of the night on a big blast.

4-1 #SeaKraken. pic.twitter.com/vvmtZff8Fg

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) September 22, 2025

“We never talked about [that play in advance]. It just happened,” Kakko said. “I mean, [Nyman’s] got a good shot, and we all know that. I think we saw that last year already, so— nobody net front, it’s a pretty heavy shot. Hopefully me and Matty can find him a little more.”

If Nyman keeps producing through the preseason, it’ll be hard for the front office to justify sending him down.

Takeaway #2: Solid start​

We can’t read too much into this—or any—preseason game, especially with Vancouver icing a roster that looked more like a prospect showcase squad than an NHL lineup.

Still, you want to see structure and flashes from individual players, and the Kraken delivered both. Kakko, Shane Wright, and Schwartz all looked sharp. Several young players also left their mark: Sale opened the scoring, Oscar Fisker Molgaard set up Hayden’s goal, and Nyman did what we covered in Takeaway #1.

Seattle’s last two first-round picks, Berkly Catton and Jake O’Brien, also had their moments. Both showed confidence, and neither looked out of place. Catton, despite not finding the scoresheet, was around the action all night and finished plus-two in 14:24 of ice time.

“I liked both of their games,” Lambert said. “O’Brien’s a real cerebral player, really solid defensively. Honestly, he just keeps getting better every day, and he’s had a good training camp. His progression has been very, very good.

“Cats, he’s got that dynamic ability, that dynamic speed. He showed it on a few occasions tonight.”

Catton still has work to do to secure a roster spot. He didn’t cement it Sunday, but he also did nothing to hurt his chances.

Takeaway #3: John Hayden is still in the penalty box​

Another player fighting (literally and figuratively) for a roster spot is John Hayden, who has been in this bubble position for four straight Kraken training camps. On Sunday, he reminded management he’ll always stand up for teammates.

This particular instance came with a price.

At 17:34 of the first period, Joseph LaBate flattened Wright with a clean open-ice hit. Hayden immediately went after LaBate, cross-checking the 6-foot-5 forward before dropping the gloves and throwing punches.

The result: 19 minutes of penalties—two for cross-checking, two for instigating, five for fighting, and a 10-minute misconduct—leaving the Kraken to kill off four minutes shorthanded. They survived, but Schwartz’s subsequent high-sticking minor cost Seattle a goal against.

“You know what? I have all kinds of time in the world for that,” Lambert said of Hayden’s decision to engage LeBate. “He’s sticking up for his teammate, so outstanding job by him. We try and kill those off all day long when we feel like somebody is trying to stand up for one of his teammates.”

Hayden made the most of the extra rest and scored 3:07 into the third period to extend Seattle’s lead to 5-2, banging home a slick feed from Fisker Molgaard.

Hayden remains a candidate for the 13th forward role. If he starts the year in Coachella Valley, odds are he’ll be back in Seattle before long.

Darren Brown​

Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email [email protected].

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The post Three Takeaways – Jani Nyman stars in Kraken preseason win over Canucks appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/22/kraken-defeat-canucks-preseason-nyman/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Forecasting the Kraken’s 2025–26 Goal Scoring

Kraken preseason is officially underway. As I have done in previous preseasons, I like to project Seattle’s playoff chances by forecasting the team’s goal scoring. You can review my last three forecasts here: 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25.

This forecast looks at adjusted goals for each player on the projected Kraken roster. The “adjusted goals” metric is defined as goals scored minus empty-net goals. Based on prior analysis, teams with an adjusted goal differential of plus-one to plus-five make the playoffs more than 50 percent of the time. Adjusted goals against is the other half of that equation, but for this article, we’re only focusing on adjusted goals for.

Looking back at the 2024–25 forecast​

Last season, the Kraken finished with 230 adjusted goals, an increase of 25 compared to 2023–24. My forecast missed the mark by 11.9 goals. Here’s a player-by-player breakdown:

Overall, the forecast did fine but not great. A few players came in well below expectations, Andre Burakovsky and Jared McCann among them, but Jaden Schwartz more than offset those misses, finishing 10.9 goals above what I had projected for him. That’s how forecasting tends to work: some players overshoot, others undershoot.

There were also factors that would have been tough to build into the model. Jordan Eberle’s injury was significant. Yanni Gourde also missed time with injury, and even when healthy, his production lagged. Trades always shake things up, too. While Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand were dealt at the deadline, their lost production was roughly balanced by Kaapo Kakko, who arrived in an earlier trade.

Roster unknowns for 2025–26​

Unlike recent offseasons, this year’s roster still has a few question marks. Several rookies are making strong pushes out of camp, and late adjustments could happen depending on who earns spots. That makes projecting games played a little trickier, so I’ve leaned conservative with totals.

Another wrinkle: a lot of Kraken players are entering the final year of their contracts. If Seattle falls out of playoff contention by the deadline, it wouldn’t be surprising to see veterans moved to contenders for future assets. That uncertainty isn’t baked into this forecast, but it’s definitely a storyline to monitor.

Departures and Arrivals for 2025–26​

From a pure goal-scoring standpoint, the only notable departure from last season is Bjorkstrand, who was traded to Tampa Bay at the deadline.

The Kraken made two trades this offseason that should help replace some of the goal scoring lost from last year’s roster. First, they acquired Mason Marchment from the cap-strapped Dallas Stars in mid-June. Marchment brings size, physicality, and a proven middle-six scoring touch, with three straight seasons of double-digit goals. Just a week later, the Kraken added Freddy Gaudreau from the Minnesota Wild. Gaudreau isn’t as flashy offensively, but he’s versatile, defensively reliable, and can chip in 10–15 goals while playing anywhere in the lineup (he had 18 last season and 19 in 2022-23). Together, the pair should provide depth scoring and stability that will help offset the loss of Oliver Bjorkstrand.

Based on last year’s production, the Kraken lost 41 goals but brought in 35 — and that’s in 112 fewer games played. That gap is where potential rookies like Berkly Catton, Jani Nyman, and a handful of other candidates could step in and contribute.

Scoring forecast approach​

As in past seasons, I’m using each player’s last three years of games played and adjusted goals to project for 2025–26. Games played is the trickiest part to forecast — I leaned on each player’s historical average, but I’ll make the occasional subjective adjustment if I think the production rate doesn’t quite line up.

Yes, some guys have averaged 75-plus games per season, but as we saw with Eberle and Gourde last year, injuries are inevitable. Since it’s nearly impossible to predict who will go down, I also take a conservative approach to projecting games played for the upcoming season.

Forwards forecast​

The most difficult part of this forecast is figuring out games played and goals for the rookies. Take Jani Nyman, for example — he scored three goals in 12 games with the Kraken during his late-season call-up and added 28 goals in 58 games for Coachella Valley. He’s a natural goal scorer, so 10 goals in 50 NHL games feels conservative… but that’s probably the right cautious estimate for now, because it’s impossible to say if he’ll be a full-time NHLer.

Berkly Catton is even tougher to predict. He’s either going to play fewer than nine games (because he burns the first year of his entry-level contract if the Kraken keep him for longer than that) or more than 50 — not much in between. I’ve been leaning toward the higher end, but without full certainty, I split the difference and set his forecast at 40 games.

Outside of the rookies, there are a couple of eyebrow-raisers in the model. Shane Wright’s 18.9-goal projection feels a little light, while Jared McCann’s looks a bit heavy. But that’s the nature of an aggregate forecast: some players run hot, some cold, and ideally it all balances out.

Defensemen forecast​

Forecasting the defensemen is a bit more straightforward. The top six are pretty well set heading into the season, with Josh Mahura likely sliding into the seventh spot if everyone stays healthy. The one new face, Ryan Lindgren, brings plenty of defensive reliability but isn’t exactly known for his goal scoring.

One player who could push the totals higher is Ryker Evans. He’s shown steady progress the last couple of years, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he chipped in a bit more offense as his role continues to grow.

Putting it together​

When you combine the forwards and defensemen, the forecast lands at 246.3 adjusted goals for the 2025–26 season. That’s a 16-goal bump over last year, a total that would’ve ranked ninth in the NHL in 2024–25. It feels a little optimistic, but we’ll stick with it for now.

Other considerations​

• Coaching/system tweaks – The biggest change this offseason came behind the bench with the hiring of Lane Lambert. His teams have been known for playing structured, defensively sound hockey. That could tighten things up in Seattle’s end, but Lambert has also emphasized that creating turnovers in the defensive zone can fuel offense. How that balance plays out will be worth tracking. Lambert mentioned he thought Nyman’s goal in Seattle’s 5-3 preseason win over Vancouver was an excellent example of this. “The thing that excited me about that goal was that it started in the D-zone,” Lambert said. “We killed the play, and then it ended up in the back of their net. So from my perspective, that’s what we’re talking about when we’re talking about defense translating into offense.”
• Power play – Seattle finished 23rd in the league on the power play last year, leaving plenty of room for improvement. With a new staff and some fresh personnel looks, there’s cautious optimism that the power play could finally take a step forward.
• Injuries – The ultimate wild card. If the Kraken’s top six can stay mostly healthy, it would go a long way toward hitting (or even exceeding) this forecast.

Will Seattle improve offensively?​

My projection for the Kraken’s 2025–26 season comes in at 246.3 adjusted goals, a 16-goal bump from last year. That total would have ranked ninth in the NHL a season ago. Still, the big questions remain: can the young players fighting for roster spots make an impact right away, and how much will Lambert’s system influence scoring, for better or worse?

For now, Kraken fans should keep expectations measured but optimistic. There’s clear upside here, but also plenty of volatility depending on health, development, and where the team sits at the trade deadline. As the season progresses, I’ll layer in adjusted-goals-against numbers to give a full playoff outlook and track how close (or far) this projection ends up.

What do you think, are my numbers too high, too low, or just right? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

The post Forecasting the Kraken’s 2025–26 Goal Scoring appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/23/forecasting-the-krakens-2025-26-goal-scoring/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Injury woes starting to pile up for Seattle Kraken in training camp

Injuries in hockey are inevitable. It’s a high-speed, high-intensity, chaotic game in which a player can be doing everything right, and yet, in the blink of an eye, their whole season can be derailed.

For the Seattle Kraken, they may have enough talent to make the playoffs for just the second time in their short history—and the first time since the 2022-23 season. But there’s no doubt that for Seattle to even have a sniff of contention, the roster has to stay relatively healthy throughout the regular season.

During training camp and preseason—before the puck even officially drops—the last thing you want to hear about is key veteran players dealing with injuries.

And yet, here we are.

Chandler Stephenson leaves Tuesday’s game​

Seattle’s lineup looked very different Tuesday in an uninspiring 4-1 loss at Calgary compared to the group that played Sunday in a 5-3 home win against Vancouver. In fact, the only two Kraken players to appear in both games were Berkly Catton and Ryker Evans.

One of the veterans making his preseason debut Tuesday was Chandler Stephenson, who Seattle hopes can emerge as a top distributor for newcomers like Mason Marchment, who also played his first game against the Flames.

Stephenson came up lame after this play in the closing moments of the second period and did not return for the third.

Uh oh. Chandler Stephenson went down the tunnel after this play… pic.twitter.com/vfGcMUO3b2

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) September 24, 2025

The Kraken only announced that Stephenson was being “evaluated” by the medical staff, and coach Lane Lambert echoed that message in his post-game availability on Tuesday. “I have not heard anything,” Lambert said. “What I’ve heard is that he’s going to be evaluated [Wednesday].”

Unsurprisingly, Stephenson was not on the ice for practice Wednesday.

Jared McCann not at 100 percent​

The Kraken desperately need Jared McCann to return to goal-scoring prominence this season after producing at a relatively low clip by his standards (though he still led the team in scoring with 61 points and buried 22 goals) in 2024-25.

One thing that likely hindered McCann’s production last season was an injury he played through for much of the campaign. He confirmed at the end of the year that he would undergo a procedure, and earlier this week he told us that recovery from that procedure kept him off the ice for most of the summer.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time right now. I wasn’t able to skate, really, that much in the summer, unfortunately. But I’m feeling pretty good, and hopefully it keeps going well.”

That comment came Saturday. On Sunday, the team announced McCann was day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Asked about McCann’s status following the game against the Canucks, Lambert said, “He didn’t get a lot of chance to skate this summer. If you ask any one of those players in that room how training camp has been and how the first four days have been, they’re going to say, ‘Extremely difficult.’ And so, there’s a maintenance portion for him. It’s been a tough camp so far.”

That doesn’t sound like Lambert and the team expect McCann to miss significant time, but it is concerning that Seattle’s best scorer is trying to ramp up for the season, and his body isn’t responding the way he had hoped.

The good news is that when McCann has been on the ice, he’s looked mostly like his old self—aside from a few moments where he’s flexed his leg. He looks fast, and his shot is as wicked as ever.

Here’s hoping this issue doesn’t linger into the season. But like Stephenson, McCann was also absent from practice Wednesday.

Ryan Lindgren working his way back​

We didn’t see it happen, but we heard that offseason acquisition Ryan Lindgren took a puck to the face during Sunday morning’s practice, forcing him to leave the ice. He has yet to appear in a preseason game.

There’s some good news, though. Lambert didn’t express much concern, indicating the team expects Lindgren to be fine. He skated on his own in a red non-contact jersey Tuesday and returned to skate with the non-game group Wednesday.

Ryan Lindgren is on the ice with the non-game group in a regular blue jersey at #SeaKraken camp. His left eye is still noticeably black. pic.twitter.com/TAEDGvXNAo

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) September 24, 2025

Brandon Montour yet to skate in camp​

Through all of this, top defenseman Brandon Montour still hasn’t skated with the team in training camp. Montour had a bursa removed from his ankle on the eve of camp and has been seen around Kraken Community Iceplex on crutches, chatting and laughing with team staff.

He did participate in pre-camp captains’ practices, and we’ve heard he had been dealing with the issue for a while this offseason before deciding to have the procedure so it wouldn’t bother him all season.

The team initially announced he’d be out for two weeks, which would put his projected return around next Wednesday. We’ll see…

Kraken need good health​

The injury bug bites every team, every season; it’s just a matter of when—and how hard—it bites. For the Kraken, though, they simply can’t afford for key players to miss significant time if they want to be playing meaningful games late in the season.

On the plus side, there are still two full weeks before the games start to count, giving these banged-up players some runway to recover. The question is: Will they all be ready in time for Seattle’s Opening Night matchup against the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 9? Or will Seattle already be testing its depth from the drop of the puck?

Darren Brown​

Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email [email protected].

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The post Injury woes starting to pile up for Seattle Kraken in training camp appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/24/injury-woes-for-seattle-kraken-in-training-camp/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Candidates to have a rebound season for the Seattle Kraken in 2025-26

With the preseason underway and the regular season around the corner, it’s time to highlight a handful of Seattle Kraken players who can improve on last year’s results. I’m calling them “rebound candidates,” but that doesn’t mean they had bad seasons in 2024-25. It means they’ve already shown they can play at a higher level than what they showed last season. After finishing with 76 standings points last year, the Kraken will need every ounce of production if they hope to return to the playoffs.

Here are the players I’ll be watching for rebound seasons:

Jared McCann​

Since arriving in Seattle via the Expansion Draft from Pittsburgh by way of Toronto (he never actually played a game for the Maple Leafs before they left him exposed), McCann has thrived in an expanded role. His ice time has climbed from 16 to 17 minutes per game, and he leads the franchise in both goals (128) and points (243). He even led the Kraken in points last season with 61 (22-39=61).

So how does he qualify as a rebound candidate? Goal scoring. In his first three Kraken seasons, McCann topped the team in goals each year and shot 15.4 percent. Last season, that number dipped 4.5 percentage points to 10.9 percent, and he finished with 22 goals. He also scored just four power-play goals, his lowest total since joining Seattle.

Regression to the mean suggests his shooting percentage should creep back toward his Kraken average of 14.3 percent. His career high is 40 goals (2022-23), and while that may be ambitious, returning to the 30-goal mark feels realistic. Last season, McCann played mostly with Chandler Stephenson, who was second on the team with 51 points but often matched against top opposing lines.

McCann has shown he can produce from any spot in the lineup, and I expect him to bury more chances this year. It should be noted that McCann is currently day-to-day and shared earlier this week with media that he didn’t skate much this summer while recovering from a procedure that he underwent after last season.

Rebound target: 30 goals and 70 points​

Matty Beniers​

After his 57-point rookie season and Calder Trophy win, the Kraken have been waiting for Beniers to recapture that magic. He has since posted 37 and 43 points while leading the forward group in even-strength ice time (15:44 minutes per game). But among NHL forwards who averaged that much even-strength time and played a full season (70+ games), he ranked last in the NHL in points in each of the last two seasons.

There’s still reason for optimism. He returned to the 20-goal plateau in 2024-25, showed chemistry with Kaapo Kakko, and boosted his shooting percentage to 13.6 percent (up from 11.3 in 2023-24). He’s proven he has the offensive talent, as his rookie numbers came with less ice time. With new head coach Lane Lambert emphasizing structure at both ends, Beniers should benefit.

Rebound target: 60 points. It’s a stretch, but it’s within reach if he finds his stride early.​

Vince Dunn​

Dunn broke out for 64 points in 2022-23 but has since been slowed by injuries, missing 20-plus games each of the past two seasons. During his career-best season, he averaged 0.79 points per game, 12th best among defensemen that season (2022-23). He nearly matched that rate the next year (0.78 PPG) but played just 59 games. Last season he dropped to 0.63 PPG and again missed almost a quarter of the year (20 games).

Keeping Dunn healthy is a priority. When in the lineup, the puck-moving defenseman drives offense and brings an edge that energizes teammates and fans. The physical side makes him popular but also adds injury risk. Balancing those elements will be critical for Seattle.

Rebound target: 60 points and play 82 games​

Backup goaltending​

Philipp Grubauer officially slid into a backup role in 2024-25, and the results were rough: an .875 save percentage and an 8-17-1 record. After four straight years below .900, hope is scarce. Still, he showed a late spark. Following a stint with Coachella Valley, he returned to Seattle with a 3-2-0 record and a .915 save percentage. The sample was small but promising, and he seems to really enjoy working with goalie coach Colin Zulianello, who was promoted from the Firebirds to the Kraken this summer, replacing Steve Briere.

The Kraken also added two-time Stanley Cup winner Matt Murray. Murray has struggled in recent NHL stints but dominated the AHL last season with a .934 save percentage. Neither option is a sure bet, but both have NHL experience. And frankly, can it get worse than an .875 save percentage?

Whoever wins the backup job behind Joey Daccord, Seattle will be counting on more stability in net. General manager Jason Botterill has even suggested the team may carry three goalies.

Both Grubauer and Murray would require waivers to be sent to the AHL. Murray, on a one-year deal at $1 million, could be a low-risk waiver claim for another team. Grubauer’s $5.9 million cap hit, on the other hand, is unlikely to be claimed if Seattle wanted to send him down at some point.

Rebound target: A .500 record when the backup is in net​

Final thoughts​

The Kraken don’t need all four of these rebound stories to hit in order to take a step forward. But if McCann’s shot rebounds, Beniers breaks through, Dunn stays healthy, and the backup goalie spot stabilizes, Seattle’s chances of returning to the playoffs increase dramatically. Even two or three of these improvements could be the difference between another disappointing season and meaningful games in April.

Comment below on which Kraken player you think could be a rebound candidates?

Blaiz Grubic​

Blaiz Grubic is a contributor at Sound Of Hockey. A passionate hockey fan and player for over 30 years, Blaiz grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an alumni of Washington State University (Go Cougs!). When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about hockey, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter or getting out on a golf course for a quick round. Follow @blaizg on BlueSky or X.

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Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/2...und-season-for-the-seattle-kraken-in-2025-26/