Seattle, WA - The Seattle Kraken hold the 8th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft after finishing the season 34–35–13. Despite a 6% lottery chance at the top spot, they stayed at eighth, ready to add to their growing young core.
In addition to their first-round pick, Seattle also owns selections in the second and seventh rounds. However, their third-round pick was dealt to the New York Rangers in a midseason trade that brought forward Kaapo Kakko to the Pacific Northwest.
This year’s draft, taking place June 27–28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, marks a historic change in format. For the first time, the event will be decentralized: team executives and scouts will participate remotely, while top prospects will still attend in person.
Commissioner Gary Bettman will announce first-round selections for the NHL's 63rd Entry Draft, and following picks will be revealed by special guests. Players will then connect with their new teams through a virtual reality meeting room experience.
The 12 teams eliminated in the first two playoff rounds received picks 17–28. Non-division winners were ranked by reverse regular-season points, followed by eliminated division winners in the same order.
The Kraken’s front office is reportedly eyeing a strong class of prospects. Among the top names likely to be available at No. 8 are:
- Matthew Schaefer (D, Erie Otters) – A top-tier two-way defenseman with elite skating and hockey IQ.
- Michael Misa (C/LW, Saginaw Spirit) – A dynamic forward with 134 points in 65 games this past season.
- Radim Mrtka (C, Seattle Thunderbirds) – A smart playmaker with 35 points in 43 WHL games.
- Zayne Parekh (D, Saginaw Spirit) – An offensive defenseman who broke scoring records in the OHL.
- Zeev Buium (D, University of Denver) – A collegiate standout who helped lead his team to an NCAA title.
With seven rounds and 224 total selections on the board, the Kraken will have opportunities to reinforce both their present and future. Fans can follow the action live on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. and Sportsnet/TVA Sports in Canada.
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Cover Photo Credit: Jun 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Berkly Catton is selected by the Seattle Kraken with the 8th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft at The Sphere. -Stephen R. Sylvanie- Imagn Images
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