This is “Down on the Farm,” your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. This week, we’ll update you on where Seattle Kraken prospects postseason update. In particular, we’ll highlight a couple of young forwards heading to the NCAA Frozen Four.

We’ll also get you up to speed with some shuffling of the Coachella Valley Firebirds roster as the team deals with a spate of injuries. Beyond that, we’ll have our Kraken prospect notes, video, and the Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week, as always.

If you’re interested in Kraken prospects, you should also check out The Athletic‘s system ranking, which has the Kraken ranked as the seventh-best prospect pool in the league.

If you have a Seattle Kraken prospect–related question you’d like to see featured in a future column or mailbag, drop us a note below or on X or BlueSky at @deepseahockey or @sound_hockey.

The Firebirds navigate injuries, opportunities for others

On April 1, the Coachella Valley Firebirds published an injury update that might have been confused for a prank. Regrettably for the team and players involved, it was anything but.

See below for the latest @Firebirds injury updates. pic.twitter.com/SxoRtxZUi3

— Coachella Valley Firebirds PR (@AHLFirebirdsPR) April 2, 2026

If you have been following the team closely, many of these injuries were already known, affecting the roster for much of March. However, the bulk update did bring news of a week-to-week injury for Jagger Firkus. Add in a lower-body ailment suffered by Logan Morrison on Friday, Apr. 3, that the team has designated a week-to-week injury, and you have a club in triage mode.

Over the last couple of weeks, the AHL club has recalled forwards Jackson Berezowski, Justin Janicke, and Landon McCallum from the ECHL Kansas City Mavericks, as well as signed ECHL defenseman Drake Burgin and college free agent defenseman Valtteri Piironen to tryout agreements.

The Coachella Valley Firebirds signed college free agent defenseman Valtreri Piironen to a tryout agreement.

Piironen is a 24 year-old, 6-foot-4, left-shot blueliner who had 7 points in 29 games for Ferris State Univ. this season. He played three ECHL games before joining CV.

— Deep Sea Hockey (@DeepSeaHockey) April 1, 2026

On Wednesday, Apr. 1, it seemed like the roster might have hit a breaking point, dropping a 7-0 blowout to the Ontario Reign. Undeterred, though, the team rebounded with a gritty 2-0 win over the Abbotsford Canucks on Friday, Apr. 3.

The team sits fourth in the Pacific Division, which is a solid playoff position. (Author’s note: The Firebirds clinched a playoff spot later Saturday, Apr. 4, after this article was originally posted.) At this point, the team needs to simply survive the final stretch, with the hope of getting Morrison, Firkus, Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, and a host of defensemen back for the playoffs.

Kraken prospects advance to the NCAA Frozen Four

Two of Seattle’s three prospects who made the postseason field remain alive, with only four teams remaining.

NCAA Playoffs: Ollie Josephson, F, Univ. of North Dakota

Ollie Josephson missed the regionals with a lower-body injury suffered during the NCHC playoffs, but his teammates picked him up, earning victories over Merrimack College and Quinnipiac University. North Dakota now gets Wisconsin in the Frozen Four semifinal, with puck drop scheduled for 2:00 p.m. PDT on Thursday, Apr. 9. With any luck, Josephson will be out there.

NCAA Playoffs: Clarke Caswell, F, Univ. of Denver

Clarke Caswell and the University of Denver won perhaps the most competitive regional, with victories over Cornell University and Western Michigan University. Caswell was a big part of the story, scoring a goal and adding two assists in the two games. The Pioneers will now square off against the University of Michigan on Thursday, Apr. 9, at 5:30 p.m. PDT, with a trip to the NCAA Championship Game on the line.

Caswell’s performance makes him your Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week. You can check out his shifts from the team’s win over Western Michigan here.

NCAA Playoffs: Zaccharya Wisdom, F, Western Michigan Univ.

Wisdom and the Western Michigan Broncos defeated Minnesota State University before falling to the University of Denver in the regional finals—the team’s second postseason loss to the Pioneers after bowing out of the NCHC tournament against the same squad. It’s a frustrating end to a productive season for Wisdom. He was involved in three of the Broncos’ five goals in the NCAA tournament, scoring a goal and adding two assists.

Check out his shifts from Western Michigan’s last game of the year below.

Checking in on the CHL playoffs

Seattle’s junior players comprise a pool of players who could hypothetically assist the injury-ravaged AHL roster via assignment or tryout agreements. That said, few, if any, of these players figure to be available in the near term, as their junior teams cruise toward first-round playoff series victories.

QMJHL Playoffs: Alexis Bernier, D, Chicoutimi Saguenéens

The Chicoutimi Saguenéens swept the Halifax Mooseheads in the first round of the QMJHL Playoffs. Alexis Bernier was scoreless in the series but characteristically drove a positive goal differential when he was on the ice. He led the team with eight penalty minutes.

QMJHL Playoffs: Will Reynolds, D, Newfoundland Regiment

The Newfoundland Regiment lead their first-round series against the Cape Breton Eagles three games to two. The matchup continues at 10:30 a.m. PDT on Sunday, with Reynolds and his teammates one win away from the second round. Reynolds has four points, all assists, which are tied for the most in the series among Regiment defensemen.

OHL Playoffs: Jake O’Brien, F, Brantford Bulldogs

The Brantford Bulldogs swept their first-round series against the Sudbury Wolves. Kraken prospect Jake O’Brien had a solid series, recording six points, all of which were assists. He led the team in total helpers and was second in points. The Bulldogs await their second-round opponent in the OHL’s Eastern Conference.

OHL Playoffs: Nathan Villeneuve, F, and Jakub Fibigr, D, Windsor Spitfires

Likewise, the Windsor Spitfires swept their first-round series against the Guelph Storm, ending it with an 11-3 exclamation point on Thursday, Apr. 2. Defenseman Jakub Fibigr finished the series with a team-leading six assists and seven total points. Nathan Villeneuve contributed a goal for his only point of the series in his return from injury.

With all of the Western Conference series settled, we know Windsor will host the Flint Firebirds beginning on Friday, April 10, at 4:05 p.m. PT.

WHL Playoffs: Julius Miettinen, F, Everett Silvertips

Miettinen’s Everett Silvertips swept the Portland Winterhawks in the first round of the WHL Playoffs and will now sit idle as they await a second-round opponent. Miettinen led the Silvertips with four goals and seven points and was second on the team with a +7 plus-minus in the series.

WHL Playoffs: Ryden Evers, F, Penticton Vees

Evers and the Penticton Vees swept the Seattle Thunderbirds in the first round and will now await their next opponent, just like the Silvertips. Evers was second on the Vees in the series with four goals and six points.

WHL Playoffs: Blake Fiddler, D, Edmonton Oil Kings

Blake Fiddler has been out of the lineup since game two of the Edmonton Oil Kings’ series after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Rowan Calvert.

Now, without Fiddler, the Oil Kings are the only team in this update at imminent risk of first-round elimination. The Oil Kings trail their series against the Saskatoon Blades three games to two.

If Edmonton fails to advance, assuming health, Fiddler may be a prime candidate to sign a tryout agreement with the Firebirds. While I have not yet seen any reports linking Fiddler to a school, it strikes me that he could be a candidate to join an NCAA team for the 2026–27 season. With this in mind, I should note my understanding that an AHL tryout agreement would not jeopardize his eligibility. That said, if some risk exists, it could be a reason to avoid this path.

Updating the European leagues playoffs

As in North America, Seattle’s European prospects have found success in the postseason so far.

Liiga Playoffs: Kim Saarinen, G, HPK

Kim Saarinen and HPK trail their best-of-seven, second-round series against Tappara three games to one. Just as in the first round, Saarinen has drawn every start, and he has played reasonably well despite the disappointing team results thus far. He has posted a .910 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average in the series. They’ll look to extend the series on Tuesday, Apr. 7, at 8:30 a.m. PDT.

KHL Playoffs: Semyon Vyazovoi, G, Salavat Yulaev Ufa

Semyon Vyazovoi and Salavat Yulaev Ufa prevailed over Yekaterinburg Avto four games to two in the Conference Quarterfinals. Like Saarinen, Vyazovoi drew every start and played well. He posted a .927 save percentage in the series, including a multi-overtime performance in the series clincher. Salavat Yulaev Ufa will begin the conference semifinals on Wednesday, Apr. 8, against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.

SHL Playoffs: Zeb Forsfjall, F, Skellefteå AIK

Skellefteå, a top SHL team, won its first-round series against the Malmö RedHawks four games to one. Forsfjall played his typical checking role but also contributed three assists in the series. Check out his shifts from Skellefteå’s Mar. 29 game below.

Notes on three other Kraken prospects

Justin Janicke | F | Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)

Justin Janicke, a 2021 seventh-round pick, recorded his first AHL point of the season on Sunday, Mar. 29. He has spent the bulk of the year in the ECHL, gradually improving his game.

#SeaKraken 2021 seventh-round pick Justin Janicke (No. 9 in red) had his first AHL point of the season, an assist, in the Firebirds game on Sunday.

Janicke has 15 goals and 19 assists in 56 games for the Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL this season.pic.twitter.com/L6lxRhoZBS

— Deep Sea Hockey (@DeepSeaHockey) March 30, 2026

Kaden Hammell | D | Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)

Kaden Hammell was found on the dreaded bulk-injury update, but he has since returned to the lineup as of Friday, Apr. 3. He’s a key piece on the blue line as the team awaits the return of several other injured players, including Ty Nelson, Lukas Dragicevic, and Caden Price.

Jakub Fibigr | D | Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

As Fibigr looks to extend his OHL playoff run with Windsor as long as possible, he has arranged plans for next season, committing to play collegiate hockey with Ohio State University.

Kraken prospects data update

Lleyton Roed led the Firebirds in goals and points this week.

Nikke Kokko and Victor Ostman have played an important role in buoying the Firebirds amidst the injury turmoil in front of them.

Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week tracker

3 wins: Jagger Firkus, Jake O’Brien, Kim Saarinen, Julius Miettinen

2 wins: Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, Logan Morrison, Nathan Villeneuve, Semyon Vyazovoi

1 win: Alexis Bernier, Clarke Caswell, Barrett Hall, Ollie Josephson, Tyson Jugnauth, Nikke Kokko, Victor Ostman, Zaccharya Wisdom

Tracking 2026 NHL Draft prospects: Alessandro Di Iorio

Alessandro Di Iorio is a smooth-skating, two-way Canadian center who earned underage roles with the Canadian U18 team last year. Though Di Iorio is clearly well regarded for his overall game, the gaudy scoring numbers you expect to see from a high-profile junior center have not been there this season. He had just 31 points in 45 OHL games for Sarnia. NHL teams will need to decide whether he projects to provide more offense in the future before investing a top pick in the player. Di Iorio was No. 42 on our mid-season Big Board.

Recent prospect updates

March 28, 2026: Kraken prospect playoff preview

March 21, 2026: Saarinen’s Liiga dominance, and the Kraken development track record

March 13, 2026: Kraken prospects mailbag – part 2

March 7, 2026: Seattle Kraken sign Ryden Evers, trade from draft asset depth

February 27, 2026: Rangers claim Tye Kartye, Kraken re-sign two forwards

February 20: 2026: David Goyette suspended for 20 games

February 13, 2026: Projecting NHL futures for Logan Morrison and Jagger Firkus

February 6, 2026: Seattle Kraken prospects midseason mailbag