Blake Fiddler admitted surprise he didn’t hear his name called until the second day of the 2025 NHL Draft. “In my heart, I thought I’d be getting picked yesterday, but it doesn’t matter when you go. It’s the work you put in after.” The Seattle Kraken took Fiddler in the 2nd round last month. I’ve still got a lot to prove and a long way to go. But I’m always willing to put in the work.”
That’s not just stiff-upper-lip talk. Blake’s hockey-playing father wasn’t drafted at all, either in juniors or by the NHL. Vern Fiddler turned pro in 2000, but didn’t secure a full-time spot in the NHL until the 2006-2007 season with Nashville. No matter. By the time Dad retired in 2017, he’d played 877 games for the Predators, Coyotes, Stars and Devils.
And you know what Vern Fiddler calls the highlight of a 17-year pro career? Telling his parents he was going to play his first NHL game with Nashville in 2002. “To be honest,” he wrote in the Player’s Tribune, “if I had only gotten into one game, just being able to have that call with them, it would’ve been enough.” Circle of hockey life, now he’s gotten to hear an NHL team choose his son to be part of their organization.
In that same 2017 Players’ Tribune column, the elder Fiddler spoke glowingly about his son – but not for his hockey prowess. “Blake, who is 10 years old, calls everyone sir and ma’am, and holds doors and pulls out chairs.” At a media availability, the teenage defenseman repaid the compliment. “He’s helped me tremendously throughout my career so far. Growing up, I pretty much lived the lifestyle, too, constantly surrounded by it all. That helped me growing up, knowing what it takes to make the NHL.”
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Having a father in the NHL carried an extra benefit. “My dad’s teammates were always so great to me. I get to skate with them in the summer and continue to build relationships with some of those guys.”
One of “those guys” is still-active Dallas Stars legend Jamie Benn, who played with the elder Fiddler for five seasons. “He’s always supported me since a young age. And he texted me before the draft, you know, just take it all in and no matter what happens, you’re going to be in the right place and have a long career.”
During off-season skates, Benn has imparted some of the wisdom used to outwit defensemen over the years. “Two on ones,” Blake recalled, “you can’t over-commit, or else guys at the next level will just slip it through your feet.”
Blake Fiddler is having a couple of weeks as big as his 6-foot-4, 209 pound frame. Today (July 9) is his 18th birthday. And the Edmonton Oil Kings defenseman was far from the only one who thought he had a good chance of going in the 1st round on June 29. McKeen’s Hockey called him the “best value pick” of the 2nd round, which is why Seattle traded up two spots to nab him.
“It made all kinds of sense that they picked Fiddler at 36th, since he was arguably the best (defenseman) still available at the time. Even better for the Kraken, he’s a well-rounded blueliner who can play a big role and handle different kinds of responsibilities, so that’s helpful for the team considering their overall shortage of options.”
Kraken general manager Jason Botterill obviously agrees. “There’s so much to like about him as a prospect. We love the size, his skating ability, his reach, his hockey knowledge and willingness to improve.” Fiddler says he models his game after Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider. “I really like how physical he is.” In 2023-24, Seider was the only player in the league with both 200+ hits and 200+ blocked shots.
Fiddler chose to play in the Western Hockey League because it provides a tough testing ground that prepares prospects for the pro game. “Some people don’t understand how much of a grind it is. Mentally, physically, the travel. That’s a big reason I wanted to go to the ‘Dub.’ It’s a very similar schedule to the NHL and ultimately that’s the goal.
“Having to learn how to shut down top guys every night. Not letting them get to the net. Learning how to play heavy minutes. My plan is to go back to Edmonton, finish what we started there. I want to win. I’m a strong skater for my size, but, you know, I want to become elite at that. It’s the work you put in that’s going to get you to the NHL and help you stay there. So that’s the goal for next year.”
It sure sounds like Fiddler has internalized what Botterill wants all the prospects at last week’s development camp to know. “Sometimes people get to the draft and they think that’s the finish point. What we’re trying to relate to these kids is, it’s a starting point to eventually get to the National Hockey League. You want them to have drive, but you also want them to understand that this is literally just a starting point.”
Listening to Fiddler, he has the “drive” part down, too. “I definitely have a little bit of fire in my stomach.”