Seattle Kraken: 2022 Top 10 Under 25
#4: Kole Lind, RW – 23 yrs old, 6’1″, 179-pounds – 2017 2nd round pick (Vancouver), 2021 Expansion Draft
Kole Lind has bounced up and down the line-up and between the NHL and AHL. A solid depth player for the Kraken, he projects to play on the Firebirds’ top line. His AHL start to the season is primarily due to the Kraken’s off-season additions at forward.
He’ll add leadership experience to the young Firebirds as he has played 172 career AHL games, along with 30 NHL games. Last year, Lind scored 35 points in 46 games for the Charlotte Checkers last season, along with 106 PIM. Expect him to be a regular call-up should the injury bug bite the Kraken (no more ACL injuries, please).
Kole Lind with his first NHL goal, turning into the slot and ripping one home! Kraken within 2!#SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/QSwmR7KiSv
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 2, 2022
#3: Morgan Geekie, C – 24 yrs old, 6’3″, 192-pounds – 2017 3rd round pick (Carolina), 2021 Expansion Draft
Morgan Geekie has been a Ron Francis favorite since the GM first drafted him in 2017. He thought enough of the young center to pull him away from Carolina in the expansion draft. While Morgan might not make as many highlight reel plays as his younger brother Connor (selected 9th overall in 2022), Geekie provides the SeattleKraken depth at center. It’s an asset NHL teams are willing to pay a luxury for.
Geekie signed a 1-year, $1.4M contract to avoid arbitration in 2022 but will become a Restricted Free Agent at the season’s end. Having represented Canada at the World Hockey Championships this off-season, Geekie should take several strides forward in becoming Seattle’s regular third line center.