Seattle Kraken sign forward Jagger Firkus to entry-level contract

The Seattle Kraken have signed forward prospect Jagger Firkus to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced Thursday evening.

Firkus, 18, collected 40 goals and 88 points in 66 games with the Western Hockey League’s Moose Jaw Warriors during the 2022–23 regular season. He added 10 goals and 21 points in 10 contests during the 2023 playoffs.

The Kraken originally selected Firkus in the second round (No. 35 overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. In conjunction with his entry-level contract, Firkus has joined the American Hockey League’s Coachella Valley Firebirds on an amateur tryout agreement.

Firkus’ deal with the Kraken could theoretically take effect in 2023–24, although it’ll be eligible to slide by a year in the likely event he plays fewer than 10 NHL games next season.

Firkus emerged as a top contributor with the Warriors during the 2021–22 season. The five-foot-ten winger, who shoots right, collected 36 goals and 80 points in 66 games with Moose Jaw during his draft year.

The Kraken made Firkus their second draft pick in 2022, 31 spots after they selected Shane Wright from the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs. The Irma, Alberta product was one of 11 WHL players to score 40 goals in the 2022–23 regular season.

Firkus remains tied for the league lead with 10 goals in the 2023 WHL playoffs despite his Warriors being eliminated by the Winnipeg Ice in the second round. The 2004-born Firkus still has two years of WHL eligibility ahead of him, although he may elect to turn pro as a 20-year-old in 2024–25.

For now, Firkus will join a Coachella Valley team that is tied 1–1 in its AHL Pacific Division semifinal playoff series against the Colorado Eagles. Game 3 of that series is slated to take place at 3:00 p.m. PT on Sunday afternoon.