Three Kraken Prospects Who Can Play For The Firebirds Next Season
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The Seattle Kraken have one of the deeper prospect pools in the NHL and could add more of their top prospects to their Calder Cup finalist AHL, the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
David Goyette, Jagger Firkus and Ty Nelson all enjoyed very successful and productive seasons. Each of them were born in 2004 and played two seasons in the CHL after being drafted, making them eligible to play in the AHL.
Goyette was drafted with the 61st pick in the second round of the 2022 draft. He completed his third year with the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL and scored 40 goals and 117 points in 68 games. The centreman led the OHL in points, finished second in assists and eighth in goals.
The 20-year-old has picked up some AHL experience in the last two seasons as well. In the 2022-23 season, he played nine games in the regular season and playoffs combined. This year he played in just two games to end the regular season.
Firkus was the most dominant player in the CHL and won the CHL Player of the Year award. No CHL player recorded more points and his play was the driving force as to why the Moose Jaw Warriors won the WHL championship and participated in the Memorial Cup.
The 20-year-old was also a second-round pick in the 2022 draft, selected 35th overall. Firkus has less AHL experience than Goyette, playing in just one playoff game in the 2022-23 season.
Nelson is a smaller defenseman but is a great puck-moving defender who blends physicality into his game. His production took a bit of a dip this season compared to the 2022-23 season but was still highly effective. In 54 games he scored 16 goals and 52 points compared to the previous season where he scored 24 goals and 76 points in 67 games.
The Toronto native hasn't played in any AHL games but played in all five games at the World Juniors for Team Canada.
The Firebirds have an immensely stacked roster and are in the Calder Cup finals for the second consecutive season. It will be hard for each of them to make the roster but they could be key contributors and lead the Firebirds to another successful season.
Goyette, Firkus and Nelson have improved each season since being drafted and the next step of their development in the AHL is a crucial one for their path to playing for the Kraken.