Down on the Farm – Post-camp Kraken prospect stock watch

“Down on the Farm” is your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. This week we check in on the stock of several Seattle Kraken prospects who participated in camp and the first two preseason games. We’ll also pass along news on several camp reassignments, a Jake O’Brien injury update, and video and data from around the system.

As always, if you have a Kraken prospect-related question you’d like to see featured in a future column, drop us a note below or on X or BlueSky @deepseahockey. Let’s dive in.

Kraken quickly assign youth to Firebirds camp amidst condensed NHL schedule

On Monday, the Kraken announced a series of transitions that trimmed the NHL roster to 27 players. We analyzed those moves in our Kraken Contracts Corner post on Tuesday. Among the “prospect” tier of players, only Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, Jake O’Brien, Ville Ottavainen, and Nikke Kokko remain in Seattle.

While the sweeping nature of these cuts and reassignments was a bit surprising, it may be indicative of the new normal moving forward—at least under the current front office. With the new CBA, a couple of significant changes likely affected the team’s approach.

The first change is the 84-game regular season. With that schedule adjustment comes the trimming of the preseason to just four games—and a commensurate overall tightening of camp. Something had to give, and for the Kraken, it was the initial evaluation window. Even with the “quick” cuts, the team had only just begun working on special teams units on Tuesday. With the first NHL game less than a week away, the team needs a smaller, more focused camp to have the veterans ready.

The second change relates to the preseason “veteran” rules, which Blaiz Grubic broke down on Wednesday. Under the new rules, teams have increased flexibility to load even more young players into any individual preseason game. This afforded the Kraken the opportunity to play lineups almost exclusively comprised of prospects during the first two preseason games and still reassign those players relatively “early.”

Kraken prospect preseason stock watch

Stock up: Oscar Fisker Mølgaard

Mølgaard was the best player on the ice during Rookie Camp and was the team’s clear best player during the team’s first preseason contest, Sep. 19 versus Vancouver. He also had a number of strong plays in the team’s veteran-heavy Sep. 24 game against Calgary.

While Mølgaard may not have one elite trait, he can contribute in all areas. He’s sound defensively; he brings penalty kill value; he is a skilled puck transporter through the neutral zone with speed and protection ability, and he filters pucks to his teammates in the offensive zone, usually in the slot, with deceptive and precise passes.

I’m likely in the minority, but his standout camp has me convinced Mølgaard can contribute more to winning right now than veterans like Freddy Gaudreau and Ben Meyers. I’d say the same thing about Curtis Douglas and Jacob Melanson, but they play different positions and roles, so it’s unlikely there is a one-for-one swap there. And all of this is before even considering the likelihood of continued development, which I believe will elevate him above some other veterans in the middle of this roster.

Mølgaard is too good to demote. He should be playing in the NHL. That said, I wouldn’t want him to sit as an extra for any extended period of time. If he’s not starting most games on the fourth line, he should go to the AHL and await a regular opportunity.

Stock up: Jagger Firkus

While Mølgaard was the team’s best player in its first preseason game, I’d give player-of-the-game honors for Seattle’s Sep. 20 game in Calgary to Firkus. Firkus showed what he needed to against mostly AHL-level competition in that game. He can be a volume-shooting wing who can get to his shot with transition vision and speed, savvy offensive-zone positioning, and illusiveness and feints on the puck to open up shooting angles that others cannot. He also contributed enough defensively high in the zone and along the walls to survive.

He’s not a “complete” player, and his game is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. For me, though, the only question is: can Firkus carry over a rough approximation of this same proven AHL game to the NHL? We won’t know that until he gets the chance. My hope is, one way or another, Firkus gets a run of third-line games at some point before the All-Star Break.

Check out Firkus’s shifts from the Sep. 20 game against Calgary below. He’s No. 57 in white.

Stock up: Ty Nelson

Nelson showed in camp and in the preseason games that he can be trusted with difficult defensive responsibilities in a way that distinguishes him from the team’s other top defense prospects right now. Add in the offensive instincts to activate and pinch when the play calls for it, and you have a player who can, at times, bring offense too—as he proved with goals in each of his two preseason contests.

“You can see the growth he’s taken from last [year’s] camp. He worked real hard last season, and he looks a lot more comfortable out there,” said Kraken assistant coach Aaron Schneekloth of Nelson. “He’s been a real good bright spot for us at camp.”

Stock up: David Goyette

Goyette was always noticeable at camp, flying to the puck on the forecheck. He plays with NHL pace and has upped his physicality to a passable level. After failing in his first effort as an offense-first player at the professional level, he has remade his game and should be commended for it.

He did well for himself in Seattle. Whether there is enough upside in this version of Goyette to climb to the NHL level or even earn regular AHL starts on a Firebirds roster is a different question. His skill impact at the AHL level is rungs below J.R. Avon, who also had a very nice camp.

Stock neutral: Tyson Jugnauth

The skating and puck possession ability showed elite flashes through camp and into the preseason. And with the puck on his stick, he can connect teammates and drive offensive sequences like an NHL defenseman.

The defense remains a problem, though. Interestingly, the in-zone issues didn’t show up as much in the limited preseason sample. And, on the better side, he showed more physicality on the boards and at the net front than he has ever demonstrated before. (Channeling that physicality toward effective results is the next step.) The defensive issues showed up more in terms of getting caught out of position (without forward coverage), which directly resulted in at least three odd-man rushes against following turnovers. He also took a poor interference penalty in transition defense.

The skill is there, but Jugnauth needs to show more defensively to be playable in the NHL.

Stock down: Eduard Sale

Sale had a couple of plus possession sequences and quick passes in the preseason contest, but overall his impact remains muted. Rarely does he hit landmarks off the puck to be a dangerous secondary option off a turnover or rebound. He offers little in the way of forechecking or defense. And he doesn’t show NHL-quality possession and manipulation skills to regularly get himself open for a shot or pass. Another relatively anonymous camp can’t be anything other than a “stock down” for Sale.

Stock down: Carson Rehkopf

Rehkopf showed a bit more forechecking desire and physicality as camp went on. Perhaps this is the secondary set of skills he needs to establish his skill game.

But overall, he was only slightly more noticeable than Sale. He struggles to protect the puck, which leads him to defer possession to others, and he struggles with his consistency off the puck, both offensively and defensively. Perhaps most telling, Rehkopf did not work in a half-wall role on the power play even during Rookie Camp. His impact was more muted as a net-front player. This neutralizes his most elite trait—his shot. It’s a very big season for Rehkopf, who needs to earn an offensive role, ideally one that includes ripping one-timers on the power play.

Notes on four other Kraken players

Jake O’Brien | F | Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)

As we detailed last week, we had suspicions that O’Brien had not been operating at full health. Nonetheless, he was a participant in training camp and the team’s first preseason game, which culminated in a goal for the 19-year-old.

Jake O'Brien, take a bow! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/8h5MFBMQIv

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) September 20, 2026

On the downside, O’Brien did not come out of the game healthy. He was again ruled out day-to-day with a lower-body injury—presumably the same one that hampered him over the summer. He was back on the ice, skating separately in a red “no contact” jersey today, Friday, Sep. 25.

I was tempted to put O’Brien in the “stock down” category above due to the quiet camp outside of the preseason game, but I think it’s fairer to say it’s an “incomplete” grade given the injury. I suspect he will be reassigned to Coachella Valley camp when he is healthy enough to return to practice.

Loke Krantz | F | Linköping (SHL)

Krantz is skating with his SHL club to begin the year and has recorded his first goal.

#SeaKraken forward prospect Loke Krantz scores his first goal of the season in Linköping's Sep 22 SHL game against Brynäs. pic.twitter.com/rO73VqhHAf

— Deep Sea Hockey (@DeepSeaHockey) September 23, 2026

Logan Morrison and J.R. Avon | F | Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)

It needs to be noted that throughout camp Morrison and Avon processed the game quickly, maximized their skill, and drove play against AHL-caliber competition. They stood out positively on a consistent basis. As older players with perceived lower ceilings, the question is: Do they ever get a real NHL chance with Seattle?

Ville Ottavainen | D | Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)

Ottavainen may have been in consideration for the “stock up” category, given that he has remained with the team as the last defenseman prospect deep into camp. However, he was involved in an incident in the most recent Calgary game that puts a damper on things. Ottavainen took a bad hit from Brennan Othmann in the Sep. 20 Calgary game and then another hit from the same player in the Sep. 24 Calgary game. Even so, tackling and pummeling Othmann while he’s on the ice and not squared up for the fight was out of line.

Though Lane Lambert suggested he was OK with it, it was a suspension-worthy sequence in my opinion. As it turns out, Ottavainen escaped with only a game misconduct and a fine. If there is a silver lining, I wonder if the incident lessens interest in the player when and if he goes on waivers (if there was any such interest to begin with).

Kraken prospects data update

Ola Palme leads the Kraken organization in overall scoring with three assists in four games.

Victor Fyodorov added another goal this week and leads the organization with two so far on the season.

Kim Saarinen had a strong week, posting a .947 save percentage and 1.51 goals against average in two Liiga starts. He is fourth in Liiga in save percentage among goalies with at least five starts. He is also your Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week.

Visa Vedenpaa made his first Liiga start of the year this week. He figures to be the backup for Kärpät again this season.

Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week tracker

1: Viktor Fyodorov, Kim Saarinen, Semyon Vyzaovoi

Previewing the week ahead

Your Deep Sea Hockey Game of the Week is actually a game not on the schedule below. The Coachella Valley Firebirds play their one and only preseason game on Sunday, Sep. 27, against the Ontario Reign. The game will not be broadcast, according to Firebirds Director of Communications and play-by-play announcer Evan Pivnick. So, we’ll have to look to the Firebirds’ PR staff for any updates.

Tracking 2027 NHL Draft prospects: Jonah Neuenschwander*

Neuenschwander is a tall Swiss-born forward playing his second season at Switzerland’s top professional level, the National League. Neuenschwander brings physicality and offensive skill, including a quality shot. He’s a natural center but has experience on the wing at the professional level already. He will need to see development in his agility, edgework, and overall pace to ascend the professional ranks. In a draft with a number of older players, his March birthday puts him on the younger end of the spectrum.

Right now, Neuenschwander projects as a top-10 pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. He is the left-shot center wearing No. 19 in white in the video below.

*I can’t prove it, but I’ll tell you I spelled that correctly on my first attempt.

Recent prospect updates

September 18, 2026: Ryan Jankowski on the Kraken prospect pool