Seattle Kraken Draft Choice On His Dark Days
Meeting one’s Waterloo refers to “Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, Belgium, in 1815, marking the end of his military domination of Europe.” The sports metaphor signals an unconquerable obstacle.
Guess where 2026 Kraken 1st round selection Chase Reid almost met his in 2023. Waterloo, Iowa – whose naming had absolutely nothing to do with General Bonaparte.
“I went into training camp for Waterloo,” Reid recalled in a KJR-FM interview, speaking about the USHL Black Hawks. “I didn’t have my best camp, but I still thought they’d give me an opportunity to go out there and just maybe show my skills and go out there and prove myself.
“But they never gave me the chance. I got scratched, got sent down to the North American League, played in Bismarck for about a month and a half, and then made the jump to the Soo.”
The 6-foot-3, 195 pound defenseman unlocked his potential in two seasons with the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He notched 48 points, including 18 goals, in just 45 games last year. The Kraken noticed.
Kraken Director Says Reid ‘Does It All’
Corey Murphy, Kraken director of player development, liked everything he saw of Reid at camp earlier this month. “We got an impression of what he can do. You can tell he wants to be on the ice. It was impressive to see the demeanor and the skills up close and personal.
“Just an elite player, really does it all and plays with confidence. He’s a guy that really controls the game in all areas, plays a ton. Just a fantastic kid. The only place in the world he wants to be is out on that ice. And he came in with a great attitude and soaked it all in. Really impressive.”
Thomas Hickey of NHL Network believes Reid’s tough climb through the amateur ranks can help him eventually earn a spot in Seattle. “That’s going to serve him well in the future when he’s going to be doubted again. It happens to every player. You sort of have that muscle memory, that feeling of rejection, and you know how to turn it around.
“It’s a group that’s looking for goals. For them to get a guy that many would say has the highest ceiling offensively (among blueliners), his profile seems to fit what Seattle needs.”
Skating Coach Saw Him First
“The way he handled himself out there, even as a kid, was so different,” says Reid’s longtime skating coach Mindy Priskey. Reid was just six years old when he became one of Priskey’s pupils on skates. “He always wanted to do more,” the coach told WXYZ-TV in Detroit. “‘Coach, can I do one more? Can I do one more?'”
A dozen years later, the Kraken are hoping Reid will soon be the difference-maker they’ve been looking for.
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