Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Seattle Kraken on The Hockey News
Two 2022 Kraken Draftees Join Coachella Valley, A Third Headed To Memorial Cup
By Glenn Dreyfuss,
2024-05-20
Skating short shifts around the Kraken-verse, while hoping the relocated Utah NHL entry chooses "Hive" for its nickname. Then, when they play the Ducks or Penguins, we can finally be taught about The Birds and The Bees.
Scouting Reports From Former Roommates
Caroline Anne &lparLeft&rpar&comma Jon Burkhart &lparRight&rpar
Before Jagger Firkus and Tyson Jugnauth met as opponents during the recent Western Hockey League Championship, they were roommates at Seattle Kraken development camp.
Both were Kraken draft picks in 2022. Firkus' Moose Jaw Warriors swept Jugnauth's Portland Winterhawks to capture the 2024 Ed Chynoweth Cup.
(Details about Moose Jaw's schedule in the upcoming Memorial Cup can be found here .)
Jugnauth, a star defenseman in his own right, marvels at the player nicknamed "Firkus Circus." “You see him with the puck and he’s super dangerous every time he touches it,” Jugnauth said in an article posted on the CHL.ca website.
Firkus returned the compliment. “(Jugnauth's) skating is very good. His shiftiness, his creativity on the blue line as well. He can get shots through very easily and he’s just a great player. There’s a reason he’s drafted.”
About their shared experience at development camp, Jugnauth said, “It taught me a lot just about how good you have to be to play there. Obviously, going there with all these great players like Jagger Firkus, they teach you a lot about what it takes to play. Then just being a pro too, being around that environment really teaches you and shows you what the NHL lifestyle is like.”
The MGM Of The AHL
Movie studio MGM once boasted "More stars than there are in heaven."
The Kraken's AHL farm team in Coachella Valley isn't quite that loaded, but almost. With the influx of draft picks whose junior, college, or European season has concluded, the Firebirds have a 32-man roster. (When Jugnauth arrives, that number will swell to 33.)
Seattle Kraken goalie prospect Niklas Kokko.
Caroline Anne Photo
There are 19 forwards, 11 defensemen, and three goalies. One of those netminders is another 2022 Kraken draftee, Niklas Kokko.
As Pro Hockey Rumors points out , Kokko was loaned from one Finnish team, Karpat, to another, Pelicans. "Kokko posted a 1.49 GAA with a .926 SV% and four shutouts in 13 games following the loan. He helped lead Pelicans to the league finals (beating Karpat along the way), putting up a 1.81 GAA and a .925 SV% in 17 contests before they were eliminated.
Don't be surprised if Kokko takes over the Firebirds net next season.
Yamamoto On The Yama-Move?
Speaking of hockey rumors, The Hockey Writers printed one connected to pending Kraken RFA Kailer Yamamoto.
"Seattle will send Yamamoto to the Islanders in exchange for Jean-Gabriel Pageau, prospect Isaiah George, and the Islanders 2025 third-round pick." NYI's incentive supposedly is shedding Pageau's $5 million cap hit for each of the next two seasons.
"Adding Pageau will help Seattle’s forward core by adding an experienced NHL veteran. Pageau has finished each of the past five seasons with a faceoff win percentage greater than 55%."
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0