Seattle Kraken: 2022 Top 10 Under 25
The Seattle Kraken had somewhat of a re-set this summer, which greatly raised the level of the young talent in their organization.
Training camp is almost upon us, so we are one step closer to puck drop! The Seattle Kraken will look to build off their inaugural season, which proved to have some highlights – and lowlights. Make no mistake; the future is bright in Seattle.
How bright, you might ask? The Kraken currently owns 20 picks between the next two drafts. Outside of that, they have a plethora of young talent signed to contracts in their organization. Below is the team’s top 10 players under the age of 25 that are currently part of the Kraken pipeline.
NHL Projection: 3-5 years
#10: Jacob Melanson, RW – 19 years old, 6’0″, 205-pounds – 2021 5th round pick
Perhaps I’m a little biased, being from Nova Scotia, but this kid is legit. Jacob Melanson is coming off a career year with the Acadie-Bathurst Titans of the QMJHL. The young winger scored 35 goals and 21 assists and added 6 points in 8 playoff games.
Melanson will head back to the Q to play his senior year prior to joining the Kraken’s AHL Coachella Valley Firebirds affiliate. Size is not a problem for Melanson. Look for him to focus on his skating and shooting accuracy this year.
#9: Ville Petman, C/LW – 22 years old, 5’10”, 181-pounds – Undrafted
Ville Petman almost did not make it to North America, let alone to the Kraken Top 10 Under 25 list. Before 2021-22 in the Liiga, Finland’s top Men’s hockey league, Petman scored a total of 13 points in 94 games.
Last season, Petman found his game, to the tune of 39 points in 59 games. This year, Petman projects to be a Firebirds mainstay. He won’t break any scoring records, but look for him to be a solid depth player down the road.
Ville Petman scores on the penalty kill. Great power move to force a break away and puts puck to the net. pic.twitter.com/35uri30yB7
— yp (@jrabane) December 28, 2019
#8: Jagger Firkus, RW – 18 yrs old, 5’10”, 154-pounds – 2022 2nd round pick
The only reason Jagger Firkus isn’t higher on this list is because he needs to bulk up. At only 154 pounds, he’s a medical liability.
Also, because Firkus is only 18 years old, Seattle will return him to the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors. He will look to build off a successful 2021-22 campaign which saw him score 36 goals while adding 44 assists in 66 games and added 12 points in 10 playoff games.
Firkus’ speed and agility are his primary weapons. Eventually, he will be a true goal scorer for the Kraken, arriving in either 2024 or 2025.