General Manager Ron Francis has done a solid job in the last two entry drafts, and with proper player development, the Kraken will have a scary team on the ice before long.
Here, we’ve listed some of the top Seattle Kraken prospects. For the purpose of this piece, we’re considering a “prospect” to be someone at or under age 23 entering the 2022-23 season with fewer than 50 NHL games played.
1. Matty Beniers
Position: Center
There’s some debate over which center should top the Seattle Kraken prospects lists, but looking at immediate roster impact, Matty Beniers earns the top spot in our eyes. The 19-year-old was the first draft pick in Kraken history, going second overall in the 2021 Draft.
Beniers was an absolute machine with the Michigan Wolverines over the past two seasons, scoring 30 goals and 37 assists in 61 games at the collegiate level.
Top Overrall in the NCAA Tournament
He led the Wolverines to the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament, but Michigan lost 3-2 in overtime to the Denver Pioneers in the semifinals.
Beniers was also a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team, a Hobey Baker Finalist as the top player in men’s Division I hockey, and a First Team All-American.
Latest Season
Late last season, Beniers made his Kraken debut and came in like a bolt of lightning, racking up the NHL player stats in a small sample size with three goals and nine points in 10 games.
At +700, he’s a value bet to win the Calder Trophy behind favorites Mason McTavish (+400), Owen Power (+400), William Eklund (+500), and Kent Johnson (+550).
Beniers projects to get top-line minutes out of the gate, which could give him a leg up on his Calder competitors.
2. Shane Wright
Position: Center
There’s a subtle irony in Shane Wright not taking the #1 spot on the Seattle Kraken prospects list, as the up-and-coming center was the consensus top draft choice until the week of the draft, where he ultimately went fourth overall behind Juraj Slafkovský (Montreal), Šimon Nemec (New Jersey), and Logan Cooley (Arizona).
However, the draft day slide may only serve to motivate Wright. While playing in the OHL with the Kingston Frontenacs last season, Wright notched 32 goals and 63 assists in 64 games.
Game Six of Kingston’s Opening Round Series
He was also named the captain, becoming the youngest captain in OHL history. Wright scored the series-winning goal in Game Six of Kingston’s opening round series against the Oshawa Generals before the Frontenacs were eliminated by the North Bay Battalion in the second round.
Wright’s Calder odds are just behind Beniers at +850. While both will still have a lot to prove, star teams tend to build around center depth and strong play up the middle of the ice. Seattle may well have found their core of the future in Beniers and Wright.
3. Jagger Firkus,
Position: Right Wing
Seattle continued a strong 2022 draft class with right-wing Jagger Firkus in the second round (35th overall). Firkus is a small but speedy forward, checking in at 5’10”, 154 lbs.
However, he doesn’t let his smaller stature keep him from going to the dirty areas and coming away with the puck, or from driving hard to the net against larger defensemen.
Firkus scored 36 goals and 44 assists in 66 games for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL last season before adding six more of both goals and assists in 10 playoff games.
His long-distance shooting ability is something both the Seattle Kraken team and the fans can get excited about.
Firkus’ Goals
Last season, 44% of Firkus’ goals game from above the faceoff dot, an area where most players struggle to generate offense.
Furthermore, Firkus is confident in his skill set and playmaking ability. He earned the 2022 WHL Play of the Year honors for his “Michigan” style goal against the Saskatoon Blades.
It may take a bit more time before the “Firkus Circus” arrives in Seattle, but he’s absolutely a player to get excited about. NHL.com projects his Kraken debut during the 2025-26 season.
4. Ryker Evans
Position: Defenseman
Rounding out the Seattle Kraken prospects list, defenseman Ryker Evans is the top blue line prospect in the system. Evans was selected with the 35th overall pick in 2021, which makes one wonder if the Kraken will end up with that selection again in 2023.
Because defensemen typically take a little longer than forwards to develop, Evans, is expected to crack the Seattle roster in the 2023-24 season.
Another WHL product, Evans was a two-year alternate captain for the Regina Pats. He tallied 14 goals and 47 assists in 63 games, finishing third on the Pats in points and ranking first among defensemen.
Evans’ Biggest Strengths
One of Evans’ biggest strengths is his poise with the puck. He doesn’t get flustered easily and is able to effectively find teammates in all zones, moving the play well on the breakout and on special teams.
While his ceiling may not be as high as the others on this list, his floor is still quite respectable. Evans is expected to report to the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the AHL as he is no longer eligible for juniors.
It’s possible with a good year at the AHL level, he could make the jump to an NHL roster next season.
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