Welcome back to Down on the Farm, your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. Every Friday during the season we’ll check in to give you information on every Kraken-affiliated player below the NHL level, including a deep dive on one player. This week we take a closer look at the curious development path of Kraken prospect Eduard Sale and then dive into information and statistics from the week that was and the season to date. Let’s get to it.
Featured Kraken prospect: Eduard Šalé
Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) | 19 years old | 2 games played | 1 goal | 2 assists | 1.5 PPG
The Kraken drafted Eduard Sale 20th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft to some mixed reviews. Draft analysts credited his pure offensive skill, his historic production in the Czech junior league in his draft-minus-one season, and his international tournament play, but many also saw a player whose engagement waned as he played in the top-level Czech professional league. The hope coming out of the draft was that a jump to Canadian junior hockey for the 2023-24 season would allow him to recapture his confidence and offensive prowess.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan for Sale in the OHL. He never really found his footing in Barrie, struggling with the transition to North America. He was traded to the Kitchener Rangers midseason, and things didn’t improve much until the postseason when he seemed to force the issue a bit more and up his engagement. But the sample size was so small, it was hard to be sure there was a tangible improvement.
“It’s more physical… the game is faster [in North America],” Sale told the media during training camp. “For a couple of games [the North American style] was not my game. But after a couple games I [felt] better and better.”
Over the summer, Sale looked at home back in international play (see the video above), racking up a handful of shots and shot assists every game I watched. It gave me some optimism we may finally see a marked improvement from Sale this season.
Sale had an up-and-down training camp and preseason from my vantage. He recorded a goal in his second exhibition game against Edmonton, and coach Dan Bylmsa sounded generally complimentary of Sale’s game play after the first contest against Vancouver, indicating that it earned Sale a second game look. For my part, I saw some things to be encouraged about, but I also felt like too many shifts and practices slipped by without a noticeable impact from Sale.
At the end of camp, the Kraken assigned Sale to the Coachella Valley Firebirds rather than returning him to the OHL. (As a player drafted out of a European league, the CHL Transfer Agreement, which limits the ability of most CHL players to go to the AHL until they are 20 years old, does not apply to him.) There had been rumblings that things were headed this way before it was announced, but it was still a mild surprise to me because (1) Sale had not mastered lower levels of hockey yet and (2) he struggles with the physical element of the game, which could be glaring in the AHL.
In hindsight, though, I probably should not have been surprised at all. The team likely concluded there was no harm and only upside in an AHL audition for Sale—much like Shane Wright’s NHL audition two seasons ago. In the worst case, the team could return Sale to the OHL after a few weeks. But, even if that became necessary, the organization would have had that much more time with Sale to directly address the areas of his game that have stagnated. Furthermore, Sale has experience against professionals that few his age have. He’s not going to Coachella Valley unaware of what it means to be checked by a 230-pound defenseman in the corner or what it takes to find success against professionals.
Sale was scratched for the Firebirds’ opener, but has played in both games since, producing one goal (and another post), while adding two assists on top of that. In the offensive zone, Sale is not much of a grinder, and you won’t often find him in the corners trying to win a puck battle. Instead, he looks to find soft spots in coverage for a quick shot and has the talent to possess the puck and distribute when there is space around him. His complimentary skill set didn’t really get a chance to succeed in the OHL where it would be rare to find forwards who can grind in the corners, set Sale up for chances, and handle most of the defensive burden. Those well-rounded players are more common in the professional ranks, though, and Sale has taken advantage.
“I didn’t think [Sale] looked out of place tonight,” Coachella Valley Firebirds coach Dave Laxdal said after the team’s October 16 game against Calgary. “He did a good job. There are mistakes that young players make,… but I didn’t mind his game.”
To me, Sale has the look of a player who can connect his teammates in transition and be a complimentary piece in the offensive zone, winning when he gets space to use his skating and creativity or an opening for his quick-release shot. If everything clicks for him, I think Kraken-era Andre Burakovsky is a reasonable upside comparable. There is a very long road ahead of Sale if he is to get there. That said, the early returns on his AHL “tryout” have been positive.
Notes on three more in the Kraken system
Ben Meyers
Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) | 25 years old | 3 games played | 1 goal | 1 assist | 0.67 PPG
Ben Meyers was a constant presence at the front of the net during Coachella Valley’s one game since our last update—a road game against the San Diego Gulls. He was credited with a goal and an assist but played a key role in drawing coverage and screening the goalie on at least one other goal and several other chances.
I thought Meyers showed plenty of speed, grit, and skill in training camp to stick around an NHL team in a bottom-of-the-roster role, particularly since you can deploy him at center or on the wing interchangeably. Seattle’s early season cap crunch dictated that Meyers wouldn’t be with the team, but there may be an opportunity coming soon. Vince Dunn is on long-term injured reserve, opening cap space to deepen the bench. Seattle is soon to embark on a five-game road trip, and Meyers (as well as a few others) would make sense as a bench extra for the NHL team on that trip.
Cale Fleury
Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) | 25 years old | 3 games played | 3 goals | 0 assists | 1 PPG
Speaking of the NHL roster, Cale Fleury has been added and subtracted from the Kraken roster twice since Vince Dunn went on long-term injured reserve Monday. As we explained on this week’s Sound Of Hockey Podcast, we believe the rationale for this movement is to extend the length of Fleury’s waivers exemption. That said, we’d expect him (or another defenseman) to land on the roster for the duration of the five-game trip ahead.
For all of the chaos surrounding Fleury this week, he actually has not missed a Firebirds game yet. In fact, he tallied a hat trick in Coachella’s game in San Diego, the first of his professional career. If that proves to be his last AHL game for a while, it was a memorable one.
Jacob Melanson
Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) | 21 years old | 3 games played | 1 goal | 0 assists | 0.33 PPG
Jacob Melanson had perhaps my favorite goal of the last week. He was mixing it up physically with the San Diego Gulls all shift before drilling the water bottle top shelf to end it. He capped it off with a little “I can’t hear you” gesture to the San Diego crowd. There is no doubting the fire in Melanson.
firebirds take the lead 1-0 pic.twitter.com/3z3YE9cIbh
— Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) October 19, 2024
Kraken prospect data
Clarke Caswell had one goal and five assists in two WHL games since our last update. Overall, the Swift Current captain has 15 points in nine contests. His point total ranks him 13th in the WHL in scoring—tied with Seattle Kraken prospects Caden Price and Berkly Catton. Averaging three points per game over the last seven days will earn you Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week.
A few other players showed well over the last week too. Jagger Firkus has been able to create a few plays in the early going for the Firebirds, notching two assists on creative plays in Coachella’s game against San Diego. Price and Lukas Dragicevic have continued their point-per-game play from the blue line in the WHL. And Justin Janicke has continued his early season production, scoring a goal and adding an assist in two NCAA games.
Overall, Carson Rehkopf is producing at an elite level as part of a strong line with top draft prospect Porter Martone for the Brampton Steelheads. This year he has been getting it done by making plays for his talented teammates. He is up to 11 assists in nine OHL games, which exceeds his pace from last year when he “only” had 43 assists in 60 total games.
David Goyette, Jani Nyman, and Ty Nelson are off to a bit of a slow start for the Firebirds by my eye test. All of them have shown at least flashes (Nelson has two assists), and each has an even-or-better even-strength on-ice goal differential, so they’re not hurting the team. But, as we have mentioned, the AHL is a step up in competition level for each of them, so some struggle is to be expected.
As for the goalies, we saw a couple players get not only their first starts of the season but also their first North American professional appearances—and, better still, each took home a win. Niklas Kokko started for the Firebirds in San Diego and was largely good under heavy pressure until San Diego potted a few in a furious comeback attempt late. Victor Ostman started the season opener for the ECHL Kansas City Mavericks and turned aside 20 of 23 Witchita Thunder shots.
Overall Semyon Vyazovoy continues to get semi-regular playing time in the KHL. Following a strong game, he has edged his KHL save percentage above .900. Likewise, Kim Saarinen is up to six starts in Liiga as an 18-year-old. As a point of comparison, countryman Kokko only got eight Liiga starts across the entirety of his age 18 season. They’re in different situations, of course, but it’s worth noting because we often think of Kokko as taking the “fast track” as a goalie. Saarinen is getting the same kind of experience.
Previewing the week ahead
The Firebirds have only two games over the next seven days, but that’s an increase over last week when Coachella Valley only played once.
Berkly Catton and the Spokane Chiefs have three home dates between now and next Wednesday. Julius Miettinen, Kaden Hammell, and the Everett Silvertips have home games Friday (tonight) and Saturday at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, and then complete a “three in three” with a road game in Portland on Sunday.
The Seattle Thunderbirds will take on two Kraken prospects during a two-game road trip this weekend. Seattle will play Dragicevic and the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday (tonight), and then Caswell and the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday.
* * *
I’ll get to your Kraken prospect questions starting with next week’s update. Keep those coming. I expect to have searchable tables (rather than these snapshots) moving forward. This should make everything more readable and user friendly. With any luck, that will also start in the next week or two. Thanks so much for following along. As always, let me know if there is something in particular you’d like to see covered.
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.
I love this prospect rundown segment Curtis. Thank you
Favorite column. Most all the CHL prospects picked up at least a point in their Friday games, with Rehkopf picking up 3, and Catton and Miettinen getting 2 each.
Sale, Nyman, Nelson, Roed, Winterton, and Morrison all got a point for CV Friday night.
The stat sheet from Brampton’s game shows Rehkopf as a right wing, not a left wing. Which is correct?
Also, any idea why the AHL stats do not list Firkus as a rookie, when he seems to qualify? Goyette too?
“To be considered a rookie, a player must not have played in a total of twenty-five (25) or more AHL and/or NHL regular-season games in any preceding seasons, nor in six (6) or more AHL and/or NHL regular-season games in each of any two preceding seasons, nor in one hundred (100) regular-season games in any European Elite League. A player who has met these qualifications but did so while playing on an amateur try-out agreement or as a signed junior will not have those games count towards his rookie status.”
Eduard Sale must have eaten a lot of Wheaties this past off-season. After a down year in the OHL and a less that inspiring season in Europe, Sale was looking like a draft bust. Then, this year he comes into Kraken training camp and is noticeably one of the only prospects who actually belongs on the ice with the big boys (along with Ryan Winterton, but everyone expected him to stand head-and shoulders above everyone else). Coach Laxdal said it the way I saw it, Sale didn’t look out of place, and that in itself is remarkable. In the Kraken preseason and apparently in Coachella Valley now, he looks like he belongs. I have no idea how that works. What kind of guy can never get comfortable playing against kids in the OHL but immediately steps into a role on a professional club? How can we even try to project the professional career of someone like that? My expectations are completely out the window, but it will be fascinating to find out what kind of player Eduard Sale really is this season.
This is interesting I actually thought Sale’s game play was not good in the preseason. Yes he got a goal but was the recipient of a great cross crease pass, otherwise was very soft and unnoticeable. What was I missing, I didn’t see any of the camp just the games so I can only comment on that.
I’d like to see him become a regular NHL player don’t get me wrong but I’ve heard a number of people mention his good preseason. I feel I watched him very closely and wasn’t impressed?
He did not stand out to me in training camp.
What I saw from Sale was a player who would at least try to go to the places on the ice that he needed to be to affect the play. He wasn’t out there looking lost and just trying to not get flattened… which did lead to him getting flattened occasionally. He would back check behind the net and try to dig pucks out of the corners, and he would go to the crease with the unmistakable intention of getting himself into position to receive dangerous passes, as he did with his goal. Yes, he usually just bounced off big, tough veteran dudes, but he was actually trying to check them and to step into their passing lanes, playing without fear of them. Mad props for that. Maybe him not having acclimated to the CHL was a good thing, because of all the, at the time, non-Firebirds prospects–he was the one who looked the most like he was playing pro hockey. To me, anyway. UPDATE: Sale is currently tied with Cale Fleury for the Firebirds team lead in points with four.
Nathan Villeneuve looked pretty professional for his age as well, although being huge and tough as nails no doubt helped to make that impression. By the way, Villeneuve is currently up to five points and fifteen penalty minutes in six games with Sudbury. That guy is going to be fun to watch.