After choosing Eduard Sale in 1st Round, Kraken Scoop Up Nine More Prospects
A Kalen and a Calen. An Oscar (but no Felix Unger, picked by Carolina). Late-round Wisdom. Such were the finds for the Seattle Kraken in day two of the NHL Draft in Nashville, covering rounds 2-7.
Here's a rundown of the newest Kraken prospects, as selected by general manager Ron Francis and his scouting staff. Where Seattle choices were among the Top 100 in The Hockey News Draft Issue, that number will be in parentheses.
2nd Round, #50: Caron Rehkopf - Left Wing, Kitchener Rangers (THN #82)
NHL Network: "Suffered some inconsistencies during the year. He plays on the PK, he plays with a lot of bump and grind in his game.
"There was some first round talk about this player. He has size, and really good skill. If he gets the edge, he's really hard to defend against."
2nd Round, #52: Oscar Fisker Molgaard - Center, Sweden (THN #67)
NHL Scouting Bureau: "Competitive two-way player. Handles the puck well in tight areas. Hockey sense and skating at elite level."
NHL Network: "Could be one of the two most elite skaters in the draft."
2nd Round, #57: Lucas Dragicevic - Defense, Tri-City Americans (THN #18)
NHL Network: "Really good with the puck, good shot. The way he gets up the ice in transition is impressive.
Skating is a development area for him. You talk about the modern NHL defenseman, Dragicevic checks a lot of those boxes."
3rd Round, #84: Caden Price - Defense, Kelowna Rockets (THN #73)
NHL Network: "Price got caught in-between being a point-producing guy and a puck-moving guy. Projected more as that puck-moving guy.
"You can make a lot of money is this game and have a very successful career being that 'complementary guy,' understanding your role."
4th Round, #116: Andrei Loshko - Center Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Yanick Jean, Sagueneens coach: "Loshko is a skilled forward. He can move the puck well. He also has a good shot. Once he improves his physical ability, at 6-2, 6-3, he'll be hard to play against." (theqmjhl.com)
5th Round, #148: Kaden Hammell - Defense, Kamloops Blazers
Austin Roest, Everett Silvertips writer: "Hammell finished the 2022-23 WHL season with eight goals and 18 assists in 67 games split between the Kamloops Blazers and Everett Silvertips.
"Of his 26 points, 16 came as a Silvertip in 31 appearances post-trade deadline. Hammell earned the Iron Man Award at the 2022 Silvertips Team Awards ceremony, having played in all eligible games for his two teams."
6th Round, #168: Via Vedenpaa - Goalie, Sweden
Seattle Kraken PR: "Recorded a .905 save percentage in four games in the U18 World Junior Championships while representing Finland, finishing with a win-loss record of 3-1-0."
6th Round, #180: Zeb Forsfjall - Center, Sweden (THN #91)
NHL Network: "He catches your eye when he plays. 5-foot-9, the guy is a water bug. He buzzes around the ice. He's got exceptional hockey IQ.
"He sees the ice so well, he makes players around him better. A captain of his Under-20 team. He's a reliable, hard-working leader."
7th Round, #212: Zaccharya Wisdom - Right Wing, Cedar Rapids
Chris Peters, FloHockey: "All-out energy every shift. Good forecheck. Plays with good pace. Production jumped this year."