The Kraken announced on Friday afternoon that they signed defender Ryker Evans to a 3-year, entry-level contract.
Evans had nothing short of a career year with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League this season. He set career highs in every offensive category, finishing 7th among WHL defensemen with 61 points.
The Pats fell just short of the playoffs this year, in spite of the Herculean efforts of Evans and teammate Connor Bedard (the presumptive 2023 #1 overall pick). He won’t join the Kraken this season, and will not “burn” a year from his contract like Matty Beniers. According to the Athletic’s Ryan Clark, the hope is that Evans will sign an amateur tryout offer and join the Charlotte Checkers for the AHL playoffs coming up next week, thereby giving Evans a chance to practice against bigger, tougher competition in a professional setting.
Update: 3:22pm
The Checkers did indeed announce that Evans will join them for the Calder Cup Playoffs. The development starts now!
Congratulations Ryker!
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