The Seattle Kraken, a relatively fresh face in the NHL since their debut in 2021, have already made six first-round selections in their short history. As the 2026 NHL Draft unfolds, it's an opportune moment to look back at these picks and see how they've fared.
Matty Beniers - 2021 - 2nd Overall
The Kraken's inaugural first-round pick was Matty Beniers, snagged second overall in 2021. Beniers wasted no time making his mark, clinching the 2022-23 Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.
That season, he led all rookies with 57 points. Fast forward to today, and Beniers has become a cornerstone for Seattle, playing in 331 games and amassing 82 goals and 114 assists.
In the most recent season, he played all 82 games, contributing 20 goals and 30 assists. At just 23, Beniers is already a seasoned pro with plenty more to offer.
Shane Wright - 2022 - 4th Overall
Next up is Shane Wright, Seattle's second-highest pick in team history. Drafted fourth overall in 2022, Wright has spent four seasons with the Kraken.
The 22-year-old has appeared in 169 games, notching 36 goals and 42 assists. Last season saw him play 74 games, where he recorded 12 goals and 15 assists.
Wright continues to develop, adding depth to the Kraken's forward lines.
Eduard Sale - 2023 - 20th Overall
Eduard Sale came into the fold with the 20th pick in the 2023 draft. Sale's journey has been a steady climb through the ranks.
After a stint in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers, where he posted 18 points in 24 games, he moved to the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Over two seasons there, Sale has been honing his skills, tallying 21 points in 51 games and 27 points in 58 games, respectively.
Although he hasn't yet made his NHL debut, at 21, Sale is a promising talent waiting in the wings.
Berkely Catton - 2024 - 8th Overall
In 2024, the Kraken selected Berkely Catton with the eighth pick. Catton, now 20, signed his entry-level contract shortly after being drafted and has already tasted NHL action.
In his first season, he played in 66 games, recording seven goals and 10 assists. Catton's initial foray into the NHL shows promise, and he's poised to grow into a more prominent role.
Jake O’Brien - 2025 - 8th Overall
The most recent addition to this list is Jake O’Brien, picked eighth overall in 2025. O’Brien spent last season lighting up the OHL with the Brantford Bulldogs, where he racked up 28 goals and 65 assists in 53 games. Though he has yet to debut in the NHL, the 19-year-old signed his entry-level contract and is on the cusp of bringing his scoring prowess to the big league.
As the Kraken continue to build their legacy, these first-round picks are laying the foundation for what promises to be an exciting future in Seattle. Each player brings a unique skill set, and together, they represent the heart of a team that's quickly finding its identity in the NHL.
In Other News...
Kraken Fans Have Every Right To Be Furious About Chase Reid
Draft night is supposed to be a celebration for a first-round pick, the kind of stage where a young player gets a proper introduction and a team gets a fresh burst of attention. Instead, Chase Reids arrival with the Kraken felt oddly muted on ESPN, which moved quickly past Seattles selection and spent more time on other teams and players than on the newest name in the organization.
Sportsnet told the story much differently, giving Reid a fuller look and letting the moment breathe in a way the Kraken audience never got from the U.S. broadcast. For a fan base waiting to see its newest prospect introduced like a centerpiece, that contrast was hard to miss, and it only sharpened the sense that Seattles first-round moment deserved a lot more than the coverage it received. [Read more 🡒]
Kraken Just Made A Draft Pick Bet Fans Will Debate
Seattle kept leaning into the idea that young, usable talent is worth paying for, and this latest move fits that pattern. Mackie Samoskevich arrives with three NHL seasons on his rsum, a Stanley Cup ring from 2024-25, and the kind of forward profile that usually gets attention in a league that values speed and finishing ability.
For the Kraken, the real debate is not whether Samoskevich brings upside. It is how much future draft capital they were willing to move to add a 23-year-old center who has already shown he can help at the NHL level, and whether that price makes sense for a team still shaping its identity. General manager Jason Botterill made clear he believes the players speed and shot fit the way Seattle wants to play, but the full judgment on the deal will depend on what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Kraken May Have Finally Landed The Draft Cornerstone Fans Wanted
The 2026 NHL draft brought a welcome wave of approval for the Kraken, who came away with mostly A grades from draft experts after leaning into a class that addressed several clear organizational needs. The centerpiece was defenseman Chase Reid at No. 7 overall, and evaluators were quick to point to his blend of offense and defense as the kind of profile Seattle has been searching for on the blue line. Casey Mutryn also drew praise as a smart second-round addition, while later picks like Viktor Fyodorov and Ola Palme added to the sense that the Kraken were doing more than just filling out a board.
Still, the early reaction was not unanimous, and there was just enough hesitation in the mix to keep the draft from feeling like a total no-brainer. A few analysts left room for doubt, including one B+ grade and some concern that Reid might bring more flash than substance, which is the sort of debate that follows any pick meant to become a foundational player. Even so, the broader verdict was clear enough for Seattle: this was a class that gave the fan base real reason to believe the front office may have added a cornerstone worth building around. [Read more 🡒]