Seattle Kraken Get Lucky At #7
When a Jason Robertson window closes, a Chase Reid door opens.
On Thursday, the Kraken were willing to part with the 7th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, as part of a package to acquire signing rights to Dallas Stars 45-goal scorer Robertson. Except the talented forward turned down Seattle’s $120 million offer.
So on Friday at the NHL Draft in Buffalo, the Kraken instead spent the pick on Reid, a young stud defenseman. It’s the first time in six drafts Seattle hasn’t chosen a forward in the 1st round. The 18-year-old from Chesterfield, Mich., a Michigan State commit, played the last two seasons with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds.
“We’re ecstatic. There was a lot of emotion in the room,” Kraken general manager Jason Botterill said when his staff realized Reid was available. “Offensive upside, size, great skater, will fit well with (Kraken coach) Lane (Lambert’s) system.” Botterill joked about making “the classic GM (quote), ‘I can’t believe he was there.'”
ESPN agreed. “No way Seattle though Chase Reid was going to be there at seven,” said anchor John Buccigross on ESPN’s draft telecast. “He’s the best skater of this group,” added analyst Meghan Chayka. “He sets up players a lot. A great passer. (The Kraken) were missing a blue chip D prospect. This is that guy.”
According to the Detroit Free Press, the right-shot Reid “was considered a top-five prospect and the top-rated defenseman by many NHL experts heading into the draft. Reid also represented the United States at the World Junior Championships, notching two goals and two assists in five games.”
“When you watch video of him,” Botterill said after the selection, “Chase always has his head up. For being such a young player on Team USA, he was able to make that transition to international hockey so quickly.”
Kraken Prospect Making First Visit To Seattle
As for Reid himself, “I’m super happy to go to Seattle. I can’t wait to get started.” He flies in Saturday for his first ever visit to the Emerald City. Kraken brass will get an on-ice look at the 6-foot-3, 195 pound Reid – and fans can too – at development camp, June 30-July 2 at Kraken Community Iceplex. Then Reid will be heading to East Lansing, Mich., where the defenseman has committed to play for the Spartans.
“I have a lot of faith in (MSU) coach (Adam) Nightingale,” Botterill said, “making that an elite program. Their style of play makes it easy for players to transition to the National Hockey League. Chase is going to continue to work on his development. With defensemen, you want to take your time. He’ll turn pro when we feel he’s ready to step in.”
Botterill played four years of college hockey for Spartans Big 10 rival University of Michigan (1993-97). “It’s tough for me, a proud Wolverine, to draft a Sparty,” the GM said while wearing a wide grin. Reid said his new GM brought that up in their phone conversation. “He said, ‘It didn’t kill me to draft a Michigan State player this time.'”
Draft Experts Believe Kraken Got Steal
The praise for the Kraken pick among prospect experts has been near-unanimous.
- Sportsnet: “I love the adversity in his background”
- HockeyFeed.com: “Premier blue liner available”
- DailyFaceoff.com: “Plays with as much confidence as any defender you’ll find”
- FloHockey.tv: “No. 1 defenseman in a loaded class; size, athleticism and skating ability”
- RotoWire: “True top pairing guy; can run power play; aggressive on offense; a great shot”
- 15-year defenseman Nate Thompson: “A franchise D that does it all”
Reid’s self-scouting report: “I bring a two-way defensive game. Love having the puck on my stick and carrying the play, but I love keeping pucks out of the back of my own net as well.”
Just two years ago, Reid could hardly have dreamed he’d hear his name called at the top of an NHL Draft. “His confidence took a hit to start the 2024-25 season,” reports Sportsnet.ca, “when he was cut from the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks, and instead landed in Bismarck with the tier-two NAHL’s Bobcats. There, he toiled as a No. 4 defenceman.”
“Obviously, I’ve had a long and hard path, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” Reid said.
The same might be said of the franchise he’s joining. A mere 24 hours after a high profile rejection, experts are unexpectedly putting “Kraken” and “Lucky” in the same sentence.
Earlier Kraken:
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