Friday – Kraken Rookie Camp
The Kraken prospects take to the ice on Friday at noon at Kraken Community IcePlex. It’s the start of a 15-day gamut that will include the “kids” getting after it for five days, followed by some of those same young’un’s joining the NHL roster players for the main training camp. The current Seattle roster for the trials, tribulations, and try-outs that run from Thursday, September 17th through the 26th includes 31 forwards, 18 defenseman and five goalies.
Given a new NHL agreement that prevents a player from performing in more than two of the four preseason matches, a club needs a big, fat roster with which to work. It also gives team management a chance to see a whole bunch of different players.
One skater in particular we’ll be watching is Jake O’Brien. Seattle’s 1st-round NHL Draft pick, 8th-overall, in 2025, will be one of those young men participating in both camps.
There will be a handful of others, but given his status as a prospect, and although he’s destined to play this next season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, it’ll be interesting to see how much weight and strength he’s already added to his 6-foot-2 inch frame. He’s a right shot center; a valuable commodity with an upside.
O’Brien finished his final major junior season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with 93 points in 53 games for the Brantford Bulldogs.
It sounds like most, if not all sessions are open to the public. Keep in mind, the Saturday and Sunday elements of rookie camp are prospect games being played in Abbotsford, British Columbia against the Canucks. Monday is an off day. Tuesday is your second and last chance to catch their progress in person.
Off days for regular camp at KCI include next Saturday the 19th (home game vs. Canucks at Climate Pledge Arena), Sunday the 20th (road game against the Flames), Monday the 21st, Thursday the 24th (home game vs the Flames), and Saturday the 26th (road game vs. Canucks).
That’s a wrap. The NHL regular season begins September 29th with the Kraken’s first match scheduled for October 1st against the Flames in Calgary.
Earlier Kraken:
— The Craziest Canucks-Kraken Hockey Drive
— Impressive Showings Lifted Kraken Goalie Prospect To KHL Starter
