Add another name to potential Seattle Kraken choices with their 1st round pick at next month’s NHL Draft. ESPN’s Rachel Kryshak predicts the Kraken will use their 7th overall pick on U. of North Dakota defenseman Keaton Verhoeff.
“The Kraken need high-end talent on the back end, and Verhoeff was thought of as a top-two prospect in this draft class not long ago.
“He’s big, he skates well and he’s right-handed. With many high-potential forwards in the organization, the Kraken finally add a foundational piece to their blue line.
“Verhoeff has comparables to Aaron Ekblad and Thomas Harley.
“If Verhoeff remains on the board when Seattle is up, it is hard to imagine a scenario where the Kraken pass on him, given their lack of a bona fide prospect on defense and Verhoeff’s potential to be on the top pairing.”
Firebirds’ Avon Rings The Bell Again
The AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds play Game 3 of their Pacific Division Final series against the Colorado Eagles on Sunday. The series is tied, 1-1.
J.R. Avon was the offensive star in the Firebirds’ 4-0 shutout in Game 2, scoring two 3rd period goals. He’s now up to seven playoff goals in 10 games.
Avon also played hero in Round 2. He scored the double-OT series-winner in the deciding Game 5 against the Ontario Reign. That was his 4th goal of that series, against the Pacific Division’s top team. What makes this more remarkable is that a lower body injury limited Avon to 10 goals in 45 regular season games.
Here’s a few other leftover bites from CV’s dethroning of the Reign:
- The Firebirds killed all nine Ontario power plays in the series
- Jani Nyman scored his eighth goal in 24 career games against the Reign
- CV coach Derek Laxdall: “Winning in double-overtime says a lot about the character of our group”
- Reign coach Andrew Lord: “It’s a cruel game, extremely cruel”
Will Kraken Wave Bye-Bye To Bernier?
The Everett Silvertips, newly crowned WHL champions, will begin Memorial Cup play on Saturday, May 23 against the QMJHL champion. If that turns out to be the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, it will also match Seattle Kraken 2024 draft picks.
Silvertips center Julius Miettinen (2nd round) on Friday was named MVP of the WHL playoffs. The task of defending him in the Memorial Cup could fall to another Kraken prospect, Chicoutimi defenseman Alexis Bernier (3rd round).
Chicoutimi leads the Moncton Wildcats 3-2, and can wrap up the QMJHL title in Sunday’s Game 6. The Kraken, however, may never really know what they had in Bernier.
In 2024-25 with Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL, Bernier scored 14 goals and 46 points in 59 games. His season was cut short by a torn ACL. Although traded to Chicoutimi, Bernier’s lengthy rehab allowed him to play only 21 regular-season games. Sunday, Bernier will play in his 20th postseason contest.
Here’s the rub: the Kraken have never signed Bernier to an entry-level contract. Because of his lengthy injury absence, the club may be hesitant to do so. If Seattle doesn’t offer a contract by June 1, Bernier is eligible to enter the 2026 draft, or become a free agent.
K.C. Mavericks Complete Back-To-Back Playoff Sweeps
The Seattle Kraken’s ECHL farm team, the Kansas City Mavericks, completed a four-game sweep of the Mountain Division Finals Saturday. Jackson Jutting’s hat trick led KC to a 5-3 victory over the Allen Americans in the series-clinching Game 4. The Mavs will face the winner of the Fort Wayne-Toledo series in the Kelly Cup semifinals.
In Wednesday’s Game 3, Bobo Carpenter scored a hat trick of his own as Kansas City beat Allen 7-4. Game 2 proved much more of a defensive battle, which the Mavericks won 1-0 despite being “outscored” 2-1.
As Allen’s website explains, “The Americans thought they had a (2nd period) goal, but it was reviewed for goalie interference and wiped out. The 3rd period brought more frustration. The Americans thought they tied the score only to have a review call result in no goal.”
As a final insult, Jack Randl’s game-winning 3rd period goal for K.C. was also reviewed for goalie interference – and allowed to stand.
Good Thing Mavericks Are Jinx-Proof
K.C. is now a perfect 8-0 in the postseason. They finished 1st in the ECHL regular season, with 55 wins and 115 points.
A season so spectacular, the Mavericks even overcame a 2nd round jinx. As we previously reported, had Games 6 and 7 been necessary, scheduling conflicts would have prevented the Mavericks from playing at their normal home rink.
The team, arena operator, and city of Independence worked together to clear dates so the Mavericks can play Western Conference Final home games at Cable Dahmer Arena. That’s when assistant city manager Charlie Dissell opened mouth and inserted foot.
“There were some real scheduling conflicts to work through. We’re excited to welcome fans back for the next round as the Mavericks advance.”
Dissell made those remarks BEFORE the start of their series against Allen. You’ll never get to be city manager that way, Charlie.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken AHL’ers Flip The Script; Win 4-0
Earlier Canucks:
— Simmer’s Huge Holiday 9; Kraken, Canucks And Women’s Pucks
