The Seattle Kraken are about to get their first real look at a rookie group that says a lot about where the organization’s prospect pipeline stands right now.
Seattle’s 2026-27 rookie game roster is built around 23 players: 12 forwards, nine defensemen and two goaltenders. It’s a mix of players who have already tasted NHL action, prospects coming off strong runs with the Coachella Valley Firebirds and younger names trying to force their way into the conversation.
Rookie camp opens Sept. 11, and the Kraken will follow that with a two-game showcase against Vancouver Canucks prospects on Sept. 12 and 13 in Abbotsford, British Columbia. For a team with plenty of young talent still trying to climb, this is an early test that matters.
Among the forwards, Jagger Firkus is the headliner. The 2022 second-round pick put together another productive year in Coachella Valley, finishing with 21 goals and 56 points in 63 games. He was also one of the AHL’s top postseason scorers.
Firkus looked like a player who had a real shot at an NHL debut last season before an injury late in the year changed the script. General manager Jason Botterill has already made it clear the organization views him as someone who can push for an NHL opportunity. That puts rookie camp in the spotlight as the first step toward a bigger chance later this month.
Jani Nyman is right there with him as one of the more intriguing forwards on the roster. Another 2022 second-round pick, Nyman has already played 40 NHL games entering the offseason and remains one of Seattle’s most promising young forwards because of his size and scoring touch.
Oscar Fisker Mølgaard is another name worth circling. The 2023 second-round pick played 13 NHL games last season after making the jump to North American hockey, and he also represented Denmark at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
His background already includes several years as a pro in Europe, and his two-way game could help him in Seattle’s evaluation process. Botterill has praised his hockey sense and versatility, calling him an NHL player after his first season in the organization.
There’s plenty more to watch up front. Carson Rehkopf, David Goyette, Eduard Sale, Andrei Loshko and Nathan Villeneuve all have time in the Kraken system and will be trying to stand out from the crowd.
Jake O’Brien is also in the mix after his first season with the Brantford Bulldogs, and the 2025 first-round pick will be one of the younger players trying to leave a mark against more experienced prospects. The roster also includes invitees Ryden Evers and Brody Gillespie, giving Seattle a couple of players outside its usual prospect track.
If the forwards offer plenty of name recognition, the blue line may be the most interesting part of the camp from a development standpoint.
Finn Kearns, Seattle’s 2026 fifth-round pick, is the youngest defenseman on the roster at 18. He’s joined by fellow 2026 draft pick Rylan Singh, along with Will Reynolds, Alexis Bernier, Caden Price, Kaden Hammel, Lukas Dragicevic, Ty Nelson and Tyson Jugnauth.
Nelson and Jugnauth are especially notable because both are further along after spending last season with Coachella Valley. Seattle has invested heavily in that position group, including five defensemen selected in the 2026 Draft, and rookie camp offers an early look at two of the newest additions in Kearns and Singh.
The goaltending group is small, but it still carries some intrigue. Nikke Kokko has already reached the NHL and remains one of the organization’s key goalie prospects. Maks Corovic is coming in as an invitee after last season with Collingwood and Brantford in the Ontario Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League.
Seattle’s timing makes this showcase even more important. The Kraken will only have two prospect showcase games, then just four preseason games before launching into an 84-game regular season. Botterill has already said the shortened preseason means the organization will have to move quickly when it comes to making decisions.
So while rookie camp is technically just the first stop in September, it carries real weight. For Firkus, Nyman and Mølgaard, it’s another chance to show they’re ready for more.
For the younger players, it’s a chance to get into the mix. And with Seattle leaning more and more on young talent, there’s a good chance a few of these names won’t stay unfamiliar for long.
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