For the second straight year, prospects from the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks will do battle in a pair of “Prospect Showcase” games. This season, the contests will be played at Rogers Forum in Abbotsford, BC, home of the Canucks AHL farm team.
Dates and times:
- Saturday, Sept. 12 at 4:00 pm
- Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1:00 pm
Tickets for the general public go on sale beginning Monday, August 10. Rosters haven’t been announced. It’s not certain the Showcase will continue past this season, because the original agreement between the franchises called for a two year commitment.
Last year’s games were played in the Seattle area. The Kraken won in Everett, the Canucks victorious at Kraken Community Iceplex.
Kraken Goalies After Daccord & Grubauer
Also uncertain is whether any Kraken goalies in the Showcase will ever make a significant impact in the NHL.
“I don’t think so,” writes Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff. “While Niklas Kokko has upside, I’m skeptical he projects as a legitimate NHL No. 1, let alone a reliable full-time backup. The rest of the pipeline inspires similar doubts; aside from occasional flashes of brilliance from Visa Vedenpää and Kim Saarinen, the depth feels lackluster. Over in Russia, Semyon Vyazovoi had an excellent year in the KHL, so there’s some promise there.”
Kraken GM Trusting The Process
Turning any prospect into an NHLer is “a process,” says Kraken general manager Jason Botterill. “We have a lot of players on the cusp of being ready. These are discussions (coach) Lane (Lambert) and I continue to have, putting players in different roles and roles where they can have success.”
The GM named players at various developmental stages. “Jacob Melanson or Ryan Winterton, they weren’t ready until last year, right? What’s exciting now is whether it’s Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, Jani Nyman, (Jagger) Firkus, these young players are ready. We’re excited about a Julius Miettinen or a (Blake) Fiddler, but they’re not ready for the National Hockey League right now. It’s a process.”
Trade Paid Dividends For Firebirds
A 2022 4th round Kraken draft pick has changed pro organizations for the second time. “The Bakersfield Condors, AHL affiliates of the Edmonton Oilers, have signed center Tucker Robertson to a one-year, one-way AHL contract,” reports Pro Hockey Rumors.
After two seasons with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Seattle traded Robertson last September to Philadelphia in exchange for J.R. Avon. “A top scorer and league champion in the OHL, Robertson wasn’t able to translate his scoring from juniors to the professional level.”
Avon came alive in last spring’s AHL playoffs, scoring seven goals for the Firebirds, including one in double overtime to win a playoff series over the Ontario Reign.
Earlier Seattle:
— Kraken’s Lindgren Quietly Operates In His Prime
