As Kraken training camp gets into full swing, it’s a good time to also review the Coachella Valley Firebirds roster. Which new prospects are eligible to join, which veterans remain, and how will they impact the AHL’s veteran rule?
Veterans returning
The AHL is a development league, and teams are limited to five veteran players in a gameday lineup. Veterans are defined as those with more than 260 games of professional experience.
*Ian McKinnon was incorrectly included above, but has not played the required number of games to be classified with veteran status. At 27 years old, McKinnon has played 130 professional games prior to the start of the 2025-26 season.
Above are six players who fall into the veteran category and could see significant time in the AHL. However, one of these and possibly up to three players may start the season with the Kraken. Seattle currently has only 11 forwards locked into NHL roster spots, leaving one fourth-line role and as many as two healthy-scratch spots open. Most likely, either John Hayden or Mitchell Stephens makes the Kraken roster, with younger players like Jani Nyman or Berkly Catton filling the other openings.
If one veteran sticks in Seattle, the Firebirds would have five veterans to rotate while staying under the AHL limit. Ian McKinnon and Gustav Olofsson are on AHL-only contracts, so NHL time isn’t an option for them (unless Seattle wanted to elevate one of them, in which case the team could sign the player to an NHL contract).
McCormick played just 19 games last year before suffering an undisclosed injury and enters camp still on that designation. Fleury could see NHL minutes, but Seattle’s addition of Ryan Lindgren pushed him to eighth on the depth chart. NHL teams usually carry seven defensemen, although the Kraken have occasionally carried eight in past seasons. Being eighth likely means Fleury begins the season in Coachella Valley.
Prospects with AHL experience
As the Kraken enter their fifth season, their prospect pipeline continues to deepen. The Firebirds will have 11 development players with at least one full season of AHL experience:
Nyman could also join this list, but for now we’ll assume he starts the year in Seattle. Sound Of Hockey’s own Darren Brown wrote about prospects to watch, including Melanson, who may push for NHL minutes. Ottavainen is also close to NHL-ready, but Seattle’s offseason moves created a defensive logjam. Because of that, he projects as a call-up option.
Fresh faces
Adding the veteran players and experienced prospects gives Coachella Valley 11 forwards and four defensemen. That leaves one forward and two defense spots open on a typical gameday roster. The AHL has no hard roster limit, so more players can be carried over the NHL’s 23-man cap.
This year, eight new prospects could suit up in the AHL:
Tyson Jugnauth, Andrei Loshko Justin Janicke, and Oscar Fisker Mølgaard are strong candidates to be in Coachella Valley—Jugnauth and Loshko have aged out of the WHL, Janicke has finished his college career, and Mølgaard has made the jump from the Swedish Elite League (SEL). The other five are 20-year-olds still eligible to return to the CHL, though all will push for AHL roles during training camp.
Given that only four defensemen are returning from last year’s team, it’s possible all four newcomers make the Firebirds roster, though it isn’t guaranteed. With Fleury and Ottavainen ready to step into a Kraken role if a need arises, the youngsters could fill any vacancies.
Among the forwards, Janicke is unique—he’s on an AHL-only deal and could be pushed to Kansas City in the ECHL if space runs out. Players on entry-level contracts (ELC) are also eligible to play in the ECHL, but overagers (20-year-olds) remain eligible for the CHL. Typically, those players would be returned to juniors for development rather than being assigned to the ECHL.
In short, performance at training camp will dictate outcomes, but with Seattle pulling some AHL veterans up, the odds are good that most, if not all, of these players land in Coachella Valley.
What about goalies?
The veteran rule does not apply to goaltenders. With journeyman Matt Murray joining the organization and Nikke Kokko ready for a bigger role, the Firebirds appear set in net. Victor Ostman is likely to get playing time in the ECHL to continue his development.
Wrapping up:
Training camp is just beginning, and nothing is finalized. Roster battles remain, and the picture will continue to evolve. While the big question is whether any of the 20-year-old prospects are returned to their junior teams, my view is that all eight will earn spots in Coachella Valley. That sets up a deep, competitive group ready to build on last season.
Key battles to watch in training camp include whether Nyman makes the Kraken, which would leave another forward spot in Coachella Valley, and who secures the right-wing role on the fourth line between Hayden and Melanson. If Berkly Catton makes the Kraken, that could also bump a top-nine forward into that mix. Watching Seattle’s young talent take on larger roles in Coachella Valley makes the future of Kraken hockey look even brighter.
Which Firebirds player are you most excited to watch take a step forward this season?
Blaiz Grubic
Blaiz Grubic is a contributor at Sound Of Hockey. A passionate hockey fan and player for over 30 years, Blaiz grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an alumni of Washington State University (Go Cougs!). When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about hockey, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter or getting out on a golf course for a quick round. Follow @blaizg on BlueSky or X.
We’ve entered draft week across the NHL, and as fans feverishly study up on this year’s class of eligible prospects, I thought it would be fun to look back and give grades to the Seattle Kraken’s four NHL Entry Drafts to date. Grading their drafts at this point is a little like judging a cooking competition halfway through meal prep. Sure, you can see where it’s going, but there’s still plenty of time for things to come together… or fall apart.
The Kraken are only four drafts into their existence, and many of the players they’ve selected are still in college, junior hockey, or just starting to scratch the surfaces of their pro careers. Still, with a few seasons of development in the books, we can start to evaluate trends, hits, misses, and what those drafts tell us about the Kraken’s performance to date. So, keeping in mind that there’s a lot of runway left for all the players they’ve selected, here’s a look at how the Kraken’s first four NHL Entry Drafts are shaping up.
2021 NHL Entry Draft
The Kraken’s first draft year featured the fewest picks they’ve ever had in a single draft, with just the seven standard selections. Matty Beniers looked like a smash hit after his 2022-23 Calder Trophy season but has cooled off since. He’s still very young and has another season or two before we’ll know whether he’s a true first-line center or if he’ll settle into a secondary role. Beniers did show some progress after the arrival of Kaapo Kakko, and it will be interesting to see how things play out next season. A few players from that class—Wyatt Johnston, Dylan Guenther, Matthew Knies, Luke Hughes—have shown flashes, but nobody has pulled away as a bona fide superstar just yet.
Outside of the first round, Ryker Evans is showing a lot of promise. He hasn’t established himself as a high-end defenseman, but he’s only had one full NHL season. Ryan Winterton looked to be on a great trajectory in 2023-24, and while expectations were high that we’d see more of him in the NHL, he’s technically ahead of schedule. He’s already played 21 NHL games, 19 more than the next-most games played by a third-round pick from that draft.
Both Ville Ottavainen and Jacob Melanson made their NHL debuts during the 2024-25 season, each appearing in one game. Meanwhile, Semyon Vyazovoi, a longshot seventh-round goalie from Russia, is starting to look less like a longshot after a strong year in the KHL that included some big-time performances. Lastly, Justin Janicke, another seventh-rounder, signed an AHL deal with Coachella Valley. The odds are always long for players taken after Round 2, but at this point, every Kraken pick from this draft has exceeded expectations.
Overall Grade: B+ Beniers’ future as a top center remains TBD, but the overall draft class is tracking well above average, especially for the later rounds.
2022 NHL Entry Draft
The 2022 draft was a busy one for the Kraken, and the most memorable moment was Shane Wright unexpectedly falling to them at No. 4. In Wright’s first full NHL season (2024-25), he showed encouraging progression. He finished with 19 goals and 25 assists, but the real optimism comes from his growth as the season went on—averaging just 0.25 points per game in his first 20 games, and 0.66 the rest of the way. Even with hindsight, the Kraken would still take him at No. 4.
Outside of Wright, Jani Nyman was the only other player to appear in more than one NHL game, putting up three goals in 12 games late in the season. He looked the part of an NHLer, and it’d be a surprise if he doesn’t play at least 60 games next season. Jagger Firkus, Niklas Kokko, and Ty Nelson all had strong seasons with Coachella Valley and remain on solid development paths.
Folks. Jani Nyman's First NHL Goal. It's a beauty set up by the captain (his third primary helper of the game) #SeaKrakenpic.twitter.com/caLxRtKnYo
David Goyette, meanwhile, had a bit of a rollercoaster first pro season. After two 40-goal seasons in the OHL, fans hoped to see more than six goals in his AHL rookie year. That said, nothing was particularly concerning—he’s just on a learning curve.
NCAA prospects Ben MacDonald (Harvard) and Barret Hall (St. Cloud) are both producing steadily at the collegiate level.
Overall Grade: B Most picks are tracking nicely, and 2025-26 will be a telling year for this class.
2023 NHL Entry Draft
Even the most optimistic Kraken fan has to feel a little nervous about Eduard Šalé, Seattle’s first-rounder in 2023. Nobody expected him to have reached the NHL yet, but his 2023-24 OHL season was underwhelming, and while he had a strong start to his 2024-25 AHL campaign, his performance tapered off later in the season. To be fair, he was a 19-year-old in the AHL, extremely young for that league, so it’s way too early to write him off. He also was outstanding in the IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring six goals and two assists as the captain of Team Czechia, so there is still plenty of potential.
Seattle’s second- and third-rounders, however, are trending nicely. Carson Rehkopf capped a fantastic OHL career and is poised to take a big step this season. Oscar Fisker Mølgaard had another excellent year in the SHL and is coming to North America for 2025-26.
Further down the draft board, most players are developing as expected, but it’s still too early to make firm calls either way.
Overall Grade: C+ Rehkopf and Mølgaard help the grade, but concern about Šalé weighs heavily. You have to hit on first-rounders.
2024 NHL Entry Draft
Okay, yes, it’s extremely premature to assign a grade to the 2024 draft class. But we’re doing it anyway. Kraken fans have to love what they’ve seen from Berkly Catton. It’s not just the points or goal scoring—he’s showing signs of becoming a well-rounded, play-driving center who takes pride in his game at both ends of the ice. He’s done all he can do in the WHL, and since the AHL isn’t an option, most expect him in the NHL this season.
Julius Miettinen showed a ton of promise in the first half of the season with Everett, but an injury at World Juniors kept him out most of the second half. He looked good when he returned, but it would’ve been nice to see a full campaign.
One big early surprise is Nathan Villeneuve, a physical, fearless player who stood out in preseason. In fact, in four years of watching Kraken prospects in exhibition games, Villeneuve was one of the first who looked like he actually belonged.
Wow! Nathan Villeneuve with a rocket one-timer! 🚀
Bjorkstrand sets him up, and the youngster gets a pretty goal and a nice little “sheath the sword” celly. 🗡️ #SeaKraken
Further down the list, Alexis Bernier and Kim Saarinen took strong steps forward, while Oliver Josephson, Clarke Caswell, and Jakub Fibigr all had solid seasons.
Overall Grade: A- Yes, it’s early. But Catton’s play and Villeneuve’s trajectory have Kraken fans rightfully excited.
Final thoughts
Four drafts in, it’s clear the Kraken are building with patience and purpose. They’ve managed to find value in nearly every round and haven’t missed wildly on any picks, though Šalé’s trajectory will be important to monitor. The foundation is there. The real question now is how Seattle can turn its impressive group of prospects into regular NHL contributors and a contending roster in the future.
As the 2025 draft approaches, the pipeline is in a healthy spot, but the next wave needs to start arriving in full. The Kraken don’t just need young players, they need young impact players. Time will tell which names from these early drafts step into that spotlight.
After trading away Yanni Gourde, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Brandon Tanev, Ron Francis told the media that he made it more difficult for the Kraken to win games. Apparently, he didn’t tell the players, because the Kraken are probably playing their best hockey of the season right now.
The Kraken have a points percentage of .556 in the 18 games since the deadline. At the time of the deadline, they had just a .444 points percentage. In the grand scheme of things, these games don’t mean much, but it’s a reminder that the Kraken are probably better than their record would indicate.
The Kraken went a respectable 2-2-0 over the past week, with a win against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday and a thrilling shootout victory against the St. Louis Blues at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday. That was the Kraken’s fifth shootout game of the season and just their second shootout win. The first came way back on Oct. 12 against Minnesota, the second game of the season. Seattle is now 4-2-1 at home since the trade deadline and has really served up some fun games for fans at CPA lately.
Their losses this week came in the form of a 7-1 stinker to the Utah Hockey Club and a tough battle with the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights. I gave the team a pass on the Utah game. It was the second night of a back-to-back, and several players were impacted by a stomach bug going around the locker room. The Vegas loss was a tight 2-1 final, and the Kraken had a golden opportunity to tie it up late but just couldn’t get it done.
Reverse standings watch
The standings are tight around the Kraken’s current position, which will determine their lottery and draft placement. The Kraken are currently sitting 28th overall and could finish as low as 29th or as high as 24th. Per tankathon.com, if they land in 29th, they’ll have a 9.5 percent chance to win the lottery and draft first overall. Their most likely draft position would be fifth. If they climb to 24th, they’d have a five percent chance to win the lottery and would likely draft ninth.
Draft analysts are projecting a drop-off in talent after the top five this year. Given the option, it’s always better to draft high, but as we know, there are always players who should have been selected higher and top picks that don’t pan out. Don’t worry too much about it. Let the chips fall where they may.
Other musings
Saturday night’s win over the Blues marked the Kraken’s 35th win of the season, one more than they had last season.
For as well as the team has played lately, the power play has been atrocious. They’ve scored just one power-play goal in their last 24 opportunities, spread across eight games. That’s their worst stretch of the season in that regard.
Jaden Schwartz notched his 25th goal of the season on Saturday, his highest total since scoring 28 back in 2014–15. He’s been excellent for the Kraken this year. Assuming he plays on Tuesday, it’ll be his 81st game of the season, a new career high.
If you haven’t seen Darren’s piece on Mikey Eyssimont last week, go check it out. He scored another goal Saturday night. He had five goals in 57 games with Tampa Bay before being traded to Seattle, and now has four in just 19 games with the Kraken. He’s basically a more skilled Brandon Tanev, for a fraction of the cost.
Speaking of goal scoring, the Kraken will finish the season averaging around 2.96 goals per game, up 0.37 from last season. That’s the fifth-largest increase in the league. It probably says more about last year’s team than this one, but 2.96 is right around the league average.
Shane Wright scored his 19th goal of the season Saturday night. I think it’s safe to say he has exceeded expectations. Before the season, I often pointed out his ability to get shots off from inside — the high-danger area. Take a look at his goal location chart.
Shane and Matty are both sitting on 19 goals. It sure would be nice to see them each hit 20 on Tuesday.
Joey Daccord has played a ton this year, but there are still nine goalies around the league with more starts than him.
Congrats to Kraken prospects Carson Rehkopf and Nathan Villeneuve, who both played their first professional hockey games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds this past week. These are two of my favorite Kraken prospects, and I think Villeneuve has an outside shot at making the Kraken next season.
Another one of my favorite prospects, Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, scored his first AHL goal on Sunday. It was OFM’s fifth AHL game, and even in that short time span, he’s looking more comfortable as he adjusts to the smaller North American ice and the different AHL playstyle.
— Coachella Valley Firebirds (@Firebirds) April 14, 2025
Stick taps to all the staff around the Kraken Hockey Network. The production has been excellent in its first year. I’ve heard viewership numbers for Kraken games have tripled compared to when they were under ROOT. Making the games available over-the-air was a fantastic decision. Not exactly a hot take, but making the game more accessible is the best way to grow the game.
Goal of the week
This one comes from our old friend Morgan Geekie, who scored his 32nd goal of the season with this blast that defies physics:
Boston goal!
Scored by Morgan Geekie with 08:04 remaining in the 2nd period.
Joey Daccord (SEA) – I’m giving Joey a pass on the Utah game. Throw that one out, and he’s 3-1-0 with a .961 save percentage in April. Where would this team be without him?
Berkly Catton (SPO–SEA) – Two goals and 10 assists in his last three playoff games for the Spokane Chiefs.
Julius Miettinen (EVT–SEA) – The second-round pick from the 2024 NHL Draft scored the overtime game-winner Saturday night in Everett’s 3-2 victory in Game 2 of the second round of the WHL playoffs. He also had a secondary assist on the overtime winner Friday night.
The week ahead
One game remains on the Kraken schedule: Tuesday night at home against the Los Angeles Kings. It’s hard to say what kind of effort we’ll see from L.A. The Kings and Oilers are locked into a playoff matchup, but their seeding isn’t finalized. The Kings currently hold a two-point edge on the Oilers, with three games remaining for L.A. and two for Edmonton.
As luck would have it, the two teams face each other Monday night. If the Kings win in any fashion, they’ll clinch second place in the Pacific and home-ice advantage in the first round — making Tuesday’s game against the Kraken meaningless for them. But if they lose in regulation, the two teams will be tied, and that Tuesday game could determine home ice.
The game means very little for the Kraken, and plenty of people will argue that losing helps their draft odds — but you already know I don’t subscribe to that kind of chatter. Winning is still more fun than losing, and going out on a high note feels like the best way to end the year. If you were in the building Saturday night, you know how fun the environment can be at Climate Pledge when the boys put on a show. The players have shown some real compete lately, and I’d like to think that’s partly because they care about playing for the fans.
This is likely the final Monday Musings of the season. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all of you readers. I spend a lot of time putting this together, and I love doing it. It means a lot that you take the time to read and comment on the topics I explore, the theories I come up with, and the random collections of thoughts that go through my head.
Although Musings will take a break during the Kraken offseason, I’ll do my best to go deep into a few topics along the way. First up: a deep dive into Kraken scoring this season. If you have any other topics you’d like me to explore, drop a note in the comments and I’ll build a plan to dig in.
We always knew November would be a good opportunity to gain ground by accumulating points during a softer stretch of the schedule. While no game in the NHL is ever automatic, bubble playoff teams need to take advantage of matchups by banking points against weaker opponents. That’s exactly what the Seattle Kraken have done over the last week, earning six out of a possible eight points (and eight out of 10 if you include the game against Vegas last Friday).
I’m not ready to declare this team a playoff contender just yet, but the preseason forecast suggested they could be a bubble postseason team. So far, that projection seems accurate.
Their wins weren’t dominant by any means, but it was encouraging to see the Kraken handle business against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks. It wasn’t always pretty—when they fell behind by two goals to Columbus, I’ll admit I started to panic. However, the Kraken rallied and, for the third time this season, overcame a two-goal deficit to win.
The victory against the Islanders was a very different story. The Kraken struggled to generate quality scoring chances, largely due to the Islanders’ disciplined, defensively focused play. While it wasn’t a signature win, it was still a significant one, particularly against one of the better goaltenders in the NHL, Ilya Sorokin.
Ironically, the Kraken might have played their best game of the week in a 2-0 loss to the New York Rangers. Playing on back-to-back nights against one of the league’s top teams, the Kraken came out strong and went toe-to-toe with the Rangers for most of the game. It served as a good benchmark for where the team stands, and overall, they performed well.
Eberle out
In case you missed it, Jordan Eberle suffered an injury during Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks. He was able to labor off the ice, but the situation didn’t look promising, and he’s been out of the lineup ever since. Eberle is currently second on the team with six goals this season, and an extended absence leaves a significant hole in the Kraken’s lineup. November may be a softer spot in the schedule, but the team can’t afford to lose him for long.
Dan Bylsma didn’t make it sound like a long-term thing, but Sound Of Hockey did seem him on crutches at Climate Pledge Arena this weekend.
Need more contributions
The Yanni Gourde line continues to exceed expectations this season. It was especially great to see Gourde score on Saturday, even if it came in an unconventional way—catching a shot/pass from Tanev off his neck! That didn’t stop Gourde from celebrating the goal, and it’s emblematic of the line’s gritty, determined play.
This team will need more contributions across all lines if they hope to make a serious push for the playoffs. Andre Burakovsky has strung together his best stretch of games this season but has yet to find the back of the net. Since Jordan Eberle’s injury, Burakovsky has been playing alongside Matty Beniers and Jared McCann. That trio was the best line on the ice Sunday against the Rangers, controlling an impressive 88.3 percent of shot quality during their shifts.
Below is a breakdown of the shot attempts (excluding blocked shots) generated by each line in the game against the Rangers:
Burakovsky is overdue, and he’s looking increasingly confident. Expect him to break through with a goal or two in the coming week.
Other musings
The Kraken’s win against the Islanders on Saturday marked their second home Saturday victory of the season. Notably, they didn’t win any home Saturday games last season.
Joey Daccord deserves more recognition here. He’s been stellar in November, posting a 4-1-0 record with a .929 save percentage.
Even in their losses, the Kraken have been competitive. Excluding empty-net goals, 89 percent of their games have been decided by two goals or fewer—a mark tied for second in the league for the most games in that range.
Shane Wright played a season-low 8:34 in Saturday’s game against the Islanders and was a healthy scratch Sunday against the Rangers.
Coincidentally, Oliver Bjorkstrand logged his most ice time of the season on Saturday with 20:08 and followed it up with 20:46 on Sunday. Remember, he was a healthy scratch last Tuesday in Colorado.
The Coachella Valley Firebirds are on a roll, winning their last five games, including a two-game sweep of the Abbotsford Canucks.
Kraken prospect Oscar Fisker Mølgaard returned to action Thursday for HV71 in the SHL, his first game since Sept. 21. While he didn’t score in his return, he notched two assists in his second game back.
It was a bummer that former Seattle Thunderbird Nolan Allan did not suit up against the Kraken last Thursday. The defenseman, a healthy scratch that night, has played in 14 of the Blackhawks’ 18 games this season. It’s been great to see his progress.
Ryan Donato continues to impress with the Chicago Blackhawks, tallying eight goals in 17 games. It’s hard to watch anyone score against the Kraken, but was there a more classic Donato goal than that one?
Some exciting news was announced Monday that the PWHL will be making a stop in Seattle this season. The Boston Fleet will play the Montreal Victoire at Climate Pledge Arena on Sunday Jan. 5 in a neutral-site game. Tickets will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
Goal of the week
Eduard Sale is having a solid season with Coachella Valley Firebirds
Brandon Tanev (SEA) – Since last Friday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights, “Turbo” has tallied four goals and two assists in a five-game stretch. He’s having a fantastic season and consistently provides a spark when the Kraken need it most. Nikke Kokko (CV/SEA) – The Coachella Valley Firebirds’ goaltender is off to a perfect start this season, boasting a 5-0-0 record. On Friday, he stopped 20 of 21 shots in the Firebirds’ 4-1 win over the Abbotsford Canucks. Ryan Winterton (CV/SEA) – The forward contributed one goal and two assists in two games against the Abbotsford Canucks over the weekend.
The week ahead
After playing four games last week, the Kraken face a lighter schedule with just two games over the next seven days. The first is a home matchup against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday, who will likely be seeking revenge after a humiliating loss earlier this season when the Kraken scored seven goals in Nashville. The Predators haven’t lived up to preseason expectations but are coming off a 5-3 win against the Canucks. This game will serve as a solid test for the Kraken.
The second game of the week is a Saturday afternoon tilt against the Los Angeles Kings, a true benchmark matchup. If the Kraken are aiming to contend for a playoff spot, the Kings are one of the teams they may need to battle with for one of the final spots in the Western Conference. While it’s still too early to focus heavily on playoff positioning, the Kings, a playoff team last season, should offer insight into how competitive the Kraken can be moving forward. The Kings might also be without their regular starting goalie, as Darcy Kuemper was placed on injured reserve last Friday.
Earning two points this week would be sufficient, especially with a favorable schedule the following week featuring two games each against the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks.
As the NHL preseason nears its conclusion, the Coachella Valley Firebirds roster is solidifying. The offseason brought significant changes to Coachella Valley, including a new head coach and a substantial roster turnover.
The Firebirds have two preseason games scheduled against the Milwaukee Admirals, both in Independence, Missouri: Oct. 4 and 5. Their regular-season home opener is set for Oct. 11 against the Bakersfield Condors. Training camp for the Firebirds started on Sept. 30, and with some AHL players spending part of that time still with the Kraken, the training camp roster has been a mix of projected ECHL and AHL players.
New Firebirds coach, Derek Laxdal, has been hired to replace Dan Bylsma, who was promoted to head coach for the Seattle Kraken. Assistant coach Jessica Campbell also joined the Kraken, leaving a vacancy that was filled by former WHL Saskatoon Blades coach Brennan Sonne. Assistant coach Stu Bickell will remain in his role.
Laxdal brings a winning mentality, boasting 15 winning seasons in 19 years as a coach. He has championship experience as both a player and a coach. As a player, he won the Calder Cup in 1990 with the Springfield Indians. As the coach of the Edmonton Oil Kings, he won WHL championships in 2011-12 and 2013-14, with the 2014 team also raising the Memorial Cup. Laxdal’s coaching career encompasses a wide range of levels, from the CHL to the NHL.
Laxdal commented on what fans can expect to see in the upcoming season, “You’re going to see a team I think that you have seen here before that competes night in, night out, competes hard on the puck. [It’s a team] that plays hard, that has great intensity and you’re going to see a little bit more skill level coming into the organization with all these young prospects.”
Roster overhaul
The Firebirds’ significant roster turnover was largely due to the veteran rule, which I discussed in July. This has opened up opportunities for Kraken prospects. There are 14 new faces on the team roster. Here’s a projected lineup for the team.
* New Firebirds for the upcoming season
David Goyette, Jani Nyman, and Lleyton Roed joined the Firebirds at the end of last season. While they gained some experience with the team, this upcoming season will be their first full campaign with the Firebirds. Therefore, they’re considered new players for the 2024-25 season in the table above.
Firebirds youth movement
The Firebirds are undergoing a youth movement as more young players, including several Kraken draft picks, join the team. This has resulted in a roster with a significantly lower average age.
A younger forward group
The forward group projected above has an average age of 23.1 years, a decrease of one full year from last season. Eight forwards are under 23, and five of these players will either make their professional debut or play in their first full year with the AHL club.
Jagger Firkus: The 2023-24 CHL overall scoring leader with 126 points, Firkus will transition to right wing this season. His size has always been a question, but his ability to succeed in his new position and maintain his scoring prowess at the AHL level will be crucial for his development.
David Goyette: A second-round pick by the Kraken in 2022, Goyette consistently improved his scoring and capped off his junior career by winning the OHL scoring race with 117 points.
Jani Nyman: Known affectionately as “Li’l Jani” by Sound Of Hockey, Nyman is anything but small. At 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, this right winger has a powerful shot and knack for finding open ice. In Liiga, Nyman finished second overall in goals scored with 26 in 48 games. This achievement is even more impressive considering it’s the fourth-most goals scored by an under-20 player in league history.
Lleyton Roed: A speedy undrafted free agent, Roed’s performance at Bemidji State earned him a Hobey Baker Award nomination. The Kraken quickly signed him to an entry-level contract. Sound Of Hockey’s own Darren Brown recently wrote a profile on Roed.
Eduard Sale: The 2023 first-round pick spent last season in the OHL where he recorded 38 points in 49 games. Given his young age and potential, it’s logical for him to join the Firebirds, allowing the Kraken organization to directly oversee his development. Coach Bylsma has praised Sale, “Being heavy on the forecheck and using the stick and feet to get there. And he’s starting to see more [opportunities on the ice].” Sale could still be returned to the OHL, but the Firebirds are giving him a look to see if he can play at the AHL level. If he can stick, it would allow the Kraken to get more of a hands-on approach to his development.
Returning youngsters Logan Morrison, Tucker Robertson, and Jacob Melanson will aim to build on their successes from last year and take the next step in their development.
Defense corps
Only three players return from last year’s defensive corps. The Firebirds also have three defensive players under the age of 23.
Ville Ottavainen: This big, 6-foot-5 defender has developed nicely. He provided more offensive punch than expected in his first year with the Firebirds, scoring 34 points. The right-shot defenseman has looked impressive in training camp with the Kraken and scored with a rocket one-timer against the Calgary Flames on Monday. He could be the first defenseman called up by Seattle if needed this season.
Ty Nelson: At 5-foot-10, 208 pounds, the sturdy Nelson doesn’t shy away from physical play. He excels at moving the puck and contributes offensively. This will be his first season in the AHL, and watching his game translate at the professional level will be something to monitor.
Charlie Wright: An undrafted free agent who signed a one-year deal with the Firebirds, Wright served as an alternate captain for his WHL team, the Saskatoon Blades. New assistant coach and former head coach of Wright and the Blades, Brennan Sonne, commented, “He’s done everything right. He’s one of the most underrated players in the league, honestly. He’s a pro, through and through. He’s meant the world to the team, as being so steady that whole time. His growth as a player, I just think it’s incredible the way he’s been able to produce offensively while still bringing what he’s great at, which is skating and his ability to shut players down.”
With this roster, the defense is getting slightly younger, going from an average age of 25.1 to 24.8. This assumes Wright (Charlie, not Shane) remains in the AHL. If he is sent to the ECHL, either Ryan Jones or Jake McLaughlin would take the final spot, raising the average age to 25.6.
However, with Cale Fleury being waived Thursday by the Kraken for the purposes of reassigning him to Coachella Valley, the defensive picture could be a little more solidified Friday if he clears.
Goaltending
The Coachella Valley Firebirds will enter the season with Ales Stezka as their starting goaltender. Stezka is the only Firebirds goalie to see preseason action with the Seattle Kraken, appearing in two games. The backup role is less certain, but Niklas Kokko appears to be the frontrunner.
Niklas Kokko / Jessica Campbell
In Kansas City, we would expect the Mavericks to start Jack LaFontaine in goal, with Victor Ostman serving as the backup.
Influx of young talent
The Firebirds roster has experienced a surge of promising Kraken prospects this season. This influx of young talent, combined with the team’s established veterans, promises a thrilling AHL campaign. While the team may have some growing pains, watching the players’ development will be a treat for fans. Firebirds games, along with those of their ECHL affiliate, the Kansas City Mavericks, are available for streaming via subscription on FloHockey.tv.
As the Firebirds gear up for the new season, expectations are high. With a younger squad and a new head coach at the helm, the team is looking to make a strong impression. Will they be able to compete for a playoff spot? Only time will tell.
Let us know your questions and predictions for the upcoming season in the comments below. You can also follow me @blaizg on x.com.
The summer heat may still be lingering, but the start of training camp brings with it a renewed sense of excitement for Seattle Kraken fans. Among the most anticipated prospects is Shane Wright, the fourth-overall pick in the 2022 draft. While a full-time roster spot isn’t guaranteed, Wright’s performance in training camp suggests he’s on the verge of making a significant impact. A strong showing is crucial to convince the coaching staff and front office that he’s ready for the NHL.
A unique development path
Comparisons between Wright and Matty Beniers are inevitable, given their similar draft positions. Granted exceptional status, Wright joined the OHL at 15, a rare feat achieved by only nine players in CHL history. The most recent example is Landon DuPont, who recently debuted for the Everett Silvertips. However, the pandemic disrupted Wright’s development, because the OHL canceled the 2020-21 season.
This meant Wright entered the NHL entry draft with two junior seasons compared to Beniers’ three years of experience (USHL, NTDP, NCAA). At 18, Wright had effectively outgrown the OHL but was not eligible for the AHL, and with only two years of junior hockey, the NHL was just out of reach. Due to the lost year and coming up just shy of the requirement to be eligible anyway, Wright was granted an exception during the 2023-24 season to play in the AHL and has now completed four years of developmental hockey (OHL, AHL) – aligning with Beniers’ trajectory.
Rookie camp
Despite not technically being a rookie, Wright embraced the “veteran” role in rookie camp last week, exhibiting strong leadership qualities and outshining his peers.
“I’m trying to be a mentor and leader for the younger guys coming in and help them out through the process,” Wright said, demonstrating a maturity beyond his years. His dedication was evident, not only in his on-ice performance but also in his willingness to assist teammates in acclimating to the professional environment. Recognizing his exceptional skills and experience, the Kraken decided to keep Wright in Seattle for additional training rather than sending him to the LA Rookie Faceoff.
ShaneWright (Photo/Brian Liesse)
Training camp
Wright has been frequently centering a line with wingers Tye Kartye and Jordan Eberle in training camp. This trio has shown promising chemistry, building upon the connection Wright established with Eberle during his eight-game stint with the Kraken at the end of last season. The line has consistently looked impressive in camp, showcasing Wright’s ability to keep pace with and contribute offensively alongside established NHL players. This is a positive indicator of his readiness for the upcoming season.
Leading by example
Despite his young age, Wright’s leadership qualities are undeniable. Whether it’s arriving early for practice, assisting teammates with drills, or cleaning up after practice, Wright consistently goes above and beyond. His dedication to the “little things” sets him apart from his peers. When asked about his early arrival, Wright shrugged it off, stating, “I like being early and don’t like being late. I take advantage of the free ice to shoot around and warm up.” His work ethic is evident in every aspect of his game, from his on-ice performance to his commitment to team culture.
While the final score of the preseason game against the Flames was a disappointment, there were several positive takeaways, including the standout performance of the Kartye-Wright-Eberle line. The line generated a team-high 11 shots on goal, showcasing their offensive potential. Their ability to cycle the puck and create high-danger scoring chances bodes well for the upcoming season. Kartye’s high-energy play provided a spark, allowing Eberle and Wright to cycle the puck effectively and generate offensive pressure.
Coachella Valley Firebirds
Wright spent the majority of last season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. In 59 regular-season games, he tallied 47 points (22 goals, 25 assists). His production surged in the playoffs, averaging over a point per game with 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) in 12 games. This impressive performance made him the AHL’s leading scorer among 19-year-olds.
The Firebirds, a two-time Calder Cup finalist, provided Wright with valuable playoff experience. He appeared in 36 playoff games over the past two seasons, gaining firsthand knowledge of the intensity and grind of postseason hockey. Although the Firebirds fell short of winning the Calder Cup, Wright’s experience in these high-stakes games will undoubtedly benefit him at the NHL level.
Head coach Dan Bylsma
The centerman’s 103-game experience (regular season and playoffs) under the guidance of current Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma is a significant advantage. Bylsma praised Wright’s development, saying, “How he improved, how he grew and how he plays is an advantage for him. Having had that experience, I know that I believe in and trust him as a player.” Bylsma’s familiarity with Wright’s tendencies and strengths allows him to deploy him optimally. The fact that Kartye also played under Bylsma could be a contributing factor to their line placement in camp.
Dan Bylsma (Photo/Brian Liesse)
Looking the part
Based on his performance last season and his start to training camp, Wright appears NHL-ready. He seamlessly skates alongside NHL players, demonstrating a level of skill and maturity that sets him apart from other prospects. Wright’s elite skillset, coupled with his unwavering work ethic and emerging leadership qualities, position him to make a significant impact at the NHL level. As training camp progresses, Wright’s trajectory remains positive, and he’s poised to earn a permanent spot on the Kraken roster come Oct. 8.
If you have any comments or questions, please leave them below. You can find me on the X at @blaizg.
