Updates On Jagger Firkus, Tyson Jugnauth & Niklas Kokko, Plus Yamamoto Trade Idea
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
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.)
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%."
Fun to read, though highly unlikely.