It has not been a conventional development… path (intentionally avoiding the very obvious pun) for speedy Seattle Kraken forward prospect Lleyton Roed. But the 22-year-old White Bear Lake, Minn., native has raised eyebrows in his first NHL training camp, and we’ve heard rumblings that he is well respected around the Kraken organization. Could the undrafted college free-agent signee follow in the footsteps of other undrafted Kraken youngsters and one day break into the best league in the world?

“He’s a factor with his speed, he’s a factor with his hunt and hound on a puck, and he’s going to get a chance to show it tonight,” coach Dan Bylsma said. “So, we’ll see.”

Roed will get his first chance to play on NHL ice against NHL competition when he suits up in deep sea blue at Climate Pledge Arena for Friday’s preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks.

“I’m pretty even keel right now,” Roed said on Friday morning. “But, I mean, [when I] get to the rink the nerves will probably kick in. But I think it’s more excitement than anything, your first chance playing on NHL ice in front of great fans.”

Born into a hockey family

Finding competition and tutelage at a young age was not difficult for Roed, whose father Peter was a professional hockey player that got drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 1995 and played in the WHL, ECHL, AHL, UHL, and the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany. Roed’s two younger brothers, Nolan and Nash, also appear to have bright hockey futures, with Nolan currently playing in the USHL and committed to St. Cloud State University, and Nash just entering high school.

“My brothers and I grew up in White Bear Lake in Minnesota, a great hockey town. We always had a pond in the backyard or a rink, so growing up with the brothers was always great, and Dad’s obviously been a great resource.

“So, I mean, we were always out there. Whether that’s Nolan and me picking on little Nash or Nolan and me going out head to head. It was great to see for Nash, the youngest one, he’s going to be a really good player, I think. He’s had to battle with us his whole life. But I mean, that’s what brotherhood is all about, and it was super fun growing up.”

Landing with the Kraken

The connection between Roed and the Kraken first began in the summer of 2023 when he was invited to the team’s summer development camp. Then preparing for his sophomore year at Bemidji State University, he showed well and put himself firmly on general manager Ron Francis’s radar.

Roed went back to college and racked up 30 points (14-16=30) in 38 games for the Beavers, following a 31-point (13-18=31) freshman campaign in 2022-23. Those performances garnered interest from multiple NHL teams that had previously passed on him in the draft.

“It was a great two years at Bemidji,” Roed said. “I kind of knew I’d have some options, whether to leave and where to, but… I ended up coming to dev camp two [summers] ago, and I think I made a good impression.”

That impression led to more scouting and communication from Seattle, which eventually was able to convince Roed to join the organization.

“I kept in contact with the staff, and I knew they were watching me during the whole year. I felt we had a good connection here, good relationships, and the trust level was there to sign a pro contract. So, very happy.”

Kraken organization was “intriguing”

One of the reasons Roed chose the Kraken was that they have shown a willingness to elevate undrafted players to the NHL. Many organizations tend to give favor to their drafted assets, so having examples of players making it to the top level despite not being selected by Seattle is attractive for players like Roed.

“It definitely was intriguing,” Roed said. “Because you see [Tye Kartye] do it, using Coachella, had a great year, hopped straight into the playoffs, and is now a full-time NHLer. And then you see Logan Morrison last year, he’s undrafted as well, and he gets a chance to get called up for some games. So, it’s very intriguing to see that. It’s nice to see the opportunity’s there if you earn it.”

After signing at the end of Bemidji State’s 2023-24 season, Roed reported directly to Coachella Valley of the AHL, where he worked with Bylsma, then the head coach of the Firebirds, and impressed with his fast skating and tenacious style of play.

“He got a chance to play a few games in the regular season after his college season and got bumped out of the lineup for a lot of the playoffs,” Bylsma recalled. “But with how he practiced and how he skated in those practices… earned him an opportunity to play games in the [Calder Cup] Finals against Hershey. And he got it because of his tenacity and the speed he brings to the game, which you’ve seen in camp so far.”

https://twitter.com/DeepSeaHockey/status/1777133771260567729

The jump to pro hockey from college is never an easy one. Roed said he noticed right away some differences between the two levels.

“It’s a little more physical. Probably the biggest thing is just stick detail. Like, me going against defensemen, how good they are with the puck and their sticks, so you’ve really got to learn to manage the puck, protect the puck, make plays under pressure.”

An impressive training camp

Now, Roed is continuing his learning journey with last week’s rookie camp and this week’s NHL training camp. He has continued to impress and has managed to stick around through three rounds of cuts, including two players—Luke Henman and Nikolas Brouillard—being placed on waivers Friday with the purpose of assigning them to the Firebirds.

“It’s been great,” Roed said. “We’re coming up on three weeks now. The rookie tournament with the first week, it was good to do that, get on the ice, get some game pace. And then the last week and a half, two weeks here, has been awesome seeing the NHL guys.”

Against his fellow prospects in rookie camp, he had the advantage of being two or three years older than much of his competition, so he should have stood out. But he also hasn’t looked out of place with NHLers on the ice either, at least in practices.

And while he is likely to land in Coachella Valley sooner or later, Roed is enjoying the experience and taking in every lesson he can in the meantime.

“[I’ve learned] how to handle myself,” Roed said. “I mean, details on and off the ice, whether it’s in the weight room, nutrition, on the ice, I think that’s what separates the guys [in the NHL]. It’s just how detailed they are at every aspect.”

Roed will look to apply those lessons when he takes the ice Friday night.

“I’m excited. I mean, it’ll be fun to be in an NHL arena, especially at home here on a Friday, should be a good crowd. So, you’ve just got to go out there and put your best foot forward and soak it in and just have fun.”