Before we examine the playoff exploits of Seattle Kraken prospects from previous drafts, let’s find out how the Kraken’s shutout win at Vancouver Wednesday affected their positioning for the 2025 edition of the NHL Draft.
A couple of seasons ago, if someone had told you the Kraken would have more standings points than the Boston Bruins as the calendar turned to April, that would have been cause for celebration. But that was so 2022-23, when the B’s set an NHL regular season record with 135 points. (The Kraken finished with 100, remember?)
Two seasons later, they’re in an entirely different race – order for May’s Draft Lottery and June’s Entry Draft. Here’s how things look with a half-dozen Kraken games remaining.
How Kraken Prospects Are Faring In CHL Playoffs
The three major junior hockey leagues – WHL, OHL, QMJHL – comprise the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Playoffs are underway for Kraken prospects, listed alphabetically at left. Note that Ollie Josephson’s Red Deer Rebels didn’t qualify for the postseason.
Carson Rehkopf, who scored 42 goals in the regular season for the Brampton Steelheads, seems to have found even a higher gear in their OHL playoff series against the Ottawa Generals.
Carson has scored in each of the first three games, including the game-winner in Brampton’s Game 2 victory. He tallied three points in Game 3, all on the power play, with two goals and one assist.
One of Rehkopf’s PP goals was assisted by defenseman and fellow Kraken prospect Jakub Fibigr. Brampton trails the series 2-1, with Game 4 tonight (Apr. 3) and Game 5 Friday (Apr. 4).
Andrei Loshko contributed a goal and an assist for the OHL Niagara Ice Dogs in Game 2 against the Barrie Colts. He had another multi-point game, two assists on 3rd period power plays, in Niagara’s Game 3 victory. The Ice Dogs trail the series 2-1, with Game 4 tonight (Apr. 3) and Game 5 Saturday (Apr. 5).
Nathan Villeneuve (should it be Villan-euve?) at his agitating best in his Sudbury Wolves OHL series against the Kingston Frontenacs. By five minutes into Game 1, Nathan was whistled for instigating, fighting, and misconduct. Before the night ended, Villeneuve added a slash, a rough, and another misconduct.
He showcased a different kind of offense in Game 2, scoring twice in the 3rd period to force overtime, adding to an earlier assist. He also took seven shots! Sudbury trails 3-0 in the series, and needs a Game 4 win tonight to keep their season alive.
Berkly Catton broke out, two goals plus an assist, in Game 2 of the Spokane Chiefs WHL series vs. the Vancouver Giants. The captain has wowed Chiefs fans with a combined 225 points the last two regular seasons. Spokane leads the series 2-1, with Game 4 tonight (Apr. 3) and Game 5 Saturday (Apr. 5).
Tyson Jugnauth earned 1st star in the Portland Winterhawks Game 2 WHL victory over the Prince George Cougars. The d-man had a hand in four of five ‘Hawks goals, scoring one, assisting on three others.
Proving that was no fluke, Jugnauth was 3rd star of Game 3, with one more goal and three more helpers. His assist with 24 seconds left sent Game 4 to overtime, and another, his ninth apple of the series, helped Portland to a double-OT win. (The blueliner piled up 76 assists in the regular season.) The Winterhawks, up 3-1, can advance with a Game 5 victory on Friday (Apr. 4).
Lukas Dragicevic starred with a goal, two assists and four shots in the Prince Albert Raiders Game 2 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings. The defenseman did all he could in Game 4 with eight shots, but the Raiders trail 3-1 and face a must-win Game 5 on Friday (Apr. 4).
Seattle Thunderbirds vs. Everett Silvertips
A pair of Kraken prospects, forward Julius Miettinen and defenseman Kaden Hammell, helped the Silvertips to 48 wins and 104 points, best in the WHL Western Conference. That earned them a 1st round playoff berth against the conference’s lowest seed, which turned out to be the Seattle Thunderbirds.
The T-Birds finished a whopping 39 points behind the ‘Tips. Once their playoff series started, that discrepancy meant, through three games, not a damn thing. Scott Ratzlaff made 45 saves in Seattle’s 3-2 Game 1 victory. Nine (!) of those shots were taken by Hammell.
It took an Eric Jamieson goal at 7:33 of overtime to even the series for Everett, after the T-Birds’ Nathan Pilling had tied the game with 30 seconds left. Falling behind 3-1 in Game 3 didn’t faze Seattle, which roared back for a 6-3 win and a 2-1 series lead. Ratzlaff stopped seven Miettinen shots in Game 3, 129 of 137 Silvertips SOG overall in the series.
Game 4 takes place Friday (Apr. 4) in Kent, then moves to Everett for Game 5 on Saturday (Apr. 5).