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Down on the Farm – Junior seasons begin, J.R. Avon settles in

Welcome to “Down on the Farm,” your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. This week we’ll go over the latest prospect news from Kraken training camp, including a number of junior reassignments. We’ll also get into a few exciting professional debuts for Kraken prospects playing overseas.

For our feature this week, we caught up with Jon-Randall Avon (who prefers “J.R.”) the day after he made his Kraken preseason debut in Calgary. We touched on a variety of topics including the trade that brought him to Seattle, his friendship with Tucker Robertson (his counterpart in the trade), and his off-ice interests. Let’s dive in.

J.R. Avon is feeling like himself in fresh start with Kraken​


The Philadelphia Flyers traded the 22-year-old Avon to Seattle just a couple weeks before camp began. Avon told us he had “a little bit of a sense” that he could be on the move from Philadelphia after he sat during Lehigh Valley’s playoff run last season, but it was “still a shock.”

Flyers general manager Daniel Briere told him that “[Avon] and the guy that got traded [back to Philadelphia] were kind of in similar spots of, not necessarily getting pushed aside, but not looked at the same.” So it was an opportunity for a “fresh start” for both with a new organization.

After talking with his parents and agent after the trade, one of the first text messages Avon sent was to his former Peterborough Petes teammate Tucker Robertson, because he thought he was getting the chance to reunite with Robertson again after the two played together for four years in the OHL. Avon recounted, “I texted him saying, ‘Hey, I’m coming to Seattle,’ and then he texted me back saying ‘Hey, I’m going to Philly.'” Avon previously had no idea that Robertson was the return going back to Philadelphia in the deal.

Avon laughed and called the situation “honestly a bit weird” because the two are “good buddies” and “pretty close” after playing together for so long. They have talked a lot since the trade about what to expect in Seattle and Philadelphia.

Right after the trade, Kraken GM Jason Botterill told Avon the organization was “excited to have [his] speed in the lineup.” Avon agrees that his skating is a difference maker for him. “Speed is definitely my big advantage. [The preseason game in Calgary] wasn’t my greatest, but I definitely have speed as one that I can bring to get in on the forecheck, get pucks, and get scoring chances.”

As for his best position, Avon said that he feels like a natural center since that’s the position he played until he arrived in Lehigh Valley. That said, he has played almost exclusively on the wing as a pro, so that position also feels very natural to him at this point. In Tuesday’s preseason game in Calgary, Avon shifted from wing to center after Chandler Stephenson departed with an injury, and Avon noted his center instincts kicked in seamlessly.

Avon conceded he does feel some pressure going into the last year of his contract and with a new organization, but at the same time, he has enjoyed his time in Seattle and feels like he can “play free” with the Kraken. “I feel like I can be myself instead of trying to be someone else.”

Off the ice, Avon is primed to fit in with his Firebirds teammates—including his training camp roommate Jagger Firkus—because one of his favorite hobbies is golf. He said he has gone out to play with Firkus in the Seattle area a couple times already, but he declined to get into who played better because, as he noted with a laugh, they were both “using rentals.” I suspect we might have gotten a more direct answer, if not an unbiased one, from Firkus.

Kraken reassign six from camp to the CHL​


On Monday, the Kraken reassigned six 18- and 19-year-old junior-eligible players from the training camp roster back to their CHL clubs. The reassignments included 2025 first-round pick Jake O’Brien and second-round pick Blake Fiddler, both of whom played in Sunday’s preseason opener against Vancouver and performed well, as they have done throughout camp.

Two junior players remain in camp: Nathan Villeneuve, who is injured and currently rehabbing, and Berkly Catton. Neither player is AHL-eligible this season, so they will need to be offered back to their junior teams if they don’t stick around on the Kraken roster or injured list out of camp.

The #SeaKraken have reassigned the following players to their junior clubs:

Alexis Bernier (@DrakkarBAC)
Jakub Fibigr (@OHLSteelheads)
Blake Fiddler (@EdmOilKings)
Julius Miettinen (@WHLsilvertips)
Jake O’Brien (@BulldogsOHL)
Will Reynolds (@nlregiment)

— Seattle Kraken PR (@SeattleKrakenPR) September 22, 2025

Most of the six reassigned players are returning to highly competitive junior teams. The CHL’s Top-10 Ranking after Week 1 of the season put Fiddler’s Edmonton Oil Kings at No. 3, O’Brien’s Brantford Bulldogs at No. 5, Reynolds’ Newfoundland Regiment at No. 8, and Miettinen’s Everett Silvertips at No. 9.

Catton’s Spokane Chiefs also rank highly, coming in at No. 6 in the poll. Whether Catton joins Spokane’s WHL Championship chase this season is very much in doubt, though. On this week’s episode of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast, I explained the positives I saw in Catton’s play through two preseason games, particularly in Calgary, and why I’ve never been more confident in his ability to stick with the NHL club. My co-hosts John Barr and Darren Brown were more measured in their evaluations, and left the door open that Catton may not be ready for a full-time NHL role this season if he does not continue to progress. I suspect the best read of Catton’s standing falls somewhere in the middle, which makes this one of the top storylines to monitor as the regular season approaches in less than two weeks.

Notes on three Kraken prospects​

Maxim Agafonov | D | Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)​


Last week’s notes section was riddled with injury updates. This week, we’re able to strike a more positive theme: professional debuts. Maxim Agafonov continued his ascent, taking a few shifts in the KHL last Saturday for Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Though his role wasn’t significant—he played just over three-and-a-half minutes in the game—Agafonov’s presence in the KHL alone is notable. Currently, he is the sixth-youngest player active in the KHL—a highly competitive professional league. Not bad for the 2025 fifth-round pick.

Karl Annborn | D | HV71 (SHL)​


Speaking of impressive ascents for a late-round pick, 2025 seventh-round pick Karl Annborn played in his first two games in the SHL, Sweden’s top professional league, over the last week. Similar to Agafonov, Annborn averaged about three-and-a-half minutes of ice time per game as HV71 managed his initial pro exposure.

Visa Vedenpää | G | Kärpät (Liiga)​


After missing almost all of last season, Vedenpaa is healthy and getting his first time in goal in Liiga, Finland’s top professional league. The 20-year-old Vedenpaa entered last Saturday’s game for Karpat when veteran Niklas Rubin departed less than four minutes in. Vedenpaa then earned the start in the team’s next game on Wednesday too. The stat lines aren’t overly impressive, but it is encouraging that Vedenpaa is getting these opportunities after a lost year of development.

Kraken prospects data update​


In our data updates moving forward, we’ll highlight in gold any league debuts. As mentioned above, we have three such debuts this week. Otherwise, the stat lines for Seattle’s overseas prospects were fairly uneventful this week.

Semyon Vyazovoi has played in only one of his KHL team’s seven games to date. He struggled in just 23 minutes in goal in his sole appearance. We’ll need to monitor for news whether his inactivity is injury-related, as I’m inclined to suspect, or due to performance.

Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week​


In what was probably the least-competitive week we have tracked for this “honor”—no skater prospect scored for his club team—goalie Kim Saarinen was legitimately excellent again, turning away 22 of 24 shots in an overtime win for HPK. This earns him a second consecutive early season Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week title. As is (probably) said when it comes to Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week, they don’t ask how, they just ask how many. And Saarinen now has two before most players in Seattle’s organization have even started playing.

Previewing the week ahead​


In our weekly previews moving forward, we’ll highlight in deep sea blue our “Deep Sea Hockey Game of the Week.” This week, Skellefteå’s game on Tuesday at 10:00 am PDT will be broadcast on FloHockey, offering an opportunity to check in on prospect Zeb Forsfjall. Elsewhere, we can expect most of the players Seattle reassigned to the CHL to begin their junior seasons this weekend, starting with Jakub Fibigr and the Brampton Steelheads Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm PDT. Remember that the WHL can be viewed on Victory+ this year and the QMJHL and OHL are on FloHockey now.

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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 Down on the Farm – Junior seasons begin, J.R. Avon settles in appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/26/down-on-the-farm-junior-seasons-begin-j-r-avon-settles-in/
 
Monday Musings: Rolling through the preseason

We’re still in preseason, but with so many thoughts and ideas bouncing around in my head, it felt like the perfect time to fire up the first edition of Monday Musings for the 2025-26 season. If you’re new around here, Monday Musings is where I pull together and share a handful of topics and themes from the past week across the Seattle Kraken world, and sometimes a little beyond.

First big round of cuts​


Last Monday we saw a small round of cuts, but Saturday brought the first real round of assignments. Apart from Nathan Villeneuve, every player was sent to Coachella Valley, and because none of them required waivers, the process was straightforward. Still, any time you see that many names move off the board, it feels like camp is starting to tighten up. Here’s the full list of cuts/assignments:

image-11.png


One name that stood out before the cut: Tyson Jugnauth. We talked about him on the Sound Of Hockey Podcast this week, but he really made the most of his opportunity. It wasn’t his first training camp, but it was his first one under contract, and you could tell he wanted to make an impression. He even got into his first preseason game against the Edmonton Oilers, an eye-opening experience for the 21-year-old defenseman.

"You might be wondering how I got here."

– Tyson Jugnauth (probably), facing TWO STRAIGHT 2-on-1's against Connor McDavid. #SeaKraken

Also, look at the THREE Kraken players running into each other to create the second opportunity. 😳 pic.twitter.com/OOnmrzy6FO

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) September 25, 2025

Jugnauth was never really in the mix to make the Kraken out of camp, but he definitely climbed the organizational depth chart as he heads into his first pro season. On top of that, he’s got a great personality. If you missed his media scrum the day after the Edmonton game, it’s worth a watch.

Bubble players that remain​


With the first big cuts done, the Kraken’s camp roster is now down to 30 players. They’ll need to trim that to 23 by Oct. 6. By my count, that leaves about 10 “bubble players” fighting for the final spots:

Forwards: Berkly Catton, Oscar Fisker Molgaard, John Hayden, Tye Kartye, Ben Meyers, Jani Nyman, Mitchell Stephens, Ryan Winterton

Defensemen: Ville Ottavainen, Cale Fleury

All signs point to Seattle starting the season with three goalies, and with Kaapo Kakko’s injury news (he’s expected to miss six weeks with a broken thumb) this weekend, that leaves room for at most four of these 10 bubble guys. Given that seven defensemen are already locks, those four spots will come from the forward group.

So, who has the inside track? Nyman’s stock has skyrocketed thanks to four goals in three preseason games. Catton also feels destined for the Opening Night roster—the only question is whether he sticks past his nine-game limit or heads back to junior at some point. That leaves two more spots in the game of musical chairs, with Hayden, Kartye, and Winterton all in the running. Each has a legitimate case, but it’s worth noting that both Hayden and Kartye would need to clear waivers if they’re sent down to the AHL.

Other musings​

  • As I mentioned earlier, all signs point to the Kraken rolling into the season with three goalies. It’s not ideal, but when you’ve got a stretch in October with seven games in 12 days, the extra insurance makes sense.
  • The Kakko injury stings, but it could be worse. Shoulder, knee, and groin injuries always make me nervous—they have a way of nagging all year.
  • I was a little surprised to see Jacob Melanson sent down. He looked good enough in camp that I thought he might sneak into the conversation for a fourth-line role. Head coach Lane Lambert talked about him Sunday and said his rookie camp performance was “just ok,” then his training camp showing was better.
  • The Kraken spent a healthy chunk of their Sunday practice working on the power play.
Two #SeaKraken power play groups:

Dunn
Catton / Beniers / Nyman
Eberle

Evans
Tolvanen / Marchment / Wright
Schwartz pic.twitter.com/3va0JTtl8P

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) September 28, 2025

  • Some other news from Sunday: Jared McCann and Brandon Montour were back on the ice, skating separately from the main group. After practice, Lambert hinted to the media that both players are expected to be ready for opening night.
  • If I had to guess, McCann probably slides into Catton’s spot, while Chandler Stephenson takes over for Tolvanen.
  • I actually love preseason hockey. No stress, no stakes—just a chance to watch prospects test themselves against real NHL talent.
  • The national media is down on the Kraken this year, and I get the reasoning. But without local insight into what went down last season, their projections miss the bigger picture. I’m not saying Seattle is a playoff favorite, but 76 points? Nah, that’s too conservative.

Goal of the week​

Sicker then your average 🤢🤯#OHL #BFD #mnwild pic.twitter.com/7csj4N7jX4

— Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) September 28, 2025

Player performances​

  • Julius Miettinen (EVT/SEA) – The Kraken prospect, who missed all of training camp, wasted no time making an impact with Everett. He posted two goals and two assists in his first two games of the season over the weekend.
  • Kim Saarinen (HPK/SEA) – One of Seattle’s top-rated goalie prospects is off to a strong start in Liiga, going 3-0-2 with a .919 save percentage. Saarinen is still likely a few seasons away from North America, but the early signs are encouraging.
  • Mathis Preston (SPO) – A projected top-10 pick for the 2026 NHL Draft, Preston is already producing in the WHL. He has three goals and four assists through Spokane’s first three games of the season.

Chart of the week​


Excluding empty-net goals, goal differential is a key sign of a team’s potential in the standings. By that measure, the Kraken weren’t too far off last season.

image-9.png

The week ahead​


The Kraken have two preseason games left before things start to count for real. With the roster trimmed down, here are a few things I’ll be watching for:

  • Battle for the final roster spots – I’ll be keying in on the play of Hayden, Kartye, and Winterton. All three have a legitimate case to make the team, but at most, only two spots are realistically open.
  • The goalies – Matt Murray went the distance in Vancouver, so it will be interesting to see if Lambert gives Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord a full game each in the final two. There’s even a scenario where Grubauer gets sent down to Coachella Valley if he can’t deliver the level of play the team needs this year.
  • Kraken special teams – Sunday’s practice gave us our first real look at how the coaching staff is approaching the power play. While the personnel is easy to focus on, I’ll be watching closely for strategy: zone entries, puck movement, player rotations. This week could offer the first hints of their plan to start the season.

Closing thoughts​


With the first big round of cuts behind us and just two preseason games left, the Kraken are starting to take shape—but there are still plenty of questions. Who will earn the final roster spots? How will the rookies perform under the bright lights? And how will the coaching staff’s system tweaks and special teams strategy translate once the games actually matter? Preseason is always a mix of promise and uncertainty, and that’s exactly what makes this time of year so fun to watch. As we inch closer to opening night, I’ll be keeping an eye on how these storylines develop, and you can be sure we’ll revisit them in the next edition of Monday Musings.

The post Monday Musings: Rolling through the preseason appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/29/monday-musings-rolling-through-the-preseason/
 
Three Takeaways – Berkly Catton scores in preseason loss to the Calgary Flames

The Seattle Kraken fell 2-1 in a shootout loss to the Calgary Flames on Monday night. Seattle carried the play most of the game, outshooting Calgary 36-21. The Kraken outshot the Flames in every period, including overtime, but eventually lost in the fourth round of the shootout, when Matvei Gridin scored the winner.

Flames goaltender and Calder Trophy finalist Dustin Wolf stole the show with a .972 save percentage. Seattle generated 3.8 expected goals for, which usually leads to a win. If this had been the regular season, the Kraken at least would have earned a point. It’s not the result they wanted, but the important thing is it’s still preseason, and none of it matters.

Takeaway #1: Berkly Catton scores his first Kraken goal​


The 2024 No. 8 pick flashed his offensive skill and led all Kraken skaters with five shots on goal. He buried a rebound in the second period for his first NHL preseason goal and Seattle’s lone tally.

Berkly Catton buries his first in a Kraken sweater! 🚨 Seattle jumps ahead 1-0. #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/Pk0u51HMan

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) September 30, 2025

Catton looked more confident with the puck and worked well cycling with linemates. He also led Kraken forwards with three blocked shots. His night wasn’t flawless, but it stood out as his best preseason performance yet.

Takeaway #2: Hopefully Dunn is not done​


Vince Dunn has a history with Calgary’s Martin Pospisil, who was suspended in 2023-24 for a dangerous hit on Dunn. For a preseason contest, this game turned physical, with scrums closing both the first and second periods.

In the second, Pospisil caught Dunn with a high stick. Dunn exchanged words while heading to the box and was assessed a minor for roughing. Pospisil received two minors for high-sticking and roughing. Tempers were rising, and it looked like more was coming, but before his penalty expired, Dunn headed to the dressing room and did not return to the game.

#SeaKraken Dunn has words for #Flames Popisill who get 2 minutes for high sticking and 2 minutes for cross-checking. Dunn gets 2 for roughing.

Kraken to the poweplay. pic.twitter.com/dMRqeYTTFP

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) September 30, 2025

It’s unclear what Dunn’s injury might be. He took the high stick and, just seconds earlier, had blocked a shot that caused him to grimace. After the game, coach Lane Lambert said Dunn was being evaluated.

Seattle already has a growing injury list, and Dunn’s absence would be another significant setback. The Kraken cannot afford to lose him for any significant period.

Takeaway #3: Gruuuuu looked sharp​


Philipp Grubauer was tested early when Calgary forward Matt Coronato broke free for a wrist shot on the game’s first chance. The German Gentleman turned it aside and cleared the rebound, preventing Seattle from falling behind early. The Kraken responded with 17 first-period shots.

Big stop by Gruu!!! 💥 He’s sharp early. #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/JymihwkNGH

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) September 30, 2025

Goaltenders often say seeing pucks early helps them settle in. Grubauer was sharp from the start and finished with a .952 save percentage. This loss wasn’t on him, and Seattle will hope his strong play carries into the regular season.

Strong performance, but no result​


The Kraken played a physical, structured game, and on most nights would have come away with the win. In the NHL, though, all teams can win on any give night.

The forward lines looked steady, with Mason Marchment, Shane Wright, and Eeli Tolvanen standing out as a potential regular-season trio.

Seattle closes the preseason Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers in a matchup expected to feature a roster closer to resembling the Opening Night lineup.

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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.

Read more from Blaiz

The post Three Takeaways – Berkly Catton scores in preseason loss to the Calgary Flames appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/09/3...ores-in-preseason-loss-to-the-calgary-flames/
 
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