News Kraken Team Notes

[Seattle Kraken]

Dan Bylsma fired by Kraken, Jason Botterill moving into GM role

Some major bombs are dropping in the Seattle Kraken organization in the wake of the team’s third losing season in four years.

The team officially announced Monday that Dan Bylsma has been relieved of his duties as the head coach of the Kraken after one season. Meanwhile, according to a report from E.J. Hradek, Jason Botterill will be promoted from assistant general manager into the general manager’s chair, while Ron Francis is expected to move into a president of hockey operations role.

John Shannon also reported that assistant coach Jess Campbell has been retained by the organization, answering one of the first questions we received after this news started to leak out. As for what happens with the other assistant coaches, we do not yet know but will update this story when we find out.

Francis’ end-of-season press conference is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, so we will surely get some clarity on what led to these decisions.

Knee-jerk analysis to Bylsma firing​

The organization certainly didn’t get the results it wanted this season, especially after making two splashy acquisitions in Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson last summer. Even so, I personally did not foresee Bylsma getting the axe this quickly. In fact, Bylsma even joked at his last presser on Wednesday that he hoped he could continue to be part of the Seattle sports scene.

“I couldn’t say enough about the fanbase here. The enthusiasm for our team and their— I’m blown away by [them], and I just want it to continue,” Bylsma said with a hearty laugh.

I thought that journey would continue for Bylsma, who led the Coachella Valley Firebirds to two straight Calder Cup Finals before being promoted to the Kraken, at least into the beginning of next season. My expectation was that if things got off to a rocky start in 2025-26, then the team would look to make a change behind the bench. But the Kraken sent a clear message to their fanbase that a 35-41-6 record and second-to-last in the Pacific Division was simply not good enough.

As for the movement in the front office, this exact change was one that had been quietly predicted amongst the local media throughout the season. If Botterill’s promotion to GM and Francis’ move to a different front office role had been made in isolation, I would have considered this a half measure. But in concert with the surprise coach firing, this is a tectonic shift in the leadership of the Seattle Kraken.

I have to say, Dan Bylsma was an absolute joy to work with this season. You could tell he was beloved by many players in the dressing room, several of whom mentioned his “human” side at end-of-season availability last week. He was a hilarious guy who made me laugh almost every time I spoke with him, so I will certainly miss our interactions.

However, I also understand the decision to move on from him; the organization was expecting a big turnaround in on-ice performance this season, and that never came to fruition. It’s disappointing to me that Bylsma didn’t get the results that Kraken fans deserve, because he was an easy coach to root for.

Even Francis’ comments in the team’s press release about Bylsma’s firing reflect this sentiment.

“We thank Dan for his commitment and the energy he brought to our organization over the past four years at the NHL and AHL levels,” Francis said in a press release. “After a thorough review of the season and our expectations for next year and beyond, we’ve made the difficult decision to move in a different direction behind the bench. Dan is a great person and a respected coach. He played an important role in the development of many of our young prospects and was a big part of our early success in Coachella Valley. We sincerely wish him and his family nothing but success moving forward.”

Jason Botterill returns to the GM chair​

This will be Botterill’s second stint as an NHL GM, after he served in the position for the Buffalo Sabres from May 11, 2017, until June 16, 2020. Ironically, he moved into that role less than a month after Bylsma was fired by the Sabres following two seasons.

He has been in the Kraken organization since being named assistant general manager in May of 2021, so he is certainly familiar with the team and its prospect pipeline. Things didn’t go according to plan for him as GM in Buffalo (although it doesn’t seem to go according to plan for anyone in Buffalo), but he is well regarded around the NHL. If the Kraken didn’t promote him, it did feel like he would get a chance to do the job again elsewhere.

I’m curious to see how much will change with Botterill making this ascension. The offseason ahead already appeared to be a critical one, in which the team needs to make some significant upgrades to its roster. Now add in a coaching search and a new GM at the helm, and this is shaping up to be a fascinating summer for the Kraken.

An early list of coaching candidates​

As for who replaces Bylsma as head coach, we will surely dig into some potential candidates in the coming weeks. Names that immediately jumped to mind, though, were David Carle, who has done nothing but win as the head coach of the University of Denver and Team USA at the World Junior Championship, Pat Ferschweiler, who just led Western Michigan University to the NCAA title, or Peter Laviolette, who was just fired by the New York Rangers (though didn’t seem to work well with Kaapo Kakko).

There has also been some speculation out there that current coaches like Mike Sullivan, Rod Brind’Amour, and Rick Tocchet could become available this summer, but we shall see.

If we learn more about what is transpiring for the Kraken, we will add it to this story, so check back later.

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 Dan Bylsma fired by Kraken, Jason Botterill moving into GM role appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/04/21/kraken-fire-dan-bylsma-move-ron-francis-from-gm-role/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Thoughts after Jason Botterill was officially introduced as Kraken GM on Tuesday

The Seattle Kraken ushered in a new era this week, making a sweeping change at the top of the organization that was both surprising and unsurprising at the same time. On Monday, the team dismissed head coach Dan Bylsma after just one season behind the bench, then promoted assistant general manager Jason Botterill to GM, with Ron Francis moving upstairs to a new role as president of hockey operations. It was a dramatic shakeup that signaled the Kraken’s urgency to correct course after a disappointing season—and one that set the stage for a much different kind of end-of-year press conference on Tuesday.

The news came one day prior to what we expected to be Francis’ standard end-of-season press conference as the general manager, at which he has previously dissected what went right and wrong for his team and vaguely given his plans for the offseason. Two seasons ago, Francis sat next to then-head coach Dave Hakstol a few days after the team got knocked out of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and boasted about the success of the team. Last season, he held the presser alone and indicated he wasn’t sure about Hakstol’s future with the team, then fired him a couple days later.

This time, after the Kraken shocked many in the local media with the moves they officially made across Monday and Tuesday morning, they aimed to make the press conference more celebratory. While previous cleanout press conferences with the GM have been held in the Kraken’s Anchor Room, a private setting behind closed doors with minimal fanfare, this version was out in the open in the lobby of Kraken Community Iceplex and was attended by many in the local media and employees from several departments across the Kraken organization.

Upon arrival, there was a long table set to host Kraken chair and owner Samantha Holloway, Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke, plus Francis and Botterill. Behind the table was imagery of the two men tabbed with running Seattle’s front office, with the words “The Next Wave of Leadership.”

We are set to hear from Samantha Holloway, Ron Francis, Jason Botterill, and Tod Leiweke at 1pm. #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/yK2be1GIq8

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

From the jump, it was clear that the Kraken did not want this event to have a we-just-fired-our-coach tone, though there would surely be conversation about that topic. Ironically, this presser felt more like a congratulatory welcome-to-your-new-position event, akin to what Bylsma received last summer after he was promoted from the Coachella Valley Firebirds to become the second head coach in the history of the Kraken.

Encouraging words from Botterill​

I gave my own thoughts on these moves in a separate article on Monday, but I will mention that I was not immediately enamored by the organization’s decision to move Botterill to GM and Francis to president of hockey ops. I’m reserving judgment and will remain hopeful that they can right the ship next season and beyond, but I also maintained a level of skepticism going into this presser.

That skepticism still exists now that we have gotten some clarity on what led to these decisions and what the plans are moving forward (more on those items in a bit), but I do feel better about the outlook of the team after the presser on Tuesday.

While Botterill comes across as serious—and although he has been with the team as an assistant general manager since Day 1—there’s also a certain exuberance that makes me think his promotion could inject some new life into the front office and encourage its members to look differently at the problem of building the team into a perennial contender.

He does seem to have a clear idea of what the Kraken’s identity needs to be—a team that plays with speed and uses its strength to get to the front of the net in the offensive zone while keeping opponents away from its own goal—and appears willing to upgrade the roster to get back to that identity.

“We have to continue improving and add to our skill level in all areas,” Botterill said. “It’s not as if we’re one player away right now from a Stanley Cup championship. We have to become a perennial playoff team first and then find our way.”

He also spoke about how excited he is at the resources that will be given to him in the role—something that may have lacked when he took the reins as GM in Buffalo back in 2017—and Holloway and Leiweke reinforced their commitment to making the Kraken into a winner.

“Everyone at this table is committed to winning,” Holloway said. “Our hockey folks and our staff have worked hard and deserve winning. Our partners and our fans who support us every night deserve winning.”

Why Bylsma was fired​

While I wasn’t shocked to see Bylsma let go after just one season, I also did not expect the news on Monday. Whereas I had read the writing on the wall for Hakstol last season and had my “Hakstol fired by the Kraken” story prewritten several days in advance, I had no such story prepared this time around.

A firing simply felt too quick, especially considering that the team did finally seem to be playing better after the trade deadline, a line of commentary that was repeated on several occasions by Bylsma and the Kraken players down the stretch. Plus, I really liked Bylsma as a human, and it seemed many of the players did as well.

But as we’ve heard many times, hockey is a results-based business, and Bylsma did not get those results, posting a 35-41-6 record and finishing ahead of only the San Jose Sharks in the Pacific Division.

“The path of least resistance for [Francis and Botterill] and the owners was to do nothing on the coaching side, but they thought we could do better,” Leiweke said. “They thought that a move could actually move us closer to winning faster.”

And so, a move was made. Francis also gave a clear-cut and damning response for why the axe dropped on Bylsma.

“When we were watching the games, I didn’t like the way we were playing,” Francis said. “I thought our team could use more structure, more details in our approach, and at the end of the day, we didn’t get the results we were expecting this year.”

Botterill mentioned that he liked what the assistant coaches brought to the table and re-confirmed that Jess Campbell will be back next season. In speaking to him after the presser, he went as far as to say he expects her to be on the bench next season, though until the Kraken hire their next head coach, the exact responsibilities of Campbell and the other assistant coaches will remain question marks.

How the team will improve this offseason​

Botterill spoke on several occasions about his expectation to look to a variety of channels for improving the team this offseason, including via free agency and trade. He also mentioned that he intends to leave roster spots open for young players in the organization to have a chance to compete for a spot in training camp.

“Ron and myself will look close at different opportunities to bring in players, whether that’s from a free agent standpoint or from a trade standpoint, but a big part of how we’re going to move the organization forward is our young players stepping in,” Botterill said. “And not only players from [Coachella Valley] or juniors making a step to the National Hockey League, but our young players in the National Hockey League taking another step.”

Also notable, when I asked if he would consider buying out any players, he did not shoot down the idea. We have surmised that there are a couple players who could be considered for buyouts this summer.

“I think it’s a situation where we’ll look at everything over the summer on where we’re at. At the end of the day, we’re making a commitment to improving our roster, and whether that’s buyouts, whether that’s trades, that’s the easy part of my job right now is the draft capital that’s at my disposal.”

Reason for optimism​

That last point Botterill made about draft capital did feel like an important one. When you think about it, Botterill is coming into the Kraken GM role—his second chance at holding the GM title in the NHL—with a pretty great opportunity ahead of him.

There are good, young players like Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, and Ryker Evans who have all proven that they are ready to be full-time NHLers and could all take big steps forward next season. He also has a well-built pipeline of prospects, with several players knocking on the door and at least a couple that could turn into star players.

“We have a lot of different types of players that are coming up in our organization, so we’re not just dependent on one player. But it’s going to be exciting from trying to find more skill at the NHL level… but also finding the next level of younger players.”

There are also still some good core veterans like Jared McCann, Brandon Montour, and Vince Dunn, and a reliable starting goalie in Joey Daccord.

Now Botterill can hire his own coach and augment the roster using the cap space and draft capital amassed by Francis. And coming off the season Seattle just had, the only place to go is up.

I’m still skeptical that the moves made to start this week were the exact right moves to push this team into a perennial playoff contender, but Tuesday’s presser did inject a dose of optimism back into my increasingly pessimistic brain.

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 Thoughts after Jason Botterill was officially introduced as Kraken GM on Tuesday appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/04/2...fficially-introduced-as-kraken-gm-on-tuesday/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Seattle Kraken Photo Gallery – Photographer’s Favorites 2024-25

Welcome to the “Photographer’s Favorites” gallery from the 2024-25 Seattle Kraken season. There are some great shots in here that capture the intensity of NHL hockey from up close.

As a reminder, photos are property of Sound Of Hockey and may not be reused.

Enjoy!

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The post Seattle Kraken Photo Gallery – Photographer’s Favorites 2024-25 appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/04/24/seattle-kraken-photo-gallery-photographers-favorites-2024-25/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

The PWHL is coming! Seattle team announced for the 2025–26

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is adding another team for the 2025-26 season, and Seattle is officially the destination, the league announced in a press release on Wednesday. The Seattle franchise will join Vancouver as one of two teams being added by the PWHL, which was previously made up of six teams. The addition of these two teams marks the league’s first expansion since it launched in fall of 2023 and is an aggressive move toward growing beyond its current mostly regional footprint. Seattle’s team will play its home games at Climate Pledge Arena, home of the Seattle Kraken and will train out of the Kraken Community Iceplex.

There is no doubt the support that the city of Seattle and Climate Pledge Arena showed for two marquee events over the last three years raised Seattle’s profile as a potential expansion city for professional women’s hockey. There was always a belief that Seattle would be a great city for PWHL expansion, but not many expected it to reach the Emerald City this quickly.

The move west is significant for several reasons. Not only does it broaden the geographic footprint of the PWHL, but it also taps into the explosive growth of hockey in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle has seen a rapid rise in youth participation, ticket sales, and grassroots engagement since the Kraken joined the NHL in 2021. Adding a women’s pro team was the next logical step.

“We are looking forward to returning the love, energy and excitement the Seattle sports community shared with us during the PWHL Takeover Tour,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations. “The opportunity to start a new chapter of women’s hockey in the Pacific Northwest, combined with calling the world-class Climate Pledge Arena home has so much meaning for our league. The Kraken already have been unbelievably supportive, and it’s a joy to have PWHL Seattle join the WNBA’s Storm and the NWSL’s Reign, who are skyscrapers in the city’s towering sports landscape.”

While official details on the expansion draft and player allocation process will be released in the coming weeks, the timeline is now set. Both Seattle and Vancouver will debut this fall when the puck drops on the 2025–26 PWHL season. Fans can expect more announcements over the summer, including schedules, front office hirings, and coaching staff and player signings.

Climate Pledge Arena hosted the USA vs Canada Rivalry Series game in November, 2022.

Climate Pledge Arena previously hosted a USA vs. Canada Rivalry Series game in November, 2022, drawing a strong turnout and showcasing the region’s enthusiasm for high-level women’s hockey. The PWHL also played a “Takeover Tour” game at Climate Pledge Arena on Jan. 19 between the Montreal Victoire and the Boston Fleet, which drew over 12,000 fans. In the PWHL’s most recent season, each team played 15 home games and averaged between 6,400 and 7,700 fans per game. There is some nuance to those attendance numbers, though, as the Takeover Tour games consistently drew big crowds.

The cross-border rivalry with Vancouver also promises to be an intriguing spin on expansion. For the league, it’s a strategic play to develop regional rivalries and deepen fan investment—both critical to long-term success. “Women’s teams from Seattle and Vancouver played against each other as early as 1921 and, given the proximity of our two newest cities – Vancouver is barely 140 miles away – I cannot wait for the first game in what I’m sure will be one of our fiercest rivalries.” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.

The upcoming season will begin in late fall and run through late spring, with each team once again expected to play 15 home games. Next season will also coincide with the 2026 Winter Olympics, traditionally a major showcase for women’s hockey. Olympic years tend to bring a surge of interest from casual sports fans, providing the PWHL with a golden opportunity to further grow its fanbase and visibility at a national and international level.

While the team name, branding, and expansion draft plans remain under wraps, Seattle is officially part of the PWHL’s future, and the city is ready to make some noise.

The post The PWHL is coming! Seattle team announced for the 2025–26 appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/04/30/pwhl-seattle-expansion/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

Kraken enter the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery with sixth-best odds

The first big milestone of the Seattle Kraken offseason comes tonight with the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, which will be televised on ESPN in the United States starting at 4:00 pm PT. And there is a twist this year: For the first time the Lottery will be broadcast “live,” with the draft order revealed to the teams and viewing fans in real time.

The Lottery sets the order of the top 16 picks of the first round of the NHL Draft. The Kraken enter the Lottery in sixth position, and with the sixth-highest odds to move up to the No. 1 overall pick.

How does the Lottery work? How did Seattle end up with the sixth-best Lottery odds? Why does the Lottery matter so much for Seattle? And who could be there when the Kraken pick? Let’s dig into those questions and more in this 2025 NHL Draft preview.

The plan is to return after the Lottery with quick thoughts on a few potential draft candidates once the Kraken pick is fixed. Beyond that, we also have our annual 2025 NHL Draft “data-only watchlist” coming soon. (Check out the mid-season version here.) So, keep it here on Sound Of Hockey for your continuing 2025 NHL Draft coverage.

NHL Draft Lottery primer​

The NHL Draft’s default selection rule situates teams in reverse order of the final regular season standings, with “ties” broken in the same manner as they would be for playoff qualification. As mentioned, the NHL Draft Lottery is a process that can re-order the top of the NHL Draft, but it impacts the first 16 picks only. The second half of the first round and all ensuing rounds still follow the default order and take playoff success into account.

Why does the NHL Draft Lottery exist?​

The Lottery is meant to decrease the unintended anti-competitive incentives that result when bad teams are given the best draft picks—particularly in a sport where a single superstar can make a big difference.

Of course, we’d be naive to think the incentive to “tank” for a better draft pick doesn’t still exist even with the NHL Draft Lottery. But under the Lottery system the “worst” team in the league has only a 25.5 percent chance of drafting first overall rather than 100 percent.

In a draft with a singular Connor Bedard or a Gavin McKenna-level superstar, this could make a big difference in the behavior of NHL front offices. The system attempts to strike a balance between giving weaker teams a chance at the best talent while maintaining the integrity of competition.

How does the NHL Draft Lottery work?​

Each of the 16 teams that does not qualify for the NHL playoffs is assigned weighted Lottery odds based on the reverse standings order. Teams are then assigned a portion of 1,001 four-number combinations based on their Lottery odds. (See the full list here.) In other words, the team with the fewest standings points has the best Lottery odds and most four-number combinations, the team with the second-fewest standings points has the second-best Lottery odds and second-most number combinations, and so forth.

The NHL Draft Lottery then utilizes 14 ping pong balls, which are placed into a machine that randomizes the balls, and releases four sequentially.

The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery will occur May 5. Teams with the top-5 odds at the No. 1 overall pick …

– San Jose (25.5%)
– Chicago (13.5%)
– Nashville (11.5%)
– Philadelphia (9.5%)
– Boston (8.5%) pic.twitter.com/KLQEi3MAKv

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 29, 2025

There are two drawings. The team with the four-digit combination corresponding to the sequence of this first drawing “wins” the Lottery. “Winning” means that the team moves up 10 selection order spots. If the team finishes in the bottom 11 in the standings, that team moves to the No. 1 overall pick.

If the “winning” team finished 12 to 16 from last in the standings, then that team does not go to No. 1, but instead only moves up the maximum 10 selections. For example, if the No. 13 team “wins” the first drawing, it moves up to the No. 3 pick.

The process is then repeated a second time with the only difference being that on this second draw, teams can only move up as high the No. 2 overall pick. If the team that “won” the first drawing wins again, there is a re-draw until a different team wins. (In the rare circumstance that the No. 12 team “wins” the first Lottery draw and moves up to the No. 2 overall spot, this second draw can move a team up only as high as the No. 3 pick.)

After the second draw is completed, the remaining teams are then slotted based on the default order. Accordingly, no team can “fall” more than two draft spots in the Lottery. For example, the team with the best lottery odds can only move down as far as the No. 3 pick.

For those who want to follow the NHL Draft Lottery interactively, PuckPedia has an online tool where you can input the ping pong ball numbers as they arrive and generate live odds for each team prevailing. That said, I presume ESPN and other networks will have a similar display on their broadcasts.

Seattle’s Lottery position​

The Seattle Kraken finished the 2024-25 NHL regular season with 76 points – a five-point erosion from last season’s results and 24 points short of the 2022-23 playoff campaign. After an offseason in which the team wanted to aggressively improve and return to the playoff mix, it was a disappointing outcome that led, at least in part, to the team parting ways with head coach Dan Bylsma.

Seattle’s point total was the fourth lowest in the NHL, tied with the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers. But Seattle “won” the tie-breaker because the Kraken had a higher number of regulation victories than either of those clubs. Since “winning” a tie-breaker is bad for a team’s reverse-standings-order-based Lottery odds, Boston is fourth, Philadelphia is fifth, and Seattle is sixth.

As calculated by Tankathon, each Lottery team’s odds of picking at any given selection are as follows:

In other words, for example, the San Jose Sharks have a 25.5 percent chance of selecting first, 18.8 percent chance of selecting second, and 55.7 percent chance of selecting third.

For the Seattle Kraken, the odds are as follows:

• 7.5 percent chance of moving up to No. 1 (by virtue of winning the first drawing)
• 7.7 percent chance of moving up to No. 2 (by virtue of winning the second drawing)
• .2 percent chance of moving up to No. 3 (by virtue of winning the second drawing after Detroit wins the first)
• 34.1 percent chance of remaining at No. 6 (because no teams below Seattle “win” the Lottery)
• 41.4 percent chance of moving down to No. 7 (because one team below Seattle “wins” the Lottery)
• 9.1 percent chance of moving down to No. 8 (because two teams below Seattle “win”).

Overall, there is a 15.4 percent chance Seattle’s pick position improves, 34.1 percent chance it stays at No. 6 overall, and 50.5 percent chance it diminishes.

The importance of the NHL Draft Lottery​

Historical analysis suggests that the projected career production of a draft pick drops off steeply from the No. 1 pick onward. Last year, my crude Data Score method had a difference between the first overall prospect on my watchlist (Macklin Celebrini) and the fifth (Sam Dickinson) of similar magnitude to the difference between the fifth and 60th prospects.

As for the 2025 NHL Draft, it looks like there will be only two Data Score standouts (forward Michael Misa and defenseman Matthew Schaefer) followed by a significant flattening. This underscores that immense organizational value can flow from winning the NHL Draft Lottery. Should the Kraken win the Lottery, the team will be in a position to select a projected No. 1 defenseman (an organizational need) or first-line goal-scoring forward (another need). While neither Misa nor Schaefer project at the level of a Connor Bedard or Macklin Celebrini, they are a clear step ahead of the players Seattle will otherwise be examining a rung (or two) down.

2025 NHL Draft names to monitor​

“[Matthew] Schaefer is still the overwhelming favorite [to go first overall],” said Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects on the most recent Called Up: The Prospects Podcast. And “Michael Misa will be second overall on most draft lists.” After that, “there’s going to be an incredible amount of variance on lists this year,” Robinson said, while noting Porter Martone and James Hagens are likely in the next tier.

“[Anton Frondell] is a name that I continue to hear in the same breath as Misa’s, among teams that potentially have the opportunity to to pick high in this draft,” added Robinson’s co-host (and good friend of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast) Chris Peters. Beyond those names, “t’s not the most exciting class,” Peters cautioned.

With that in mind, we’re likely looking at a relatively volatile spring for public draft consensus. Very few final lists are out yet, but we have a few good “early” indicators. NHL Central Scouting publishes its final list annually for the U18 World Championships that begin in late April, and this year was no exception. With no goalies projected to break into the top mix, here are the top 16 North American and European skaters from this independent scouting organization:

TSN’s Bob McKenzie develops a list each year that most consider the best public insight into what teams and their scouts think of the class. Here are his NHL Draft Lottery top 16 prospects:

Finally, here are the top 16 prospects in Data Score:

It’s fairly likely one of these players will hear his name called by the Seattle Kraken in the first round on June 27. We’ll get one step closer to figuring out who that will be with Monday’s NHL Draft Lottery.

* * *

Have NHL Draft-related questions? Get them to us in the comments below or on X @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey or on BlueSky @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 Kraken enter the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery with sixth-best odds appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/05/05/kraken-enter-the-2025-nhl-draft-lottery-with-sixth-best-odds/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

BREAKING: Seattle draws the No. 8 pick in the NHL Draft; who will the Kraken draft?

The Seattle Kraken entered Monday’s 2025 NHL Draft Lottery with the sixth-best odds to win the Lottery and move up to a top-two pick. Overall, the Kraken had a 15.4 percent chance of seeing their pick position improve, 34.1 percent chance of sticking at the No. 6 overall pick, and 50.5 percent chance of losing a position or two.

As it turns out, luck was not on Seattle’s side Monday because the drawings ended with the Kraken locked in at the No. 8 overall pick for the second straight season. The New York Islanders won the first draw, moving up from the No. 10 position to first overall. And the Utah Hockey Club won the second draw, moving up from No. 14 to fourth overall. These teams both leaped over Seattle, pushing the Kraken down two spots. (If you want to know more about how the Lottery works, check out our Lottery explainer.)

Last summer, the Kraken took Spokane Chiefs standout Berkly Catton at No. 8. Who could be available for them at the No. 8 spot this year? Let’s take a look at a few potential candidates:

Jake O’Brien | F | Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) | Games: 66, Goals: 32, Assists: 66​

O’Brien is a high-scoring OHL forward still growing into his 6-foot-2 frame. Recently compared by Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects to Wyatt Johnston, O’Brien has done nothing but score this season and rise up draft boards. Bob McKenzie of TSN has O’Brien as his No. 7 overall skater after talking with professional scouts. Corey Pronman of The Athletic describes O’Brien as “a finesse player with tons of feel, poise and craftsmanship on the puck, with an ability to put pucks into spaces for both his linemates but also himself.” O’Brien is NHL Central Scouting’s No. 4 North American skater, and he is No. 4 in my Data Score metric.

Roger McQueen | F | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) | Games: 17, Goals: 10, Assists: 10​

McQueen is a 6-foot-5 forward with a strong shot and at times impressive puckhandling skills to match. McQueen missed the majority of his draft-eligible season with a back injury, which will be an important question mark many teams need answered about the hulking forward. Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff notes that McQueen is “hard to miss out there, bringing out traits similar to those of Cayden Lindstrom last year – including on the injury front, unfortunately. McQueen can push players away like it’s nothing, and he’s got the all-around talent to be thrust into just about any role.” McQueen is ranked No. 8 overall by McKenzie, No. 8 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, and No. 20 in Data Score.

Victor Eklund | F | Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan) | Games: 42, Goals: 19, Assists: 12​

Brother of San Jose Shark William Eklund, Victor is a smaller, skilled but relentless forward who helped his Swedish team earn promotion from HockeyAllsvenskan to the SHL, the top league in Sweden, this season. For long stretches of the season, he outperformed his more heralded teammate Anton Frondell. According to Smaht Scouting, Eklund is “a player with an intense motor, capable of producing and processing high IQ plays at very high speed, moving smartly through the ice, and with a quick change of direction to create space and shoot.” He is the No. 2 European skater according to NHL Central Scouting and he is No. 10 in Data Score.

Jackson Smith | D | Tri-City Americans (WHL) | Games: 68, Goals: 11, Assists: 43​

The 6-foot-3 Smith is among the next tier of defense prospects after the likely No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer. And Smith’s local junior hockey roots certainly aren’t a mark against him, given Seattle’s previous drafting habits. According to Ellis, Smith is “quite well-rounded for his age which scouts love.” “He’s a pain in the rear end to try and beat in 1-on-1 situations because he loves getting in your face as much as possible.” On the other hand, Good Friend of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast Chris Peters recently noted that he has questions about Smith’s overall hockey sense. Smith is No. 10 on McKenzie’s list, No. 13 among North American skaters for NHL Central Scouting, and No. 19 in Data Score.

Radim Mrtka | D | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | Games: 43, Goals: 3, Assists: 32​

Speaking of local defensemen, Radim Mrkta, who played much of his draft season with the Seattle Thunderbirds, is a towering 6-foot-6 right-shot defenseman who has been gradually ascending draft boards this season. According to Pronman, the Czech-born “Mrtka can transport pucks down ice, activate and join the rush, walk the line and even side-step pressure in control. He shows good poise and comfort on the puck, with a willingness to hold onto it and make a play.” Mrtka is the No. 5 North American skater for NHL Central Scouting, No. 11 overall for McKenzie, and No. 29 in my Data Score stat.

He was a force in the WHL after making the move to North America, racking up three goals and 32 assists in 43 games and helping the T-Birds to an unlikely postseason berth.

* * *

Who do you see the Kraken drafting at No. 8 overall? Leave your picks in the comments below or on X @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey or on BlueSky @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.

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The post BREAKING: Seattle draws the No. 8 pick in the NHL Draft; who will the Kraken draft? appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/05/0...k-in-the-nhl-draft-who-will-the-kraken-draft/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

NHL Playoffs second round preview: The contenders close in on the Stanley Cup

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is in the books, and for fans needing to scratch the hockey itch, the postseason has delivered. There were thrilling matchups and shocking exits. Both the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning failed to advance. Fans were treated to two Game 7s, including a thriller in which the Winnipeg Jets tied the game with just 1.6 seconds remaining, then completed the comeback in double-overtime.

With the second round now underway, let’s take a look at each series. No wild card teams made it through, and every team remaining has a legitimate shot to hoist the Stanley Cup. Buckle up—these are going to be fierce battles.

Let’s start in the East!

Washington Capitals vs Carolina Hurricanes​

Blaiz’s prediction: Washington in seven​

The Capitals have been surprising teams all year and finished as the best team in the East. The first round of the playoffs did not change that perception, and Washington will move on to the conference finals.

Washington Capitals​

Washington survived a physical series with Montreal. The Canadiens out-hit the Capitals in four of five games, and though the series ended in five, it was tighter than the final line suggests. Montreal’s young core showed promise for the future.

Carolina Hurricanes​

The Jack Hughes-less Devils were expected to struggle without their star forward. Still, they made Carolina work for every inch. The Hurricanes showed resiliency in the clincher, erasing a 3-0 deficit and winning in double overtime to close out the series in five games.

Regular season matchups​

The teams split the season series 2-2. Carolina won both its games in regulation, while Washington needed a shootout in one of its wins.

How Carolina advances​

The Hurricanes play a disciplined dump-and-chase system, excelling in puck possession and shot suppression. They allowed the fewest shots in the NHL this season (24.9 per game) and led the league in unblocked shot attempts (50.3) per moneypuck.com. That kind of volume imbalance wins games.

Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov shared duties in the crease. Andersen was knocked out in Game 4 after a collision with Timo Meier. Kochetkov, who played 57 games during the season, closed out the first-round series, but Andersen is practicing and expected to start Game 1 against Washington.

One concern: Carolina struggled on the road, going 16-21-4 this season. Without home-ice advantage, they’ll need to steal one in Washington to stay in control.

How Washington advances​

The Capitals thrive in physical games, and Carolina won’t bring that same intensity. Washington must stay aggressive but disciplined.

The Caps averaged the second-most goals in the NHL (286) but were held to just 23 shots per game by Carolina in the regular season. Still, Logan Thompson posted a .923 save percentage and 2.23 GAA in Round 1, providing a strong backstop.

A notable moment: On April 2, Washington lost 5-1 to Carolina in a game that saw 142 combined penalty minutes. Most of the chaos came after the game was already out of reach, but that kind of game could still disrupt the Hurricanes’ structure—expect Tom Wilson to test that theory.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers​

Blaiz’s prediction: Toronto in seven​

The Maple Leafs play just as well on the road as they do at home. They just need to stick to their game and not overreact when they lose a game or three. They nearly coughed up a 4-1 lead in Game 1 on Monday but held on for a 5-4 win to take an early series lead.

Toronto Maple Leafs​

The Maple Leafs are in their best position to win a Cup in decades. They won their division for the first time in 25 years and dispatched Ottawa in six games, three of which went to overtime. It was only their second series win in their last 10 playoff appearances.

Florida Panthers​

The reigning champs made quick work of the Tampa Bay Lightning, eliminating them in five games. Florida stumbled into the playoffs with a 3-6-1 finish, but it got a boost when Matthew Tkachuk returned from a lower-body injury that cost him the final 25 regular-season games.

Regular season matchups​

Florida won the season series 3-1. Toronto scored just four goals in its three losses, though two of those games were decided by one goal—not counting empty-netters.

How Toronto advances​

Auston Matthews needs to show up. He had only two goals in the first round, including a minus-four performance in a Game 5 shutout loss. He bounced back in Game 6, scoring the opening goal. Toronto will need full buy-in from its stars to advance.

Anthony Stolarz, who backed up Florida during their 2024 Cup run, has been excellent for Toronto this season and has led the NHL in save percentage two seasons in a row. He left Game 1 midway through the second period after taking a couple of shots to the head. If he’s unavailable, Joseph Woll—who started 41 games this season—will step in. Woll looked shaky in Game 1 but gave Toronto just enough saves to preserve the win.

Home ice could matter. Florida had a winning road record, but only just barely (20-19-2). Toronto was 27-13-1 at home and nearly identical on the road. Sound Of Hockey looked at this earlier in the year and found home teams are called for 3.2 percent fewer penalties on average. Staying disciplined will be key.

How Florida advances​

Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand are elite agitators who can draw penalties. Per moneypuck.com the Panthers ranked fourth in the NHL in penalties drawn, and they scored five power-play goals against Toronto in the regular season.

But Florida also brings skill. Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart lead the offense. Florida averaged 3.00 goals per game (15th in NHL), compared to Toronto’s 3.26 (seventh). Sergei Bobrovsky doesn’t post gaudy numbers but is a proven playoff performer, despite his uninspiring performance in Game 1. He just needs to keep the Leafs’ stars quiet.

Winnipeg Jets vs Dallas Stars​

Blaiz’s prediction: Winnipeg in five​

The Presidents’ Trophy winners have been solid all season, starting 15-1 to become the fastest team in NHL history to reach 15 wins. The first round pushed the Jets to the limit, but they faced the hottest team in hockey—the St. Louis Blues—who had won 12 straight late in the regular season and rode that confidence into the playoffs. The Jets will get back to their game and take care of Dallas. Expect to see more of the Winnipeg white-out in these playoffs.

Winnipeg Jets​

Winnipeg needed seven games and double OT to escape the St Louis Blues. Cole Perfetti’s goal with 1.6 seconds left forced OT—the latest game-tying goal in a Game 7 in NHL history.

Dallas Stars​

Dallas limped into the playoffs after losing seven straight but was able to hold onto home ice advantage in its matchup with the Colorado Avalanche. After trading wins through six games, Colorado held a 2-0 lead entering the third period of Game 7. Then Mikko Rantanen erupted for a hat trick and four points, lifting Dallas to a comeback series win and a storybook moment against the Finn’s former team.

Regular season matchup​

Winnipeg dominated the series 3-1, allowing just five goals in four games (one of which was an empty-netter). Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger started all four games against each other. Hellebuyck posted a .965 save percentage, while Oettinger struggled and was pulled once.

How Winnipeg advances​

Hellebuyck is the likely 2024-25 Vezina winner, with a 2.00 GAA and .925 save percentage. He struggled in Round 1 (.830 save percentage) and will need to bounce back. Winnipeg’s power play led the NHL at 28.9 percent, so special teams will be critical.

Injuries to Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey loom large, though both are day-to-day. If one or both return for Game 1, that’s a huge boost.

How Dallas advances​

Dallas was solid all year, but the Stars have looked shaky for a month. They need to re-establish their game and get healthier. Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen are both on their way back from injuries, which would be a huge boost. After eliminating the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7, head coach Pete DeBoer said, “I believe you’re going to see them both play in the second round, but I don’t know if it’s going to be Game 1 or Game 3 or Game 5.”

Oettinger has to be better. He struggled in all four games against Winnipeg during the regular season, including one appearance where he was pulled. Rantanen needs to be consistent—he had just one point in the first four games, then exploded for 11 in the final three. That version of Rantanen gives Dallas a real shot.

Vegas Golden Knights vs Edmonton Oilers​

Blaiz’s prediction: Vegas in six​

I don’t like this pick; I don’t like it at all. If I’ve learned anything from Vegas Golden Knights’ eight seasons in the NHL, it’s to never count them out. I keep thinking they’re going to collapse, but they just keep winning. After taking the Pacific Division, I feel obligated to pick them here as well. Maybe it’s reverse psychology—hopefully this jinx works and Edmonton advances.

Vegas Golden Knights​

Vegas beat Minnesota in six, but the series was close. Game 5 swung the series when an apparent game-winning goal for Minnesota was overturned after dual reviews for a kicking motion and then offside. Gustav Nyquist was confirmed to be offside before the goal, and Vegas went on to win in OT, then closed it out in Game 6.

Edmonton Oilers​

The Oilers fell behind in every game against the Los Angeles Kings, but rallied four times to win the series in six. Calvin Pickard replaced Stuart Skinner after Game 2 and won four straight.

Regular season matchup​

The season series was split 2-2. The first three games were played earlier in the season, which can sometimes make the outcome less indicative of current playoff form. Edmonton won the final meeting 3-2 on April 1.

How Vegas advances​

The Golden Knights finished third in the NHL during the regular season and had the third-best goal differential (+60). Their power play was second-best (28.3 percent), and their defense limited shots to just 26.1 per game (fourth fewest). They’ll need to contain McDavid’s speed and play their structured game.

Adin Hill posted a respectable .906 save percentage, but his 2.47 GAA ranks sixth in the NHL. The team protects him well, and he’s been dependable.

How Edmonton advances​

The Oilers’ resiliency was impressive, but constantly chasing games is not sustainable. They need better starts.

It’s unclear if Skinner or Pickard will start Game 1. Pickard was solid in his appearances but played a “bend-don’t-break” type of game. Goaltending has always been a question mark for this club, and it remains so now. Edmonton may simply ride the hot hand for the rest of the playoffs. While stealing a game would be a bonus, the goalie’s job in Edmonton (more so than for other playoff teams) is to keep the Oilers in it and give their stars a chance to win.

Edmonton leads the NHL in shots per game (32.0). Vegas limits those chances well, so the Oilers will need to get the puck to the net and capitalize.

Sound Of Hockey picks​

Every team left has a path to the Final. There is no runaway favorite and no true Cinderella story. Here’s how the Sound Of Hockey crew sees the Cup Final shaping up. I’m sensing a trend here…

Wrapping up​

The only bummer about the second round is that we go from four games per night to two. Still, the matchups are strong and should not disappoint.

Leave your picks for the second round and Cup winner in the comments!

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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The post NHL Playoffs second round preview: The contenders close in on the Stanley Cup appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/05/0...w-the-contenders-close-in-on-the-stanley-cup/

 

[Seattle Kraken]

2025 NHL Mock Draft, post-Lottery edition

Following the results of Monday’s Draft Lottery, the Kraken are slated to pick No. 8 overall when the 2025 NHL Draft begins on June 27. (How did Seattle end up here, and how does the Lottery even work? Check out our pre-Lottery primer.)

Last summer the Kraken selected Berkly Catton at No. 8 overall–a pick that is looking like a sound investment so far, as Catton’s 145 total points across 72 regular and postseason WHL games (so far) are 14th-most in the last 25 years.

Could the Kraken find a similar high-end producer this year? Or is this the season Seattle finally drafts a defenseman in the first round? There is a relatively high degree of uncertainty in the prospect hierarchy this year as we enter the final pre-draft stages before Jason Botterill oversees his first draft as general manager.

Let’s take a look at how the first eight picks of the draft could play out, with a few final Kraken-related thoughts to conclude.

2025 NHL Mock Draft – Top Eight (Version 1.0)​

1. New York Islanders: Matthew Schaefer | D | Erie Otters (OHL)​

2025 Stats: Games: 17, Goals: 7, Assists: 15, Points/game: 1.29
Rankings: NHL Central Scouting: 1 (NA Skaters) | Data Score: 83.17

The Islanders won the NHL Draft Lottery, moving up from No. 10 to No. 1 overall. In so doing, they earned the right to select Matthew Schaefer, a dynamic all-around presence on the blue line who should be the Islanders’ No. 1 defender for many years to come. He is a true premium prospect in a year otherwise short on blue chip talent. He missed the large majority of his draft eligible year when he broke his collarbone at World Juniors, but there is no sense the injury is a long-term concern, and he did enough before the injury to prove he’s a true difference maker. If I were ranking all of the defense prospects from this year and last year’s loaded blue-line class, Schaefer would still probably be at the top.

2. San Jose Sharks: Michael Misa | F | Saginaw Spirit (OHL)​

2025 Stats: Games: 65, Goals: 62, Assists: 72, Points/game: 2.06
Rankings: NHL Central Scouting: 2 (NA Skaters) | Data Score: 85.65

The Sharks fell from No. 1 to No. 2 at the Draft Lottery, but, in some sense, that makes their draft easier. There are probably only two blue-chip prospects in this class, and San Jose gets the other one in Misa. There is no better scorer in the draft. Misa could form a lethal, long-term top-two center combination with Macklin Celebrini or join Celebrini and Will Smith to form a “Big-Three”-type line, at least in crucial situations. It’s a scary thought for the rest of the Pacific Division.

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Porter Martone | F | Brampton Steelheads (OHL)​

2025 Stats: Games: 57, Goals: 37, Assists: 61, Points/game: 1.72
Rankings: NHL Central Scouting: 6 (NA Skaters) | Data Score: 70.02

I went back and forth between Martone and Anton Frondell at this pick, as both can bring a similar long-term complimentary scoring profile alongside the play-driving Connor Bedard. At the end of the day, I leaned toward Martone due to his more consistent amateur production. 6-foot-3 with the physicality to match, Martone has the makings of a perfect power forward to compliment Bedard, but he needs to hit a few more development markers before I’d safely characterize him that way. In the worst case scenario where Martone’s net-front mentality and skating don’t develop, he is still a middle-six, complimentary scoring forward with NHL size.

4. Utah Mammoth: Anton Frondell | F | Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan) ​

2025 Stats: Games: 29, Goals: 11, Assists: 14, Points/game: .86
Rankings: NHL Central Scouting: 1 (Euro Skaters) | Data Score: 57.56

Just as Chicago secures an offensive winger for Bedard, Utah secures a potential long-term compliment for Logan Cooley in Anton Frondell. Frondell is a scorer, with one of the best pure shots in the class. He also brings size (6-foot-1, 198 pounds) and an all-around skillset to contribute in any situation at center or on the wing. His production floundered to begin the season, but Frondell ended his year in Sweden on a tear that reminded the scouting world of the upside he possesses.

As mentioned above, I considered giving Frondell to the Blackhawks. If that happened, I’d project Martone here.

5. Nashville Predators: James Hagens | F | Boston College (NCAA)​

2025 Stats: Games: 37, Goals: 11, Assists: 26, Points/game: 1.00
Rankings: NHL Central Scouting: 3 (NA Skaters) | Data Score: 58.68

Hagens was once thought of as the top prospect in this class following a couple brilliant years for the U.S. National Team Development Program. His stock has suffered from a good, but not great, draft season playing college hockey, and questions about his size (5-foot-11, 177 pounds). Both factors suggest a “ceiling” on his game for some. Hagens is dynamic with his feet, though, and a high-end playmaker and processor at the center position. His “fall” to No. 5 isn’t quite as dramatic as Shane Wright’s fall was, but it could play out similarly with a player who was once a high-end amateur at a very young age gradually establishing himself as a strong pro.

6. Philadelphia Flyers: Caleb Desnoyers | F | Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)​

2025 Stats: Games: 56, Goals: 35, Assists: 49, Points/game: 1.50
Rankings: NHL Central Scouting: 7 (NA Skaters) | Data Score: 53.43

Draft analysts have linked Desnoyers to the Flyers since before the season, and the match continues to make sense with play style, value, and draft need all coalescing here. Desnoyers is a physical two-way forward who can play anywhere on a line, drive play, and produce middle-six complimentary scoring. He is one of the better prospects to come out of the QMJHL in recent years.

7. Boston Bruins: Roger McQueen | F | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)​

2025 Stats: Games: 17, Goals: 10, Assists: 10, Points/game: 1.18
NHL Draft Rankings: NHL Central Scouting: 8 (NA Skaters) | Data Score: 48.93

The Bruins are not afraid of risk or bucking consensus in taking first-round swings for upside–as evidenced by last year’s first-round pick Dean Letourneau. The 6-foot-6, skilled McQueen is perhaps the biggest home run swing in the draft. He has as an assemblage of hockey traits that measure up against anyone in this class–even Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa.

There were times in the last couple years, when McQueen was healthy and performing, that he was discussed as one of the top prospects in this draft year. He can use his size to win the puck, has a heavy shot, and has soft, skilled hands one might find on a 5-foot-10 first-round pick. On the other hand, his skating lacks a dynamic gear, the “special” sequences are too intermittent for player of his skill level, and, most significantly, there is not a lot of information on his “back” injury that forced him to miss much of his draft season. Bob McKenzie’s reporting suggests that some teams may be “red flagging” McQueen’s injury issues. The NHL Draft Combine medical checks will be a big milestone for McQueen if he is going to go in the top 10.

If McQueen fails his medical check-in, the physical but productive OHL forward Brady Martin could be the pick, as he reads as a Bruins-type player to me, in the Trent Frederic mold. In fact, I considered giving the Bruins Martin anyway. If the Bruins were still at the peak of their powers, I’d be more confident in that projection, but McQueen’s upside is too alluring for a team that has hemorrhaged talent over the last couple years.

8. Seattle Kraken: Jake O’Brien | F | Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)​

2025 Stats: Games: 66, Goals: 32, Assists: 66, Points/game: 1.48
NHL Draft Rankings: NHL Central Scouting: 4 (NA Skaters) | Data Score: 65.88

This is more or less the best-case scenario for Seattle at No. 8 with the last of what I’d characterize as “second-tier forwards” landing here (although there might be one more in Victor Eklund). O’Brien is a 6-foot-2, playmaking, right-shot, center-capable forward who brings offensive and transition skill reminiscent of Wyatt Johnston, according to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects. Brantford relied on him heavily in all situations, including on the penalty kill. I struggle to project him as a game-breaking, star forward, and he does not have pro-level physicality at this stage. But the tools are there to contribute in the top six.

(If the profile of a slender, 6-foot-2 right-shot forward who played center for the Bulldogs sounds familiar to you, it should: It also describes Seattle’s 2021 third-round pick, Ryan Winterton.)

Other “early” Kraken draft thoughts​

One might reasonably question the decision to draft a forward in the first round for the fifth straight season and instead favor the selection of a defenseman. In general, I favor drafting forwards high due to the scarcity of high-end frontline playmakers in trades or free agency and the relatively stable projection of high-scoring forwards to an NHL career.

That said, I favored drafting one of the skilled defensemen (Zeev Buium, preferably, or Zayne Parekh) at No. 8 overall last year. The difference this time is I don’t see a defense prospect on the level of Buium or Parekh (outside of Schaefer, of course). Jackson Smith, Kashawn Aitcheson, and Radim Mrkta are all interesting defense prospects in their own ways, but at this stage, I prefer O’Brien by a comfortable margin. So, my “early” instinct is the Kraken will pick a forward again.

One might also reasonably question whether Seattle could trade this pick based on the team’s commitment to be “aggressive” this offseason and its repeated insistence that it doesn’t intend to actually draft with all of its stockpile of first- and second-round picks over the next three years. While I wouldn’t rule it out entirely, top-10 picks rarely move, and I find it more likely Seattle would trade a future first-round pick rather than this one. This year’s draft is fairly characterized as “below average,” so teams may value future assets more highly anyway.

If O’Brien is not available at No. 8, which is a distinct possibility, I’d likely consider Eklund or the other prospect that fell from the top-seven group above. (At the moment, I’d prefer Eklund over McQueen for Seattle, but the medicals are so important to that decision.)

I also like Cole Reschny, Ben Kindel, and Carter Bear—all of whom are “undersized” WHL playmakers. Yet, all could be a reach at this point in the draft, based on where they’d likely be selected otherwise. I’d give Bear stronger consideration at No. 8, but he suffered a significant Achilles injury playing for Everett, and that can’t be ignored when a team is drafting this high. If draft pick trades were more frequent in the NHL, I’d say a trade down for Reschny or Bear would be very intriguing. Kindel could linger toward the bottom of the first round or even early second round. If Seattle was somehow able to acquire him later, in addition to a pick at No. 8, it’d be a coup.

* * *

Who do you see the Kraken drafting at No. 8 overall? Leave your picks in the comments below or on X @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey or on BlueSky @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.

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The post 2025 NHL Mock Draft, post-Lottery edition appeared first on Sound Of Hockey.

Source: https://soundofhockey.com/2025/05/08/2025-nhl-mock-draft-post-lottery-edition/