Kraken Number 1 Draft Pick Was 'Stunned'

Clearing out the notebook from the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo this past weekend.

While the Seattle Kraken certainly had the interest in Chase Reid, they had dismissed the possibility of actually getting a chance to select him. Leading up to each year’s draft, it’s SOP for teams to make connections with players they’re interested in drafting, and think they have a chance of drafting.

“I talked to them one time throughout the season, and I didn’t talk to them at the combine,” said the defenseman selected 7th overall by Seattle. “So, I was a little stunned, but I couldn’t be more excited to get started.” GM Jason Botterill described himself and his scouting staff as similarly stunned and excited.

Reid dropped one other nugget of good news. Remember veteran winger Artemi Panarin’s recent Russian TV interview, where he suggested the Kraken’s uniform design may have played a role in his turning down a trade to Seattle? Well, the first thing 1st round draft picks do after being selected is exchange their suit jacket for a team sweater. Adorned in his Kraken #26 jersey, Reid said, unprompted, “The colors are unreal, so I’m excited to wear them one day.” That’s a relief!

Kraken Forward Prospect ‘Battles Hard’

Kraken 2nd round pick, forward Casey Mutryn, was asked which NHL players he patterns his game after. “Guys like Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Knies. They play really hard and really physical, but at the same time, they bring a ton of skill to the table.”

Mutryn, who turns 18 on July 5, has spent the last two seasons playing for the U.S. National Development Team. “It teaches you a lot about adversity and how to push through it. With that, you grow really tight with all the guys.” A Norwell, Mass. native, Mutryn will be staying close to home. He’s committed to Boston College for the 2026-27 season.

“I like his physicality and work ethic and think that could allow him to be a decent third-liner,” says Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis. “He’s smart, battles hard and has the ability to find chemistry with just about everyone. Although I don’t think his ceiling is that high, I feel confident Mutryn will be an NHLer. He’s the type of guy every team wants come playoff time.”

Huff Will Work Toward Return To Washington

Two-thirds of 5th round draft picks never reach the NHL. The number who will play more than 100 NHL games is less than 15%. That’s according to a study of draft picks between 1970 and 2020 by gmnhl.com.

So it’s fair to say defenseman Hawke Huff is facing long odds. But it’s not the first time for Huff, the Kraken’s 5th round pick, 148th overall.

For starters, he hails from Mazama, Wash. Even though that’s the Kraken’s home state, and probably yours, too, chances are you’re unfamiliar with Mazama.

Wikipedia says it’s “an unincorporated community in Okanogan County (population 158) located in the Methow Valley of Washington, on the east slopes of the North Cascades. The Mazama area offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, rock climbing, and mountaineering.” It also offered the coldest temperature ever recorded in the state, -48 in December, 1968.

As a Minnesota high school hockey player, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune named Huff to their 1st All-Metro team in 2024. The newspaper said he “plays with an edge and gets all of his 6-3, 195-pound frame into body checks. Known for his tireless work ethic.”

During the 2024-25 season, Huff hit a roadblock with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede. “It was kind of tough. I was trying to stay in the lineup,” Huff told the Cedar Rapids Gazette. A trade to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders unlocked his game.

“When I came here, coach (Mark) Carlson gave me a huge opportunity. I got more playing time. I got more comfortable. One thing we talked about a lot was getting up into the play and creating offense when I had the chance. Obviously I’m trying to keep my defensive game the same. Adding on offensively is just something I’ve been working on this year.”

He went from eight assists that season to 36 with the RoughRiders in 2025-26. Undrafted the previous season, the 19-year-old heard his name called on Saturday. Huff, who’s first name is Luken, will play college hockey in Minnesota at St. Cloud St.