Welcome to “Down on the Farm,” your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. In this week’s column, we’ll update you on where the Firebirds stand in the Calder Cup playoffs, how Seattle Kraken prospects are faring elsewhere in their postseasons, and a big-time prospect turning pro. After that, we’ll have notes and video from around the Kraken system and the Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week, as always.
In the weeks ahead, we’ll be bridging into offseason mode, which will include more video deep dives but could also include answers to your questions. So, 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.
Firebirds face winner-take-all Game 5 in second-round series against the Ontario Reign
Since our last update, the Firebirds and their fans have endured a roller-coaster experience in Coachella Valley’s second-round matchup against Ontario. The Firebirds scored first in Game 2 in Ontario last Friday, and it seemed like the good times were rolling. However, Ontario then scored five straight goals, including three in the third period. The 5–1 loss leveled the series at a game apiece.
Game 3 on Tuesday back home in Coachella Valley was a similar story. The Firebirds took the lead on a Jani Nyman first-period goal but were held scoreless the rest of the way and dropped the contest 2–1. In a five-game series, Coachella Valley was on the brink of elimination again.
In Game 4 on Thursday, things were looking grim when Ontario took the lead less than six minutes into the game. This time, though, the Firebirds were able to flip the script, scoring four goals on NHL veteran Phoenix Copley before adding two empty-netters to secure a 6–2 victory.
Mitchell Stephens with a snipe. 🔥@Firebirds | #ONTvsCV | #CalderCup | @FloHockey
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) May 8, 2026
📺💻📲: https://t.co/xslzIvekI0 pic.twitter.com/P9GgZWEr0O
So far this season, the Firebirds have played three elimination games and won them all. A ticket to the Pacific Division Finals awaits if the Firebirds can make it four for four in Game 5. Puck drop is at 6:00 p.m. PDT on Saturday at Toyota Arena in Ontario. The game will stream live on FloHockey.
Regardless of the outcome, the Firebirds have put together an impressive season as the youngest team in the AHL. Reaching the playoffs was achievement enough, but they defeated Bakersfield and are now giving the veteran-laden, Pacific Division-best Ontario Reign all they can handle in the second round.
On the individual side, Oscar Fisker Mølgaard continues to lead the AHL playoffs in goals (five) and total points (nine). Jani Nyman is tied for third in points (seven), followed closely by Jagger Firkus (six). No goalie has started more playoff games than Nikke Kokko, with seven. (Victor Ostman saw action only once in relief in the Bakersfield series.)
Kraken hold the seventh pick in the 2026 NHL Draft
If you missed it, the NHL Draft Lottery took place earlier this week. The Kraken did not win, instead moving down one slot to No. 7 overall. Read up on how the lottery works and our way-too-early look at who the Kraken may select with the seventh pick. We’ll return with a lot more Kraken-specific and league-wide draft analysis in the weeks ahead.
2026 NHL Draft: 50 prospects in 50 Days
— Deep Sea Hockey (@DeepSeaHockey) May 6, 2026
Follow along as we highlight a new prospect each day, sharing facts and video.
Since the final 2026 Sound Of Hockey Big Board will not arrive until a couple weeks before the draft, we'll follow our midseason order.https://t.co/B5J152ToSD
Zeb Forsfjäll wins a second SHL Championship in three seasons
No Kraken-drafted player has found more team success than 2023 sixth-round pick Zeb Forsfjäll. In the three intervening years playing top-tier professional hockey with Skellefteå AIK of the SHL, the 5-foot-9 checking forward has been an active contributor to two championships. Skellefteå sealed its most recent title last Saturday with a comeback 7–3 win over Rögle.
Skellefteå har nu gjort 4(!) raka mål och vänt 0-2 till 4-2! pic.twitter.com/U9HSla9WHu
— SHL.se (@SHLse) May 2, 2026
Everett and Chicoutimi continue their pursuit of CHL titles and the Memorial Cup
And then there were two. The Brantford Bulldogs (Jake O’Brien) and Windsor Spitfires (Nathan Villeneuve and Jakub Fibigr) were both eliminated in the penultimate round of the OHL playoffs, ending their seasons — and likely the CHL careers of all three Kraken prospects involved.
Everett vs. Prince Albert
In the WHL, Julius Miettinen and the top-seeded Everett Silvertips will take on the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL Championship. Sound Of Hockey‘s Cameron Riggers has a full preview of that series here.
Julius Miettinen has 10 goals and 8 assists in 13 WHL playoff games so far. His 10 goals are the most in the WHL playoffs (tied with linemate Matias Vanhanen), and his 18 total points are fourth-most. His plus-15 rating is third-best in the playoffs.
Fri, May 8 – Prince Albert at Everett – 7:00 pm PDT – Angel of the Winds Arena
Sat, May 9 – Prince Albert at Everett – 6:00 pm PDT – Angel of the Winds Arena
Tue, May 12 – Everett at Prince Albert – 6:30 pm PDT – Art Hauser Centre
Wed, May 13 – Everett at Prince Albert – 6:30 pm PDT – Art Hauser Centre
Fri, May 15 – Everett at Prince Albert – 6:30 pm PDT – Art Hauser Centre*
Sun, May 17 – Prince Albert at Everett – 7:00 pm PDT – Angel of the Winds Arena*
Mon, May 18 – Prince Albert at Everett – 7:00 pm PDT – Angel of the Winds Arena*
*If necessary
All games are available to stream free on Victory+.
Chicoutimi vs. Moncton
Over in the QMJHL, the Chicoutimi Saguenéens and Alexis Bernier reached the QMJHL Finals against the Moncton Wildcats. Two of the top teams in the CHL, this figures to be a difficult, long series.
For Bernier, this is his second chance in the championship round, having previously reached the final with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in 2024. Bernier has five points in 14 playoff games. His plus-10 rating is tied for sixth-best in the QMJHL playoffs.
Fri, May 8 – Chicoutimi at Moncton – 3:00 pm PDT – Centre Avenir
Sat, May 9 – Chicoutimi at Moncton – 3:00 pm PDT – Centre Avenir
Tue, May 12 – Moncton at Chicoutimi – 4:00 pm PDT – Centre Georges-Vézina
Wed, May 13 – Moncton at Chicoutimi – 4:00 pm PDT – Centre Georges-Vézina
Fri, May 15 – Chicoutimi at Moncton – 3:00 pm PDT – Centre Avenir*
Sun, May 17 – Moncton at Chicoutimi – 4:00 pm PDT – Centre Georges-Vézina*
Tue, May 19 – Chicoutimi at Moncton – 3:00 pm PDT – Centre Avenir*
*If necessary
All games are available to stream on FloHockey.
Notes on three other Kraken prospects
Jake O’Brien | F | Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
As mentioned above, the Brantford Bulldogs bowed out of the OHL playoffs against the Barrie Colts last week. It was a surprising result for a stacked Bulldogs team that led the series three games to one before dropping three games in a row.
With the expectation that 19-year-old first-round picks out of the CHL will be eligible to play in the AHL next season, this likely marks the end of O’Brien’s OHL career. If this is it, he left an indelible mark on the Bulldogs, holding the team’s all-time points record and serving as the team’s captain during the 2025–26 season.
The Kraken have since reassigned O’Brien to the Coachella Valley Firebirds. It remains to be seen whether he will have the opportunity to play during this playoff run. The odds would seem to increase if the Firebirds advance to the Pacific Division Finals.
Alexis Bernier | D | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
As Bernier and the Saguenéens continue their push for a QMJHL championship and Memorial Cup, the player faces another important bit of business. Bernier, a 2024 third-round pick, remains unsigned. With one footnote, if Bernier does not sign with the Kraken by June 1, 2026, Seattle will lose his signing rights, and Bernier will re-enter the 2026 NHL Draft.
The one wrinkle is that Seattle would retain his signing rights if Bernier commits to playing for a college team for the 2026–27 season before June 1. I have not yet seen any reporting suggesting that this is a possibility for the young blue-liner. Important decisions await.
J.R. Avon | F | Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)
The Seattle Kraken have still made only one trade involving a drafted prospect. On Sept. 4, 2025, the Kraken sent Tucker Robertson to the Flyers in exchange for J.R. Avon — a rare one-for-one prospect “challenge” trade and an exchange of close friends and former OHL teammates.
The trade has worked out well for both sides. Robertson set professional career highs in games played, goals, and assists with Lehigh Valley. Over in Palm Desert, Avon set career-high scoring totals too, despite missing a significant portion of the season with an injury. Avon’s season has hit its high-water mark in the Pacific Division Semifinals with three goals in four games, including the crucial game-tying goal in Game 4 on Thursday.
J.R. AVON THE MAN YOU ARE!!!
— x – Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) May 8, 2026
1-1 pic.twitter.com/uIkC1uRRlC
Avon’s recent postseason work makes him your Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week. Avon is a pending restricted free agent after the season.
Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week tracker
4 wins: Jake O’Brien
3 wins: Jagger Firkus, Kim Saarinen, Julius Miettinen, Oscar Fisker Mølgaard
2 wins: Clarke Caswell, Logan Morrison, Nathan Villeneuve, Semyon Vyazovoi
1 win: J.R. Avon, Alexis Bernier, Barrett Hall, Ollie Josephson, Tyson Jugnauth, Nikke Kokko, Victor Ostman, Zaccharya Wisdom
Tracking 2026 NHL Draft prospects: Marcus Nordmark
Nordmark is a potential first-round pick, checking in at No. 23 on the midseason Big Board and No. 8 among international skaters on the final NHL Central Scouting list. The 6-foot-1 Nordmark has been a prolific producer for Sweden’s international teams, though he was uncharacteristically quiet at the recent U18 World Championship, recording only four points in six games. Scouts credit elite hands and offensive instincts as his calling card. On the other hand, scouts have raised significant concerns about his effort and consistency.
Recent prospect updates
May 1, 2026: Firebirds advance in AHL playoffs, Kraken have sixth-best lottery odds on May 5
Apr. 11, 2026: Caswell to National Championship game, Saarinen to Coachella Valley
April 4, 2026: Kraken prospects to the Frozen Four, Firebirds face a rash of injuries
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
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.
Quite a win in 2OT by the Firebirds last night. At last, something to cheer about.
If the Kraken let all their UFAs go, it would be interesting to see how the CV top line of Morrision/Firkus/Nyman would do in NHL as a line.
Would also like to see some of the CV defensemen get NHL games. Do Jugnauth, Nelson, and Ottavainen have NHL futures?
Wonder if they are going to give O’Brien some playoff games in CV. Rehkopf has zero points and -8. Sale is -5. Maybe one of those two sit.