“Down on the Farm” is your weekly Seattle Kraken prospects update. In this week’s column, we have a conversation with Shad Powers of The Desert Sun about the team’s prospects with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, share scouting video and quick thoughts on Jakub Fibigr, get you injury updates, update you on all Kraken prospect performances from the week that was, and preview the week ahead for Seattle’s prospect pool. As always, if you have a prospect-related question you’d like to see featured in a future column, drop a note below or on X or BlueSky @deepseahockey. Let’s dive in.
Interview with Shad Powers
Last week we had the opportunity to talk with Shad Powers of The Desert Sun on the Sound Of Hockey Podcast about the Kraken prospects developing in Coachella Valley. In addition to covering other sports in the Coachella Valley region, Powers covers the Firebirds closely. He is regularly in attendance for Firebirds home games and a staple in the team’s media scrums. No one is covering the team as closely as Shad, so it was particularly intriguing when he shared his insights on the Kraken prospect that he thinks is closest to the NHL level and the prospect with the highest upside. Both answers should be exciting for prospect followers. Give it a listen.
Thanks, again, to Shad for talking with us. Follow him on X, formerly know as Twitter, here.
Checking in on Jakub Fibigr
The Seattle Kraken drafted defenseman Jakub Fibigr with their final pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, but he was anything but an afterthought. In the immediate wake of the draft, I noted the Czech-born Fibigr’s OHL scoring supported a much higher selection. And then Fibigr turned a few heads during Seattle’s summer camps with his skating and skill, as recounted by Alison Lukan at Sound Of Hockey Fest.
My expectations rose even higher for Fibigr when it became apparent that his junior team, the Brampton Steelheads, were “going for it” by adding fellow Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf to their roster at the beginning of the season. I figured Fibigr was in position to seize a favorable opportunity to pile up points.
Fibigr’s season hasn’t followed that script. He started very slowly in the scoring column and still trails his per-game point production from last season by a wide margin. His role has been relatively consistent in the games I’ve seen—solid second-pair minutes at even strength and power-play time—but he is third among Steelheads defensemen in points and fifth in plus-minus.
Fibigr’s skill has always outpaced his defensive instincts and execution, so it’s possible he has been attempting to emphasize progress defensively at the expense of some offense. But, when I see him, I still see aggressive and inconsistent play in the offensive zone that creates advantages for his opponent nearly as frequently as it does Brampton. And, on the defensive side, I see a skilled skater who struggles at times to create disruption with the plays he is attempting to execute.
When we spoke a few weeks back, Kraken Director of Player Development Jeff Tambellini told Sound Of Hockey that it’s not atypical for prospects to take a minor step back in the year after the draft because they put so much into the draft season. This may be what we’re seeing. And it’s clear the stick and skating skills are still there for Fibigr, who did also have a strong showing for Team Czechia at the World Junior Championship. But a long development road remains.
Firebirds lose two key pieces to injuries
Earlier this week, the Coachella Valley Firebirds announced two notable injuries: Llyeton Roed is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury, and Daniel Sprong is on the shelf day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Both were long-shots to be significant NHL contributors down the stretch, but both are important pieces for a Firebirds playoff run. The Fire and Ice Podcast recently had a long-form interview with Lleyton Roed, which you can find here.
INJURY UPDATES:
– F Lleyton Roed is out week-to-week (upper body injury)
– F Daniel Sprong is out day-to-day (lower body injury)
Author’s Note: Daniel Sprong returned to the Firebirds lineup Friday night after this post was originally published.
Notes on three Kraken prospects
Berkly Catton | F | Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
As the Kraken continue to search for a true “difference maker” at the NHL level, it’s possible that Berkly Catton will ultimately be that player. No player in junior hockey has more points than Catton since his return from the World Junior Championship on Jan. 10. Catton was riding an incredible streak of 11 consecutive multi-point games (and 18 games with at least one point) until Wednesday night when he was blanked by the Vancouver Giants. He had nine points in four games since our last update.
Justin Janicke | F | Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NCAA)
Janicke is your Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week, after scoring two goals and adding two assists in two games for the Fighting Irish last weekend. Janicke’s 13 goals this season matches his total from the previous three NCAA seasons combined. Janicke is due to graduate this year, and Seattle will only retain his exclusive rights through August. The window to sign reserve list players like Janicke to an NHL deal for next season opens on Saturday, Mar. 1. Following an impressive campaign, it’s possible the team signs him to an NHL deal, but more likely, I think, would be the Kraken and Janicke contemplating an AHL contract for next season that allows the sides at least one training camp and a full season to work together at the professional level before making further decisions.
#SeaKraken prospect Justin Janicke has six points (three goals, three assists) in his last three games.
With 31 points in 32 games for @NDHockey, Janicke has nearly doubled his previous NCAA career-best 16 points in a season, with two games remaining.pic.twitter.com/WkW9icLYbQ
Nathan Villenevue earned OHL Performer of the Night last Friday with two goals and two assists for the Sudbury Wolves. Quietly, his production has been trending upward for a while now. His 31 goals are fourth in the Kraken system, behind only Rehkopf, Catton, and Andrei Loshko. His 106 penalty minutes lead the Kraken system by a long shot, almost double the prospect with the next most time in the sin bin (Caden Price, 54 minutes).
Kraken prospects data update
Ben Meyers had two goals and an assist for the Coachella Valley Firebirds over the last seven days before getting recalled to Seattle on Thursday. Seattle needs a fourth-line center for Saturday against Vancouver, and Meyers fits the bill, but could Yanni Gourde return to the lineup (and push Meyers back to the AHL level) for next Tuesday’s contest against Minnesota?
Oscar Fisker Mølgaard’s SHL team HV71 narrowly avoided relegation last year when they beat Oskarshamn, and it looks like they’re headed back to the nerve-wracking relegation series again this season. In what’s been another tough campaign for HV71, Mølgaard is a rare bright spot, leading the team with a plus-six plus-minus.
Nikke Kokko earned his first recall to the NHL with a strong effort against the Calgary Wranglers last Saturday. While his NHL stay may be brief, and the circumstances of his NHL debut were less than ideal, there were still plenty of good vibes surrounding his story this past week.
Semyon Vyazovoy continues to climb the KHL save percentage leaderboard. His .936 save percentage is second best in that league.
2024-25 Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week tracker
Berkly Catton: 3
Clarke Caswell: 2
Tyson Jugnauth: 2
Alexis Bernier: 1
Justin Janicke: 1
Andrei Loshko: 1
Oscar Fisker Mølgaard: 1
Victor Östman: 1
Caden Price: 1
Carson Rehkopf: 1
Jani Nyman: 1
Kim Saarinen: 1
Nathan Villeneuve: 1
Ryan Winterton: 1
Semyon Vyazovoy: 1
Previewing the week ahead
Clarke Caswell and the Swift Current Broncos host Lukas Dragicevic and the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday. Rehkopf, Fibigr, and the Brampton Steelheads travel to Sudbury to take on Villenevue and the Wolves on Sunday.
Three of Seattle’s four college hockey players—Janicke, Ben MacDonald, and Zaccharya Wisdom—wrap their NCAA regular seasons with two-game sets this weekend.
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.
With the NHL Trade Deadline approaching on March 7, I wanted to review the Seattle Kraken players with expiring contracts. Three players are set to become unrestricted free agents, while three others will be restricted free agents. In this article, I will cover the UFAs, with RFAs to be discussed in a separate article coming soon.
UFAs
Yanni Gourde (age 33)
Brandon Tanev (age 33)
Josh Mahura (age 26)
During the offseason, these three players will be free to sign with any team.
RFAs
Kaapo Kakko (age 23)
Tye Kartye (age 23)
Ryker Evans (age 23)
These players could be extended, traded, or allowed to walk at the end of the season.
The Kraken are expected to be sellers at the deadline, with every rostered player potentially available if the price is right, but the pending UFAs have the highest likelihood of being moved. We’ll assess each UFA’s situation and potential paths forward.
The current $88 million salary cap will increase over the next three seasons—$95.5 million in 2025-26, $104 million in 2026-27, and $113.5 million in 2027-28—so these figures will factor into projected contract values.
The Pepper Pot – Yanni Gourde
Target: Extend for two years at $3.5 million AAV
Or
Trade for a second-round pick plus an additional pick
Gourde has been with the Kraken since their inaugural season and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay. His energetic, hard-nosed play has made him a fan favorite, but his offensive production has declined in recent years.
Yanni Gourde plays in a game against the Nashville Predators. (Photo/Brian Liesse)
Currently in the final year of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $5.16 million, Gourde is on long-term injured reserve after undergoing sports hernia surgery but is making progress toward a return that could end up aligning with the trade deadline. His skill set includes strong penalty killing and the versatility to play either center or wing, and his veteran leadership could attract interest. His injury status and drop in production (just 16 points this season) may limit his trade value, though.
A comparable return could be similar to last year’s Alex Wennberg trade (second-round pick in 2024, fourth-round pick in 2025). If he stays, Gourde will likely see a pay cut. Comparable contracts for players of similar signing age and role include:
Erik Haula – Three years at $3.15 million AAV (3.8 percent of cap)
Adam Henrique – Two years, $3 million AAV (3.4 percent of cap)
Nick Foligno – Two years, $3.8 million AAV (4.7 percent of cap)
A realistic offer for Gourde would be in the range of $3.5-$4.5 million for two to three years. In terms of cap percentage hit this represents a range of 3.4 to 4.7 percent. If the Kraken can target the lower end of that range, they should attempt to hold onto him. His leadership, versatility, and experience would be valuable, while allowing top center prospect Berkly Catton more time to continue his development.
Turbo – Brandon Tanev
Target: Trade for third-round pick
Tanev, another fan favorite from the inaugural team, is known for his high-energy, physical play and defensive contributions. The 33-year-old winger leads Kraken forwards in penalty-killing minutes per game. Offensively, he has only exceeded 30 points once in his 10-year career (35 points in 2022-23).
Brandon Tanev playing in Seattle’s first ever preseason game in Spokane. (Photo/Brian Liesse)
Given his playoff experience (46 games) and penalty-killing ability, Tanev could be an attractive depth piece for contenders. Comparable trades include:
Kyle Okposo (traded for a defense prospect and a fifth-round pick)
Pat Maroon (traded for a forward prospect and a sixth-round pick)
In terms of resigning a 33-year-old high-energy player, here are some comparable contracts:
Pat Maroon – Two years at $1 million AAV (1.2 percent of cap)
Cal Clutterbuck – Two years at $1.75 million AAV (2.1 percent of cap)
Andrew Cogliano – One year at $1 million AAV (1.2 percent of cap)
Re-signing Tanev would likely mean a contract in the $1.5-$2 million range, which is 1.6 to 2.1 percent of the cap. This is not a big cost, but the Kraken should be able to move him at the deadline and open up a fourth-line position for players like Jacob Melanson, which could be beneficial.
As much as I don’t like seeing fan favorites go, the Kraken should target trading Tanev.
Muzz – Josh Mahura
Target: Extend one year at league minimum
Mahura has been a serviceable third-pairing defenseman on a league-minimum contract ($775,000). While plus-minus is an outdated stat, it is impressive that Mahura is tied for second on the team at plus five. This is partly due to how he is selectively deployed and his sheltered 13:29 of ice time per game.
Josh Mahura battles for the puck against the Vancouver Canucks. (Photo/Brian Liesse)
There is no trade market for Mahura as an individual, but he could be included in a package deal. His playoff experience (21 games, one Stanley Cup ring) adds some value. The market for signing a 27-year-old (currently 26, but will be 27 for next season) third-pairing defensemen is minimal, with most players in that range signing near the league minimum.
A one- or two-year deal between $775,000 and $1 million would be a reasonable re-signing range. With three right-shot defensemen in Coachella Valley (Cale Fleury, Ville Ottavainen, and Ty Nelson), the Kraken may opt to give one of them a chance instead. That said, Mahura is a good candidate to keep on as the seventh defenseman and has shown ability to play on the right side as a left-shot defenseman.
Coachella Valley Firebirds UFAs
The Firebirds have 10 UFAs to deal with this offseason.
Ales Stezka
Cale Fleury
Daniel Sprong
John Hayden
Luke Henman
Brandon Biro
Ben Meyers
Gustav Olofsson
Maxime Lajoie
Nikolas Brouillard
Most on this list will not see NHL time, so I will only touch on the first three players.
Ales Stezka
Target: Let walk
With just one NHL game under his belt, it’s unclear if Stezka can handle a full-time backup role. The Kraken may give him a few more starts before the season ends to further evaluate his potential. However, with Nikke Kokko making steady strides in Coachella Valley, Seattle will likely turn to free agency or a trade for a backup goaltender. Meanwhile, Victor Ostman has been impressive with the Kansas City Mavericks in the ECHL, making it possible that Kokko and Ostman could share the crease in Coachella Valley next season. It is also possible that the Kraken sign 22-year-old Russian goalie prospect Semyon Vyazovoy and bring him over to the AHL.
Cale Fleury
Target: Extend for one year at $800K (one-way)
Fleury is set to become a Group 6 UFA unless he plays 10 more NHL games this season. The Kraken’s cap constraints have limited his opportunities, but with a potential opening on the right side of the third pairing, he could still have a path to sticking around. A contract in the range of his current $800K one-way deal seems reasonable.
One wrinkle is that Fleury will lose his veteran-exempt status in the AHL, meaning the Firebirds would need to move on from another veteran player to keep him. However, with 10 UFAs on the roster, this shouldn’t be a major hurdle.
Ding Dong – Daniel Sprong
Target: Let walk
Despite averaging over a point per game in the AHL (19 points in 16 games), Sprong has not been recalled. Having cleared waivers, his trade market is virtually nonexistent. The Kraken appear to have no plans for him on the NHL roster.
Ales Stezka
Cale Fleury
Daniel Sprong
A few decisions to make
Compared to last season, when the Kraken had seven UFAs on expiring contracts, this year’s list is more manageable with only three. The likely departures of Gourde and Tanev present an opportunity for the team to get younger.
Seattle is expected to be active at the deadline. General manager Ron Francis could explore multi-player deals, where UFAs, prospects, and/or players with term left on their current deals are packaged together. With the current season’s results, any player should be on the table if the price is right. The next couple weeks could be exciting as we get glimpses into next season’s roster.
What are your thoughts on which UFAs should be extended or traded? What do you think about the expected returns? Leave your comments below!
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.
The Seattle Kraken have played three games since returning from a lengthy hiatus that came while the world was transfixed on the highly successful 4 Nations Face-Off. In those three games, they have gone1-2-0 with a 2-1 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday, a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, and a 7-2 embarrassment against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
The vibes remain not great.
While the team seems to be returning to good health, its prospects of making the playoffs haven’t changed; Seattle is 10 points outside of the postseason bubble and has five teams to jump over to get back in, so—barring the most miraculous run in NHL history—it will not be playing meaningful hockey the rest of the way.
A quirk in scheduling means that soon after the long break, the Kraken now have another unusual three-day layoff before welcoming the Vancouver Canucks to Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday for their first home game since a 3-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs way back on Feb. 6.
With the light schedule and the NHL Trade Deadline fast approaching, this felt like a good time to take stock and understand the state of the Seattle Kraken franchise.
Team getting healthier
On Saturday, captain and veteran winger Jordan Eberle played his first game since suffering a major pelvis injury after a hard slam into the end wall during a 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 14. His recovery was remarkable, considering the type of injury and the surgery that was required; the organization had given an accurate timeline for his rehab, but we at Sound Of Hockey were still pleasantly surprised that he was able to play again this season.
So far, coach Dan Bylsma has been easing Eberle back in with mostly a fourth-line role, but he did get up to 17:06 of ice time Tuesday. Look for Eberle to move back up the lineup to a more suitable spot in the coming games.
Young puck-moving defenseman Ryker Evans also returned Saturday from an upper-body injury that had held him out of the lineup since Jan. 28.
Brandon Montour had left Seattle’s 3-2 comeback overtime win against the Calgary Flames on Feb. 8 with an upper-body injury. Thankfully, the 4 Nations break was all he needed, as he was back in the lineup Saturday to face his old team and receive a warm welcome back from the Florida faithful. Montour has played north of 20 minutes per night the last three games, so he seems to be just fine.
That leaves only Yanni Gourde as the lone Kraken player currently unable to play due to injury. Gourde had surgery to repair a sports hernia at the end of January. The veteran pesky forward has not played since Jan. 2 but is making progress and participated in morning skate Tuesday in St. Louis wearing a red non-contact jersey. Seattle sent center Mitchell Stephens back to Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League on Wednesday morning, so that *could* be a sign that Gourde is getting close. If he were to return this weekend, though, he would be doing so well ahead of the original five-to-seven-week timeline that was set by the team, so we shall see…
If Gourde can return ahead of the deadline and get a couple games in, that would surely help his value, should Seattle decide to trade him.
Turmoil settling down
During an up-and-down road trip in mid-January, much ado was made over Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke showing up in Buffalo, apparently just to spark some life into the struggling club. The way it was reported by national media created upheaval and briefly gave the appearance that major changes to the front office or coaching staff could be incoming.
More than a month later, no such changes have been made, and we have seen no indication that anything like that is imminent. These topics will surely crop up again after the season, when the Kraken will have missed the playoffs for the third time in four years, but things appear stable for now.
Backup goalie intrigue
One of the larger headlines to come out of this season was $5.9 million veteran goaltender Philipp Grubauer being placed on waivers and sent to Coachella Valley after he posted a 5-15-1 record with a 3.83 goals against average and .866 save percentage, the worst numbers of his career, in 21 starts at the NHL level.
Since joining the Firebirds, Grubauer is 4-1-0 with a 2.59 goals against average and .904 save percentage against lesser competition.
When the Kraken waived Grubauer, Bylsma indicated that spending the 4 Nations break in the AHL would be a good opportunity for the 33-year-old to get lots of playing time and hopefully find his game. While his numbers have been better in the desert, the Kraken are so far remaining steadfast in their approach to the backup goalie position, leaving Grubauer to continue working through his struggles.
In Grubauer’s stead, Ales Stezka served as backup to Joey Daccord, while Seattle’s bona fide starter played every game after Grubi allowed five goals on 22 shots in a 6-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 28. With the Kraken on a back-to-back over the weekend, the 28-year-old Stezka finally made his NHL debut Sunday in Tampa. He stopped 20 of 23 shots, but that was apparently enough of a look for now; the Czech netminder was returned to Coachella Valley on Monday.
Remarkably, Nikke Kokko was recalled that same day and relieved Daccord in St. Louis on Tuesday after Joey got hung out to dry and allowed five goals. Kokko only faced six shots in the second half of the game and allowed two goals, one an easy backdoor tap-in and one a screen-and-tip with Zack Bolduc left alone in front.
Kokko’s recall is notable because goalies historically take much longer to develop than skaters, and at 20 years old, he is way ahead of schedule. It’s unclear if he will get a start during this… cup of cocoa (I’ll show myself out)… or if more musical chairs will be played in the coming days and weeks. But the young Finn has earned this opportunity to at least spend time with the big club with his stellar stats in the AHL, where he has gone 15-4-1 with a 2.44 goals against average and .909 save percentage and clearly earned the confidence of his teammates and coaches.
While the future is bright for young Kokko, questions remain about how the Kraken front office will manage its goal crease for the foreseeable future. Daccord is locked up for the next five years as the No. 1, and Grubauer has two years left on his lucrative deal.
While I do think Grubauer will return to Seattle at some point down the stretch, I still think a buyout at the end of the season is the most likely resolution of his tenure with the organization. I also don’t think Stezka is viewed as a viable NHL backup candidate for next season, and while Kokko has dazzled in the AHL, I highly doubt Seattle will want him sitting on the bench behind Joey for long stretches. So, there may be some movement at the position over the offseason.
Trade deadline looming
I’ve already written about the upcoming NHL Trade Deadline, which falls on March 7, and my sentiments haven’t changed dramatically since that article. The Kraken still appear to be active sellers and should still be listening on all offers. There are certain players on the team that they should only part with if the return knocks Ron Francis’ socks off, but there should be no player that is truly “off limits.”
As mentioned in the previous Trade Deadline article, my own personal hope is that trades made by the Kraken this time around are not solely for draft capital, unless the return is a pick high enough that it can yield a potential star. My hope for this deadline is that Francis and his staff use it as an opportunity to shake up the aging core and continue trending toward relatively young players that can help now.
Darren Brown
Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email darren@soundofhockey.com.
Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email darren@soundofhockey.com.
“Down on the Farm” is your weekly update on all things Seattle Kraken prospects. This week we’ll stack Seattle’s prospect pool, provide an update and scouting video on Ollie Josephson, get you data from the last week, and preview the week ahead. As always, if you have a 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 dig in.
During this pause in the NHL schedule, we have a moment for reflection, and one thing we wanted to do was get you a mid-season Seattle Kraken prospect pool ranking.
Two caveats up front. First, we approach this project with a heaping helping of humility. While we do our best to be informed and watch as much as we can, personally I haven’t viewed any non-Firebirds or WHL prospect more than a handful of times this season. (And, right now, I’m deep into my pre-draft video work, so that leaves even less time.)
Second, a “ranking” of prospects already in the system is inherently a bit trifling. Unlike pre-draft prospect rankings where the difference between the No. 4 and No. 6 player could make a real-world difference, what’s the consequence once the player is in the organization already? In reality, the question is whether an individual player is meeting or exceeding a development trajectory. Prospect rankings are fun, and the goal is to reveal information about the progress of the players, but they are just a conversation starter.
With that said, I approached this ranking focused on a player’s projected NHL contributions. My approach gave some consideration to a player’s “ceiling,” “floor,” and timeline, but I resolved close cases by asking which of two players I’d rather have if I could only have one and my only goal was NHL team success. I tried to avoid thinking about the current state of the Kraken roster and instead focus on the merit of the player.
Here is your Deep Sea Hockey Top-22 Kraken prospects. I’ll follow with a few reactions from other writers here at Sound Of Hockey, and then some concluding thoughts of my own.
John Barr: “As much as I love Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, I don’t think we know enough about him to put him that high on the list. He still needs to play on North American ice and will need to contribute more offensively if we are going to rank him No. 2. Carson Rehkopf has questions as well, but he has showcased the ability to score and would likely be more valuable than a shutdown center.”
Darren Brown: “I’d put Eduard Sale higher as well. Such a weird development curve for him, but he’s shown he can be an effective pro.”
Blaiz Grubic: “Names that jump out to me as low: Lleyton Roed, Tyson Jugnauth, Jacob Melanson. Names that seem a little too high: Ryan Winterton, Julius Miettienen. Definitely seems like the rankings favor age.”
John touched on the individual ranking that had me going back-and-forth the most. For me, Berkly Catton was clearly the No. 1 prospect in the system and Nyman was solidly No. 4. Conversely, I found it difficult to situate Mølgaard and Rehkopf between No. 2 and No. 3. So, they’re a similar grade or tier for me. This marks a rise for Mølgaard from my pre-season ranking.
Rehkopf has the higher ceiling, I’d say, as a top-notch scoring wing, but that value is largely tied to an elite shot. The depth of his skillset hasn’t filled out much. That’s a bit hard to do in the OHL where he can win consistently with what he’s got. He needs the challenge of a higher competition level, and he’ll get that next year. Mølgaard, on the other hand, has had high-level professional challenges for two-plus years now and has responded by pushing his game forward across the board incrementally.
I find it hard to imagine a future in which Mølgaard is not a productive third-line NHL center within a few years. He could be more than that too, but is unlikely to reach Rehkopf’s peak value. Rehkopf, on the other hand, could struggle to find consistent NHL time if his elite traits don’t fully translate.
If you were to flip them in this ranking, I wouldn’t argue with you much. And I’d imagine virtually all other rankings you could find would have Rehkopf above Mølgaard (and perhaps significantly so). So, this ranking is offered as a market correction (or conversation starter), if nothing else.
Eduard Sale is another interesting one, noted by Darren. I’ve gone through stretches with him this season where I believe his off-puck play has turned a corner and he has learned where he needs to be in the offensive and defensive zones to find success. In other viewings, I have struggled to notice him at all. He had a strong World Junior Championship and his early run at Coachella Valley was heartening. I’d like to see him reassert himself with a solid finish to the season if I’m going to put him above consistent, hard-working, high-floor players like Winterton and Miettinen.
Blaiz noted a few names that he thought were too low and I like all of them, particularly Roed and Jugnauth, so it’s hard to argue. I explained my high regard for Winterton a couple weeks ago. Miettinen really impressed me as a depth piece at the World Juniors. It’s easy enough to see a professional role for him that I couldn’t justify moving him too much lower on the list.
Regarding the defensemen in the system, I think Jugnauth and Lukas Dragicevic are in a similar tier. Dragicevic is younger and longer, with arguably some superior physical traits. Jugnauth is more advanced, detailed, and dominant offensively in the WHL this season. Still, I’d take Caden Price over both of them, despite a recent scoring drought, due to a superior defensive profile (if not realized production) to go along with offensive skills. That said, there are significant questions about Price’s projection too, which is why my top defenseman comes in at No. 9 in the system.
Finally, on the goalies, we have documented (and run out of adjectives to describe) the dominance of Kim Saarinen and Semyon Vayzovoy in their respective European pro leagues. The inherent variability of the position is the only thing keeping them this low in the ranking. These two have taken perhaps the biggest production leaps in the system this season (Jugnauth also comes to mind). Yet, Nikke Kokko’s solid early work on the closest rung to the NHL convinced me to keep him as the top goalie in the system. Even though none are receiving national prospect attention, this goalie group is quite strong, in my opinion.
Let’s get quizzical
Catton’s 1.98 points-per-game pace is the eighth-best single season pace in the WHL in the last 20 years. Two of the players above him on the list are also in the Kraken organization. Who are they?
Notes on three Kraken prospects
Ollie Josephson | F | Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
2024 fourth-round pick Ollie Josephson missed about a month of the WHL season from the end December through the end of January with an apparent injury. The Red Deer Rebels captain was back into the lineup last week and got back into the scoring column this week, with two points in four games. His point production has never lit up the WHL, but he plays fast, is strong fore-checking and back-checking, and plays all situations for Red Deer. He projects as a bottom-six role player. Check out his shifts from Red Deer’s October 5, 2024, game against Calgary below, in which he had a goal and two assists.
Jani Nyman | F | Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)
Nyman has points in five straight games for the Firebirds (totaling three goals, three assists, and a +3 plus-minus during that stretch). He now has 19 goals in the AHL this season, which is most among AHL rookies, third among AHL players age 23 or younger, and 11th in the AHL overall. After a transition period at the end of last year and to begin this season, Nyman has been finding space to use his elite shot with regularity. There are still skating, puck possession, and defensive aspects of his game that need more time, but his carrying trait is working just one level below the NHL.
Carson Rehkopf | F | Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
Last Friday saw two notable offensive explosions from top Kraken prospects. Catton tallied four goals and an assist, while Rehkopf scored three goals and added three assists. We recognized Catton as last week’s Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week so it seems only appropriate that Rehkopf pick up the award for this week. While his other games were a bit quieter, Friday’s performance alone earned it.
Pre-season standout Nathan Villeneuve’s scoring has been trending upward of late. He had four goals and an assist in three OHL games this past week.
Answering our “let’s get quizzical” prompt, Catton’s current 1.98 points-per-game pace was topped by Kraken teammates Jagger Firkus (last season) and Oliver Bjorkstrand (in 2014-15).
Semyon Vyazovoy remained in the VHL (Russia’s second-level pro league) for the second straight week. He did all he could to prove he didn’t belong there and should be back in the KHL by posting a shutout in is his only start.
Victor Östman is currently on the NHL roster after the team sent Ales Stezka to the AHL as part of some pre-Four Nations break maneuvering. NHL rules require NHL teams to carry two goalies at any given time and Östman was the choice to fill the second spot over the break. He has carried the heaviest workload among Kraken goalies in the minors and performed well for the Mavericks. So, he earns a well-deserved vacation (and at an NHL salary, no less). I’d expect him to be returned to the ECHL by the time NHL players return to practice on Feb. 18.
2024-25 Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week tracker
Berkly Catton: 3
Clarke Caswell: 2
Tyson Jugnauth: 2
Alexis Bernier: 1
Andrei Loshko: 1
Oscar Fisker Mølgaard: 1
Victor Östman: 1
Caden Price: 1
Carson Rehkopf: 1
Kim Saarinen: 1
Nathan Villeneuve: 1
Ryan Winterton: 1
Semyon Vyazovoy: 1
Previewing the week ahead
Tyson Jugnauth and the Portland Winterhawks are slated to be in Seattle (ahem, Kent) Saturday when they clash with the Thunderbirds at 6:05 pm PT.
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.
This article has been updated twice since the original post with mid-season information. Scroll down the story to see the original info and the prior month update.
Mid-February update
With the 4 Nations Face-Off break and a relatively quiet period underway in the hockey world, we took the opportunity to review the NHL’s attendance figures across the league. As a reminder, the attendance figures are reported attendance by the teams, which tends to be defined as “tickets distributed.” It is not a perfect measure of attendance but is the only metric that is publicly shared.
The average attendance league-wide has slightly increased from 17,443 to 17,448 since our last update a month ago, with the numbers holding at their highest since the 2012-13 season.
As is typical, most NHL teams tend to see higher attendance in the second half of the season compared to the first, so this uptick is not unexpected.
The Kings and Penguins continue to experience soft attendance numbers, with the largest declines in the NHL season-over-season. Pittsburgh’s low numbers are likely due to missing the playoffs last season and a current season that appears to be heading in the same direction.
The Kings’ low attendance numbers are partially attributed to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires that impacted the area.”
Recent changes in attendance
Isolating the data from Jan. 1 to Feb. 10 provides a snapshot of more recent attendance trends, highlighting teams with recent successes and declines.
Some quick thoughts:
Florida and Washington continue their upward trends. Winning streaks tend to attract more fans, and a strong on-ice performance is often reflected in attendance numbers. Alex Ovechkin closing in on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record and, in the Panthers’ case, winning the Stanley Cup last season certainly don’t hurt.
Winnipeg’s growth has slowed since the last update, primarily due to a lower baseline attendance at the start of the 2023-24 season. While the Jets are not selling out games, their average attendance during this period last season was higher, making it more challenging to achieve significant gains.
Detroit’s attendance has shifted from a 2.7 percent increase in the last update to a 1.4 percent decline. However, considering the team’s coaching change and turnaround occurred in late December, it’s possible that attendance will rebound over the final stretch of the season, as on-ice performance and attendance often lag behind each other.
Columbus experienced three games with unusually low attendance in January. Weather challenges and the distraction of Ohio State’s football success may have contributed to these lower numbers.
Month-by-month view
Here’s a breakdown of each team’s attendance by month for the current season.
As always, feel free to reach out with any questions, insights, or observations about the attendance figures.
This section was originally posted on Jan 10.
Early January update
The NHL has just passed the midpoint of the 2024-25 season, making it a great time to check in on attendance across the league. Overall, the NHL continues to experience growth in attendance, with numbers increasing since the last check-in at the quarter mark. As of Jan. 10, the league-wide average attendance stands at 17,443—its highest average at this point in the season since 2012-13.
On a team-by-team basis, here’s how each team’s attendance has changed compared to last season through the same number of games.
A few notable changes have occurred since the Quarter 1 check-in.
Winnipeg continues to see the largest percentage increase in attendance, though the growth has tapered from 15.9 percent at the quarter mark to 11.4 percent. While attendance has risen since the first quarter, the smaller percentage increase reflects higher attendance during the second quarter of last season, which limits the possible year-over-year growth.
Chicago has experienced a recent surge in attendance. The Blackhawks now hold the second-highest season-over-season increase. At the quarter mark, they were down 1.4 percent, but they have rebounded to a +5.0 percent increase.
Minnesota and St. Louis remain down season-over-season, but both teams have narrowed their declines compared to November. If this trend continues, they could see positive attendance growth by the end of the season.
Columbus has seen attendance gains compared to last season and is now unexpectedly in a playoff spot. The team is playing exciting hockey, bolstered by a strong home record of 14-5-3, which has given fans plenty to cheer about. Their attendance will be worth watching as the season progresses.
Here’s a quarterly breakdown of each team and the changes between quarters.
Let me know if you have any questions and/or theories on any of the changes we are seeing to date.
This section was originally posted on Nov. 19.
First quarter report
As the US Thanksgiving holiday nears, and the NHL season reaches its traditional early benchmark point, it’s an ideal moment to take stock of attendance across the league for the 2024-25 season. Before diving in, I want to provide a couple of disclaimers; attendance figures are based on team-reported numbers, which are defined as tickets distributed, not necessarily the actual number of people in the building. Additionally, the intent here is not to shame any team or fan base. Many factors influence attendance, including team performance, ticket prices, day of the week, and even weather.
Having examined attendance trends for years, I’ve observed that most teams experience some cyclical patterns, and all teams are capable of strong attendance. For context, at one point, the “Phoenix” Coyotes had stronger attendance than the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins, just to name a few.
Let’s get into it.
Average league attendance
The league’s average attendance through this point in the season is up 1.5 percent compared to last season, now sitting at 17,225. This marks the highest average attendance for this stage of the season since 2016-17. Much of this growth is driven by the Arizona Coyotes’ move to Utah. Last season, the Coyotes played at Arizona State’s 4,600-capacity Mullett Arena. This season, the Utah Hockey Club is playing at the 11,131-capacity Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
Other growth areas include Winnipeg, Detroit, and Florida. Here is the attendance change by team compared to the same number of games last season:
With a two-season playoff drought, it’s not surprising to see the Penguins losing fans in attendance. However, I’m a bit surprised to see declines for the Kings and Islanders, especially since both teams made the playoffs last season. Perhaps the novelty of the new arena on Long Island is wearing off.
Sellouts
I’ve noted before that the NHL’s growth in attendance is constrained by the high number of sellouts. Historically, about 50 percent of NHL games sell out. This season, that figure has risen to 62 percent, the second-highest amount ever at this point in the season.
The increase in sellouts is a positive signal for the league’s overall health. Here’s the number of sellouts broken down by team.
It’s somewhat surprising that the Philadelphia Flyers haven’t had a single sellout so far this season. However, they also had no sellouts in their first 15 games last season. Given that they haven’t made the playoffs in four seasons, perhaps this isn’t entirely unexpected.
Game-by-game NHL attendance trends
Here’s a detailed look at each team and how this season compares to the same point last season:
Notable observations
The Kings’ attendance dip appears to be limited to Games 2 and 3 of the season, so we might expect a recovery as the year progresses.
With the Winnipeg Jets’ strong start, their attendance growth seems likely to hold steady.
Although the data doesn’t clearly reflect it yet, the Sharks have significant potential for attendance growth as fans may flock to see Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.
The Penguins’ rough start could lead to further declines in attendance as the season progresses.
After not selling out Games 2 through 8, the Washington Capitals have sold-out their last two games.
Seasonality note
It’s also worth mentioning that October and November typically see the lowest attendance numbers of the season, so we should expect some increases as the season rolls on.
This analysis is relatively simple and doesn’t account for many contextual factors (e.g., ticket pricing, competing sporting events, or entertainment options). If you have any questions or insights into what might be driving attendance trends, feel free to share!
The Kraken ended the week on a high note, sending us into the 4 Nations Face-Off break with a thrilling come-from-behind win against the Calgary Flames. That game marked the seventh time this season the Kraken have erased a two-goal deficit to win—a feat they accomplished more times this season than in the previous three seasons combined—and they still have 25 games remaining.
In my opinion, the Seattle Kraken’s ability to never quit is what makes this team so enjoyable to watch, but it’s also part of the frustration. They can compete with any opponent for stretches of a game, giving us glimpses of their potential.
Coincidentally, the Kraken nearly pulled off another two-goal comeback earlier in the week against Detroit at Climate Pledge Arena. They scored twice in the final 10 minutes of regulation to force overtime but eventually lost in a shootout. Despite the loss, it was an exciting game to watch. Both Shane Wright and Matty Beniers found the back of the net, while Chandler Stephenson tied the game with his 10th goal of the season with under three minutes left in regulation. On Saturday in Calgary, Wright also had a goal and an assist to lead the comeback charge, and Beniers had the game-winner in OT.
Sandwiched between the shootout loss to Detroit and the overtime win in Calgary was a lackluster effort against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It wasn’t the Kraken’s best game, but they didn’t mail it in either. They trailed 3-0 midway through the second period but got an early third-period goal to make things interesting. Toronto is a talented team with high-end players, and even though their “big four” didn’t score, their presence was felt as they controlled most of the play.
If you had told me heading into the week that the Kraken would take three points from three quality opponents, I would have been happy—and I am. This team continues to compete, and with Shane, Matty, and Kaapo Kakko, I’m still fully engaged as we head down the stretch.
The Kaapo Kakko impact
As everyone should know by now, Kaapo Kakko has been on a resurgence since his trade to the Kraken in mid-December. I’ve previously highlighted the production difference between his time in Seattle versus New York this season, but here’s a quick summary:
The numbers are even more striking when isolating the last 20 games. There’s no doubt he’s been a bright spot over the past six weeks. The Kakko-Beniers-Jaden Schwartz line has been clicking, so let’s take a look at Kakko’s impact on their numbers as well.
Matty’s points-per-game average has risen slightly from 0.515 to 0.583, but his goal production has more than doubled in nine fewer games played. If you extrapolate his nine-goal pace over 24 games across a full season, it projects to a 30-goal pace for Matty.
Shane Wright is staying hot
Another bright spot in recent months has been the emergence of Shane Wright. With two more points on Saturday night, he now sits at exactly a point per game over his last 10 outings. Since being a healthy scratch back in November, he has steadily produced, never dipping below a .5-point-per-game average over any 10-game span.
Between Kakko, Beniers, and Wright, you can see a young core starting to take shape—one that should give fans plenty to be excited about for the rest of the season.
Other Musings
Saturday’s game against Calgary was the 35th time this season the Kraken allowed the first goal. They continue to lead the league in that category.
I’m starting to warm up to the idea of the Kraken extending Yanni Gourde. The team needs a center next season, and Yanni has been a great leader since the inaugural season. It doesn’t need to be a “team-friendly” deal—just a fair one. As with any veteran contract, the term will be the tricky part.
Since Yanni went down with an injury, the Kraken’s penalty kill is just 64.3 percent. It was 77.8 percent before his injury.
Shane played 1:26 in overtime against Detroit last Tuesday—the most OT ice time he’s had all season. He was sitting on two goals at the time, so I wonder if it was an attempt to get him a hat trick or part of a new overtime strategy.
On Saturday, Shane and Matty both scored in the same game for the fourth time in their careers. The Kraken have won three of those four games, with the only loss coming in the shootout against Detroit.
I continue to wonder about Kaapo Kakko’s next contract.
Philipp Grubauer is 2-0 with a .933 save percentage in his first two starts with the Coachella Valley Firebirds since being reassigned.
This entire play was a thing of beauty—and it was even better to witness in person last Tuesday.
#SeaKraken make it interesting. A Tanev stretch pass connects with Stephenson who goes across the goal mouth unencumbered to make it 4-4 with just under three to play
Berkly Catton (SPO/SEA) – A regular in this section, Catton posted eight points in two games this past weekend, including a four-goal game against the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Carson Rehkopf (BRA/SEA) – Another frequent mention, Rehkopf, the Kraken’s 2023 second-round pick, had a six-point night against the Erie Otters. “Razor” remains one of my favorite prospects because he can score from anywhere.
Ready for a wild stat? 🤓#SeaKraken prospect Carson Rehkopf of the @OHLSteelheads scored the 10th hat-trick of his #OHL career on Friday, part of a six-point effort that brings him to 30 goals on the season! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/LNBmNQ2sbJ
Jani Nyman (CVF/SEA) – “Li’l Jani” continues to impress in his first full North American season, recording five points in his last four games. Of all the Kraken prospects, I believe he has the best chance of making the NHL roster next season. Hopefully, we get a glimpse of him at some point later this year.
The week ahead
The entire league is on break for the 4 Nations Face-Off. The Kraken won’t play again until Feb. 22, when they take on the Florida Panthers. I don’t know how many of you are excited to watch the 4 Nations Face-Off, but I certainly am—especially the USA versus Canada matchup on Saturday.
There likely won’t be a Monday Musings next week—unless your comments inspire me.
