Best Move For Kraken Prospect Mølgaard Might Be No Move At All

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Now that the Seattle Kraken have signed Oscar Fisker Mølgaard to a three year entry level contract, the next question for the organization is what to do with him.

THN International correspondent Derek O'Brien suggests leaving Mølgaard right where he is.

"Signing the contract does not mean he’ll be going to North America immediately. While playing for the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds next season is certainly a possibility, Mølgaard seems to be developing at a good pace in Sweden with HV71, and that might be the ideal place for him to continue in 2024-25."

Selected in the 2nd round one year ago by Seattle, the 19-year-old native of Denmark is already a veteran of two international competitions. Mølgaard was a member of the Danish team at May's IIHF World Championships, and previously their World Juniors team.

Mølgaard heated up late in his 2023-24 season, after a promotion to the 2nd line. "I was playing a lot and you get some pretty valuable experience playing in those situations," he told THN, referencing time on the power play and penalty kill. "It turned out to be a pretty good year and hopefully, I can keep it going next year.”

Mølgaard keeps in touch with former NHL star and Danish hockey legend Frans Nielsen, now a Kraken European scout. "I talk to him once or twice a week and he sends me clips. I really appreciate that.

"He was so smart with the puck. He was my idol growing up so I try to do the same things he did and I just listen to everything he’s got to say."

Mølgaard also soaks up wisdom from veteran HV71 teammates in the Swedish Hockey League.

“They’ve told me that the mental thing is the hardest part. You can always get better at the hockey stuff but you’ve got to be strong in your head, and that’s what I’m trying to work on the most. To keep going when things aren’t going my way and work hard every day.”

One other source of inspiration is Mølgaard's agent, Claude Lemieux, who won four Stanley Cups during a 21-year NHL career. Lemieux, by the way, was also named the 2nd most hated NHL player of all time in a 2009 ranking by TSN.