On July 3, the Philadelphia Flyers tendered a massive five-year, $90 million offer sheet to Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson. The deal carries an $18 million average annual value (AAV) and would cost Philadelphia four first-round picks if Anaheim does not match. The Ducks have until July 10 to decide whether to match.
The more I think about that $18 million number, the more I think Philadelphia picked the right amount, because in a way, there might not be a clear winner here. Whichever team ends up with Carlsson gets a 21-year-old potential franchise center. But that team also gets a major cap challenge.
That could create opportunities for the Seattle Kraken.
Seattle is not directly involved in the offer sheet, but it has something one of the teams could need in the near future: flexibility. The Kraken have about $18.4 million in projected cap space, according to PuckPedia, and they have a full 23-player roster.
From a league perspective, this also shifts the restricted free-agent market upward. Obviously, not every RFA is suddenly going to $18 million, or even get close to touching double digits. But more teams may need to pay a premium to keep their best young players away from the offer sheet market.
The salary cap is $104 million this season and is projected to rise to $113.5 million next season and continue increasing in the years ahead. Player salaries are going to keep climbing with it.
That makes the recently inked Mackie Samoskevich contract, which looked good for the Kraken before, look even better now. Seattle signed Samoskevich for three years at $3.85 million AAV. The Kraken front office deserves credit for getting that deal done on July 1 before the Leo Carlsson offer sheet chaos began.
If Anaheim match and keep Carlsson
The most likely outcome still feels like Anaheim matching. Young franchise centers are extremely difficult to acquire, so even at an uncomfortable price, Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek likely has to match.
Since Carlsson signed the offer sheet, the Ducks also overpaid Pavel Mintyukov on a five-year contract at $7.2 million AAV, a deal made to avoid letting him also get offer sheeted. They also signed 23-year-old defenseman Tyson Hinds to a two-year deal at $900,000 annually. That leaves the Ducks with about $10.2 million in projected cap space and 22 players on their active roster.
The final major piece of business is Cutter Gauthier.
After a 41-goal, 69-point season, Gauthier has plenty of leverage. He is not offer-sheet eligible yet and does not have arbitration rights, but he remains unsigned.
Cutter Gauthier
You might wonder why Gauthier has not received an offer sheet.
The short answer: He cannot.
Gauthier is not yet classified as a Group 2 RFA. To become offer-sheet eligible, a player must meet certain professional experience requirements. For players who sign their entry-level contract at 18 or 19, that means three years of professional experience. A player who is 18 or 19 earns one professional year by playing at least 10 NHL games in a season.
Gauthier has only two years of professional experience under his belt. That gives Anaheim some protection this summer, but it does not remove the pressure. If Gauthier lands in the $13 million to $15 million range, the Ducks would be roughly $3 million to $5 million over the cap, based on their current projection.
The good news for Anaheim is that teams can exceed the cap by 10 percent during the offseason. The Ducks can sign Gauthier first and figure out the rest later, but they must be cap compliant before Opening Night.
The Ducks have players they would likely prefer to move, but several come with modified no-trade clauses and other challenges. Chris Kreider, Alex Killorn, Mikael Granlund, and Frank Vatrano all make between $4.57 million and $7 million annually, and they are all 32 or older.
That does not make them impossible to trade, but it does mean Anaheim could have a difficult time finding takers without getting creative.
Possible Anaheim trade angles
So, how does this affect the Kraken?
If the Ducks match Carlsson and still need to sign Gauthier, Seattle should at least call. Anaheim would need cap relief and may also want defensive help.
Is there a world where the Kraken could offer to take one of those veterans and send back a reasonably priced defenseman and get Anaheim to attach one of their young players? It’s a massive long shot, but what would it take to pry Beckett Sennecke out of Orange County? Hard cap decisions can make teams consider uncomfortable options. Remember, Anaheim already made the difficult choice to trade young defenseman Olen Zellweger to Buffalo to avoid having to sign him to a new contract, and now they’re looking at an even bigger conundrum.
Again, this feels unlikely, but Sennecke would be a huge boost to the Kraken, both now and in the future. He is a 20-year-old right wing coming off a 60-point rookie season, and he fits Seattle’s timeline.
Meanwhile, there’s the currently injured Troy Terry, who is a different type of target. He has been a steady 50- to 60-point player and has four years left at $7 million annually. He also has a 10-team modified no-trade clause and recently had hip surgery, so he will be out until at least November. All those factors complicate things.
Terry would bring skill and production (eventually), but the fit is also not perfect. He is not the most reliable player defensively, which could make it harder for him to fit Lane Lambert’s system.
If Philadelphia lands Carlsson
Philadelphia’s side is more straightforward but still interesting.
The Flyers have about $29.6 million in projected cap space before adding Carlsson. His $18 million cap hit would drop them to about $11.6 million. That sounds manageable, but Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale still need contracts.
If Drysdale lands around $6 million and Zegras pushes toward $7 million, Philadelphia would come up short. That overage would be easier to manage than Anaheim’s potential problem, but it would still require a move.
The Flyers could start the season with 21 players to help become cap compliant. That is not a long-term solution, but it would reduce the urgency to dump salary.
Arbitration wrinkle
Zegras and Drysdale both filed for salary arbitration. That makes them ineligible for offer sheets, but it does not guarantee team-friendly deals.
If an arbitrator awards more than $4,950,080 in a player-elected case, the team can walk away and make the player an unrestricted free agent immediately. That seems unlikely with either player, given their age and upside, though.
More likely, Philadelphia uses the summer 10 percent cushion while it works to become cap compliant. That is where the Kraken could help, but only for the right price.
Possible Philadelphia trade angles
The Flyers players I would call about are Owen Tippett, Matvei Michkov, Jamie Drysdale, and David Jiricek.
Tippett is under contract for six more years at $6.2 million annually. He plays with speed, gets the puck on net and led the Flyers with 28 goals. That is the type of player who should fit Lambert’s system. One might wonder why the Flyers could be willing to move Tippett, but there has speculation out there that Philadelphia is at least listening to calls on him for the right deal.
Michkov, Drysdale, and Jiricek are different cases.
Michkov and Jiricek are young players who are inexpensive now, being that they are on entry-level contracts. They do not help Philadelphia clear much cap space by themselves, so to create savings, one of them would need to be attached to a larger contract.
Drysdale could be a more realistic target because he needs a new deal. But if Philadelphia still values him as a long-term piece, it may prefer to move money elsewhere.
The veteran contract I would target is Rasmus Ristolainen, only if packaged with a young player.
Ristolainen is a 6-foot-5, right-shot defenseman with one year left at $5.1 million. He could slide into Seattle’s top four and would not create long-term cap risk. He also would give the Kraken another Finnish player before the Global Series in November.
The key is the sweetener. Taking Ristolainen by itself should not be the goal. Taking Ristolainen as part of a deal that lands Seattle a promising young player or a legitimate in-his-prime contributor is where it gets interesting.
Philadelphia would also be sending its next four first-round picks to Anaheim if the Ducks do not match the Carlsson offer sheet, which could make the Flyers more interested in draft capital. The Kraken have two first-round picks in 2027, including the pick acquired from Tampa Bay.
That could create a path to a larger deal. Wright could be part of that type of trade, but the return would need to be significant.
The team that misses out
The team that does not end up with Carlsson may still need a center.
That brings the Kraken into the conversation again.
As stated, I personally want Seattle to keep Wright, even though his agent has asked for him to be traded. I still think he is going to blossom, and I do not want the Kraken to give up on him before that happens. Let’s chalk last season up as a sophomore slump and look for him to take a step forward this year.
That said, if a team is looking for young centers, it should call upon the Kraken’s young center emporium. Seattle has Matty Beniers, Berkly Catton, and Shane Wright in the organization, with Jake O’Brien on the horizon.
Shane Wright has been the target of trade rumors since the middle of the 2025-26 season. (Photo/Brian Liesse)
That does not mean the Kraken should trade any of them. It means general manager Jason Botterill should listen if another team gets desperate.
Talented young centers are at a premium. The Carlsson offer sheet proves that. If another team wants to pay that premium, Seattle should at least answer the phone.
Should the Kraken use an offer sheet?
The Carlsson offer sheet also raises a natural question: Should the Kraken make one of their own?
In most cases, probably not.
The Kraken have the cap space and draft capital to explore the RFA market. But many eligible RFAs have already filed for arbitration, which prevents them from signing offer sheets. The biggest remaining names are players like Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli.
That sounds fun in theory. In practice, it is hard to see. Offer sheet compensation is based on the average annual value. In Carlsson’s case, the $18 million cap hit is well above the top compensation tier, and if Anaheim does not match, the Ducks receive four Philadelphia first-round picks. A Bedard or Fantilli offer sheet would also hit that top tier.
Philadelphia has shown why an offer sheet can be tempting and has also set the market for how much a team needs to be willing to pay to persuade a young player to sign one. Instead of hoping to win the draft lottery and land a franchise player, the Flyers tried to acquire one directly.
For Seattle, the answer should be no for now. But as the cap keeps rising, this strategy could make more sense in the future. It is hard for a non-playoff team to use this path because its draft picks are too valuable.
For a team in a wild-card spot or sitting third in its division, though, an offer sheet could become a way to improve now instead of waiting on the draft-and-develop path.
Who do you think the Kraken should target in a trade? And is an offer sheet something you want to see Seattle use in the future?
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.
A LOT has happened since the last episode, but the guys are here to bring you completely up to speed on all things Kraken. From the Jason Robertson fallout to the NHL Draft, in which Seattle appears to have gotten a great break, the guys have it all covered.
Also in this episode, No. 7 pick Chase Reid joins from Kraken Development Camp for a really fun conversation.
Plus, SOH does its best to wrap up a chaotic week around the NHL.
With the 2026 NHL Draft in the books, the Seattle Kraken have added eight more young players to the organization—five defensemen and three forwards. We’re here today to bring you scouting insights, analysis, and video on all of them.
If you want to see for yourself, though, all eight will take the ice at Kraken Community Iceplex this week for Development Camp. The sessions, which are open to the public, are as follows:
Thursday, July 2, 2026: 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m., Stucky Cup Scrimmage, Rink 1
The 2026 draft picks will be joined by other young players in the organization who have not yet established themselves at the NHL or AHL level. Forward Jake O’Brien, defenseman Blake Fiddler, and goaltender Kim Saarinen are just a few of the other prospects who will be on hand. Check out the full list here.
In general, Seattle’s 2026 draft class has received solid marks from national commentators:
That said, we’re here to talk specifics, so let’s dive into Seattle’s draft with individual snapshots. We’ll be back with longer-form breakdowns throughout the summer.
Round 1, Pick 7: Chase Reid | D | Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
The takeaway: A high-end, well-rounded defense prospect, Reid fell to the Kraken at No. 7, giving the team a new top prospect and a potential No. 1 defenseman down the road. Reid was ranked as the best blue-line prospect in the draft by eight of the 13 scouts interviewed by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic.
Scout’s view:
[Reid] escapes pressure well and can attack at openings or create them for himself. He has a great shot and is deadly in transition, with an impressive offensive sense and good vision. He has an NHL shot (wrister, catch-and-release and one-touch/timer). His defensive play has taken strides after needing to adjust in the OHL at first, though there are still times when he needs to button up and play a little firmer on both sides of the puck. And while he’s not explosive, he’s fundamentally a good skater and has impressive mobility/footwork/flow to his stride: he goes from his heels to his toes really comfortably, etc. – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic ($)
One fact to know: Played heavy minutes for Team USA at the 2026 World Juniors (top three among defensemen) at age 17/18, scoring more goals than any other draft-eligible defenseman.
One big question: Why did he fall? It could be argued that Reid lacks a defining trait, as well as NHL-ready heaviness and compete. Perhaps that’s what caused him to lose head-to-head battles in the eyes of several front offices picking in the top six. His development arc has only recently taken off as well; he was cut by Waterloo of the USHL just two seasons ago.
Video: January 29, 2026 v. Niagara IceDogs (No. 25 in white)
Looking ahead: Reid is committed to play at Michigan State University. Right now, I’d project that he’ll play there for two seasons before joining the Seattle lineup directly after his 2027-28 college season ends, with the goal of using an ELC year in that campaign.
Round 2, Pick 38: Casey Mutryn | F | U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL)
Games: 25 | Goals: 7 | Assists: 9 | PPG: 0.64 Shot: Right | Birthdate: July 5, 2008 | Height: 6’3″ | Weight: 206 Big Board: 32nd | Data Score: 34.48 (42nd)
The takeaway: Impressive athlete brings size, skating, and physicality, along with already solid (and potentially untapped) hockey skill; a high-floor player who projects to provide hard skill and puck retrieval anywhere in a lineup.
Scout’s view:
His skills are still fairly raw, but there are a lot of really solid traits that could make Mutryn a high-impact NHLer who can bring physicality to a skilled line. There’s almost an element of chaos to his game that he thrives in. Mutryn has a bit of a bull-in-a-china-shop element to his game, attacking defenders head-on and looking to punish them physically on his way to the net. Mutryn is a power forward with a lean toward playmaking, but he has a good shot and hands in tight as well. He could be a Matthew Knies-style player. – Tony Ferrari, The Hockey News
One fact to know: Captain of Team USA at the U18 World Championship in April.
One big question: Is there enough upside to go with the high floor? Mutryn has not been a prolific scorer at the junior level despite his size and athleticism advantages, raising the possibility that he could top out as a role player.
Video: January 18, 2026 v. Green Bay Gamblers (No. 12 in white)
Looking ahead: Mutryn will attend Boston College in the fall, lining up alongside his brother Teddy, a 2025 third-round pick of the Sharks. Their father played football at Boston College. A multi-year stint in college is likely.
Round 3, Pick 99: Viktor Fyodorov | F | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
Games: 13 | Goals: 1 | Assists: 3 | PPG: 0.31 Shot: L | Birthdate: Feb 21, 2008 | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 176 Big Board: 86th | Data Score: 22.59 (209th)
The takeaway: Undersized, hard-working forward whose motor runs hot when it comes to winning pucks on the forecheck and on defense; a very easy player to admire who projects as a bottom-six NHL forward if his development clicks.
Scout’s view:
Fyodorov is an intelligent playmaker who can find the second and third options on the ice and is capable of changing angles to find them. He has a real chance of being a center because of his ability to read the play, anticipate, and make the correct read with and without the puck. He has a surprising amount of physicality to his game despite his size. He finishes checks on the forecheck and closes off opponents on the cycle in the defensive zone. Fyodorov has the ability to finish plays as well; he has a good release and a willingness to get to the middle of the ice to score in tough areas. His skating and size will be the main areas that could potentially hold him back. – Zak Egan, Dobber Prospects
One fact to know: Played at Russia’s junior level (MHL) at center and at both professional levels (KHL, VHL) mostly on the wing. He was able to contribute at every level of play and at multiple positions.
One big question: With a borderline NHL skill projection, his path to the NHL may be hard-earned, along the lines of Yanni Gourde. Is he willing to toil for an uncertain NHL role in North America when a KHL future is already in front of him? Like Maxim Agafonov before him, the Kraken had the chance to meet Fyodorov at the Gold Star camp in Florida before the draft, and one wonders if they were convinced in the pre-draft process that Fyodorov will do what it takes to earn an NHL future.
Video: May 5, 2026 v. Loko Yaroslavl (No. 41 in blue)
Looking ahead: Fyodorov will return to Russia and look to earn a consistent role with his KHL team, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. He’s likely at least two years away from coming to North America.
Round 5, Pick 131: Finn Kearns | D | Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
The takeaway: Physical, defense-first defenseman with size and enough skating ability, but who spent most of his draft season at the Canadian high school level playing for the well-regarded St. Andrew’s College. He will need to take several developmental steps to climb the ladder to the NHL, particularly with the puck.
Scout’s view:
With a rare combination of mobility and physicality, it’s not hard to see the appeal with Kearns. He’s a brutally punishing player, looking for any and every opportunity to run opponents into the walls, throw reverse hits, or throw heavy crosschecks. On his best shifts, he perfectly times a big hit, wins possession, and gets it to an open teammate for a clean exit. To translate his game to higher levels, Kearns must add pace and improve his defensive skating. – Elite Prospects ($)
One fact to know: Finn Kearns was the captain of the storied St. Andrew’s College hockey team, but also a two-sport athlete (box lacrosse) this past season.
One big question: Can Kearns prove the Kraken prescient by emerging in his post-draft season? He has played only 20 junior games across two seasons and, even then, tended to be used very sparingly in a depth third-pair role. While young for the draft class, Kearns is well behind where many of his drafted peers are in their development timelines. None of the sources used to build the Sound Of Hockey Big Board had Kearns ranked.
Video: March 17, 2026 v. Brampton Steelheads (No. 2 in white)
Looking ahead: Kearns will spend the coming season playing in the OHL for the Sudbury Wolves. He should have the opportunity to assert himself in the top four and test the limits of his offensive game. He’s committed to play college hockey for the University of Massachusetts beginning with the 2027-28 season.
Round 5, Pick 148: Luken Huff | D | Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
Games: 61 | Goals: 3 | Assists: 36 | PPG: 0.64 Shot: R | Birthdate: Jan 1, 2006 | Height: 6’3″ | Weight: 198 Big Board: 607th | Data Score: 19.34 (322nd)
The takeaway: Luken Huff, who goes by “Hawke,” is a late bloomer who was selected in his third time through the draft. He has solid size and skating and upped his scoring profile in his age-20 season in the USHL.
Scout’s view:
“[Huff] was among the USHL’s biggest breakout players. His minutes more than doubled this season, and his production nearly quadrupled. He leaves the USHL as one of the league’s finest all-around defenders. . . . While Huff does a bit of everything, his best element is his physicality. He’s not a crushing open-ice hitter. Instead, his physicality appears in the aggressive wall tie-ups, ability to power through checks, and contact absorption on retrievals. Without any hesitation, he closes the space and immobilizes players along the wall. Huff is also a willing and frequent activator, jumping into the rush and off the point whenever possible. – Elite Prospects ($)
One fact to know: Born in Mazama, Washington, near North Cascades National Park, Huff is the first Washington-born player ever selected by the Kraken.
One big question: For a North American player, Huff is as old as you can be and still be eligible for the draft. (If he were born just one day earlier, he would have been ineligible. He is two weeks older than Berkly Catton.) Is there enough upside left at his relatively “advanced” age to suggest he can climb the professional ranks?
Video: February 27, 2026 v. U.S. National Team Development Program (No. 4 in green)
Looking ahead: Huff will play college hockey for the University of St. Thomas in the fall.
Round 6, Pick 166: Ola Palme | D | Växjö Lakers HC U20 (U20 Nationell)
Games: 20 | Goals: 5 | Assists: 9 | PPG: 0.7 Shot: L | Birthdate: Feb 9, 2008 | Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 201 Big Board: 118th | Data Score: 18.89 (351st)
The takeaway: Palme is a mobile European defender with strong international experience and an average set of skills across the board.
Scout’s view:
Palme was a solid defender at the junior level for Växjö. He has the length, skating and physical play required to defend against pros. Palme’s game can be vanilla at times, and despite decent point production in junior, he’s not projected to be an offense guy at higher levels. If he can bring even some puck-moving skill to the pros, he has a real chance to make an impact. – Corey Pronman, The Athletic ($)
One fact to know: Ola Palme played in 22 international games for Sweden’s U18 team during the 2025-26 season; his five points at the U18 World Championships tied first-rounder Malte Gustafsson for the most on Team Sweden.
One big question: Palme had a challenging draft season that included missing time following a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis. Can Palme keep his health on track and take a stride in his offensive skill level or defensive production that elevates his solid overall profile? He’ll need a difference-making element.
Video: February 4, 2026 vs. Czechia U18 (No. 8 in yellow)
Looking ahead: Palme is projected to play for Växjö Lakers of the SHL in 2026-27, though the possibility remains that he could see time at the U20 level or be loaned to a HockeyAllsvenskan team (similar to 2025 seventh-round pick Karl Annborn’s post-draft season).
Games: 52 | Goals: 4 | Assists: 19 | PPG: 0.44 Shot: R | Birthdate: Oct 4, 2007 | Height: 6’0″ | Weight: 187 Big Board: 259th | Data Score: 22.26 (221st)
The takeaway: Singh is a mobile defenseman and an ace in transition, but he is a bit undersized (he measured just a shade under six feet) and needs to develop his offensive skill level and defensive physicality to climb the development ladder.
Scout’s view:
For the last few seasons, Rylan Singh has been one of our favourite players in the OHL. His competitiveness, attention to detail, and defensive skills made him a full-time OHLer as a draft-minus-two. . . . Always the most engaged player on the rink, Singh outworks the opposition. He’s battling and activating every shift. Defending the rush, he wins the race to the middle, pivots, and surfs across, right through the opponent’s hands and wins the puck. Then, he stretches the ice with cross-ice passes and sprints up the middle, getting open for a return pass. . . . Overall, Singh needs to develop a standout dimension. He’s a facilitator offensively, not a creator. With possession, his ideas are often sound, though his passes are just a touch off their mark or too hard to handle. – Elite Prospects ($)
One fact to know: Singh was a standout at the 2026 Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 14, 2026, with a goal and an assist.
One big question: Similar to Palme, Singh has a nice base skill set, but can he add a more dynamic dimension that can carry him up the professional ranks? For Singh, it will likely need to come on offense, though his defensive game will need to continue to improve as well in order to be playable.
Video: March 26, 2026 vs. Windsor Spitfires (No. 4 in white)
Looking ahead: The Guelph Storm are hosting the Memorial Cup in 2027, and Singh projects to return to a bolstered Guelph lineup and play a key role in all situations.
Round 7, Pick 204: William Tomko | F | Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
Games: 59 | Goals: 24 | Assists: 36 | PPG: 1.02 Shot: R | Birthdate: Oct 17, 2006 | Height: 6’0″ | Weight: 190 Big Board: 211th | Data Score: 30.29 (71st)
The takeaway: Physical center prospect went undrafted in 2025 but brought enough two-way skill and scoring to pique interest this time around late on Day 2.
Scout’s view:
NHL teams are going to love Tomko’s physical intensity level in combination with his massive offensive improvement this year with Sioux City (USHL). He’s a freight train on the ice who makes his presence felt pretty consistently; he simply wants the puck more than other players and he is willing to play through them to make that happen. He is quite the antagonist on the ice. However, he can make things happen with the puck after earning touches, especially when he’s attacking the offensive zone with pace. He’s not going to wow you with skill, but he’s efficient. – McKeen’s($)
The fact to know: Tomko’s point-per-game production in the USHL is impressive for that league; he was 71st overall on our data-only watchlist.
One big question: Similar to Huff, Tomko is almost two years older than some players selected in this draft, which prompts us to wonder if there is enough upside on the development arc to reach higher professional ranks. A workmanlike style with flashes of skill could get him to the AHL, though.
Video: February 15, 2026 vs. Cedar Rapids (No. 28 in green)
Looking ahead: Tomko will attend Ohio State University in the fall, where he will take the ice with fellow Kraken prospect Jakub Fibigr.
* * *
What do you think of the 2026 Seattle Kraken draft class? Leave your comments or questions below, or find us on X (@deepseahockey and @sound_hockey) or Bluesky (@deepseahockey and @soundofhockey.com).
Curtis Isacke
Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.
The single biggest narrative surrounding the Seattle Kraken over their five seasons of existence has been consistently the lack of a true, elite superstar. They’ve had depth and at times had flashes of success, but they’ve never had that definitive game-breaker that can consistently get them that pivotal goal.
So, when the news broke last week that general manager Jason Botterill had the framework in place to acquire Dallas Stars phenom Jason Robertson, my immediate reaction was pure, unadulterated astonishment. The fact that the front office had a big enough deal lined up, reportedly involving the No. 7 overall pick of the 2026 Draft, to actually reel in a whale of that caliber? Stunning.
And then, almost instantly, the excitement curdled into a knot in my stomach.
The Kraken had taken their swing. The money was on the table: a massive, eight-year contract worth a whopping $15 million per season. The stage was set. And the star player just… looked at Seattle and said, “No thanks.”
It hurts. The Kraken finally had their definitive shot at a franchise cornerstone, and the door was slammed in their face. Making matters worse, the hockey world has been bashing Seattle in the aftermath, with the prevailing message being that nobody wants to play here. For those of us that live here, we know that shouldn’t be true, but it is the narrative right now.
Why turn down $15 million?
It’s easy to get defensive and spiral into the weeds trying to figure out why Robertson walked away from a life-altering bag of cash to play in the Pacific Northwest. Maybe he doesn’t like the city. Maybe the grueling travel schedule of the Pacific Division isn’t his jam. But if we strip away the emotion and look at it objectively, the reality is simple: the Kraken are not close to competing for a Stanley Cup right now.
Robertson turns 27 this July. In modern NHL years, that’s right when players hit a critical crossroads. They start to look at the bigger picture and realize they only have so many prime kicks at the can left to win a championship. At that age, an elite competitor wants to go somewhere that, at the very least, appears ready to contend immediately. Seattle isn’t there yet.
If there is any solace to be found in this whole saga, it arrived a day later. When reports surfaced that Robertson had also turned down a monster trade to the St. Louis Blues, it made the rejection a little easier to stomach. It wasn’t just a Seattle problem; it was a Robertson plan.
The dawning age of player empowerment
What we are witnessing right now isn’t just an isolated contract dispute; it’s the dawning age of player empowerment in the NHL. For years, hockey culture dictated that players fall in line and go where they’re told, but the tide has been turning. We are seeing a growing movement of stars utilizing their contractual leverage to dictate their own futures, forcing teams into trades of their liking, or flat-out refusing destinations they don’t want.
We saw the momentum building with the Brady Tkachuk trade and with Dylan Larkin trying to force his way out of Detroit. Even before that, the warning signs were there—think Brad Marchand steering his way to Florida or Mitch Marner putting his foot down and refusing a trade to Carolina. Robertson is just the latest superstar to realize exactly how much power he actually holds.
The “No No-Trade Clause”
By rejecting these pre-arranged sign-and-trade deals with both Seattle and St. Louis, Robertson is essentially executing a “no no-trade clause.” He doesn’t technically have a formal NTC in his contract yet, but by refusing to sign the necessary long-term extension required to facilitate these blockbuster returns, he has put the Dallas Stars in an absolute pickle.
Sure, Dallas could still theoretically trade his rights to whoever offers the highest bid. But without the guarantee of a contract extension in place for the acquiring team, the return coming back to Jim Nill is going to be substantially less. Robertson’s camp is driving massive leverage against the Stars right now, and this situation has all the ingredients to play out very, very messy in the Lone Star State.
As for the player himself? Look, I have always loved Jason Robertson’s game. And just like with other players across the league who have stood their ground, I respect guys for exercising the rights provided to them under the collective bargaining agreement. Business is business, and this doesn’t change my appreciation for what he does on the ice one bit.
Where do the Kraken go from here? To steal a line from the Wheel of Time: “We bury our dead and move on. What else is there?”
With the sixth pick in the second round, the Seattle Kraken selected Casey Mutryn from the U.S. National Team Development Program. Mutryn, a 6-foot-3 right-shot winger, was ranked No. 32 on the Sound Of Hockey Big Board.
Mutryn is a strong-skating, physical presence on the wing who scored 18 goals and added 28 assists for the U18 U.S. National Team in 62 regular-season games. As the captain of the United States team at the U18 World Junior Championship in April, it’s clear his impact extends off the ice and into the dressing room as well.
Corey Pronman of The Athletic had Mutryn ranked as his No. 14 overall prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft. (Notoriously, Pronman also had Chase Reid as his No. 1 prospect.) Here’s what Pronman had to say about Mutryn:
Mutryn is a hardworking, physical 6-foot-3 winger. He’s a good skater who can play at an NHL tempo and carry pucks up ice competently at the top level. His offensive game has developed more than expected. He has some puck skills and scoring touch. His pure playmaking won’t inspire, and he can play with his head down, but he sees the ice well enough and creates offense. His versatility, ability to provide secondary scoring, while also playing a hard-nosed style, checks all the boxes to play significant minutes as a pro.
Check out Mutryn’s shifts from the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Jan. 18, 2026, game against the Green Bay Gamblers. Mutryn is the right-shot forward wearing No. 12 in white.
The Massachusetts native comes from a sporting family. His father was a football player, and his brother Teddy was drafted No. 95 overall by the San Jose Sharks last season.
While previous information had Casey committed to Boston College for the 2027-28 season, Casey confirmed to Seattle-area reporters after the selection that he will, in fact, be attending Boston College starting this fall. He’ll join his brother Teddy in the Eagles’ lineup.
Get to know a little more about Mutryn here:
We’ll have much more analysis of Mutryn and each of Seattle’s other selections in the days ahead.
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In our 2026 Mock Draft, seven-round Seattle Kraken edition, I wrote this about my No. 1 “alternative” for the No. 38 overall pick: “If Casey Mutryn (Big Board No. 32) falls [to No. 38], he’s the pick for me. While the Kraken haven’t drafted a U.S. National Team Development Program player since 2021, Mutryn plays such an appealing pro-style game that it’s easy to project him into a bottom-six role, even if he doesn’t develop on the offensive side (which I think he could).”
This is another terrific selection, in my opinion. What do you think of the pick and Seattle’s draft so far? Drop your comments below or send them to us on X (@deepseahockey and @sound_hockey) or Bluesky (@deepseahockey and @soundofhockey.com).
Curtis Isacke
Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.
Welcome to the Sound Of Hockey NHL Draft Live Blog! The Seattle Kraken enter Day 2 of the NHL Draft withsix picks—barring any trades, that’s the fewest selections they’ve had in any draft in their five-year history.
We’ll be updating this post throughout the day as the Kraken make their picks. The most recent updates will appear at the top, so scroll down if you want to catch up on earlier news.
If you missed Seattle’s first-round selection of Chase Reid on Friday, you can check out our profile on him here.
Here is your 2026 Seattle Kraken draft class.
A couple takeaways:
The most defensemen drafted by the Seattle Kraken in a single draft in franchise history.
For only the second time in franchise history, the Kraken did not draft a goaltender.
The four Americans selected in the 2026 NHL Draft are the most Americans ever drafted by the Kraken in a single draft.
It’s easy to be excited about the Kraken landing Chase Reid and, to a lesser extent, Casey Mutryn. The rest of the class consists of longer-term bets that may not pan out.
1:27 PM: Draft is officially complete
1:02 PM: With their last pick in the draft, the Seattle Kraken select centerman William Tomko from Sioux City of the USHL.
12:55 PM: The Seattle Kraken draft another defenseman, Rylan Singh from Guelph Storm.
12:13 PM: Seattle Kraken select Swedish defender, Ola Palme, of the Växjö Lakers HC U20
12:06 PM: Round 5 is complete
11:52 AM: The Kraken select defenseman Luken Huff with their 148th overall selection.
Huff was born in Mazama, Washington but played his youth hockey in Minnesota. He will play D1 hockey next season for the University of St. Thomas
11:33 AM: With the 131st pick, the Seattle Kraken select defenseman Finn Kearns from St. Andrew’s College AAA team
Kearns is 6.3″ and is committed to UMASS for the 2027-28 season. He played 15 regular season games and four playoff games with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL.
11:22 AM: The 4th round is complete
10:37 AM: The Seattle Kraken trade their #102 overall to the New York Rangers for the 131 and 148 overall (both 5th round picks)
10:31 AM: The Kraken select Russian forward Viktor Fydorov with the 99th overall pick in the draft.
Fydorov is listed as a center and played all VHL, MHL, and KHL last season.
10:19 AM: Round 4 begins
10:18 AM: Round 3 is in the books.
Here is a look at all the selections.
10:03 AM: Round 3 rolls on
We promise you the draft is still rolling on but without a pick in the third round, we haven’t had much to blog….so we spun up this piece on the Seattle Kraken’s second round selection, Casey Mutryn.
9:25 AM: With the 38th overall pick, the Seattle Kraken select Casey Mutryn from the NTDP.
Mutryn is a power forward whose older brother was selected by the San Jose Sharks last season. He plans to begin his collegiate career at Boston College next season.
9:17 AM: Round 2 is in the books
Here is a look of the selections from the round:
9:00 AM: Checking in on the WHL U.S. division players selected so far
Chase Harrington from the Spokane Chiefs goes 36th overall to the Calgary Flames
Matias Vanhanen from the Everett Silvertips goes 37th overall to the New Jersey Devils
Brek Liske from the Everett Silvertips goes 53rd overall to the New Jersey Devils
8:28 AM: The Seattle Kraken select right wing Casey Mutryn from the US National Development Team
Mutryn is attending the Boston College next season.
8:00 AM: The draft has official started with round 2.
As a reminder, the timeline and success rate for second-round picks drop off dramatically from the first round.
7:30 AM: T-minus 30 minutes until the start of Day 2
We’re back for Rounds 2 through 7 of the 2026 NHL Draft!
Here are the draft picks the Seattle Kraken are starting Day 2 with. Of course, that could change throughout the day if they make any trades.
If you missed last night’s action, here are some of the biggest storylines and insights from the first round:
Chase Reid was the first American selected in the draft, going No. 7 overall.
Reid was one of seven Americans selected in the first round, the most since 2021. Five of those players came from CHL leagues, highlighting the changing landscape created by the NCAA’s updated eligibility rules.
Three Canadian-born NCAA players were selected in the first round, the most ever in a single draft: Gavin McKenna (No. 1), Keaton Verhoeff (No. 9), and Tyran Lawrence (No. 11).
Seven Swedish players were selected in the first round, the most ever for Sweden.
The OHL led all leagues with seven first-round selections. That’s down from nine in last year’s draft.
With the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Seattle Kraken selected Chase Reid, a right-shot defenseman from the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds. The pick comes as a bit of surprise because most prognosticators had projected Reid to be drafted higher. There was some speculation at various points in the process that he could go as high as No. 1 or No. 2 overall.
It’s also a historic pick for the Kraken in the sense that it’s the first time the team has selected a defenseman in the first round. Each of its previous five first-round picks was a forward.
That said, the 6-foot-3 Reid fits with the team’s historical preference for offensive firepower at the top of the draft. His offensive toolkit is well-rounded with plus skating, transition ability, passing ability, compete, and a quality shot. Chase Reid led all draft-eligible OHL defensemen in goals, points, and points per game.
At the same time, this is far from an offense-only player. In the OHL Coaches Poll, Reid was not only voted the top offensive defenseman in the OHL’s Western Conference, he was voted second-best defensive defenseman too.
What does the ideal defence prospect look like? You’d want to see a player with high-end mobility, above-average size, strong physical skills, strong stopping capabilities, elite hockey sense, playmaking, and shooting ability. No player checks off all of those boxes quite like Chase Reid. – Elite Prospects
Reid has the size, athleticism and skating ability to be a real difference maker. His hockey sense has come along, while his defending continues to improve. He’s going to need a year or two more before he can step into an NHL lineup, but his skill level and growing hockey sense lead me to believe he’s got the potential to become a reliable top-pairing defenseman and power-play leader. Reid’s slotting is much more based on projection than hard evidence, but the combination of skill, skating and size makes him difficult to pass up.
Projection: Top-Pairing Defenseman / No. 1 power play
NHL Comparable: Zach Werenski
While Peters compares Reid’s game to Werenski, others have mentioned Seth Jones. Regardless, it is clear Reid has the tools to rise to the top of the Kraken’s defensive depth chart after a few more seasons of development in college and at the AHL level.
Reid’s future plans also stand out as a positive factor. He’s committed to play for Michigan State University this upcoming season. A top NCAA program where he’ll likely assume first-unit power-play time, it’s an ideal situation for him to continue developing on and off the ice.
We’ll have much more analysis of this selection, including quotes from the team and the player, in the days ahead. In the meantime, check out Reid’s shifts from Prince Albert’s Jan. 29, 2026, game against the Niagara IceDogs below.
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This is an exciting pick for the Seattle Kraken as the team arguably walked away with the best defense prospect in this draft. He was the top defenseman on my personal board. What do you think of the pick? Drop your comments below or send them to us on X @deepseahockey and @sound_hockey or BlueSky @deepseahockey or @soundofhockey.com.
Curtis Isacke
Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.
We’ve reached the culmination of Draft Week at Sound Of Hockey. The 2026 NHL Draft is here. The first round begins at 4:00 p.m. PT on Friday, June 26 (today). Catch it on ESPN, ESPN+, or NHL Network in the United States. Rounds 2–7 begin at 9:00 a.m. PT on Saturday, June 27. Those rounds will air on NHL Network or ESPN+.
Check out all of our draft-related content leading into the 2026 NHL Draft:
Today marks our fifth annual, seven-round Seattle Kraken mock draft. I approach this exercise from the perspective of whatI would do, knowing the Kraken’s needs and draft approach to date. That said, if I believe there is daylight between what I would do and what I think the team will do, I will note that.
Mock draft “rules”
As I have done in the past, I will presume that players come off the board in the order predicted by the Sound Of Hockey Big Board. For example, if a player is slotted at No. 37 on the Big Board, I treat that player as unavailable to the Kraken with its second-round pick at No. 38. While the Big Board is far from infallible, this approach is intended to make the exercise more challenging and closer to reality. In highlighting potential “alternative” picks, I may mention a few players who could be in range if they “fall” to Seattle’s pick.
Typically, I follow a “no trades” rule. I am tempted to depart from that rule this year, given that Seattle has only one pick, No. 38, in a 91-pick stretch between its top pick, No. 7, and its first fourth-round selection, No. 99. This gap is due in part to recent wheeling and dealing, including Seattle sending pick No. 25 to the Florida Panthers for forward Mackie Samoskevich. Since draft pick trades are virtually impossible to predict, though, I will resist. Check out our draft notebook for a list of second- and third-round players that I like but believe the Kraken will not be in position to select.
Without further ado, let’s dive in. Enjoy the 2026 NHL Draft, everyone. (Think of how boring it would have been if the Kraken had traded No. 7 overall. Ahem.)
The 2026 Seattle Kraken mock draft
Round 1, Pick 7: Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Birthdate: Mar. 6, 2008 | Height: 6-foot-2.5 | Weight: 205 | Shot: Right Big Board: 9th | High rank: Ellis, Daily Faceoff (6th) | Data Score: 52.20 (8th) Games Played: 68 | Goals: 28 | Assists: 50 | PPG: 1.15
Scout’s view: “Rudolph’s hockey sense is so impressive. He doesn’t try to do more than he’s capable of and force plays for the sake of making them. Instead, he plays to his strengths, which happen to be quite a few elements. He has a booming shot, makes great breakout passes and can knock guys down. Rudolph’s two-way game is intriguing, as is his ability to get himself out of trouble consistently with and without the puck.” – Steven Ellis, DailyFaceoff
The facts to know: Rudolph had the most points (27, tied with Julius Miettinen) and assists (18) of any player in the 2026 WHL Playoffs—as a defenseman. His 78 regular-season points led all first-time draft-eligible WHL defensemen, including Carson Carels.
Analysis: Based on the Big Board, Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Chase Reid, Caleb Malhotra, Carson Carels, and Viggo Bjorck will be selected by the time the Kraken are on the clock at No. 7. That leaves Keaton Verhoeff (No. 7 on the Big Board), Alberts Smits (No. 8), and Daxon Rudolph (No. 9) as the highest-rated players on the board for Seattle. I think this is a fairly realistic scenario the team may face. I suppose it is possible Verhoeff goes in the top six leaving Bjorck available.
The Kraken have done their homework on the probable prospects in this range, both on and off the ice, including dinner interviews with Carels, Verhoeff, Rudolph, and Bjorck at the NHL Draft Combine.
Assuming a chalk top six, I think the Kraken will be picking between right-shot defensemen Verhoeff and Rudolph. Both may be farther away from being NHL-ready than Smits but have a higher offensive ceiling. This pushes them over the top for me—particularly with the Kraken front office, which has drafted for offense at the top of the first round at every opportunity to date. (That said, it should be noted that this is the first draft with AGM Ryan Jankowski on board overseeing amateur scouting, so it is possible we could see a different approach.)
The reports linking the Kraken to Verhoeff are numerous. If you asked me right now, on the morning of the draft, who I think the Kraken will select, I’d say Verhoeff.
By all reports, Verhoeff is a leader and a high-character individual off the ice. He is also young for this class, has NCAA experience, and is a player with significant scouting tailwinds. Many believed entering the season that if one player could dethrone Gavin McKenna as the projected No. 1 overall pick, it would be Verhoeff. The Kraken have often selected players with just adequate draft seasons on the strength of previous pedigree (think Shane Wright, Eduard Sale). That said, I have concerns (formed in an admittedly small sample) that gave me pause. I could be wrong and/or the issues could be fixable, but I couldn’t get over the line by draft day.
Pivoting to Rudolph, I see a cleaner path to a premier, offense-first blueliner who provides adequate defensive impact through denials, outlets, and driving play to the offensive zone. The offensive playmaking and shot from the blue line are standout traits. The skating is solid already but could become a plus if he cleans up some of the mechanical issues scouts criticize. He’ll need to progress with his in-zone defensive instincts and physicality, but he has the frame and, reportedly, the willingness to do it.
He also may need to take some steps with his maturity; bad penalties and a suspension are on his WHL résumé. But Rudolph’s future plans—a commitment to the University of Denver to play for David Carle—give me confidence. He’s in an ideal situation to take strides on and off the ice. (He’ll also be playing alongside Kraken prospects Clarke Caswell and Blake Fiddler.)
Compared by some scouts to Evan Bouchard and by others to Brandt Clarke, Rudolph has the tools to rise to the top of the Kraken’s right-side defense depth chart. It’s close with Verhoeff, but Rudolph is the pick for me.
Alternatives: If Carels drops, he’s my pick for Seattle. There are very few holes in his game. Despite questions about Bjorck’s offensive upside, I would not be upset if the 5-foot-9 Swede were the pick. I really enjoy watching him.
There are reports that San Jose, which holds both Nos. 9 and 27 overall, may covet Verhoeff. If so, could there be a scenario where Seattle agrees to flip No. 7 to San Jose for those picks (with perhaps another fourth-round pick going back to San Jose)? These types of moves almost never happen, but they’re fun to think about. Seattle would have to be content to select either Smits or Rudolph in that scenario because Winnipeg could very well pick one at No. 8.
Round 2, Pick 38: Ryan Roobroeck, LW/RW, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Birthdate: Sep. 25, 2007 | Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 216 | Shot: Left Big Board: 47th | High rank: Wheeler, The Athletic (30th) | Data Score: 52.22 (7th) Games Played: 49 | Goals: 30 | Assists: 28 | PPG: 1.18
Scout’s view: “Roobroeck doesn’t play a physical or imposing game for a player his size, and needs to move his feet and engage more. He has real skill and feel on the puck and an NHL-grade shot that regularly beats goalies from mid-range, and at his size, that gives him first-round relevance despite his warts.” – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic ($)
The facts to know: Roobroeck had 28 or more goals in three straight OHL seasons, peaking at 41 goals in 2024–25. He was the OHL Rookie of the Year in 2023–24.
Analysis: The pros and cons lists for Roobroeck are each longer than your average first-round prospect’s scouting report in its entirety. Let’s start with the positives. This is a player who has put the puck in the back of the net perhaps more than any other player in this draft. He has the instincts to get to scoring positions in the offensive zone and a terrific shot that can beat goalies from anywhere. And he does all of this with a 6-foot-3 frame. Looking at just the scoring and measurables, our data-only watchlist has him as the No. 7 player in the entire draft.
On the negative side, scouts fault his hockey character, pointing to waning effort and focus. He doesn’t skate as hard or as well as he will need to at the professional level. He’s very old for the class as a late-September 2007 birthday. And, despite his size, Roobroeck does not work to the inside or engage physically like a power forward, even at the junior level. Scouts also scratch their heads about the step down in production from his draft-minus-one season to this year.
All told, Roobroeck reminds me a bit of Carson Rehkopf. Not in how he plays exactly, but because he’s a big swing that could either hit as a top-six NHL scorer for a decade or stall out in the AHL. Ultimately, these are the types of swings the Kraken need to be taking at this point in the team’s player development arc. Despite the obvious risk, I couldn’t walk away from taking a potential top-10 talent in the class.
Alternatives: If Casey Mutryn (No. 32) falls, he’s the pick for me. While the Kraken haven’t drafted a U.S. National Team Development Program player since 2021, Mutryn plays such an appealing pro-style game that it’s easy to project him into a bottom-six role even if he doesn’t develop on the offensive side (which I think he could).
Compared with Roobroeck, I have many fewer questions about University of Michigan winger Adam Valentini (No. 45), who not only plays with tenacious pace and work ethic, but also delivered undervalued scoring production as a 17-year-old playing NCAA hockey. He was No. 25 on our data-only watchlist. He’s on the shorter end (5-foot-10) and not as big a swing as Roobroeck, but a third-line future is not hard to imagine.
Pierce Mbuyi (No. 58) is a deeply underrated OHL scorer who is athletic and not afraid to work to the inside despite his modest size (5-foot-10).
Jonas Lagerberg Hoen (No. 69), who played in the Swedish U20 league, is a dark horse to be the pick here. He missed much of his draft season with an injury, but he is a natural scorer with a 6-foot-2.5 frame. It would get me out of my seat if the Kraken went this direction.
I also wonder about a trade back to narrow the gap between this pick and Seattle’s next selection, No. 99.
Birthdate: Oct. 23, 2007 | Height: 6-foot | Weight: 179 | Shot: Left Big Board: 99th | High rank: Ferrari, The Hockey News (60th) | Data Score: 48.64 (11th) Games Played: 53 | Goals: 27 | Assists: 34 | PPG: 1.15
Scout’s view: “Very highly intelligent winger, held back by skating and a lack of raw puck skills. He has the brain and fine-tuning his skating and adding some dynamism to his offence are teachable things. If he hits, he could be a solid third line option.” – Kyle Pereira, McKeen’s ($)
The fact to know: Jardine led the USHL in scoring among first-time draft-eligible players.
Analysis: Cut from the same cloth as Ethan Wyttenbach, whom I mocked to the Kraken last year, Jardine looks the part of an underappreciated USHL scorer who could thrive right away playing NCAA hockey and thereby quickly up his prospect profile.
Youngstown co-general manager Ryan Koescki had this to say about Jardine, via Scott Wheeler: “I think he’s a second- or third-round pick, but I think he’ll probably go 4–7. He competes his ass off, super smart, elite NHL shot, but he’s not huge, and he’s not super fast. The skating is just OK, and his height is just OK at 6 feet. If he was 6-2 and couldn’t skate, he’d be a second-round pick, and if he was 6-foot with elite skating, he’d probably be a second-round pick.” Koescki is biased, of course, but I happen to agree with him.
Alternatives: If Everett Silvertips forward Matias Vanhanen (No. 93) falls to this spot, he’s the pick. He has special playmaking skill and vision. Green Bay Gamblers forward Landon Hafele (No. 100) brings a strong skating game that could carry him to the NHL.
Birthdate: Jan. 7, 2008 | Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 203 Big Board: 104th | High rank: Pronman, The Athletic (36th) Games Played: 16 | Goals against average: 1.50 | Save percentage: 0.927
Scout’s view: “[Plumins is] 6-foot-4 and not overly quick so the athletic profile isn’t that exciting. His hockey sense is excellent, though. Plumins doesn’t have much extra movement, and he’s very good at both tracking the puck and anticipating the attack. He projects as a tandem NHL goalie[].” – Corey Pronman, The Athletic ($)
The facts to know: Plumins led the Latvian professional league in save percentage—as a draft-eligible 17-year-old. He carried that over to the U18 World Championship, where his .947 save percentage across five starts was best among all goalies with more than two appearances.
Analysis: Goalie picks are always a bit of a dart throw, but the arrow on Plumins seems to be pointing up, and the value on the skaters in this range seems relatively poor. After taking a year off from drafting at the position, the Kraken may want to go back to the well in the 2026 NHL Draft. They could opt to wait until later on Day 2, though.
Alternatives: Forward Julien Maze (No. 137) is an undersized, transition scoring winger from the Regina Pats.
Round 6, Pick 166: Ludvig Andersson, RW, Örebro HK U20 (U20 Nationell)
Birthdate: May 24, 2008 | Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 190 | Shot: Right Big Board: 169th | High rank: Dobber Prospects (77th) | Data Score: 27.31 (107th) Games Played: 53 | Goals: 27 | Assists: 34 | PPG: 1.15
Scout’s view: “Ludvig Andersson is built like a fire hydrant, small in stature but thick and sturdy, making it difficult to knock him off the puck. He’s also smart and anticipates play very well, allowing him to consistently demonstrate good positioning. Andersson separates himself from his peers with his relentless compete level but also shows flashes of dynamic play creation, making him an intriguing prospect to target with a mid round pick.” – Ethan Lindley, Dobber Prospects
The facts to know: Andersson was the second-leading scorer among draft-eligible players in the Swedish U20 league, behind only consensus first-round pick Alexander Command. He served as captain of the gold-medal-winning Swedish U18 World Championship team.
Analysis: Andersson’s game is all about tenacity, which should translate to a North American style of play. He’s been a leader in his age group and a stalwart role player on a strong Swedish international team. He’s a bit undersized (5-foot-11) and doesn’t bring enough skating to project cleanly at that size—hence his availability in the sixth round. But there is a lot to admire about this player, and if he can add some skating pace, you might be onto something here.
The Kraken dipped their toes into the Swedish player pool with two late picks last year, and the addition of AGM Patrick Allvin (even if his focus is on the professional side) probably will not work against that trend.
Alternatives: USHL defenseman Bode Laylin (No. 189) brings quality offensive skill at just a shade under 6 feet. Undersized QMJHL winger Philippe Veilleux (No. 194) does nothing but score and will go to the inside when necessary despite his size disadvantage.
Birthdate: Oct. 28, 2006 (re-entry) | Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 198 | Shot: Left Big Board: 215th | High rank: McKeen’s (147th) | Data Score: 29.67 (76th) Games Played: 62 | Goals: 32 | Assists: 31 | PPG: 1.02
Scout’s view: “Kuhta’s combination of size, scoring ability, and two-way awareness gives him a chance to develop into a useful role player who can also play on special teams. His shot is a major weapon, especially on the powerplay where he can set up on the half wall and one-time pucks. He’s not a physical player, but he competes to make plays along the wall, is assertive defensively, and gets to the net. Last year, the big reason for Kuhta going unselected was his lack of power and speed; simply put, he was not a strong skater. This year, he’s shown improvement and has been able to play with more pace. Continued development as a skater will be key as he takes his talents to UMass of the NCAA next year.” – McKeen’s
The fact to know: Kuhta’s 32 goals were eighth-most among undrafted players in the OHL.
Analysis: Kuhta went undrafted last season after putting up more than a point per game in the Finnish U20 league and earning eight Liiga games. Kuhta decided to continue his development in North America and immediately asserted himself as an impactful scorer in Ottawa. His shot is his calling card, but he also has a pro-projectable 6-foot-2 frame.
Alternatives: USHL forward Justin Graf (No. 232) could develop like his brother Collin did in the NCAA ranks. It wouldn’t surprise me if he plays NHL games down the line. Defenseman A.J. Francisco (No. 260) was an offense-first, power-play quarterback for the U.S. National Team Development Program.
Round 7, Pick 204: Jet Kwajah, RD, Madison Capitols (USHL)
Birthdate: Mar. 13, 2008 | Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 170 | Shot: Right Big Board: 289th | High rank: Elite Prospects (D grade) | Data Score: 29.82 (75th) Games Played: 55 | Goals: 7 | Assists: 20 | PPG: 0.49
Scout’s view: “A high-activity player, he sprints up on breakouts, acting as a fourth forward on the rush, catching and redistributing passes, and firing deflectable shots from the line. Similarly aggressive in his rush defence, he locks down on opponents, mirroring footwork, removing passing seams, and sticking to his man defensively. With his awareness and agility, it’s on retrievals where he shines the most.” – Elite Prospects($)
The stat to know: Second in scoring among first-time draft-eligible USHL defensemen.
Analysis: Kwajah can skate and has some scoring touch, but will need to prove that he brings enough dynamic elements to overcome his lack of height on the blue line. Still, there’s enough here to dream on a pathway to an NHL role, which is all you can really ask for in a seventh-round pick. He’s committed to play for the Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) in 2026–27 and Penn State (NCAA) in 2027–28.
Alternatives: Oliwer Sjostrom (No. 284) is another interesting undersized defenseman with some offensive skill. Boris Borin (No. 391) is an interesting scorer out of the BCHL who seems to be well off the radar entering the draft.
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What do you think? Who do you want to see the Kraken select? I’d love it if someone wanted to use the Sound Of Hockey Big Board and give me their alternative mock draft using these same rules. Drop comments below or send them to us on X @deepseahockey and @sound_hockey or BlueSky @deepseahockey or @soundofhockey.com.
Header photo of Daxon Rudolph by Evan Morud courtesy of the Everett Silvertips
Curtis Isacke
Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.
Well, if the Kraken’s “prolific” offseason hinged on landing a particular big fish, then general manager Jason Botterill took a massive swing at doing just that this week… and missed.
According to reporting from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Kraken had worked out a trade with the Dallas Stars for high-scoring winger Jason Robertson. The catch, though, is that Robertson is a restricted free agent and would have needed a new contract upon joining Seattle. So, with the trade in place, Dallas gave Seattle permission to speak with Robertson and his agent, Andy Scott. Again, according to Friedman’s report, the Kraken offered Robertson an eight-year contract worth about $15 million per season.
Robertson rejected the offer.
It’s certainly a crushing blow to Seattle’s offseason plans. You can’t take much bigger of a cut at landing a player than that, and this is the second time Seattle has reportedly offered north of $14 million per year in an attempt to recruit a star, only to be denied. The previous was Artemi Panarin, who reportedly received that offer for two years before opting to go to Los Angeles during the 2025-26 season.
It also serves as another reminder that Seattle is not yet an appealing enough destination for elite players. Once middle-tier players get into the organization and experience how first class everything is, they are often willing to stay (think Vince Dunn, Jared McCann, Jordan Eberle, Adam Larsson, and, more recently, Bobby McMann, all of whom have re-upped with the Kraken at least once). But until the team proves it can ice a winning roster capable of supporting those top-flight players, reeling in elite talent will remain a massive uphill battle.
What could have been
Assuming the conversation is now dead in the water, Robertson would have been an incredible get for Botterill. The 26-year-old Arcadia, Calif., native has scored 40 or more goals three times in his still relatively young career and racked up an impressive 45 goals and 51 assists last season for Dallas.
Of course, he’s been just one piece of the puzzle there, whereas in Seattle he would have been the centerpiece. Would he put up those kinds of numbers on a less talented club? Would his addition make the Kraken a Stanley Cup contender?
The answer to that last question is no, so Botterill and the rest of the front office would have had to sell Robertson on the organization’s vision for getting there quickly. Obviously, whatever the pitch was, it didn’t work.
From a fan’s perspective, there are two ways to look at this outcome. Some will appreciate that the Kraken were willing to make such an aggressive play, even if it ultimately failed. It shows the organization is putting its money where its mouth is in trying to quickly improve its on-ice product.
On the other hand, it surely creates even more frustration that the organization has still not built enough of a winning reputation for an eight-year contract that would have been among the most lucrative in NHL history to be enough to land a star scorer.
Where do the Kraken go from here?
Botterill and the Kraken appear bound and determined to land a star forward this offseason and make good on the promises they have made to their fanbase. As the trade frenzy has unfolded this week, though, it feels like many of the significant players Seattle may have been interested in—Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch, and now Jason Robertson—are either off the board or have turned them down. Meanwhile, Frank Seravalli has reported that the St. Louis Blues plan to keep Robert Thomas.
The options for landing top-tier talent are quickly dwindling.
UPDATE: It seems the Kraken are not the only ones who have been rebuffed by Robertson.
Sources indicating the St Louis Blues offered a package that included multiple first round picks to the Dallas Stars for Jason Robertson but he is not interested in signing there.
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.
After sorting through video on scores of prospects, crunching numbers on thousands more, and reading countless reports, rankings, and mock drafts, I approach the finish line of the pre-draft process stuffed with impressions and opinions, both broad and specific. As NHL Draft Week continues here at Sound Of Hockey, this pre-draft notebook is my repository for those thoughts and also my opportunity to address community questions gathered over the last few days.
Today, I’ll cover a dozen topics, ranging from 2026 NHL Draft prospect tiers and a take on the league-wide draft pick trading spree to Kraken-specific draft thoughts.
For now, let’s empty the notebook, working our way from more general draft topics to more granular thoughts and questions.
1. Trades! Trades? Why all the trades?
If there is one thing we know about the NHL Draft, it is that picks in the top 10 are rarely traded. Despite significant public speculation, year after year teams stick and pick at the top of the first round. A top-five pick had not been moved since 2008.
Well, this year has been quite different. The No. 9 pick has already been traded twice. It first moved in the Brady Tkachuk deal between Florida and Ottawa, then was later flipped to San Jose for William Eklund. The No. 4 overall pick also changed hands, moving from Chicago to Buffalo for Bowen Byram. Trade rumors continue to swirl around San Jose’s No. 2 pick, Buffalo’s No. 4 pick, and Seattle’s No. 7 pick, too. From my vantage, there are three reasons why this is happening.
First, as I have mentioned on the podcast throughout the year and wrote about more than a month ago, this draft leaves a bit to be desired in the top 10. Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg are legitimate high-end players, but the next tier of prospects looks more like mid-lottery talent than top-five prospects in an average or better draft.
This may have caused a team like the Chicago Blackhawks to conclude that Bowen Byram was a better bet to provide value than any of the players who could have been available at No. 4—particularly now that the tea leaves seem to be pointing toward San Jose selecting Stenberg at No. 2. (To be clear, even in draft-class-adjusted terms, my humble opinion is that Chicago significantly overpaid in that deal.)
Second, the free-agent class is as barren as it has ever been. For teams seeking immediate-impact upgrades, trades are likely the best path to adding talent without crippling their cap situation.
Third, we had an atypical situation where the Florida Panthers, a team in the middle of its title-contention window, were drafting in the top 10. The Panthers, like the Vegas Golden Knights and a few other franchises, have attacked contending windows by moving first-round picks for complementary veteran pieces. It just so happens that the Panthers continued that practice this year with a pick inside the top 10.
Or maybe NHL general managers just wanted to have a little fun for once. Maybe that was it.
2. Evaluating the Mackie Samoskevich trade
The Kraken were ahead of the trade-market curve in the team’s deal sending the No. 25 overall pick (acquired from Tampa Bay) and a 2027 second-round pick to Florida for 23-year-old winger Mackie Samoskevich. As I have argued, this is precisely the profile the Kraken should be targeting in trades.
As for the compensation, while it may be more than some anticipated, it is roughly “fair” within this trade market and for a 23-year-old player with Samoskevich’s statistical profile.
Historically, the deal has echoes of Montreal’s 2023 trade for Alex Newhook. Montreal traded Nos. 31 and 37 overall in the 2023 draft for Newhook, who was then 22 years old with 159 games played, 27 goals, and 36 assists on his résumé. In a near carbon copy, the 23-year-old Samoskevich has played 156 games with 27 goals and 36 assists. (For those inclined toward advanced statistics, Samoskevich’s profile is stronger than Newhook’s was at the time.)
Fast-forward to the current trade frenzy, and I think we can safely call it a “seller’s market.” Based on our Sound Of Hockey trade value chart, the draft capital Seattle paid is approximately equal to the No. 17 overall pick. Washington paid more for Jordan Kyrou, adding both a player and a prospect to the package. Ottawa moved a higher pick (No. 9 overall) for William Eklund. Calgary paid more for Simon Nemec, sending two first-round picks plus a second-round pick in the deal. Let’s just say Chicago gave up much more for Bowen Byram.
Adjusting for player age and quality, Seattle did fairly well in comparison with these other deals. It was no “bargain.” The Kraken had to pay full freight. But it was not an overpay, either.
3. 2026 NHL Draft tiers
Returning to the thought above about the tiers in this draft, here is my humble view of where the various prospect levels shake out. I gave some thought to the order within the tiers, arranging the players based on a subjective evaluation from those with the fewest questions and least risk to those with the most. That said, this exercise is mostly about how I view the horizontal tiers, which I set based on each player’s realistic upside.
To be clear, I have only watched the top players a handful of times and the lower-tier players even less than that—sometimes only once or twice. I used my personal impressions, blended with scouting consensus and scoring-profile strength, to build these tiers, but they’re certainly not the be-all and end-all.
4. Upside at the top of the draft
One of the questions I received in the Sound Of Hockey Discord asked which player projected to go between No. 5 and No. 12 had the most upside. I thought this was an interesting framing, particularly since the Kraken are slated to make their first pick in this range. These are the Sound Of Hockey Big Board players in question: Carson Carels, Viggo Bjorck, Keaton Verhoeff, Alberts Smits, Daxon Rudolph, Wyatt Cullen, Malte Gustafsson, and Ethan Belchetz.
At their peak projections, I see Carels and Verhoeff as No. 1 defensemen. Rudolph edges into that territory as well. If I had to choose based on a pure best-case scenario, I’d go with Verhoeff. Among forwards, Cullen probably has the highest overall upside as a skilled, All-Star-caliber winger with plus size and strong skating.
5. Top defense prospects in historical context
Another inquiry I’ve seen, in a couple of different forms, asks to put the top defenders in this class into context, often by comparing it to the 2024 class that saw six defenders drafted in the top 12. Could we see something like that happen again? It’s possible.
Doing my best to eliminate the creeping bias of the 2024 class’s post-draft performance, I believe I would stack the players this way based on my evaluation of them at the time of the draft:
Zeev Buium (2024)
Zayne Parekh (2024)
Chase Reid (2026)
Carson Carels (2026)
Sam Dickinson (2024)
Daxon Rudolph (2026)
Keaton Verhoeff (2026)
Artyom Levshunov (2024)
Alberts Smits (2026)
Carter Yakemchuk (2024)
Anton Silayev (2024)
Malte Gustafsson (2026)
The top four are fairly close and could be called “Tier 1.” The next four are very close—almost tied—and form Tier 2. The final four form a third tier. All told, I would put this defenseman class ever so slightly behind the 2024 group.
6. Two important players that confound me
I have spent the most time in recent weeks trying to form a concrete opinion about two top-10 prospects in this draft, and I have to admit that I haven’t been very successful. One is a forward and one is a defenseman. Let’s start with the forward.
Viggo Bjorck is a player I like. He impressed me at the World Juniors and the U18 World Championship, and many analysts I trust have expressed support for him.
Yet, I cannot get past his size and production. He is 5-foot-9 and did not score much this year, even in league-adjusted terms. While No. 6 on the Sound Of Hockey Big Board, Bjorck is only No. 19 on our data-only watchlist. He plays bigger than his size, is a heady player, and does countless little things right. All of this is good stuff, but when you are talking about taking a smaller player at the top of the first round, he needs to bring elite offensive tools or production. Bjorck showed neither in his draft year, unless you want to count his hockey smarts as an elite offensive trait. He had six goals and nine assists in 42 SHL games.
On the defensive side, no player is more pivotal to the Kraken’s draft plans than Keaton Verhoeff. The 6-foot-4 defenseman brings a physical edge, a good defensive stick, and some scoring touch. He is viewed as a leader and person of high character off the ice. He was also regarded as the player most likely to unseat Gavin McKenna as the first overall pick coming into the season.
Yet, I developed some reservations when watching the player and reading reports from prominent analysts. There’s a bit of awkwardness in the way he moves, and he gave up the puck far too much under pressure. I have no doubt he can play NHL games, but if he’s going to be your No. 1 defenseman, he needs to be able to retrieve pucks and break them out under heavy pressure. This is a high bar that others in this draft class might not clear either, but I saw enough to be concerned.
How do we sort it all out with these two players? I’m still trying. If you have the answer, let me know.
7. With the Kraken’s first pick…
The most frequent question I have received is the most obvious and most important: Who will the Kraken pick at No. 7 overall? For that answer, you’ll have to wait for our forthcoming Seattle Kraken mock draft, but I will say I think it comes down to the players within my third tier (Malhotra, Verhoeff, and Rudolph), mentioned above. Beyond those players, it wouldn’t necessarily surprise me if Bjorck were the pick. I would still be a bit unsure how to feel about it, though.
8. Trades and No. 7 overall
Alright, that was unsatisfying, but should the Kraken trade the No. 7 overall pick rather than draft a player anyway? After all, contender Florida, mid-table team Ottawa, and builder Chicago all made the choice that a top-10 trade was the better path.
Unless it is a means of acquiring a true first-line or first-pair player, I’d say no. Even if it’s a below-average draft, this top 10 still has players I view as likely long-term contributors in the top half of an NHL lineup. I do not think it makes sense to move that asset for a young defenseman who could still realistically be available, such as Alexander Nikishin, nor for other forwards in Samoskevich’s tier, such as Mason McTavish. I’d rather continue to pursue those types of players with lesser picks.
Jason Robertson remains the wild card. A package of the No. 7 pick, Jared McCann and two future first-round picks has to get the conversation started. In the end, though, I would wager the Kraken make the No. 7 pick.
9. Players who could surprise or disappoint relative to the Big Board
Reading the tea leaves of recent draft coverage, it wouldn’t surprise me if Xavier Villeneuve (Big Board No. 21) fell below his Big Board position, perhaps out of the first round entirely. It’s possible Nikita Klepov (No. 20) could be more of a late first-round pick at this point after bypassing the NHL Draft Combine. Conversely, it would not surprise me to see Viggo Bjorck (No. 6) go within the top five and oversized defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii (No. 44) outperform his Big Board position.
10. The Samoskevich draft pick
You have to give to get, and the Kraken gave up an asset with value—the No. 25 overall pick—for Samoskevich. The Florida Panthers used a similar pick (No. 24) in 2021 to draft Seattle’s new winger.
In preparing for Seattle’s selection at that pick, I developed the following preference list of potential targets at No. 25:
Nikita Klepov, LW (No. 20 on the Big Board) J.P. Hurlbert, RW (No. 22) Ilia Morozov, C (No. 23) Casey Mutryn, RW (No. 32) Liam Ruck, C/W (No. 25)
Klepov and Hurlbert scored at prolific rates in junior hockey and bring enough physicality and skill-set diversity to translate to the NHL. Ilia Morozov brings size to the center position and projects as, at least, a strong defense-first player.
Following my mock draft rules — which assume prospects come off the board in Big Board order — I likely would have projected Mutryn to the Kraken at No. 25. He’s a 6-foot-3, physical, good-skating forward prospect from the U.S. National Team Development Program. Maybe my viewings caught him at his best, but I really liked how his style of play could translate to the NHL. If the offense doesn’t come, he’s still an identity player in your bottom six, which is something the Kraken could have used in the system. He seemed like a good fit.
Ruck is another prolific junior scorer, but I have more questions about how his game will translate professionally than I do about Klepov’s or Hurlbert’s.
In the unlikely event that any of these players slide to No. 38, I would be interested if I were drafting for the Kraken.
11. Day-two value picks
Here are a few prospects projected to go in each round on Day 2 of the draft that the data suggests could be underrated relative to their Big Board ranking:
Round 2 Adam Valentini, F, Univ. of Michigan (NCAA), Big Board No. 45 Ryan Roobroeck, F, Niagara IceDogs (OHL), Big Board No. 47 Pierce Mbuyi, F, Owen Sound Attack (OHL), Big Board No. 58
Round 3 Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, F, Leksands IF U20 (U20 Nationell), Big Board No. 69 Alan Shaikhlislamov, F, Tolpar Ufa (MHL), Big Board No. 74 Blake Zelinski, F, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL), Big Board No. 75 Mikey Berchild, F, USNTDP (USHL), Big Board No. 77 Lavr Gashilov, F, Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL), Big Board No. 80 Matias Vanhanen, F, Everett Silvertips (WHL), Big Board No. 93
Round 4 Evan Jardine, F, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), Big Board No. 99 Landon Hafele, F, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL), Big Board No. 100 Dayne Beuker, F, USNTDP (USHL), Big Board No. 108
Round 5 Julien Maze, F, Regina Pats (WHL), Big Board No. 138 Braidy Wassilyn, F, London Knights (OHL), Big Board No. 139 Ryan Brown, F, London Knights (OHL), Big Board No. 148
Round 6 Ludvig Andersson, F, Örebro HK U20 (U20 Nationell), Big Board No. 170 Jonas Woo, D, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL), Big Board No. 173 Bode Laylin, D, Tri-City Storm (USHL), Big Board No. 190
Round 7+ Philippe Veilleux, F, Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL), Big Board No. 195 Jasper Kuhta, F, Ottawa 67’s (OHL), Big Board No. 216 Justin Graf, F, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL), Big Board No. 233 Cooper Soller, F, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), Big Board No. 279 Oliwer Sjostrom, D, IF Björklöven (Allsvenskan), Big Board No. 285 Jet Kwajah, D, Madison Capitols (USHL), Big Board No. 290
12. The Seattle Kraken and local connections
The Kraken have not been afraid to dip into the local junior ranks over the years, drafting Julius Miettinen and Kaden Hammell from the Everett Silvertips, Berkly Catton from the Spokane Chiefs and Lukas Dragicevic from the Tri-City Americans.
Could the Kraken make a similar pick this year? On the goalie front, I like the statistical profile of Tobias Tvrznik (No. 125 on the Big Board) of the Wenatchee Wild. He could be available when the Kraken select twice in the fourth round. Among skaters, I like the playmaking ability Everett Silvertips forward Matias Vanhanen (No. 93) brings, along with his rapport with Miettinen. I am not sure he makes it to the fourth round, and the Kraken do not have a third-round pick. I would be a bit surprised to see them take him as high as No. 38, but I like the player.
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Any draft opinions you want to get “on the record”? Any comments, criticisms, or questions on the points above? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on X (@deepseahockey or @sound_hockey) or Bluesky (@deepseahockey or @soundofhockey.com).
Header photo of Matias Vanhanen by Evan Morud courtesy of the Everett Silvertips
Curtis Isacke
Curtis is a Sound Of Hockey contributor and member of the Kraken press corps. Curtis is an attorney by day, and he has read the NHL collective bargaining agreement and bylaws so you don’t have to. He can be found analyzing the Kraken, NHL Draft, and other hockey topics on Twitter and Bluesky @deepseahockey.
