After turning over the roster and a strong second half, the Coachella Valley Firebirds are starting to look a lot like the team that won the Western Conference in 2023 and 2024.
It’s hard to say that teams rebuild in the American Hockey League. Rosters change all the time and turn over from season to season and within a season. That said, the Coachella Valley Firebirds went through the AHL equivalent of a rebuild last season, and a successful one at that.
The Firebirds turned over the roster and relied on the prospects. More importantly, they changed their identity under head coach Derek Laxdal. They came together in the second half and looked like one of the best teams in the league by the time the playoffs rolled around.
It’s why the Firebirds head into the new season with plenty of optimism. They look like a team that can return to the Calder Cup Final, something they did in 2023 and 2024, and also look like the team that will provide the Seattle Kraken with plenty of young players.
Stats from 2025-26:
Record: 41-25-6 (4th in the Pacific Division, 5th in the Western Conference & 10th in the AHL)
Offense: 3.26 goals per game (11th in the AHL)
Defense: 3.02 goals per game (tied for 10th in the AHL)
The Burning Question: Which Position Is The Big Unknown?
The Firebirds enter this season without a glaring weakness. The offense is shaping up to be a top-10 group, and the same can be said about the defense. It’s why the goaltending could be their undoing.
That said, the goaltending was a pleasant surprise last season. Nikke Kokko had a .901 save percentage (SV%) and a 3.13 goals-against average (GAA) while rookie Victor Ostman had a .906 SV% and a 2.81 GAA. The duo split starts and remain intact for the season ahead. So, there’s a good chance it’s their strength.
The defense might also be an issue, especially after the top pairing. If the Kraken call up one of their defensemen, the unit can fall apart. However, they have some key pieces returning who can make an impact on both ends.
The only other unknown is the veteran presence. The Firebirds, unlike most teams, aren’t led by their veterans. It’s why they struggled in the first half of last season. It’s also why they head into this season with a better group, since many of their younger players learned on the fly and are ready to go.
Why The Firebirds Are Optimistic
This is the team with all of the optimism, largely because of the young players taking a step forward. Oscar Fisker Mølgaard had 34 points in his rookie season and then led the team with 11 points in 12 playoff games. Likewise, defenseman Tyson Jugnauth scored nine goals and added 36 assists in his rookie season and is expected to be the do-it-all defenseman for the Firebirds this season as well.
The Firebirds also brought in some veterans to round out the roster. JR Avon was acquired last summer and became a key part of their forward unit, with 24 points and strong play on the defensive end. He’s only 23 but was re-signed to become one of the veterans on the Firebirds.
The other plus is the number of tweeners on this team. Specifically, the Firebirds have a lot of players in their early 20s who aren’t prospects per se but are still young and developing. Likewise, they have a handful of borderline NHLers who can either help out the Kraken or be key players at the AHL level. It will allow the Firebirds to remain a great team all season and lean on prospects to win games.
Prospects To Watch
The curious case is whether Jake O’Brien, the Kraken’s first-round pick in the 2025 draft, is on the Kraken or the Firebirds. Centers take time to develop, and it might be best to have him centering the top line in the AHL. If he does, he’ll be the high-impact player who takes this team to another level.
The catch is that the Kraken need offense, and they might call him up the moment he looks ready. The same applies to Mølgaard, who looks like the top-six winger who can be a staple for the Kraken.
The other forward to watch is Jagger Firkus, who took a big step in his development, going from 36 points in 2024-25 to 56 in 2025-26. The 22-year-old skater might have a lower ceiling than O’Brien or Mølgaard but he can emerge as a depth option for the Kraken.
On the defense, the two to watch are Ty Nelson and Tyson Jugnauth. Jugnauth blew everyone away as a rookie, and it’s why he might be on the Kraken this season, even though defensemen take time to develop. If that’s the case, the defenseman the Firebirds might rely on in all situations is Nelson, who can provide offense but has improved defensively and now looks more like a depth option at the NHL level.
It’s worth adding that Ostman is a young goaltender to keep an eye on. Goaltending is unpredictable, and the 6-foot-4, 25-year-old can take over as the primary starter and suddenly look like an elite goaltender.
