The Seattle Kraken picked Chase Reid from the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League with the 7th-overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.
The right-shot defenseman brings a solid two-way game to the table and is renown for his determination and resilience. Cut from various teams as a young teen, draft pundits continue to remind us of his battle level and his competitiveness.
“I think we have an incredible young talent in our line-up,” Sault Ste. Marie head coach John Dean told the Greyhounds Gazette midway through Reid’s rookie OHL season. “He has great instincts for the game that go along with an elite shot, high hockey intelligence and he’s a beautiful skater.”
The blueliner continued to get stronger and improve, with 40 and then 48 points in his two OHL seasons.
Elite Prospects described Reid this way for their draft preview:
“At his best, Reid controls the full ice. He carries the puck across zones, evading opponents like they’re not even there, breaks into the offensive zone, and then finds the quickest way to a scoring chance.”
The Michigan native becomes the first D-man the Kraken have ever taken in the first round. He’ll play next season at Michigan State University in the Big Ten.
Seattle also had the 25th-overall pick in the draft, acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in March of 2025. They moved that selection earlier this week to the Florida Panthers for Mackie Samoskevich.
The picks ahead of the Kraken’s at the 2026 NHL Draft:
1) Toronto Maple Leafs – Gavin McKenna – LW – Penn State (Big 10)
2) San Jose Sharks – Ivar Stenberg – LW – Frolunda (Swedish Hockey League)
3) Vancouver Canucks – Caleb Malhotra – LHC – Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
4) Buffalo Sabres – Daxon Rudolph – RHD – Prince Albert (WHL)
5) New York Rangers – Alberts Smits – LHD – Munich (DEL – German pro league)
6) Calgary Flames – Carson Carels – LHD – Prince George (WHL)
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Resolve To Take Best Shot In 2026-’27
