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2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Seattle Kraken’s Top 10

Steven Ellis
Steven Ellis(sellishockey)
Aug 7, 2026, 11:00 EDT
2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Seattle Kraken’s Top 10
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Welcome back.

It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses, and so much more.

Here are the criteria for being labeled a prospect: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games. Players over 23 years old are not included. Goaltenders are a bit more subjective, but they must be 25 or under and have played fewer than 20 games in the past season or fewer than 30 games over their career.

Today, we’re breaking down the Seattle Kraken.

The Kraken have been one of the NHL’s most mediocre teams for quite some time now.

That’s not going to change this season, either. They’re not good enough to make a serious push forward, but they’re not bad enough to continue landing first overall picks. But while the Kraken still lack a true NHL star, they’ve got a solid pipeline to work with. Chase Reid was a huge get this summer, and Jake O’Brien is going to be a solid second-liner sooner rather than later. Beyond that, the Kraken have guys with clear NHL pathaways, even if not neccesarily in major roles.

I still think this team’s progression will require a slow burn. A few players listed below should push for full-time NHL duty, but likely won’t move the needle in any significant way. They could benefit from a bottom-five finishing position this year to really get them on track for the future. But we know that’s not the team’s mantra; whether or not that’ll burn GM Jason Botterill in the long run is up for debate.

Biggest Strength

I actually really like Seattle’s center depth. The big draw is O’Brien, but I have Oscar Fisker Mølgaard sitting right behind him on this list. I think we’re looking at future No. 2/3 centers there, with the potential for high-scoring WHLer Julius Miettinen to step in and snag a fourth-line job thanks to his big frame. Outside of that, Nathan Villeneuve is a hard-working forward who showed some promise in a short AHl stint two years ago; I wouldn’t write him off, either.

Biggest Weakness

Once again, my focus is squarely on the crease. Have the Kraken finally found their first homegrown starting netminder? I don’t think so. While Niklas Kokko has upside, I’m skeptical he projects as a legitimate NHL No. 1, let alone a reliable full-time backup. The rest of the pipeline inspires similar doubts; aside from occasional flashes of brilliance from Visa Vedenpää and Kim Saarinen, the depth feels lackluster. Over in Russia, Semyon Vyazovoi had an excellent year in the KHL, so there’s some promise there. Still, I’m just not convinced Seattle’s goaltender of the future is currently in their system. Hopefully I’m wrong.

Fast Facts:

NHL GM: Jason Botterill
Dir. of Amateur Scouting: Robert Kron
Dir. of Player Development: Cory Murphy
AHL Affiliate: Coachella Valley Firebirds
ECHL Affiliate: Kansas City Mavericks
Recent NHL Graduate: Berkly Catton, C

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

Credit: Steven Ellis
Chase Reid (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)

1. Chase Reid, RHD 18 (Michigan State University, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted eighth overall, first round in 2026

Given most seemed to believe Reid would be the first defender off the board, the Kraken are probably thrilled that they got him much later than that. I love the way he runs the power play, because he commands so much attention that no opponent seems to know how to handle. Reid has an outstanding shot. He’s very deceptive with the puck, and he can get into scoring lanes quickly. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, that’s a good frame to work with. He’s also a right-shot defender – you’ve probably heard teams value that. He’s also an outstanding skater – maybe the best of any top defender in the class. Reid has a remarkable shot, and he seems to think the game at such an advanced level. He rarely makes a bad pass, and he’s so elusive when he’s skating around with the puck at speed. Reid is coming off an excellent World Junior Summer Showcase and is expected to be one of the top players at the main event in December.

2. Jake O’Brien, C, 19 (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted eighth overall, first round in 2025

Under the new NHL ruiling, O’Brien is eligible to play for the Firebirds this season, and that’s best for his development. He registered over 90 points in the OHL twice without sacrificing even a second of defensive responsibility. O’Brien got accused of passing the puck too often in the past when he should have been more active as a shooter; that feels like less of an issue now. I don’t expect O’Brien to be a first-line center, but I could see him becoming a solid secondary producer who can be relied on in a multitude of situations. Before that, though, I wouldnt’ be surprised to see him reach the 40-50-point barrier with Coachella Valley this year.

3. Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, C, 21 (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 52nd overall, second round in 2023

Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Oscar Fisker Molgaard (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

Fisker Mølgaard had a fascinating season. He played his first full year in North America, registering 10 goals and 34 points in 49 games with the Firebirds. Fisker Mølgaard also had a pair of helpers in a 13-game run with the Kraken, while also being one of Denmark’s top players at the Winter Olympics. He has played quite a bit of hockey over the past few years and has quickly established himself as one of Denmark’s most promising young players. I feel his reliable, two-way game will allow him to stick in the NHL for many years to come. It’s always a bit lame comparing a European player to a countryman, but it feels like watching a younger Lars Eller. Sure, Fisker Mølgaard might not be a high-end prospect, but he has a clear path to the NHL.

4. Jagger Firkus, RW, 22 (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 35th overall, second round in 2022

Firkus isn’t neccearily short at 5-foot-11, but he’s not physical strong and that’s something scouts have worried about. Nobody seems concerned about his brain, though; a 21-goal, 56-point sophomore AHL campaign is nothing to sneeze at. Firkus has been productive throughout his career, and it feels like now’s the time to finally give him some NHL games. His off-puck play has improved quite a bit the past few years, and he’s as offensively minded as they come. I feel much more confident that he’ll make the NHL than I did a year ago, so hopefully Seattle develops him correctly.

5. Casey Mutryn, RW, 18 (Boston College, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 38th overall, second round in 2026

Mutryn was one of my favorite American-born prospects last season, and one of the better power forwards. I like his physicality and work ethic and think that could allow him to be a decent third-liner. He’s smart, battles hard and has the ability to find chemistry with just about everyone. Although I don’t think his ceiling is that high, I feel confident Mutryn will be an NHLer. Most likely as a third- or fourth-liner who can grind it out and win most of his battles, but he’ll be a good one at that. He’s the type of guy every team wants come playoff time. I expect Mutryn to develop into an impactful bottom-six forward who gives opponents very little time to make decisions with the puck.

6. Jani Nyman, RW, 22 (Seattle Kraken)

Acquired: Drafted 49th overall, second round in 2022

Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Jani Nyman (Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images)

After two partial seasons with the Kraken, is this finally the year where he breaks through full-time? I’ve loved his game in the AHL, and think he’s got the tenacity and hard-nosed nature of the game handled to the point where he could be a solid third-line scorer. He boasts a high-end shot, and he plays with a ton of power. I feel like Nyman’s defensive game has seen some nice work over the past two years, even if it’s not something that particularly stands out. He’s better with the puck than without, and I think that could come in handy in a depth scoring role.

7. Julius Miettinen, C, 20 (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 40th overall, second round in 2024

Miettinen’s 14-goal, 27-point postseason effort earned him playoff MVP honors with Everett this past year. The 6-foot-4 center was one of the CHL’s premier forwards due to his dominance with the puck, his big frame and his excellent release. He had 35 goals and 76 points in the regular season while also serving on Finland’s top line at the World Juniors. Miettinen doesn’t lose many physical battles, and he’s a shot-generation machine, often six-plus times per game. Miettinen will get his first taste of pro hockey this year, and it shouldn’t take him long to adjust thanks to his pro-ready muscle and shot. He’s also a bit more reliable as a two-way center than many others his age, too.

8. Ty Nelson, RHD, 22 (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 20th overall, first round in 2023

Nelson was a personal favorite back in his AAA days because he was clearly so much more skilled than most other defenders. He had a productive few years in the OHL, and has put up some solid numbers in the AHL as well. At 5-foot-10, Nelson lacks ideal size, but he’s built like a tank. That’s why many believers think Nelson could end up becoming one of the small blueliners who ultimately figure it out at the next level. I love his compete level, and his skating is solid, but his defensive game leaves a lot to be desired. I think that’s the biggest thing that’s held him back from cracking the NHL, and I’m not sure his offensive abilities are good enough to overlook that. That being said, I still think he should get a look in the big leagues this year because I do think he has an interesting profile.

9. Blake Fiddler, RHD, 19 (University of Denver, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 36th, second round in 2025

Credit: Steven Ellis
Blake Fiddler (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)

On one hand, I think Fidler has a decent potential as a bottom pair defenseman who takes space away and is capable of shooting the puck. On the other hand, I was kind of hoping for a bit more improvement in this game than what we saw this year. Fiddler’s development seemed to stall a little bit last year, but he’s a strong rush defender who continues to get better on the breakout. I like his shot, and while he’s not a mean player, he can handle himself physically. There’s just nothing that really stands out about his game, and I think that’s going to hold him back from being anything more than a depth option in the NHL. That being said, I still liked the pick by Seattle, and I’m interested to see how he handles college.

10. Eduard Šalé, RW, 21 (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 20th overall, first round in 2023

Šalé saw a modest improvement offensively last year, registering 27 points as a sophomore after putting up 21 as an AHL rookie. I feel like that was always the risk in his game. Like he was not going to be an effective producer if he couldn’t play serious minutes. Šalé is definitely an NHL-caliber shooter, and he’s great at getting the puck where it needs to be. His overall game just lacks a lot of power and hockey sense, and it feels like he’s in the wrong spot way too often. The issue with Šalé is it feels like he needs to dominate offensively to be effective and that’s going to be tough to do at the NHL I’m not willing to give up on him yet due to his age, but my patience is waning a bit.

Other Prospects: Jacob Melanson, RW (23), Ryden Evers, LW (21), Nathan Villeneuve, C (20), Andrei Loshko, C (21), Carson Rehkopf, LW (21), David Goyette, C (22), Viktor Fedorov, C (18), William Tomko, C (19), Loke Krantz, RW (19), Zeb Forsfjall, C (21), Zaccharya Wisdom, RW (22), Barrett Hall, C (22), Ben MacDonald, C (22), Jakub Fibigr, LHD (20), Rylan Singh, RHD (18), Ola Palme, LHD (18), Luken Huff, RHD (20), Finn Kearns, LHD (18), Lukas Dragicevic, RHD (21), Kaden Hammell, RHD (21), Caden Price, LHD (20), Tyson Jugnauth, LHD (22), Alexis Bernier, RHD (20), Will Reynolds, LHD (18), Maxim Agafonov, RHD (19), Karl Annborn, RHD (18) Semyon Vyazovoi, G (23), Visa Vedenpaa, G (21), Kim Saarinen, G (20), Niklas Kokko, G (22)

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