Welcome back to “Down on the Farm,” your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. Today, we’ll get into the news that forward Jagger Firkus has been called up to the NHL and reset the organization’s depth chart on the wing following the acquisition of Matthew Wood. After that, we’ll have your Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week, along with more news, data, and video from around the system, as always.

Please note that we’ll be off next week due to Kraken-related travel. That said, 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. I’d like to do a mailbag column soon. OK, let’s dive in.

Jagger Firkus gets his first shot at NHL time

On Thursday, Nov. 5, the Seattle Kraken announced that the team was recalling forward Jagger Firkus. It’s the first NHL recall for the 2022 second-round pick. If he gets into a game, it will be his NHL debut.

In the same announcement, the Kraken said the team had placed veteran forward Curtis Douglas on injured reserve. The Kraken still have one open NHL roster spot. With the Finland trip looming, one would suspect the team will fill it. That said, the slot could be filled by a player returning from injured reserve. Both forward Jacob Melanson and defenseman Ryan Lindgren have been on the ice of late, skating in red no-contact jerseys. Though Melanson’s timeline is a little less clear, it is possible one or both could be nearing a return.

Firkus, 22, was a standout WHL player for the Moose Jaw Warriors. The “Firkus Circus” led the entire CHL in scoring in the 2023-24 season, piling up 126 points in 63 games. In the two seasons since, Firkus has achieved success in the AHL. He quickly established himself as a lineup regular and evolved into a leading offensive player over the last season-plus. Firkus’ 68 points across 75 games since the beginning of the 2025-26 season are second on the Firebirds, just behind his running mate Logan Morrison.

Getting into his game a bit, as I wrote over the summer, Firkus’s game is driven by creativity and great hands that he uses to create offense in a variety of ways. He has strong hockey sense and scanning habits that help him find soft ice, allowing him space to create quick shooting opportunities and precision passes. His shot is a significant asset, with a deceptive, quick release. His vision as both a finisher and playmaker is excellent.

His motor is strong, and he’s a willing forechecker despite his modest size (5-foot-11 and about 170 pounds). While his evolving play along the boards has improved his NHL prospects, he remains physically limited. He also runs into issues when he attempts to force plays off the rush. Big picture, if Firkus continues adding strength and refining his offensive execution, an NHL future as a scoring winger with power-play value is very much in play from my vantage.

Hear from Jagger Firkus after his first practice since getting his first call-up to the #SeaKraken. https://t.co/gMrDCBaYTj

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) November 6, 2026

To be certain, Firkus has earned every bit of this promotion, and I believe he should get a legitimate NHL shot.

That said, I have some doubts about his fit in the NHL lineup as currently constituted. Jagger Firkus does not fit as a fourth-liner. I have serious doubts that Jani Nyman can provide value as a fourth-liner either, and yet that is the only role available to Nyman at the moment.

Unless the Kraken intend to move Freddy Gaudreau back down to the fourth line and utilize Firkus in an offense-forward role (perhaps with Kaapo Kakko and Berkly Catton?), I’m dubious that Firkus will get into the lineup at all in the short term. To this point, Firkus skated as an extra with the team on Friday, Nov. 6.

One cannot help but feel that—but for his injury—Oscar Fisker Mølgaard would be a much better fit for the team’s needs at the moment. We’ll have to wait to see how it all plays out.

Resetting the winger depth chart

Following the acquisition of Matthew Wood, I figured it would make sense to reset the Kraken winger depth chart with an eye toward the future. Wood is 21 years old and under exclusive team control after this season. As a 10.2(c) restricted free agent, Wood is not eligible for arbitration or an offer sheet from another team. Given the team’s investment in the player, Wood figures to play a prominent top-nine role for the foreseeable future.

The team is also committed long term to Bobby McMann, who has five seasons left on his contract after this one, and Mackie Samoskevich, whose contract runs through the 2028-29 season. Even after Samoskevich’s contract expires, the team will still hold his restricted free agent rights.

In the shorter term, veterans Jordan Eberle and Kaapo Kakko are signed through the end of the 2027-28 season. Both will be unrestricted free agents thereafter, with Eberle likely nearing the end of his career. Regardless, that brings us to five wingers likely to be in the mix in the top nine to begin next season.

Then there is Jared McCann. It’s well documented that McCann is a free agent after this season, and the team faces a significant decision about whether to attempt to retain arguably the best player to ever pull on the deep sea blue gear. He is a question mark. If he’s back, the top nine is full. That said, even if the team does retain McCann, I suspect the Kraken may attempt to create a top-nine role next season for a young player anyway, perhaps by dealing Kakko or Eberle.

The prime candidates to step into an open position are Firkus, Nyman, and Jake O’Brien. O’Brien is a wild card for a couple of reasons. First, he has played primarily as a center throughout his young career, and, second, he has not yet played a professional game due to injury.

That said, if there is a true “first-line winger” from this group, it’s likely O’Brien. And first-line skill is exactly what this team needs—whether from O’Brien or a trade.

That puts a bit of a ticking clock on Nyman and Firkus to prove that they can play NHL minutes, whether in Seattle or elsewhere.

Notes on three more Kraken prospects

Kim Saarinen | G | HPK (Liiga)

Goalie Kim Saarinen had one Liiga start in the last week, and it was a shutout win. He turned away 25 shots in helping HPK to a 3-0 win over Tappara. That performance alone earns him Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week.

Since then, Saarinen has joined Team Finland for the Euro Hockey Tour, a four-team tournament used as a precursor to the Men’s World Championship. Saarinen did not play in Finland’s first game, but Finland has a couple more games this weekend, so it will be intriguing to see if he gets a start.

Karl Annborn | D | HV71 (SHL)

Karl Annborn, a 2025 seventh-round pick, played a season-high 13:12 for his SHL team, HV71, last Saturday. In the intervening week, he has played two games for Sweden’s U20 team at a precursor event for the World Junior Championship. It remains to be seen if Annborn has a legitimate chance of cracking Team Sweden’s roster for that marquee event, but he recorded an assist and five shots on goal in those two contests.

Ola Palme | D | Växjö Lakers HC (SHL)

Ola Palme, a 2026 sixth-round pick, had a similar week to Annborn. Following an active game for his SHL team last weekend, he played in two U20 games for Team Sweden. Like Annborn, Palme had an assist. It will be fascinating to see if one of the last spots on the Team Sweden roster comes down to a competition between the Kraken draft picks.

Kraken prospects data update

Boston College shook up its lineup a bit following an injury to Matias Vanhanen, moving Casey Mutryn up to the first line for the Eagles’ Thursday, Nov. 5, game against the University of Vermont.

Chase Reid’s seven points lead all Michigan State University defensemen and rank second-most on the team. He also leads the team with six assists.

Nikke Kokko also had a good week, and it was a close call between him and Saarinen for Prospect of the Week honors. Kokko made two starts for the Firebirds and won both games, allowing just one goal in each contest.

Kokko’s season-long numbers are still in the mediocre range, but I think it’s fair to say the team defense has not taken the step forward this season that I had hoped. Hopefully, Kokko’s strong week is a sign of improved production to come.

Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week tracker

We did it. We finally have a two-time Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week.

Two wins: Kim Saarinen

One win each: Clarke Caswell, Jagger Firkus, Viktor Fyodorov, Tyson Jugnauth, Jani Nyman, Chase Reid, Semyon Vyazovoi

Previewing the week ahead

Your Deep Sea Hockey Games of the Week are the weekend matchups featuring Ollie Josephson and the University of North Dakota, and Zaccharya Wisdom and Western Michigan University.

Recent prospect updates

October 30, 2026: Projecting Ty Nelson to the NHL

October 25, 2026: Mølgaard injured, Nyman recalled, projecting Vyazovoi to the NHL

October 16, 2026: Ty Nelson recalled, Chase Reid and Casey Mutryn make college debuts

October 9, 2026: David Goyette traded, Firebirds season begins

September 25, 2026: Post-camp Kraken prospect stock watch

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