Will the Kraken's young prospects push the team to the cup?

Contents

- First Thoughts
- U-23 Players Likely to Be on the NHL Roster
- 2024 NHL Draft Class
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
- Next Man Up: Shane Wright, C
- Prospect Depth Chart Notables

In this series, Tony Ferrari delves into the Kraken's strengths and weaknesses, provides a quick overview of their latest draft class, examines the team's positional depth chart, and identifies who might be next in line for an NHL opportunity.

A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, except in very specific cases.

The Seattle Kraken have only had four drafts to build up a prospect pool from scratch, yet they have already assembled an impressive array of young talent. With Matty Beniers, the Kraken's first pick in franchise history, leading the charge on the NHL roster, and more young talent emerging, the Kraken could be a formidable team in the coming years.

Shane Wright was one of the most outstanding players from his birth year, granted Exceptional Status into the OHL, and he lived up to the hype with exceptional numbers. Wright plays a tactical and methodical game, focusing on smart passes and small plays that lead to significant results. Positioned behind Beniers in Seattle, Wright can develop without the pressure of being . Wright is poised to be the Kraken's long-term 2C.

- Shane Wright (C)
- Tye Kartye (C)
- Matty Beniers (C)

- Round 1, 8th overall - Berkly Catton, C, Spokane (WHL)
- Round 2, 40th overall - Julius Miettinen, C, Everett (WHL)
- Round 2, 63rd overall - Nathan Villeneuve, C/W, Sudbury (OHL)
- Round 3, 73rd overall - Alexis Bernier, RD, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
- Round 3, 88th overall - Kim Saarinen, G, HPK (Fin.-Jr)
- Round 4, 105th overall - Ollie Josephson, C, Red Deer (WHL)
- Round 5, 141st overall - Clarke Caswell, LW, Swift Current (WHL)
- Round 7, 202nd overall - Jakub Fibigr, LD, Mississauga (OHL)

The Kraken did a stellar job at the draft in Vegas, making high-upside picks and selecting players who fell throughout the draft. They started strong by selecting high-octane center Berkly Catton with the eighth overall pick. Catton, a lethal playmaker in junior hockey, scored over 50 goals despite his smaller stature.

In the second round, the Kraken selected Finnish center Julius Miettinen, known for his 200-foot game and offensive potential through solid defensive play. They also picked Nathan Villeneuve, a gritty forward from the Sudbury Wolves, who is relentless in his pursuit of the puck.

The center depth in the Kraken's prospect pool is impressive. With Shane Wright likely making the NHL jump this season and Berkly Catton newly added, the team has a strong core of centers. Miettinen and Fisker Molgaard profile as solid third-line centers, while David Goyette's playmaking ability could see him on the wing. The depth down the middle features players with varied skill sets, showcasing the rapid build-up of talent at a crucial position.

While the Kraken's prospect pool is robust, the left side of their defense pipeline is somewhat underwhelming. Ryker Evans and Caden Price are decent depth options but require further development. Jakub Fibigr, a solid late-round pick, remains a project. Adding a high-caliber, left-shot defenseman would be a strategic move in the next draft.

When Shane Wright fell to the Kraken at fourth overall, the team was ecstatic. Once considered a can't-miss prospect, Wright's trajectory changed after a missed season due to COVID-19 and a good, but not great, draft year. His NHL stint towards the end of last season was promising, suggesting he is ready for a solid first full season as one of Seattle's middle-six centers.

LW: Carson Rehkopf, Clarke Caswell, Justin Janicke

C: Shane Wright, Berkly Catton, Julius Miettinen, David Goyette, Oscar Fisker Molgaard, Nathan Villeneuve, Ollie Josephson, Tucker Robertson, Ryan Winterton

RW: Jagger Firkus, Eduard Sale, Andrei Loshko, Jacob Melanson, Jani Nyman

LD: Ryker Evans, Caden Price, Jakub Fibigr, Tyson Jugnauth

RD: Ty Nelson, Lukas Dragicevic, Ville Ottavainen, Alexis Bernier

G: Niklas Kokko, Kim Saarinen, Visa Vedenpaa, Semyon Vyazovoy

The future looks bright for the Kraken, with a well-rounded prospect pool ready to push the team to new heights.