Seattle Kraken GM Jason Botterill’s pursuit this off-season is no secret. Says TSN’s Darren Dreger, “What they’d like to do is add some forwards.”
It’s also no secret why that pursuit will be such a challenge. “Everybody seems to want that. In a perfect world, there’d be guys with some credentials of putting the puck in the net at the NHL level. One or two to take some of the heat off of Shane Wright and Berkly Catton. These are two young forwards that are still very much in the development stage.”
Can’t Buy Me Love
Nick Kypreos of the Real Kyper & Bourne podcast identified another Seattle challenge. “Convincing players to come at all.
“At this year’s trade deadline, Botterill had a keen interest in Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas from St. Louis, but couldn’t get them interested in lifting their no-move clauses. Seattle did receive permission from the New York Rangers to offer (Artemi) Panarin a contract extension that included a higher AAV than Leon Draisaitl’s $14 million (in Edmonton), but Panarin also had no interest in going there.
“According to one NHL executive, the Kraken actually thought they had a deal done with Nashville to give up a 2nd and 3rd-rounder for Erik Haula. However, there was never a trade call, and there’s no indication why the deal didn’t happen. It should be noted, however, that Haula has partial no-trade protection.”
Shallow Free-Agent Pool
Botterill himself pointed out a third hurdle at his end-of-season press conference. “With the free agent market this year, we’ll continue to be aggressive. But there’s not a plethora of players out there, certainly high end players, because teams have had the cap space to resign their own guys. It just goes to show you the importance of of drafting and development.”
Kraken Scouts Putting In The Miles
On the topic of drafting, Botterill explained how the Kraken yo-yo-ing up and down the standings last season kept his scouting staff on their toes.
“We were in a playoff position for a long time. From that standpoint, you’re staring at pick 17 to 25 or something like that. Now we’re having a pick in the top eight. So they’ve had to be covered. We also have Tampa Bay’s first round pick, so (Kraken scouts) have had to look all over.”
Some of Botterill’s scouts are in Slovakia for the IIHF Under-18 World Championship, which runs through May 2. They’ll return to Seattle for strategy meetings to finalize their draft board. Although the 2026 NHL Draft will be held June 26-27 at KeyBank Center, home of the Sabres, picks will again this year be announced remotely from each team’s headquarters.
What’s In A (Draft) Name?
As always, most teams will draft the best player available. Some will draft for need. None will draft based on a player’s name – but maybe they should. Here’s a list of actual draft-eligible prospects from NHL Central Scouting, and which clubs should grab them.
Only One Team Allowed To Select Them
- Caleb Pittsley – Pittsburgh
- Jet Kwajah – Winnipeg
- Theodor Knights – Vegas
- AJ Francisco – San Jose
- Shaan Kingwell – Los Angeles
Okay, Three Teams Can Draft Him
- Ryder Cali – Sharks, Ducks or Kings
Would Go Well With Leafs’ ‘Milk’ Helmet
- David Bosco – Toronto
All-Name NHL Draft Picks Based On Need
Ready For Romance
- Adam Valentini
- Michael Newlove
Player Teams Can Build Around
- Peter Legostaev
Announcers Fear Him
- Landon Nycz
Bend It Like Edwards?
- Beckham Edwards
A Crime If He Doesn’t Wear #15
- Xavier Villeneuve (X.V.)
“Looks like the innocent flower, but is the serpent underneath.”
- Benjamin Macbeth
May Need Special Pregame Meals
- Ethan Belchetz
- JP Hurlbert
- Malcom Gastrin
Nickname Should Be ‘Kernel’
- Kornei Korneyev
Guaranteed Future Team Captain
- Alexander Command
Name Continues On Next Uniform
- Alan Shaikhlislamov
Kraken Attackin’
“These kraken must have been a fearsome sight to behold.”
Finally, someone waxing eloquent on Kraken virtues. This insightful individual is Adiel Klompmaker, a paleontologist quoted by Associated Press.
Unfortunately, Adiel wasn’t describing older Kraken like Jordan Eberle or Jamie Oleksiak. He was referencing really, really old, like 100 million years old, kraken. New research indicates an ancient octopus up to 60 feet long ruled the deep in the age of dinosaurs.
Earlier Kraken:
— Simmer’s 9 – New Kraken Rinks, 45 shots!, Utah Boys
