THN Mock Draft: No. 20 Pick

With the No. 20 overall pick, the Seattle Kraken select … Gabe Perreault, U.S. NTDP

(Image at right is from the "Draft Preview" issue of The Hockey News. Subscribe here.)

Why pick him? Superior hands, superior brain.

By some accounts, Gabe Perreault a year ago wasn't even a lock to be drafted in the first round. Now, the Seattle Kraken will be fortunate that the right wing lasted until their turn to select. 53 goals in 63 games for the U.S. National Team Development Program has a way of doing that for a player.

Dad Yanic Perreault, who scored 247 NHL goals, gave the Toronto Star this scouting report on his son: “He’s got really good hockey IQ. He’s able to make plays at high speed, so his execution is fast. He’s really disciplined, really focused.”

Those two words, "Hockey IQ," are music to the ears of Kraken GM Ron Francis. Not only did Francis fashion his own Hall of Fame career around hockey smarts, he's shown the same instincts in the Seattle front office.

For the many who point to skating as Gabe Perreault's weakness, the Kraken should have their mind eased by NHL Central Scouting's Dan Marr.

“His skating has improved significantly from last year," Marr said. "He picked up the good habits: to keep his feet moving, to always be in the right place at the right time."

NHL Central Scouting slots Perreault as the 10th-best North American prospect. "Just a pure goal scorer," Marr said. "He’s a kid that wants the puck on his stick. But he showed at top speed he can make plays, he can get the shot off, he arrives on time. He’s just a pure offensive, top-end player.”

Who are the other options? While the 2022-23 Kraken were superior at 5-on-5, their special teams were decidedly un-special. Seattle's power play and penalty kill both ranked 21st in the regular season.

While no player available in this year's draft will provide immediate help, it would be comforting to know assistance is in the pipeline.

That might make London Knights defenseman Oliver Bonk an attractive option. A scout quoted by THN called him "a hard defender who smothered in the D-zone." Equally alluring, the same scout noted that London was "running him out there in every offensive situation."

For the same special teams-reasons, the Kraken might look to Swedish junior forward Otto Stenberg. THN notes his "great one-timer," and a scout gushed, "He's got skill, he can skate, he can do everything." Stenberg also spent time both at center and on the wing.

What else is on the agenda? The Kraken have 10 picks total in this draft, including three in the second round. GM Francis could keep them to further stock his cupboard, or package them to trade up for a player his scouting staff has targeted.

Less likely is trading for an established NHL player. With the backing of Kraken ownership, Francis is committed to the long game, as well as building on this year's "winning by committee" formula. So don't expect him to make any mortgage-futuring deals.