Shane Wright and Ryker Evans<\/a> to the big team a year ago, I\u2019m not sure we\u2019ll see any prospects become full-time NHLers in 2025-26. Still, it\u2019s a pipeline you can easily get excited about.<\/p>\nBiggest Strength<\/p>\n
The Kraken have plenty of forward depth, especially on the wings. Firkus looks like a potential top-six winger \u2013 someone who can obliterate goalies with pinpoint-accurate wristers. Jani Nyman has size, Eduard \u0160al\u00e9 has skill and Ryan Winterton has the defensive awareness you crave deep in the pipeline. Even Carson Rehkopf can play on the wing if needed. That\u2019s the type of positional strength that could come in handy at the NHL Trade Deadline.<\/p>\n
Biggest Weakness<\/p>\n
Have the Kraken found their first homegrown starting goalie yet? I like Kokko, but I\u2019m not sure he\u2019s a No. 1 at the next level. That\u2019s the same for the rest of the pipeline, outside of some flashes of skill from Visa Vedenpaa and Kim Saarinen. Semyon Vyazovoi has looked good in Russia, especially later in the year. But is he a future NHLer? I\u2019m not convinced.<\/p>\n
Fast Facts:
NHL GM: Jason Botterill
Dir. of Amateur Scouting:\u00a0Robert Kron
Dir. of Player Development:\u00a0Cory Murphy
AHL\u00a0Affiliate:\u00a0Coachella Valley Firebirds
ECHL Affiliate:\u00a0Kansas City Mavericks<\/p>\n
TOP 10 PROSPECTS<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754653391_870_image\")
Berkly Catton (Steven Ellis\/The Nation Network)<\/p>\n
1. Berkly Catton, C, 19 (Spokane Chiefs, WHL)<\/p>\n
Acquired: Drafted eighth overall, first round in 2024<\/p>\n
Catton signed his NHL entry-level contract way before the NCAA started allowing CHLers. The timing is unfortunate, as I\u2019m unsure what he has left to accomplish in Spokane after registering over 100 points for the second consecutive year. Seriously, he just had 42 points in 20 playoff games with Spokane \u2013\u00a0absolutely bonkers. I wonder how long Catton will last at Seattle\u2019s training camp because he\u2019s easily one of the top prospects in hockey and has the skill and the hockey sense to play pro hockey immediately. Given the lack of off-season moves by the team, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if Catton is given a sizeable role out of training camp.<\/p>\n
2. Jake O\u2019Brien, C, 18 (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL)<\/p>\n
Acquired: Drafted eighth overall, first round in 2025<\/p>\n
I think this could end up becoming a steal in a 2025 re-draft one day. O\u2019Brien has the skills and the smarts to be a very impressive center in the NHL. His off-puck play is great, and he\u2019s always out-thinking his opponents. O\u2019Brien just fell short of 100 points with 98, but he only continued to get better as the season wore on. He\u2019s never going to blow you away with his pure skill, but his work ethic and ability to be effective in all three zones will allow him to have a solid career. The baseline is impressive, and while O\u2019Brien might not have the highest floor, I can\u2019t see him being anything less than a second-line NHL center.<\/p>\n
3. Jagger Firkus, RW, 21 (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL)<\/p>\n
Acquired: Drafted 35th overall, second round in 2022<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754653391_501_image\")
Jagger Firkus (Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports)<\/p>\n
Firkus was explosive in junior hockey, highlighted by a wild 61-goal, 126-point campaign to close out his tenure with the Moose Jaw Warriors. He\u2019s coming off his first year of pro hockey with Coachella Valley, where he had a decent 15 goals and 36 points. Given what we\u2019ve come to expect from him, the season felt a bit underwhelming for Firkus. But I\u2019m not worried. He\u2019s a gifted goal-scorer who spends so much time generating quality chances. He has continued to gain confidence against tougher competition while adding some muscle, too. I expect him to get 50 points this year with the Firebirds, which would perhaps put him on the map for an NHL roster spot in 2026-27.<\/p>\n
4. Carson Rehkopf, C\/LW, 20 (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL)<\/p>\n
Acquired: Drafted 50th overall, second round in 2023<\/p>\n
Rehkopf had yet another productive OHL season, scoring 42 goals and 86 points with the Brampton Steelheads. It was a nine-point drop from the previous year in Kitchener, but he didn\u2019t have to be \u201cthe guy\u201d each night, especially with Porter Martone by his side. I still can\u2019t believe Dave Cameron didn\u2019t play the pair together at the World Juniors \u2013 they never even played in the same game! Regardless, Rehkopf is a productive forward who I hope continues with that trend in the AHL. I\u2019m a bit worried his game won\u2019t fully translate to the NHL, but I\u2019m still intrigued to see him in the AHL after watching him pummel OHL goaltenders for close to half a decade.<\/p>\n
5. Blake Fiddler, RHD (Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL)<\/p>\n
Acquired: Drafted 36th, second round in 2025<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard not to notice the 6-foot-5 Fiddler out there. He\u2019s a big-bodied defender who clears forwards away from his net and pushes opponents to the perimeter.\u00a0Fiddler is mobile, and while he isn\u2019t the quickest defender overall, he moves well for his size. Fiddler isn\u2019t going to be a top-pairing blueliner, but his size and hockey IQ should allow him to have a solid career. This year, Fiddler will look to add more consistency while also chasing a spot on USA\u2019s World Junior roster. I do wonder if he\u2019ll go spend a year in college after his junior career before turning pro \u2013 it wouldn\u2019t hurt his confidence with the puck.<\/p>\n
6. Oscar Fisker M\u00f8lgaard, C, 20 (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL)<\/p>\n
Acquired: Drafted 52nd overall, second round in 2023<\/p>\n
![\"Oscar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754653391_146_image\")
Oscar Fisker Molgaard (Steven Ellis\/Daily Faceoff)<\/p>\n
M\u00f8lgaard\u2019s usefulness goes far beyond the scoresheet. He had a good year with HV71, and he even saw his first AHL action in Coachella Valley. His best hockey came at the end of the year, though, when he put up seven points in 10 games to help Denmark finish fourth place \u2013 the best result ever for the Danish team. It was a massive showing for the two-way forward, who beats you with speed and hockey sense. M\u00f8lgaard might not be the most skilled forward, but I like how he outthinks opponents under pressure, especially when trying to get the puck out of the zone on a penalty kill. I think M\u00f8lgaard will be a solid bottom-six forward in the next couple of years.<\/p>\n
7. Jani Nyman, RW, 21 (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL)<\/p>\n
Acquired: Drafted 49th overall, second round in 2022<\/p>\n
Nyman was one of the most productive players in the top Finnish league two years ago, and that momentum carried over to the AHL. He scored 28 goals and 44 points in his first year of North American pro hockey, and even had another six points in 12 NHL games. Nyman is huge at 6-foot-4 and over 215 pounds, but he also moves with the puck better than most players his size. Nyman isn\u2019t a high-end skater and I think that\u2019ll hurt him in the long run. But I also expect him to become a middle-six power forward who might not drive the play, but he\u2019ll make your line more difficult to contain.<\/p>\n
8. Eduard \u0160al\u00e9, RW, 20 (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL)<\/p>\n
Acquired: Drafted 20th overall, first round in 2023<\/p>\n
\u0160al\u00e9 has always felt like a boom-bust prospect. On one hand, we\u2019ve seen him absolutely dominate his age group, both domestically and internationally. But we\u2019ve also seen far too many inconsistent stretches where his play starts to lose its luster. \u0160al\u00e9 had a bit of a difficult first year in the AHL, registering just six goals and 21 points in 51 games. On the other hand, he had an excellent showing at the World Juniors with Czechia. Given he spent most of his 19-year-old year playing in the AHL, he\u2019s already farther ahead in his development than many others. And yet, he\u2019s still so young. So there\u2019s plenty of runway for \u0160al\u00e9 to establish himself as a top prospect, but I\u2019m just not 100 percent convinced he\u2019ll be a top-six threat like some thought he would be in 2023.<\/p>\n
9. Ryan Winterton, RW, 21 (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL)<\/p>\n
Acquired: Drafted 67th overall, third round in 2021<\/p>\n
After missing significant time due to COVID-19 and injury issues during his junior hockey career, Winterton has developed into a solid prospect for the Kraken. His numbers have remained in the 35-37 range over his two AHL campaigns, but he has developed good pro-level habits that suggest he\u2019ll carve out a solid career in the bottom six. Winterton blocks shots, battles hard along the boards, and plays a strong defensive game. His reliability will take him far, and I think he\u2019s going to be a decent NHLer, even if the ceiling isn\u2019t that high.<\/p>\n
10. Ty Nelson, RHD, 21 (Coachella Valley Firebirds, AHL) <\/p>\n
Acquired: Drafted 68th overall, third round in 2022<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754653392_330_image\")
Ty Nelson (Andy Abeyta\/The Desert Sun\/USA TODAY NETWORK)<\/p>\n
Nelson put up solid numbers in his first year of pro hockey, registering 32 points in 72 games. He has always been on the smaller side at 5-foot-10, but you\u2019re never going to find a prospect his size with that much muscle. He hits hard, and often. His defensive-zone coverage can leave a bit to be desired, but the fact he\u2019s so skilled with the puck, can play the power play and can hold his own physically makes me think he\u2019ll be one of the few smaller defenders to really make it work. Not everyone\u2019s going to be Lane Hutson \u2013 he\u2019s special in that regard. But as smaller players are forced to become more physical, I like what Nelson brings to the table.<\/p>\n
The rest: David Goyette, C (21), Nathan Villeneuve, C (19), Tucker Robertson, C (22), Lleyton Roed, LW (22), Andrei Loshko, C (20), Jacob Melanson, RW (22), Loke Krantz, RW (18), Clarke Caswell, LW (19), Ollie Josephson, C (19), Julius Miettinen, C (19), Zaccharaya Wisdom, RW (21), Barrett Hall, C (21), Ben MacDonald, C (21), Will Reynolds, LHD (17), Maxim Agafonov, RHD (18), Karl Annborn, RHD (18), Jakub Fibigr, LHD (19), Tyson Jugnauth, LHD (21), Lukas Dragicevic, RHD (20), Ville Ottavainen, RHD (22), Kaden Hammell, RHD (20), Caden Price, LHD (19), Victor Ostman, G (24), Niklas Kokko, G, (21), Visa Vedenpaa, G (20), Kim Saarinen, G (19), Semyon Vyazovoi, G (22)<\/p>\n
SPONSORED BY bet365<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Welcome back. It\u2019s time for Daily Faceoff\u2019s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":67502,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[385,99],"class_list":["post-67501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-nhl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67501"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67501\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}