Kraken Prospects Looking to Make Their Mark at Rookie Camp – The Hockey Writers – Seattle Kraken

With Seattle’s rookie camp beginning Sept. 11 and the Kraken set to face the Vancouver Canucks prospects in a two-game showcase Sept. 12 and 13 in Abbotsford, British Columbia, there will be plenty of eyes on the organization’s next wave of talent. 

Firkus Has Plenty to Prove

The biggest name among the forwards is arguably Jagger Firkus. The 2022 second-round pick enters camp after another productive season with Coachella Valley, where he recorded 21 goals and 56 points in 63 games. He was also among the American Hockey League’s (AHL) top postseason scorers. 

Firkus was expected to have a chance to make his NHL debut last season before an injury late in the year changed those plans. General manager Jason Botterill has already indicated that the organization sees him as a player capable of pushing for an NHL opportunity. That makes this rookie camp an important first step toward what could be a much bigger opportunity later in September.

Firkus will also be joined by Jani Nyman, another 2022 second-round pick who has already seen NHL action. Nyman recorded 40 NHL games entering the offseason and remains one of Seattle’s most promising young forwards thanks to his size and scoring ability. 

Mølgaard Could Be One to Watch

Oscar Fisker Mølgaard might be one of the most interesting players on the entire roster. The 2023 second-round pick appeared in 13 NHL games last season after transitioning to North American hockey. He also represented Denmark at the 2026 Winter Olympics, adding another significant experience to a resume that already includes several years playing professionally in Europe. 

Mølgaard’s two-way game could make him a good candidate to crack the roster as Seattle evaluates its younger forwards. Botterill has already praised his hockey sense and versatility, calling him an NHL player following his first season in the organization. 

A Chance for the Next Wave

There are plenty of other forwards worth watching, too — Carson Rehkopf, David Goyette, Eduard Sale, Andrei Loshko and Nathan Villeneuve all have experience in the Kraken organization and will be looking to separate themselves from the pack.

Jake O’Brien is another name to watch. The 2025 first-round pick is coming off his first season with the Brantford Bulldogs and will be among the younger players trying to make an impression against more experienced prospects.

The roster also includes invitees Ryden Evers and Brody Gillespie, giving the group a couple of players who can potentially make a case for themselves outside of the organization’s traditional prospect pipeline.

Defense Could Steal the Show

The defensive group is perhaps the most compelling part of the roster from a developmental standpoint.

Finn Kearns, Seattle’s 2026 fifth-round pick, is the youngest defenseman on the roster at just 18 years old. He’ll be joined by fellow 2026 draft pick Rylan Singh, along with Will Reynolds, Alexis Bernier, Caden Price, Kaden Hammel, Lukas Dragicevic, Ty Nelson and Tyson Jugnauth.

Jugnauth and Nelson are particularly compelling because both are further along in their development after spending last season with Coachella Valley.

The Kraken have invested heavily in their defensive prospect pool, including five defensemen selected in the 2026 Draft. Rookie camp won’t feature all of them, but the presence of Kearns and Singh offers an early look at Seattle’s newest defensive additions. 

Two Goaltenders, Plenty of Intrigue

There are only two goaltenders on the roster, but both are worth watching. Nikke Kokko has already appeared in the NHL and remains one of the organization’s most important goaltending prospects. Maks Corovic, meanwhile, enters as an invitee after spending last season with Collingwood and Brantford in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Kokko’s presence gives Seattle a goaltender with professional experience, while Corovic has a chance to make a strong first impression against Vancouver’s prospects.

The First Test of a Big September

The rookie showcase will be especially important this year because Seattle has fewer preseason games to evaluate its younger players.

The Kraken will play in two prospect showcase games, followed by only four preseason games before beginning an 84-game regular season, meaning opportunities for prospects to make an impression during the exhibition schedule will be limited. Botterill has already acknowledged that the shortened preseason will force the organization to make decisions quickly. 

That makes the rookie showcase more than just an early September tune-up.

For players like Firkus, Nyman and Fisker Mølgaard, it is the beginning of another opportunity to show the Kraken they are ready for something bigger. For the younger prospects, it is a chance to prove they belong in the conversation. With Seattle’s NHL roster becoming more dependent on young players, there may be a few names from this group who become much more familiar to Kraken fans sooner rather than later.