Despite only being in the league for three seasons, the Seattle Kraken have a promising roster. Not only have they made several early first-round picks, but they have also unearthed hidden gems in the second and third rounds in recent drafts, helping them to have one of the best prospects in the league. Their Honorable Mention list alone is arguably better than most teams' prospect lists, with the top five filled with All-Star caliber talent.
Honorable Mention: Julius Miettinen, Clark Caswell, Oskar Fisker Morgard, Ryan Winterton, Logan Morrison, Lukas Dragicevic, Kim Saarinen, Zev Forsfjall, Alexis Bernier, Nathan Villeneuve
10. Ty Nelson, 20 years old (RD)
Ty Nelson has an exceptionally strong shot despite being 5'10″ tall. He has an extremely high hockey IQ and makes precise passing look routine frequently. His greatest strengths are his passing and playmaking ability, primarily due to his ability to keep his head up and find open teammates while coordinating puck possession in the offensive zone. He is on the younger side of the 2022 draft class, so his development is a bit delayed, but a few seasons with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL) could develop him into a top-four defenseman who can play on the power play and provide average to above-average defense while scoring 30+ points per season.
9. Eduardo Sale, 19 years old (W)
Eduardo Sale was the 20th overall pick of the Kraken in the 2023 draft and struggled last season. Growing up in the Czech Republic, he never played in North America and found it difficult to play in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He only managed 15 goals and 38 points in 49 games with the Barrie Colts and Kitchener Rangers. Those are disappointing numbers for a first-round pick, especially as a 19-year-old playing in the OHL. But there is reason to believe he can turn things around.
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Sale will be playing for Kitchener this season, and his offensive output should improve as he gets used to their system. Last season, Sale dominated the Czech Republic at the 2024 World Junior Championship, recording three goals and four assists in seven games. He has exceptional passing ability and is a strong skater, two qualities that bode well for the OHL, so a return is sure to be made. Only time will tell, but Sale still has the potential to develop into the player Seattle was looking to become when they drafted him last offseason.
8. Kayden Price, 18 (LD)
Another of the Kraken's 2023 draft picks is Kayden Price. He's only 18 years old and was a few weeks away from going undrafted in the 2023 draft, but his film doesn't show it. The smooth-skating two-way defenceman has great defensive awareness and rarely makes mistakes in the defensive zone. His 13 goals and 55 points in 62 games with the Kelowna Rockets were impressive, but he's capable of so much more.
Price will be with the Rockets again next season and has the potential to be one of the best defensemen in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He is a very fun prospect to watch and it is hard to imagine him not developing into an NHL defenseman. It may be three more seasons before he reaches the NHL, but his potential to develop into a reliable two-way top-four defenseman makes him a natural candidate for this list.
7. David Goyette, 20 years old (C)
David Goyette was selected 61st overall in the 2022 draft, but his production has made him seem like a top-10 pick. Last season, he played in 68 games with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL, scoring 40 goals and 117 points. He led the league in points and was second in assists (77). His excellent skating might be better suited as a winger at the NHL level, but his potential is incredible.
Goyette's best trait is his elusive, high-paced skating, but he's also a well-rounded offensive prospect. He has great handles and can score from all areas on the ice. He certainly struggles physically, which is why he isn't ranked in the top five of the prospect pool, but it's a weakness he can overcome. He'll start this season with the Firebirds, which will be a physical test. It will be interesting to see how he handles the adversity. If all goes well, he could make a quick transition to the NHL as a middle-six forward with 50+ point potential. If not, he may have a hard time shifting consistently in the NHL.
6. Yanni Nyman, 19 years old (W)
Jani Nijman may be one of the most underrated prospects in the entire NHL. The 6'4″ winger recorded 26 goals and 43 points in just 48 games last season for Ilves in Finland's top men's league, Liiga. Liiga is often considered one of the top three hockey leagues in the world, behind the NHL and perhaps the Kontinental Hockey League. Nijman finished the season 26th in points and second in goals for a teenager, while playing against mostly grown men in their 20s and 30s. He also missed 12 regular season games. In points per game, he was 14th in points and first in goals.
Nyman has a strong shot and a high hockey IQ, and playing in the NHL isn't far off. He's expected to be part of a strong Firebirds lineup this season, which will be a valuable test for the youngster. Last season was no fluke, but it will be interesting to see if he can maintain his offensive dominance in his first season in North America. If he does, his future as an elite middle-six winger will be that much more realistic.
5. Carson Rekov, 19 (C/LW)
Carson Rekov is a 6'2″, 194 pound forward who appeared in 60 games with Kitchener last season, recording 52 goals and 95 points. He was a second round pick by the Kraken in 2023 due to his excellent speed, shooting, awareness and well-rounded style of play. He fell down in the draft due to concerns about his consistency, but he put those concerns to rest last season.
Carson Recopp will return to Kitchener next season but has very little left to prove in junior hockey. He has shown the ability to control play in the OHL, which is evident in his scoring and two-way dominance, so it will be interesting to see how he improves his play this season. With the Kraken having an abundance of centers both on their NHL roster and in their system, he will likely transition to wing full-time, which could be good for his development. His style of play would mesh well with Matty Beigner, allowing the two to be the future of the Kraken's top six.
Rekov’s offensive output in the NHL is somewhere around 20-30 goals and 60-75 points per season with impressive defensive play. His bottom line would be around 10 goals and 30 points per season as a reliable two-way forward on the Kraken’s third line. He’ll probably develop somewhere in between those two outcomes.
4. Niklas Kokko, 20 years old (G)
Niklas Kokko is one of the top goaltenders in the NHL due to his 6'4″ height, consistency and proven track record. He recorded 11 wins, 5 losses and 5 draws in La Liga last season with a .917 save percentage, 1.86 goals against average and 5 shutouts. He rarely makes mistakes in goal and thus has a relatively high chance of a long NHL career.
Goalies are always difficult to predict, not just because they're volatile but also inconsistent. Kokko is still a few seasons away from making the NHL, so re-evaluating him in a year or two would be a better way to gauge his potential. For now, he's just one player Kraken fans should keep an eye on as he continues to develop.
3. Jaguar Farkas, 20 (RW)
Jaguar Farkas is not only one of the great names in hockey, but also a promising player. The 2022 second-round draft pick played 63 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL, racking up an astounding 61 goals and 126 points, leading the league in points and second in goals. Though he stands just 5’11”, he has a lethal wrist shot due to his strength and ability to score while skating. He loves to attack the net and find the most favorable angles to get past the goalie.
Farkas will likely be in the Kraken lineup starting preseason, but that is unlikely as the team has prioritized player development. So, he will likely join the young talent galore at Coachella and lead the future of Seattle hockey. His skill set is very transferable to the NHL, so he could very well be in the Kraken top six in the future. On the scoresheet, he could develop into a 30+ goal, 75+ point winger if all goes well.
2. Shane Wright, 20 years old (C)
Shane Wright was awarded special player status by Hockey Canada in March 2019, but didn't get to take much advantage of that status as the COVID-19 pandemic shortened and all but halted his development. Nevertheless, his development has progressed well, much to the dismay of many hockey fans.
Wright showed his scoring prowess last year with the Firebirds, scoring 22 goals and 47 points in 55 games, ranking him among the AHL's top U-21 prospects in points per game. This season will be crucial and a big opportunity for his NHL aspirations.
A strong offensive performance from Wright would put him firmly on the path to becoming a top-six center with the potential for 25+ goals and 80+ points, but struggling under pressure could dim that potential, though he could still develop into an above-average middle-six center over a longer developmental process.
1. Berkeley Catton, 18 (C/LW)
Barkley Catton was selected 8th overall by the Kraken in the 2024 draft and immediately became the team's top prospect. He's an elite playmaker with the vision and handles to dominate the NHL. He's also a potentially powerful shot, as evidenced by his 54 goals in 68 games with the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL last season.
Catton is expected to return to Spokane this season, but should return to the NHL shortly thereafter. He is primarily a winger, but is also competent as a center, and is on par with the best NHL prospects. His potential is so high that many scouts project him to have 30+ goals and 85+ points in his prime, but 20+ goals and 70+ points may be more realistic goals.
The Kraken are not Stanley Cup contenders right now, but their future is very bright. They have some young talent on their current NHL roster, with promising players at each position with potential and depth. They may not see a lot of success in the next few seasons, but in 4-5 seasons they could be a contender to win the Stanley Cup.
