With the preseason underway and the regular season around the corner, it’s time to highlight a handful of Seattle Kraken players who can improve on last year’s results. I’m calling them “rebound candidates,” but that doesn’t mean they had bad seasons in 2024-25. It means they’ve already shown they can play at a higher level than what they showed last season. After finishing with 76 standings points last year, the Kraken will need every ounce of production if they hope to return to the playoffs.
Here are the players I’ll be watching for rebound seasons:
Jared McCann
Since arriving in Seattle via the Expansion Draft from Pittsburgh by way of Toronto (he never actually played a game for the Maple Leafs before they left him exposed), McCann has thrived in an expanded role. His ice time has climbed from 16 to 17 minutes per game, and he leads the franchise in both goals (128) and points (243). He even led the Kraken in points last season with 61 (22-39=61).
So how does he qualify as a rebound candidate? Goal scoring. In his first three Kraken seasons, McCann topped the team in goals each year and shot 15.4 percent. Last season, that number dipped 4.5 percentage points to 10.9 percent, and he finished with 22 goals. He also scored just four power-play goals, his lowest total since joining Seattle.
Regression to the mean suggests his shooting percentage should creep back toward his Kraken average of 14.3 percent. His career high is 40 goals (2022-23), and while that may be ambitious, returning to the 30-goal mark feels realistic. Last season, McCann played mostly with Chandler Stephenson, who was second on the team with 51 points but often matched against top opposing lines.
McCann has shown he can produce from any spot in the lineup, and I expect him to bury more chances this year. It should be noted that McCann is currently day-to-day and shared earlier this week with media that he didn’t skate much this summer while recovering from a procedure that he underwent after last season.
Rebound target: 30 goals and 70 points
Matty Beniers
After his 57-point rookie season and Calder Trophy win, the Kraken have been waiting for Beniers to recapture that magic. He has since posted 37 and 43 points while leading the forward group in even-strength ice time (15:44 minutes per game). But among NHL forwards who averaged that much even-strength time and played a full season (70+ games), he ranked last in the NHL in points in each of the last two seasons.
There’s still reason for optimism. He returned to the 20-goal plateau in 2024-25, showed chemistry with Kaapo Kakko, and boosted his shooting percentage to 13.6 percent (up from 11.3 in 2023-24). He’s proven he has the offensive talent, as his rookie numbers came with less ice time. With new head coach Lane Lambert emphasizing structure at both ends, Beniers should benefit.
Rebound target: 60 points. It’s a stretch, but it’s within reach if he finds his stride early.
Vince Dunn
Dunn broke out for 64 points in 2022-23 but has since been slowed by injuries, missing 20-plus games each of the past two seasons. During his career-best season, he averaged 0.79 points per game, 12th best among defensemen that season (2022-23). He nearly matched that rate the next year (0.78 PPG) but played just 59 games. Last season he dropped to 0.63 PPG and again missed almost a quarter of the year (20 games).
Keeping Dunn healthy is a priority. When in the lineup, the puck-moving defenseman drives offense and brings an edge that energizes teammates and fans. The physical side makes him popular but also adds injury risk. Balancing those elements will be critical for Seattle.
Rebound target: 60 points and play 82 games
Backup goaltending
Philipp Grubauer officially slid into a backup role in 2024-25, and the results were rough: an .875 save percentage and an 8-17-1 record. After four straight years below .900, hope is scarce. Still, he showed a late spark. Following a stint with Coachella Valley, he returned to Seattle with a 3-2-0 record and a .915 save percentage. The sample was small but promising, and he seems to really enjoy working with goalie coach Colin Zulianello, who was promoted from the Firebirds to the Kraken this summer, replacing Steve Briere.
The Kraken also added two-time Stanley Cup winner Matt Murray. Murray has struggled in recent NHL stints but dominated the AHL last season with a .934 save percentage. Neither option is a sure bet, but both have NHL experience. And frankly, can it get worse than an .875 save percentage?
Whoever wins the backup job behind Joey Daccord, Seattle will be counting on more stability in net. General manager Jason Botterill has even suggested the team may carry three goalies.
Both Grubauer and Murray would require waivers to be sent to the AHL. Murray, on a one-year deal at $1 million, could be a low-risk waiver claim for another team. Grubauer’s $5.9 million cap hit, on the other hand, is unlikely to be claimed if Seattle wanted to send him down at some point.
Rebound target: A .500 record when the backup is in net
Final thoughts
The Kraken don’t need all four of these rebound stories to hit in order to take a step forward. But if McCann’s shot rebounds, Beniers breaks through, Dunn stays healthy, and the backup goalie spot stabilizes, Seattle’s chances of returning to the playoffs increase dramatically. Even two or three of these improvements could be the difference between another disappointing season and meaningful games in April.
Comment below on which Kraken player you think could be a rebound candidates?
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.
Kraken preseason is officially underway. As I have done in previous preseasons, I like to project Seattle’s playoff chances by forecasting the team’s goal scoring. You can review my last three forecasts here: 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25.
This forecast looks at adjusted goals for each player on the projected Kraken roster. The “adjusted goals” metric is defined as goals scored minus empty-net goals. Based on prior analysis, teams with an adjusted goal differential of plus-one to plus-five make the playoffs more than 50 percent of the time. Adjusted goals against is the other half of that equation, but for this article, we’re only focusing on adjusted goals for.
Looking back at the 2024–25 forecast
Last season, the Kraken finished with 230 adjusted goals, an increase of 25 compared to 2023–24. My forecast missed the mark by 11.9 goals. Here’s a player-by-player breakdown:
Overall, the forecast did fine but not great. A few players came in well below expectations, Andre Burakovsky and Jared McCann among them, but Jaden Schwartz more than offset those misses, finishing 10.9 goals above what I had projected for him. That’s how forecasting tends to work: some players overshoot, others undershoot.
There were also factors that would have been tough to build into the model. Jordan Eberle’s injury was significant. Yanni Gourde also missed time with injury, and even when healthy, his production lagged. Trades always shake things up, too. While Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand were dealt at the deadline, their lost production was roughly balanced by Kaapo Kakko, who arrived in an earlier trade.
Roster unknowns for 2025–26
Unlike recent offseasons, this year’s roster still has a few question marks. Several rookies are making strong pushes out of camp, and late adjustments could happen depending on who earns spots. That makes projecting games played a little trickier, so I’ve leaned conservative with totals.
Another wrinkle: a lot of Kraken players are entering the final year of their contracts. If Seattle falls out of playoff contention by the deadline, it wouldn’t be surprising to see veterans moved to contenders for future assets. That uncertainty isn’t baked into this forecast, but it’s definitely a storyline to monitor.
Departures and Arrivals for 2025–26
From a pure goal-scoring standpoint, the only notable departure from last season is Bjorkstrand, who was traded to Tampa Bay at the deadline.
The Kraken made two trades this offseason that should help replace some of the goal scoring lost from last year’s roster. First, they acquired Mason Marchment from the cap-strapped Dallas Stars in mid-June. Marchment brings size, physicality, and a proven middle-six scoring touch, with three straight seasons of double-digit goals. Just a week later, the Kraken added Freddy Gaudreau from the Minnesota Wild. Gaudreau isn’t as flashy offensively, but he’s versatile, defensively reliable, and can chip in 10–15 goals while playing anywhere in the lineup (he had 18 last season and 19 in 2022-23). Together, the pair should provide depth scoring and stability that will help offset the loss of Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Based on last year’s production, the Kraken lost 41 goals but brought in 35 — and that’s in 112 fewer games played. That gap is where potential rookies like Berkly Catton, Jani Nyman, and a handful of other candidates could step in and contribute.
Scoring forecast approach
As in past seasons, I’m using each player’s last three years of games played and adjusted goals to project for 2025–26. Games played is the trickiest part to forecast — I leaned on each player’s historical average, but I’ll make the occasional subjective adjustment if I think the production rate doesn’t quite line up.
Yes, some guys have averaged 75-plus games per season, but as we saw with Eberle and Gourde last year, injuries are inevitable. Since it’s nearly impossible to predict who will go down, I also take a conservative approach to projecting games played for the upcoming season.
Forwards forecast
The most difficult part of this forecast is figuring out games played and goals for the rookies. Take Jani Nyman, for example — he scored three goals in 12 games with the Kraken during his late-season call-up and added 28 goals in 58 games for Coachella Valley. He’s a natural goal scorer, so 10 goals in 50 NHL games feels conservative… but that’s probably the right cautious estimate for now, because it’s impossible to say if he’ll be a full-time NHLer.
Berkly Catton is even tougher to predict. He’s either going to play fewer than nine games (because he burns the first year of his entry-level contract if the Kraken keep him for longer than that) or more than 50 — not much in between. I’ve been leaning toward the higher end, but without full certainty, I split the difference and set his forecast at 40 games.
Outside of the rookies, there are a couple of eyebrow-raisers in the model. Shane Wright’s 18.9-goal projection feels a little light, while Jared McCann’s looks a bit heavy. But that’s the nature of an aggregate forecast: some players run hot, some cold, and ideally it all balances out.
Defensemen forecast
Forecasting the defensemen is a bit more straightforward. The top six are pretty well set heading into the season, with Josh Mahura likely sliding into the seventh spot if everyone stays healthy. The one new face, Ryan Lindgren, brings plenty of defensive reliability but isn’t exactly known for his goal scoring.
One player who could push the totals higher is Ryker Evans. He’s shown steady progress the last couple of years, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he chipped in a bit more offense as his role continues to grow.
Putting it together
When you combine the forwards and defensemen, the forecast lands at 246.3 adjusted goals for the 2025–26 season. That’s a 16-goal bump over last year, a total that would’ve ranked ninth in the NHL in 2024–25. It feels a little optimistic, but we’ll stick with it for now.
Other considerations
Coaching/system tweaks – The biggest change this offseason came behind the bench with the hiring of Lane Lambert. His teams have been known for playing structured, defensively sound hockey. That could tighten things up in Seattle’s end, but Lambert has also emphasized that creating turnovers in the defensive zone can fuel offense. How that balance plays out will be worth tracking. Lambert mentioned he thought Nyman’s goal in Seattle’s 5-3 preseason win over Vancouver was an excellent example of this. “The thing that excited me about that goal was that it started in the D-zone,” Lambert said. “We killed the play, and then it ended up in the back of their net. So from my perspective, that’s what we’re talking about when we’re talking about defense translating into offense.”
Power play – Seattle finished 23rd in the league on the power play last year, leaving plenty of room for improvement. With a new staff and some fresh personnel looks, there’s cautious optimism that the power play could finally take a step forward.
Injuries – The ultimate wild card. If the Kraken’s top six can stay mostly healthy, it would go a long way toward hitting (or even exceeding) this forecast.
Will Seattle improve offensively?
My projection for the Kraken’s 2025–26 season comes in at 246.3 adjusted goals, a 16-goal bump from last year. That total would have ranked ninth in the NHL a season ago. Still, the big questions remain: can the young players fighting for roster spots make an impact right away, and how much will Lambert’s system influence scoring, for better or worse?
For now, Kraken fans should keep expectations measured but optimistic. There’s clear upside here, but also plenty of volatility depending on health, development, and where the team sits at the trade deadline. As the season progresses, I’ll layer in adjusted-goals-against numbers to give a full playoff outlook and track how close (or far) this projection ends up.
What do you think, are my numbers too high, too low, or just right? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
The Seattle Kraken got off to a strong start in the Lane Lambert Era on Sunday with a 5-3 preseason win over the Vancouver Canucks. Sure, it was a meaningless exhibition, and Seattle dressed a much more seasoned lineup than Vancouver, but the home team controlled long stretches of the game, giving fans—and their new head coach—plenty to like.
“I like the effort a lot,” Lambert said. “I thought we played hard. I thought we did things that we’ve been working on from a defensive standpoint, I thought we did a lot of good things offensively. In the first period, we controlled the game with a number of good-quality scoring chances. We took a four-minute penalty, but that was all part of it, in terms of just sticking up for your teammate. But I thought we did a lot of good things in a lot of different areas.
“What I really liked a lot was we were on pucks tonight. We were hounding pucks, creating turnovers, and then turning it into offense.”
Jani Nyman scored twice, while Eduard Sale, Jaden Schwartz, and John Hayden each added a goal. Vince Dunn had three assists, and Kaapo Kakko contributed two.
Here are our Three Takeaways from Seattle’s 5-3 preseason win over Vancouver.
Takeaway #1: Jani Nyman making his case
Li’l Jani has been firmly on the radar as a young player with a chance to crack the Opening Night roster, after putting up six points (3-3=6) in 12 NHL games last season and leading the Coachella Valley Firebirds in goals with 28.
He looked too good for rookie camp last week, but the lingering question has always been whether his skating had improved enough to make him a full-time NHLer this season and allow him to consistently get into scoring positions to unleash his deadly shot.
Nyman made a convincing case Sunday. Midway through the second period, on a rush with Matty Beniers and Kakko, he hustled to the far post and managed to get his stick on Kakko’s seam pass, even after it deflected en route. That goal gave Seattle a 2-1 lead.
HELLO, NYMAN! 🚨
Nice buildup off the rush, and Li’l Jani does well to get his stick on Kakko’s pass that got deflected.
“It’s good to get some games before the real ones,” Nyman said. “It’s been a long summer, so I feel I’m ready. And I did a huge job [training] this summer. Hopefully I can see that on the ice.”
Added Lambert: “The thing that excited me about that goal was that it started in the D-zone. We killed the play, and then it ended up in the back of their net. So from my perspective, that’s what we’re talking about when we’re talking about defense translating into offense.”
Nyman followed up with an even prettier tally four minutes later, again connecting with Kakko. This time, after the two Finns switched positions just inside the blue line, Nyman drifted into a soft spot at the top of the right circle. Kakko slid him a perfect pass, and Nyman—who had cleverly opened himself up for a one-timer—ripped it off the far post and in.
“We never talked about [that play in advance]. It just happened,” Kakko said. “I mean, [Nyman’s] got a good shot, and we all know that. I think we saw that last year already, so— nobody net front, it’s a pretty heavy shot. Hopefully me and Matty can find him a little more.”
If Nyman keeps producing through the preseason, it’ll be hard for the front office to justify sending him down.
Takeaway #2: Solid start
We can’t read too much into this—or any—preseason game, especially with Vancouver icing a roster that looked more like a prospect showcase squad than an NHL lineup.
Still, you want to see structure and flashes from individual players, and the Kraken delivered both. Kakko, Shane Wright, and Schwartz all looked sharp. Several young players also left their mark: Sale opened the scoring, Oscar Fisker Molgaard set up Hayden’s goal, and Nyman did what we covered in Takeaway #1.
Seattle’s last two first-round picks, Berkly Catton and Jake O’Brien, also had their moments. Both showed confidence, and neither looked out of place. Catton, despite not finding the scoresheet, was around the action all night and finished plus-two in 14:24 of ice time.
“I liked both of their games,” Lambert said. “O’Brien’s a real cerebral player, really solid defensively. Honestly, he just keeps getting better every day, and he’s had a good training camp. His progression has been very, very good.
“Cats, he’s got that dynamic ability, that dynamic speed. He showed it on a few occasions tonight.”
Catton still has work to do to secure a roster spot. He didn’t cement it Sunday, but he also did nothing to hurt his chances.
Takeaway #3: John Hayden is still in the penalty box
Another player fighting (literally and figuratively) for a roster spot is John Hayden, who has been in this bubble position for four straight Kraken training camps. On Sunday, he reminded management he’ll always stand up for teammates.
This particular instance came with a price.
At 17:34 of the first period, Joseph LaBate flattened Wright with a clean open-ice hit. Hayden immediately went after LaBate, cross-checking the 6-foot-5 forward before dropping the gloves and throwing punches.
The result: 19 minutes of penalties—two for cross-checking, two for instigating, five for fighting, and a 10-minute misconduct—leaving the Kraken to kill off four minutes shorthanded. They survived, but Schwartz’s subsequent high-sticking minor cost Seattle a goal against.
“You know what? I have all kinds of time in the world for that,” Lambert said of Hayden’s decision to engage LeBate. “He’s sticking up for his teammate, so outstanding job by him. We try and kill those off all day long when we feel like somebody is trying to stand up for one of his teammates.”
Hayden made the most of the extra rest and scored 3:07 into the third period to extend Seattle’s lead to 5-2, banging home a slick feed from Fisker Molgaard.
Hayden remains a candidate for the 13th forward role. If he starts the year in Coachella Valley, odds are he’ll be back in Seattle before long.
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.
Believe it or not, Sunday is game day for the Seattle Kraken… or at least for some semblance of the Kraken made up of players within the organization. And while their lineup Sunday against the “Vancouver Canucks” will look nothing like what we’ll see on Opening Night, icing a team in true game competition marks the next step in the long-awaited return to hockey after an offseason that felt like an eternity.
Earlier this week, I wrote about five storylines to watch at training camp. Already, we’ve seen movement and developments on some of them. So here’s an update on where things stand, plus a few new tidbits from the opening days of camp.
Let’s go!
Storyline updates
Berkly Catton’s NHL readiness
I’m not ready to proclaim that Berkly Catton is a full-time NHLer just yet, but he hasn’t done anything to suggest otherwise. After dominating rookie camp, he’s fit seamlessly on a line with veterans Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann.
One of my favorite camp moments so far came from that trio on Saturday. In a 3-on-2 rush drill, Catton swung wide to the left, hit another gear, and blew past defenders through the circle (I can’t recall exactly who they went against). He then zipped a cross-crease pass right onto Eberle’s tape, and Eberle one-timed it on net. Victor Ostman made a highlight-reel save on the initial shot, but the rebound popped out to McCann, who buried it into an open net. If that exact sequence were to play out in a game, it’s a goal 95 percent of the time.
“I think [the main training camp is] definitely heavier bodies in the corner [than in rookie camp],” Catton said Friday. “And the little details matter a lot more, but still, it’s just hockey. And it helps when I’m on a line with two really good players. They always make plays and stuff, and [they’re] even communicating with me where to be. So honestly, it’s been great playing with them. They’ve showed me a lot, even in two days.
“Obviously it’s pretty cool, playing on a line with Jordan Eberle and McCann, so just cherishing that. But I think they’re really smart hockey players, and I think I have the ability to make plays too. I think we have, honestly, even in two days, a little bit of chemistry, so it’s been fun.”
CHEMISTRY?! CATTON HAS CHEMISTRY WITH MCCANN AND EBERLE?!
McCann returned the praise Saturday, saying he and Eberle have been joking about “keeping up” with the 19-year-old.
“He’s just so skilled,” McCann said. “He controls the puck so well. I know he’s not a big guy, but he can fight you off in the corner.”
Last preseason, Catton showed flashes, but he mostly looked overmatched as an 18-year-old playing against pros. I can’t wait to see how he looks in actual game action this time around.
Early signs of line combinations
In my “Training camp storylines” article, I noted it would be worth tracking potential line combinations for hints at how new head coach Lane Lambert might be stacking his players. From what I’ve seen, there are currently five forward lines worth of roster hopefuls:
Mason Marchment // Chandler Stephenson // Eeli Tolvanen Jared McCann // Berkly Catton // Jordan Eberle Jani Nyman // Matty Beniers // Kaapo Kakko Jaden Schwartz // Shane Wright // Jagger Firkus Tye Kartye // Freddie Gaudreau // Jacob Melanson
There’s still a lot of time for changes, but if the season started today, I think the Kraken would be picking 13 or 14 forwards from this group of 15.
We expected Catton, Jani Nyman, and Jacob Melanson to be in the roster conversation. What stands out, though, is seeing Jagger Firkus alongside Jaden Schwartz and Shane Wright. Firkus also played on the top line in last Saturday’s prospect showcase game in Everett with Catton and Nyman. I still think he needs more AHL seasoning, but his spot in this role shows how much the organization values him as a near-future NHLer.
Could Matt Murray play a role?
Perhaps the most intriguing roster battle is in net, where the Kraken now employ three goaltenders with extensive NHL experience. Joey Daccord remains the clear No. 1, but the under-the-radar offseason signing of Matt Murray adds intrigue to the competition with Philipp Grubauer.
But wait… is there really only one backup spot available?
I asked general manager Jason Botterill how the club plans to handle the situation. Here’s what he said:
“We’ll continue to evaluate the situation. We have ideas on comparing three goalies. We also have ideas if there’s injury that we have to make an adjustment from that standpoint, but we’re ready, whatever materializes over the next couple of weeks.
“I think there’s competition [between Grubauer and Murray], for sure, and I think there’s different scenarios where we’ve looked at being able to carry three goalies… With how condensed some of the games are [because of the Olympic break], I think you’re going to need three goalies throughout the season.”
The plot thickens!
Health updates
One (hopefully minor) concern popped up when the Kraken announced Brandon Montour would miss two weeks after having a bursa removed from his ankle. Montour had been skating in captain’s practices, so the timing is a little odd. Still, this procedure shouldn’t keep him out of regular-season action or set him back too far.
“He’s coming in in great shape,” Botterill said, adding that Montour should be ready for Opening Night. “It’s disappointing he can’t be out there right away, because he is a driver of our intensity and our pace of practices. But we tried to get this procedure done now so he doesn’t have to deal with it during the season, and our whole mindset is he’ll be ready to go for Game 1.”
Montour has been around Kraken Community Iceplex on crutches, chatting and laughing it up with team staff.
I also asked McCann how he was feeling after the surgery he had planned following last season.
“I’m just taking it one day at a time right now,” McCann said. “I wasn’t able to skate, really, much this summer, unfortunately. But I’m feeling pretty good. Just kind of going to keep at it.”
McCann was spotted chatting with trainers and stretching his leg Friday, and by Sunday the team confirmed he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Fingers crossed he’s good to go by opening night and back to filling the net like he has in his first four seasons in Seattle.
Meanwhile, prospects Lleyton Roed and Nathan Villeneuve both went down with injuries in the last week. Roed left the second prospect showcase game Sunday and is expected to miss two months with an upper-body injury. We spotted him this week with a cast on his left hand.
Villeneuve’s injury is more of a mystery. The team has only said it’s a lower-body injury and out for the remainder of training camp.
It’s a tough break for two players who impressed last camp with outstanding performances in preseason games. Here’s wishing them both a speedy recovery.
Lambert pulling no punches
It must be said: In five years of covering the Kraken, this has been the most intense opening stretch of camp I’ve witnessed. Lambert has emphasized accountability and attention to detail, and so far he’s been extremely vocal—so much so that he lost his voice by Saturday’s media availability.
Lambert doesn’t call it yelling, though. He calls it “encouraging.”
What I appreciate is that he isn’t afraid to blow a drill dead to correct mistakes on the spot.
“If something’s not right, don’t let it go. Stop practice,” Lambert said. “It doesn’t matter who it is, doesn’t matter if you’re a 14-year veteran or a rookie or a junior player in training camp. Everybody wants to learn, everybody can learn. We’ll talk a little bit about development, but it’s not just development of younger players. You can still develop your older players with different concepts, different things you can give them and bring them and help enhance their game.”
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.
But, here’s the thing. There is new on-ice stuff to talk about, finally. Kraken prospects playing in European professional leagues are playing actual regular-season games. And we’ve gotten a close look at most of Seattle’s North American prospects at Kraken rookie camp.
How have the players looked? Who is hurt already? And where can you follow the next week of games? We have all of that and more to talk about—starting with Sound Of Hockey‘s interview with Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus after the first day of Kraken training camp.
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. (We’re so back.)
Firkus is taking it one day at a time at Kraken training camp
Jagger Firkus is coming off a solid rookie season in the AHL, scoring 15 goals and adding 21 assists in 69 regular-season games, before contributing three assists in six more playoff contests. The production is more impressive when considering that he played only 14:23 per game as tracked by InStat—an expected but stark decrease from his featured role in the WHL where often played 25-plus minutes per game.
Where did he see progress in his game in the AHL? “The biggest [step I took last year] would be my wall play. I think that’s something that [Coach] Laxdal [emphasized]. If you want to make that jump to the NHL, your wall work is something the next level looks at. You need it as a winger, and you need to get trusted by your coach.”
Firkus admitted that while his work along the boards has come a long way, it still needs development and remained a focus for him over the summer. In his exit meetings, the coaches gave him “stuff they wanted to see me work on, and wall play was one of them” along with “getting stronger and bigger and faster.”
He says his summer workouts in Irma, Alberta—where he trained with former Kraken defenseman Carson Soucy, among others—were productive and he thinks he is better prepared for the professional game this year. Last year he weighed in at 153 pounds to begin camp. This year, he says he weighed in at 170 pounds on the day we talked (Thursday, Sept. 18). He thinks that could help even more in those battle scenarios, and he credited Brandon Wickett and the strength and conditioning staff at Coachella Valley for staying on him.
Even at 170 pounds, he is noticeably one of the smaller players at rookie camp, not to mention training camp. Does he ever get tired of being labelled as a talented-but-undersized player? “Not really, to be honest. I know people think that sometimes, but it’s about your instincts, your mind. I think hockey IQ is such an important thing in the game given how quick the game is [at the professional level] and I think that’s what I can rely on.”
Firkus was part of the most dynamic line at Kraken rookie camp when he was paired up with Jani Nyman and Berkly Catton at practice last Friday and then again at the game in Everett on Saturday, Sept. 13. Few reps passed in practice without the puck finding the back of the net, and the group was instrumental to Seattle’s 5-3 comeback win against the Canucks prospects on Saturday.
“Rookie camp, it’s pretty quick. You just have a couple skates, and then you’re into the game. So, a lot of it is just relying on your instincts and your linemates, and when you play with guys like ‘Burky’ [Catton] and ‘Nemo’ [Nyman], you obviously know their strengths and the scenarios you want to put them in—putting the puck on [Nyman’s] stick so he can shoot, and for [Catton] find[ing] him in space.”
We talked after Day 1 of training camp where Firkus noticeably took a few hits that dropped him to the ice in battle drills, including at least one from the heaviest player in the NHL, defenseman Jamie Oleksiak. “It was a very tough skate. It was quick, up and down, [and] a lot of battle drills. It’s kind of what you expect, especially with all the older and bigger defensemen. Oleksiak or anyone like that, their role in the NHL is to put guys through the wall, and they want to show the staff they can still do that.”
When asked about his goals for the rest of camp, Firkus said he’s taking it “day by day.” Of course, “you want to make the team, make impressions on the staff. But [staying focused on the] day to day is the way to go about it.” He wants to take the coaching, make adjustments, and improve everyday. If he can keep doing that, the future is bright for the young forward.
On a lighter note, we asked Firkus about Firebirds Coach Derek Laxdal referring to him as “Yagger” (pronounced liked NHL Hall-of-Famer Jaromir Jagr’s surname) in Laxdal’s press conference earlier this week. Firkus admitted that he gets that a lot around the rink, given Jaromir Jagr’s prominence, and he doesn’t even really hear it anymore. That said, he’s pretty sure Coach Laxdal knows his name is actually pronounced like Mick Jagger’s surname.
I also had a chance to ask him about his starring appearance on the Coachella Valley Firebirds’ “Hot Ones” spoof, and he admitted that spicy food, particularly on camera, is not his thing. He was relieved that at least he didn’t get hot sauce in his eyes like teammate Jacob Melanson did.
Villeneuve impressed throughout rookie camp and in the Everett game with his aggressiveness hunting the puck on the forecheck and tenacity in puck-battle situations. His relentless effort scoring a goal against the Canucks on perhaps a third- or fourth-effort play was one of the highlights of the entire rookie phase of camp. He continues to show a strong base of professional habits for a bottom-size professional career. In this regard, it was disappointing to hear that he left the first day of training camp with a lower-body injury that requires “further evaluation.”
Julius Miettinen | F | Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Miettinen was a non-participant for much of Kraken rookie camp following an upper-body injury suffered in an Everett Silvertips preseason game. We noted he was on the ice skating separately in a red no-contact jersey after the last day of rookie camp and that continued on the first day of training camp Thursday. He seemed to be in a good spirits and released shots well. It’s not clear yet if his timing will allow him to get on the ice with the main group at training camp, but it’s good news that the injury doesn’t appear to be a long-term issue.
Lleyton Roed | F | Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)
Speaking of injuries, the Kraken announced that Lleyton Roed is expected to miss two months with an upper-body injury. While I didn’t see the play where it happened, I did note that he left the bench midway through the Kraken’s second exhibition contest against the Canucks at Kraken Community Iceplex on Sunday, Sept. 14. His absence from the lineup will be felt in Coachella Valley, though it likely clears a path for regular playing time for recent trade acquisition Jon-Randall Avon.
Alexis Bernier | D | Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
Finally, the team also announced that defense prospect Alexis Bernier had offseason ACL surgery. While the timing of the surgery was not disclosed, it is notable that the 2024 third-round pick did not participate in Kraken development camp earlier this summer either. It is possible Bernier returns toward the end of the 2025-26 season, but his focus may be on getting back to 100 percent for the 2026-27 season when he could earn a professional contract.
Kraken prospects data update
Moving on from the disappointing Kraken injury news, we can note that, on the positive side, Zeb Forsfjall returned to the lineup for his SHL club after missing the preseason and first few regular season contests with an injury. He only played about four minutes, so hopefully that is reflective of a ramp-up process.
In other news, Karl Annborn was active, but did not play, for HV71 this past week. He seems to be on the verge of his SHL debut. Over in Russia, Maxim Agafonov is looking like a capable professional while playing in the VHL, the second-tier professional league. And stick taps for Loke Krantz, who scored the first regular-season goal of the 2025-26 season among Kraken organization players.
Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week
Goalie prospect Kim Saarinen began the Liiga season hot, posting a .938 save percentage across his first two games. He’s your first 2025-26 Sound Of Hockey Prospect of the Week.
Berkly Catton “won” the 2024-25 season-long contest with three prospect-of-the-week designations. Perhaps we’ll have to get him a trophy.
Previewing the week ahead
With NCAA seasons not yet started and all other North American players still in camp, the schedule remains pretty light in the early going, but there are games to watch in the week ahead. This year, we’re including streaming video links with the schedule, which we will provide in two versions—one organized by date and one organized by player.
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.
As Kraken training camp gets into full swing, it’s a good time to also review the Coachella Valley Firebirds roster. Which new prospects are eligible to join, which veterans remain, and how will they impact the AHL’s veteran rule?
Veterans returning
The AHL is a development league, and teams are limited to five veteran players in a gameday lineup. Veterans are defined as those with more than 260 games of professional experience.
*Ian McKinnon was incorrectly included above, but has not played the required number of games to be classified with veteran status. At 27 years old, McKinnon has played 130 professional games prior to the start of the 2025-26 season.
Above are six players who fall into the veteran category and could see significant time in the AHL. However, one of these and possibly up to three players may start the season with the Kraken. Seattle currently has only 11 forwards locked into NHL roster spots, leaving one fourth-line role and as many as two healthy-scratch spots open. Most likely, either John Hayden or Mitchell Stephens makes the Kraken roster, with younger players like Jani Nyman or Berkly Catton filling the other openings.
If one veteran sticks in Seattle, the Firebirds would have five veterans to rotate while staying under the AHL limit. Ian McKinnon and Gustav Olofsson are on AHL-only contracts, so NHL time isn’t an option for them (unless Seattle wanted to elevate one of them, in which case the team could sign the player to an NHL contract).
McCormick played just 19 games last year before suffering an undisclosed injury and enters camp still on that designation. Fleury could see NHL minutes, but Seattle’s addition of Ryan Lindgren pushed him to eighth on the depth chart. NHL teams usually carry seven defensemen, although the Kraken have occasionally carried eight in past seasons. Being eighth likely means Fleury begins the season in Coachella Valley.
Prospects with AHL experience
As the Kraken enter their fifth season, their prospect pipeline continues to deepen. The Firebirds will have 11 development players with at least one full season of AHL experience:
Nyman could also join this list, but for now we’ll assume he starts the year in Seattle. Sound Of Hockey’s own Darren Brown wrote about prospects to watch, including Melanson, who may push for NHL minutes. Ottavainen is also close to NHL-ready, but Seattle’s offseason moves created a defensive logjam. Because of that, he projects as a call-up option.
Fresh faces
Adding the veteran players and experienced prospects gives Coachella Valley 11 forwards and four defensemen. That leaves one forward and two defense spots open on a typical gameday roster. The AHL has no hard roster limit, so more players can be carried over the NHL’s 23-man cap.
This year, eight new prospects could suit up in the AHL:
Tyson Jugnauth, Andrei Loshko Justin Janicke, and Oscar Fisker Mølgaard are strong candidates to be in Coachella Valley—Jugnauth and Loshko have aged out of the WHL, Janicke has finished his college career, and Mølgaard has made the jump from the Swedish Elite League (SEL). The other five are 20-year-olds still eligible to return to the CHL, though all will push for AHL roles during training camp.
Given that only four defensemen are returning from last year’s team, it’s possible all four newcomers make the Firebirds roster, though it isn’t guaranteed. With Fleury and Ottavainen ready to step into a Kraken role if a need arises, the youngsters could fill any vacancies.
Among the forwards, Janicke is unique—he’s on an AHL-only deal and could be pushed to Kansas City in the ECHL if space runs out. Players on entry-level contracts (ELC) are also eligible to play in the ECHL, but overagers (20-year-olds) remain eligible for the CHL. Typically, those players would be returned to juniors for development rather than being assigned to the ECHL.
In short, performance at training camp will dictate outcomes, but with Seattle pulling some AHL veterans up, the odds are good that most, if not all, of these players land in Coachella Valley.
What about goalies?
The veteran rule does not apply to goaltenders. With journeyman Matt Murray joining the organization and Nikke Kokko ready for a bigger role, the Firebirds appear set in net. Victor Ostman is likely to get playing time in the ECHL to continue his development.
Wrapping up:
Training camp is just beginning, and nothing is finalized. Roster battles remain, and the picture will continue to evolve. While the big question is whether any of the 20-year-old prospects are returned to their junior teams, my view is that all eight will earn spots in Coachella Valley. That sets up a deep, competitive group ready to build on last season.
Key battles to watch in training camp include whether Nyman makes the Kraken, which would leave another forward spot in Coachella Valley, and who secures the right-wing role on the fourth line between Hayden and Melanson. If Berkly Catton makes the Kraken, that could also bump a top-nine forward into that mix. Watching Seattle’s young talent take on larger roles in Coachella Valley makes the future of Kraken hockey look even brighter.
Which Firebirds player are you most excited to watch take a step forward this season?
Blaiz Grubic
Blaiz Grubic is a contributor at Sound Of Hockey. A passionate hockey fan and player for over 30 years, Blaiz grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is an alumni of Washington State University (Go Cougs!). When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about hockey, he enjoys quality time with his wife and daughter or getting out on a golf course for a quick round. Follow @blaizg on BlueSky or X.
Seattle Kraken training camp FINALLY gets underway Thursday with its first on-ice session. The early stages of camp are always borderline overwhelming, with more than 50 players spread across three groups. But over the next couple of weeks, things will quickly condense to two groups and then—eventually—one group that resembles Seattle’s Opening Night roster, plus a few bubble players battling for the final spots.
With so much noise and so many moving parts, we wanted to highlight a few key storylines to help you make sense of what you’re seeing.
Here’s what to watch for in Kraken training camp.
Storyline 1: Is Berkly Catton truly ready?
The Kraken front office has made no bones about its desire to save roster space for its “kids” rising through the ranks. Now that top prospect Berkly Catton has landed in that awkward in-between spot—too good for the WHL, too young for the AHL (by rule), and possibly still a bit green for the NHL—it will be fascinating to see how he fares against veteran Kraken players and in preseason games.
Catton has dominated every time he’s faced peers in his age category, including this past week at rookie camp. We still haven’t seen many instances of him competing against pros, though.
At last season’s training camp, he looked like he was in over his head. This time, the key question is: Does he look like he belongs? If you didn’t know he was a 19-year-old drafted No. 8 overall just a year ago, would you see him as an NHLer, or would his play still suggest he belongs in a lower league?
It’s worth repeating that Seattle may keep Catton around through the nine-game contract slide threshold, similar to what they did with Shane Wright two seasons ago—letting him practice and learn, get him some games here and there, and then eventually sending him to Team Canada for World Juniors before returning him to the WHL.
It would be fun, though, if Catton proves he’s fully NHL-ready and can make an impact for the Kraken this season. Keep a close eye on him.
Storyline 2: Which other rookies make the team?
Earlier this summer, I wrote about the three prospects—Catton, Jani Nyman, and Jacob Melanson—I believe have the best chance to crack the roster out of camp. While Catton seems likely to stick around at least for the start of the regular season, it’s less clear who else could seize an opportunity.
Nyman and Melanson both have cases to make, albeit for very different reasons. But don’t overlook Ryan Winterton and Logan Morrison, either, both of whom have gotten tastes of NHL competition. Did either of them take a step in development this offseason?
Predicting who snags the last roster spot or two is always part of the fun of training camp. With multiple young players knocking at the door, this year’s competition should be especially intriguing.
Storyline 3: Which non-NHLers stand out?
This is the last “young player” storyline that I’ll give, but it’s always a fun one. Every preseason, at least one newly drafted prospect forces us to take notice.
Two and three years ago, Carson Rehkopf and David Goyette raised eyebrows with strong performances. Last season, Nathan Villeneuve stole headlines with a preseason showing that suggested he might be ahead of schedule. (Villeneuve, by the way, looked outstanding again at rookie camp this week.)
So who will it be this year? Could Jake O’Brien or Blake Fiddler stick deep into camp and make us believe they’re on a fast track to Seattle? Or might someone from a previous draft—say Caden Price, Oscar Fisker Molgaard, Tyson Jugnauth, Lukas Dragicevic, Ty Nelson, Jagger Firkus, or somebody else—step forward and start banging on the NHL door?
Keep an eye out for flashes of brilliance; they often foreshadow bigger things.
Storyline 4: Early signs of line combinations
Another thing worth tracking is which veterans skate together in practices and preseason games. In the early practice sessions, the veterans will be sprinkled into the three different groups. But you’ll see trios of forwards and pairs of defensemen that could end up being regular-season line combos at some point. This will be even more obvious in the preseason games, as new head coach Lane Lambert looks for early sparks of chemistry between players.
Line combinations change constantly throughout the season, but early looks also give us clues about the roles Lambert envisions for his players. With Seattle adding Mason Marchment, Frederick Gaudreau, and Ryan Lindgren over the summer, it will be interesting to see how Lambert deploys them initially.
What do those acquisitions mean for returning players? Thinking about a potential depth chart, it’s easy to see a scenario where Tye Kartye gets pushed out of the regular lineup, barring injuries. It’s also possible Eeli Tolvanen gets bumped down to a fourth-line role, as Seattle seeks to recapture the magical depth that propelled its playoff run three seasons ago.
Storyline 5: Could Matt Murray play a role?
Alongside the trades for forwards and the free-agent signing on defense, the Kraken quietly added veteran goaltender Matt Murray this offseason on a one-year, $1 million deal.
The assumption was that Murray was destined for Coachella Valley, replacing Aleš Stezka in the AHL platoon with Nikke Kokko. But there’s also an element of insurance here—particularly if Philipp Grubauer doesn’t find a way to climb above a .900 save percentage for the first time in his Kraken tenure.
The backup job is Grubauer’s to lose, but if he stumbles in camp or gets off to another slow start, the leash may not be that long. In that case, Murray could end up being a factor this season.
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.
We’re in that time of year where every passing day feels like one step closer to hockey season. A new milestone is met, a new storyline emerges, a new roster takes shape. One such milestone is the end of Kraken rookie camp, which officially wraps up Tuesday with the team’s prospects hitting the ice one last time before the veterans appear for main training camp.
“This is big-boy hockey now,” Coachella Valley Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal said Sunday. “Now you get the vets coming into your practices, tempo is going to pick up, the puck’s going to move a lot quicker… When that puck drops here on Thursday, training camp starts. You have to be ready, and they will, but this is where the kids really take that step in learning.”
So what did we learn about those kids during Seattle’s rookie camp? Plenty. Let’s dig into the biggest takeaways from practices and the two exhibition games, which the baby Kraken split against Vancouver’s prospects.
It really is a talented group
The Kraken prospect pool is widely regarded as one of the NHL’s top 10, and in some rankings it lands even higher. But you don’t truly get a sense of the group’s quality until you see the players in real game situations—with referees, fans, and opponents in another club’s NHL colors.
Saturday’s dramatic 5-3 comeback win in Everett and Sunday’s 3-2 loss at Kraken Community Iceplex gave us two strong showcases of what Seattle has in its pipeline.
The Saturday lineup was noticeably stronger, thanks to the presence of the three prospects I believe have the best chance of cracking the Opening Night roster—Berkly Catton, Jani Nyman, and Jacob Melanson. All three sat out Sunday.
When Catton and Nyman were on the ice with linemate Jagger Firkus, Vancouver’s prospects spent most of their shifts on their heels. The trio was dynamic, creative, and productive: Catton posted a goal and an assist, Nyman added a goal, and Firkus collected two assists (though Nyman’s tally should have been credited to Firkus).
Catton, in particular, looked like he didn’t belong in a prospect showcase game—in the best way possible. He repeatedly blew past defenders and generated prime scoring chances, hitting the crossbar on one rush and later finishing a dazzling breakaway that tied the game as part of Seattle’s three-goal comeback.
Catton did everything necessary to prove he’s ready to at least compete for a full-time roster spot at main camp. And Nyman, with his massive frame and wicked shot, often looked like a man among boys.
Meanwhile, Melanson showed his trademark grit and pro-level motor. He won’t put up flashy numbers, but his straightforward, punishing style screams bottom-six NHL forward at some point in the near future. I expect him to push for a depth spot or at the very least be a first call-up candidate.
“Just look at him. He’s a killer,” Laxdal said of Melanson. “Jacob is the prototypical power forward. He’s the type of player that if he’s forechecking you, and he’s going to put you through the boards, he’s also going to have a stick on puck. He’s the type of player that nobody wants to play against, and those players are important on a franchise and in an organization.”
Even with Catton, Nyman, Melanson, Ville Ottavainen, and others sitting out on Sunday, Seattle’s prospects still came within a couple bounces of another win, hitting at least four posts that I can remember.
After those two games, and wrapping my head around the quantity of players that have a real chance to make the NHL one day (we haven’t even talked about Eduard Sale, Tyson Jugnauth, Jake O’Brien, Blake Fiddler, Caden Price, or the many other players that showed flashes of brilliance), I’m more convinced than ever that the Kraken have impact NHLers coming in the next couple of seasons.
Nathan Villeneuve continues to make his presence known
Speaking of hard-nosed players, Nathan Villeneuve played in both games, and I noticed him nearly every shift. He has a knack for going to the hard areas and doing everything he can to get under the opponent’s skin.
He also scored Saturday’s game-winner, tipping a shot into Vancouver goalie Aleksei Medvedev’s pads before collecting his own rebound, waiting out the netminder, and burying the puck into a yawning cage.
“I love these games,” Villeneuve said. “I mean, it’s a gritty game because everyone’s trying to prove themselves. So it’s my game to play, and I get excited more than nervous to play these games.”
He didn’t score Sunday, but again left a mark—sneaking behind the defense for a breakaway in the second period and driving several odd-man rushes when the game opened up.
David Goyette “starting to decorate”
David Goyette also made a strong impression and should bring confidence into the main camp after a sometimes bumpy 2024-25 season.
A prolific OHL scorer with 117 points in 68 games for Sudbury in 2023-24, his first pro season was more of a grind. With Coachella Valley, he managed just six goals and 12 assists in a depth role while learning the demands of a 200-foot game.
“As a first-year pro, you’re always trying to adapt as fast as you can to the level, just coming from junior hockey,” Goyette said. “But especially— you put in so much work during the summer. I worked really hard, and you’re trying to impress the coaching staff here and management to show them what you worked on this summer. And it’s always good for them to have an opportunity to see you compete against guys in your similar age group.
“I think I’m happy with my game… Every time you go on the ice, you’re trying to showcase yourself, show them what kind of player you are. So I think I did a good job, and it’s going to propel me leaving here into the main camp.”
He was particularly noticeable Sunday when Catton and Nyman were absent, creating several dangerous looks in the first period and scoring in the second by swatting home a rebound from the slot.
Back in 2022, Goyette was outstanding in his first Kraken camp and preseason before returning to Sudbury to torch the OHL. But his modest numbers with the Firebirds last year raised questions about his confidence and trajectory. Laxdal offered clarity on Sunday.
“There obviously is a skill set there that we want to build on, and for these young players to be able to survive at the next level—even if you just want to survive in the American Hockey League—you have to build a foundation of being able to play a 200-foot game.
“It’s like if you build a house, right? You can’t just build the four walls and the roof unless you have a foundation. So these kids have to build that foundation that allows them to survive at the pro level. And that’s one thing I think David went through last year. He was building his game to allow himself be able to perform and have those offensive numbers that we’ve seen in junior. So going forward now, he’s put the work in in the summer, and he committed; he’s in great shape. If you look at these two games here, kind of building a new book on this year, hopefully now the foundation is being built. We’re putting the floor on, the walls are going up, and now he’s starting to decorate.”
This is a big training camp and season for Goyette. He’s likely headed for another year in the AHL, but if he builds on this foundation, he can push his way back into the conversation as one of Seattle’s top prospects.
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.
So, you took a little break from hockey after the Kraken season ended? Totally fair. There was sunshine and vacations, and maybe you jumped on the roller coaster called Mariners baseball this summer. Hey, it happens to all of us… just not me.
I’ve been waiting for hockey, and hockey is finally back on the horizon.
A lot has gone down around the Pacific Division while you were away, and if you missed any headlines, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered in the Lapsed Fan’s Guide to the 2025 Pacific Division Offseason. We won’t cover Seattle’s moves here, since we covered those last week, but we’ll run through everything else you need to know about team’s divisional rivals heading into 2025–26. And of course, we’ll talk about how it all impacts the Kraken, because that’s what you really care about.
Anaheim Ducks
80 points in 2024-25 (12th Western Conference, 6th Pacific Division)
Additions: Chris Kreider (22 G), Mikael Granlund (22 G), Ryan Poehling (12 G) Subtractions: Trevor Zegras (12 G), Isac Lundestrom (4 G), Brian Dumoulin (2 G), John Gibson (11 W)
The Ducks were very active this offseason, and one of their biggest moves came off the ice. They fired head coach Greg Cronin after a 21-point improvement over the previous season and replaced him with Joel Quenneville. Whether you think Quenneville should be back in the league is a debate for another time, but the bottom line is he’s here, and expectations are that he’ll make an impact.
This is a young, up-and-coming team. Assuming the Ducks sign RFA Mason MacTavish, they’ll have three players age 22 or younger who scored at least 20 goals last season. After finishing 30th in goals last year, they addressed that weakness by adding Kreider and Granlund without losing much.
Kraken impact: The Ducks finished ahead of Seattle last year and got better both on the bench and on the ice this summer. If the Kraken are playing meaningful games in March, I would expect Anaheim to also be in the conversation and a team Seattle will need to overcome in the standings.
Calgary Flames
96 points (9th Western Conference, 4th Pacific Division)
Additions: Ivan Prosvetov (20 W in KHL) Subtractions: Dan Vladar (12 W)
The Flames tied St. Louis in the standings last year but lost the playoff tiebreaker, making them the final team out. For a team that close, you might expect a splashy offseason, but that didn’t happen. Their biggest roster changes came way back in January, when they acquired Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee from Philadelphia. Both struggled to produce in Calgary, but it’s too soon to assume they won’t be impactful as Flames.
Calling Calgary’s offseason “quiet” is a little misleading, though. The Flames did lock up several RFAs, including Dustin Wolf, Matt Coronato, Connor Zary, Morgan Frost, and Kevin Bahl. The big question is whether ninth overall pick Zayne Parekh sticks around this year. After a monster OHL season (33 goals, 107 points), he’s either playing in the NHL or heading back to junior, since there is no AHL option because of transfer rules.
Kraken impact: Calgary is still a team Seattle has to jump over to sniff a playoff spot. The surprising 96-point total last year was largely Dustin Wolf dragging the Flames into contention, though. Scoring remains their biggest challenge where they finished 29th in goals per game (2.68).
Edmonton Oilers
101 points (6th Western Conference, 3rd Pacific Division, Stanley Cup Final)
Additions: Andrew Mangiapane (14 G), Isaac Howard (prospect) Subtractions: Connor Brown (13 G), Corey Perry (19 G), Jeff Skinner (16 G), Viktor Arvidsson (15 G), Evander Kane (DNP regular season)
Edmonton lost a lot of firepower this summer, and the biggest storyline remains whether Connor McDavid will sign an extension. So far, no rush from his camp. Meanwhile, the Oilers again ignored their shaky goaltending, which still looks like their Achilles heel despite back-to-back Stanley Cup Final trips.
Kraken impact: Believe it or not, Edmonton only scored 14 more goals than Seattle last year. Factor in the Oilers’ offseason losses, and it’s not crazy to think the Kraken could outscore them this season. That said, as long as McDavid and Leon Draisaitl wear Oilers sweaters, they’re a dangerous team. Expect a slight step back, but not enough to put them in Seattle’s neighborhood.
Los Angeles Kings
105 points (4th Western Conference, 2nd Pacific Division)
Additions: Andrei Kuzmenko (6 G), Brian Dumoulin (3 G), Corey Perry (19 G), Joel Armia (11 G), Cody Ceci (4 G), Anton Forsberg (11 W) Subtractions: Jordan Spence (4 G), Tanner Jeannot (7 G), Vladislav Gavrikov (16 G), David Rittich (16 W)
The Kings got older this offseason, adding several 30-plus veterans, including 40-year-old Corey Perry (who just got injured in training and had knee surgery that will keep him out for six-to-eight weeks). But they still have talent spread across the age curve. Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, and Warren Foegele (all 29) combined for 94 goals last year, and a younger core of Quinton Byfield, Alex Laferriere, and Brandt Clarke continues to grow.
In goal, Darcy Kuemper returns for his second season. He was solid last year, but at 35, the risk of injury and declining play looms.
Kraken impact: The Kings added useful veterans without losing much. Unless their goaltending falls apart, expect another strong season. They’ll be tough to leapfrog in the standings.
San Jose Sharks
52 points (16th Western Conference, 8th Pacific Division)
Additions: Adam Gaudette (19 G), Philipp Kurashev (7 G), Jeff Skinner (16 G), Dmitry Orlov (6 G), John Klingberg (1 G) Subtractions: Fabian Zetterlund (17 G), Mikael Granlund (15 G), Luke Kunin (11 G), Nico Sturm (7 G), Jake Walman (6 G), Cody Ceci (4 G)
The Sharks were bad last year, but at least they were fun. They’re building around Macklin Celebrini, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, and 2025 No. 2 pick Michael Misa. They lost some vets but replaced them smartly while leaving space for prospects to earn NHL spots.
Kraken impact: San Jose should improve but still finish behind Seattle. What matters is they’ll likely steal more points from division foes, keeping the playoff race tighter.
Vancouver Canucks
90 points (10th Western Conference, 5th Pacific Division)
Additions: Evander Kane (DNP) Subtractions: Dakota Joshua (7 G), Pius Suter (25 G)
The Canucks’ biggest change came behind the bench. Rick Tocchet left for Philadelphia, and assistant coach Adam Foote steps in as a first-time NHL head coach. On the roster side, Evander Kane replaces some of Pius Suter’s goals, while Thatcher Demko enters the year healthy… for now. Additionally, I am sure this season won’t be filled with the same drama they had last season, right?
Kraken impact: With Tocchet gone, many expect regression. That’s good news for Seattle, who finished 14 points behind them last year. Still, Vancouver should be in the playoff mix late in the season.
Vegas Golden Knights
110 points (2nd Western Conference, 1st Pacific Division)
Additions: Mitch Marner (27 G), Colton Sissons (7 G) Subtractions: Tanner Pearson (12 G), Nicolas Roy (15 G), Nicolas Hague (5 G), Alex Pietrangelo (injury, 4 G)
Vegas pulled off the move of the offseason, landing Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade deal with Toronto, and just like that, one of the league’s best offensive teams just got scarier. On defense, early in the offseason, Alex Pietrangelo announced that he will be stepping away due to health issues. He logged more ice time than any other Knight last season, and his absence should be substantial.
Kraken impact: Vegas will still be Vegas, annoyingly good. Seattle will face them four times this year (up from three last season), so buckle up.
How the Pacific Division stacks up
So, there you have it. The Ducks got more dangerous, the Flames stayed quiet, the Oilers are dealing with big question marks, the Kings doubled down on vets, the Sharks are slowly climbing, the Canucks could slip, and Vegas just keeps flexing. For the Kraken, it means the path to the playoffs won’t be easy; too many rivals either held steady or improved.
But hockey’s funny that way. Seasons don’t play out on paper, and if Seattle can clean up its own micro-issues (yes, trailing first and back-to-backs, I’m looking at you), they can hang around in the mix. At the very least, it should make for a wild Pacific Division ride.
