Jagger Firkus made an impression at the 2026 Prospects Showcase almost immediately, and it wasn’t just because of the offense. The Kraken forward hopeful was noticeable from his first Saturday shift, skating with Julius Miettinen and Jani Nyman, and he kept showing up through the closing minutes of Sunday’s Game 2 against Vancouver prospects.
The 2022 second-round pick, taken 35th overall, put a little bit of everything on display. He pushed the pace through the neutral zone, used his speed to lead rushes up ice and showed the kind of vision that lets him spot open teammates before the play fully opens up. He also got pucks to the net, worked around the crease, fought for loose pucks in the corners and helped recover possession in the offensive zone.
That last part has become a bigger and bigger part of Firkus’ game during his two productive seasons with Coachella Valley. The offensive talent has always been obvious, but the 2024 Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year has also built a reputation as a strong forechecker and a player who does real work in the defensive zone.
“He’s got a good stick,” said Firebirds assistant coach Brendan Sonne on Sunday morning, a few hours before game time. “He is always stripping guys of the puck.”
Coachella Valley head coach Derek Laxdal sees the same thing from the 5-foot-11 winger, who was listed at 179 pounds this fall after being 170 pounds last September. Laxdal also pointed to the way Firkus handles the hard areas of the ice, especially along the walls and in the corners.
“‘Firks’ is the type of player we don't expect to run through opponents and blow players up,” said Laxdal. “We expect him to go through [opponents’] hands, go through the sticks, get underneath sticks, win battles, reload, get above pucks [reversing in his team’s favor].”
Firkus said the coaching staff has pushed him to keep sharpening the full package.
“Lax and the coaching staff have leaned on me to make sure I round out my game,” said Firkus, outside his squad’s locker room after Saturday’s 7-3 win. “You won't get to the next level without getting back in the D-zone and being in the right spots. Plus, when you're dedicated to the D-zone work, it seems like you get more offensive chances too.”
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Blackhawks Rebuild Still Has One Worry Fans Cant Ignore
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For the Kraken, the concern is less about a single headline weakness than the overall shape of the lineup, especially in the middle of the forward group. Even with bold talent bets around the roster, there is still a sense that the team has not fully closed the gap up front, which is why this kind of projection has Seattle in the same breath as other clubs that could be spending more time looking upward in the standings than forward to spring. [Read more 🡒]