Before the start of Seattle Kraken development camp, prospects were treated to a Monday night out at a Seattle Mariners game.
For 2026 1st round pick Chase Reid, that included tossing the ceremonial first pitch before the M’s took on the Anaheim Angels at T-Mobile Park.
“I practiced in the tunnel for five minutes. Threw about nine or 10 pitches. I was feeling pretty good going out there. I threw a strike. That was all that mattered. I was pretty happy about that.”
Reid was a baseball catcher before turning his attention full time to hockey. “I had a little bit of an arm, but it’s gone now.”
He grew up a fan of the Detroit Tigers – Comerica Park being less than an hour drive from his hometown of Chesterfield Township, Mich. But wise beyond his years, Reid has changed allegiances.
“Now I’m a Mariners fan. I got my jersey with my number and my last name (Seattle Kraken X image above left). The Tigers have never done that for me,” he added to laughter from the assembled press corps.
We won’t share the switch with the folks at Michigan State, where Reid will be playing hockey for the Spartans this winter.
Kraken Prospect Switches Uniforms
As prospects gathered at Kraken Community Iceplex on Monday, they received a welcome from coach Lane Lambert. “We’re proud to have you. Be proud of yourselves for being here.” What followed was a series of fitness tests and other off-ice activities.
Tuesday, prospects hit the ice for the first time. And by that time, Reid had changed out of his M’s jersey and into one with the menacing red eye peeking out from the blue “S.”
“It’s more breaking in the gear than learning the drills. Gloves are stiff, pants are stiff,” the right-shot defenseman said with a wide grin. “I’ve waited for this day my whole life.”
After being selected by Seattle at the draft in Buffalo on Friday, Reid received congratulatory phone calls from captain Jordan Eberle, Jared McCann, and Matty Beniers. “Everybody’s been super welcoming. It’s hard to not play good when you’re getting everything you could possibly want. (You hearing this, Jason Robertson?) They don’t give you any reason to not perform at your best.”
Reid Doesn’t Plan To Be Away For Long
From the we’re probably reading too much into this department, check out how Reid described his mindset about playing college hockey.
“Go out and prove yourself each and every night. Michigan State has great facilities. You’ve got a lot of time to be in the weight room. Putting on the weight, getting stronger so I can box these (NHL) men out in front of the net. It’s pretty much a no-brainer to go there for a year and develop.”
Catch that? “Go there for a year.” Common wisdom is that defensemen take more time to ripen than forwards, but the 18-year-old Reid might have other plans. With the way draft experts have raved over his skill set, who can blame him?
That said, Reid is excited about upcoming life in East Lansing, Mich. “Being close to home, my family being able to come watch me will be super cool. The environment, the school aspect, the fun, hanging out with the guys, wearing those colors you dreamed of as a kid.”
About those colors, Reid is continuing an MSU family tradition. “My aunt played volleyball at Michigan State. It’s always been (Spartans colors) green and white, never maize and blue (of in-state rival University of Michigan).”
We have a feeling further discussions with Beniers and Kraken GM Jason Botterill, who both played for the Wolverines, will be in Reid’s future.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Farm Team Re-signs Forwards, Loses Coach
