Kraken select Blake Fiddler No. 36 overall in 2025 NHL Draft

The Seattle Kraken selected defenseman Blake Fiddler with the 36th overall pick on Saturday at The Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Fiddler spent the 2024-25 season in the Western Hockey League with the Edmonton Oil Kings, tallying 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points in 64 games. Fiddler added one assist in seven WHL playoff contests.

The Nashville native started the season with the U.S. National U-18 Team before making the transfer to the CHL. Fiddler would go on to represent the USA at the Under-18 Men’s Championship, scoring two goals and three points in seven games. He also captained Team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. 

Fiddler is also the son of former NHLer Vernon Fiddler, who had stops in Dallas, Nashville, Phoenix and New Jersey. 

Fiddler was ranked No. 26 by Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis in his Final Top 120. “Standing tall at 6-foot-4, Fiddler is a big-bodied defender who clears forwards away from his net and pushes opponents to the perimeter. Fiddler averaged around 22 minutes a night this year and looked good with the puck. He’s mobile, and while he isn’t the quickest defender overall, he moves well for his size. Fiddler isn’t going to be a top-pairing blueliner, but his size and hockey IQ should allow him to have a solid career. I wouldn’t be surprised if he fell a bit at this point so a team could bank higher on a more skilled forward, but I think Fiddler would be a good value pick late in the first.”

Fiddler is expected to return to the WHL and play another full season with the Oil Kings this fall. His mobility, physicality, and IQ are all tools that he possesses that could make him a top-four defenseman in the future. Fiddler has the potential to expand his offensive game at the professional level, and as he continues to develop in the WHL in 2025-26.

SPONSORED BY bet365