6/30/2025

SEATTLE, WASH

The Seattle Kraken made six selections in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft from Los Angeles. One of those picks includes a standout from the Ontario Hockey League. Here is a look at the picks the Kraken made.

Round 1, Pick 8: Center Jake O’Brien, Brantford Bulldogs

The Kraken came into the draft with a mindset of using their first round pick with the best available. O’Brien certainly has a resume that qualifies. An 18 year old that is coming off an outstanding season, coming off winning OHL Rookie of the Year scoring 32 goals and 66 assists. The 66 helpers are impressive on its own, what stands out is 41 of those assists came on the power play. O’Brien comes from a hockey family with his mother once played for the Canadian national team while his father played in Division 1 Hockey and in the ECHL.

O’Brien was lauded by General Manager Jason Botterill for being driven to playing in the next level. Botterill said, “He has a work ethic to put the time in the weight room with a great opportunity for physical growth. But the pick is also about his vision on the ice, his interaction with his teammates, and being a leader. He’s serious. He’s very humble. He is driven to be a really good player in the National Hockey League.”

Round 2, Pick 36: Defenseman Blake Fiddler, Edmonton Oil Kings

The son of veteran forward Vernon Fiddler, the Texan defenseman came to Seattle after a first round that saw plenty of forwards drafted. The Edmonton blue liner tallied 10 goals and 23 assists last season. Fiddler regards himself of a microcosm of his father. Having been immersed by the NHL lifestyle, Blake Fiddler hopes to lay the foundation of his own path towards the NHL.

Round 3, Pick 68: Defenseman Will Reynolds, Acadie Bathurst Titan

Reynolds, only 17, scored four goals and acquired 10 assists last season. His strength caters to defending well. Developing defenseman is important for their future, and Reynolds hopes to bring his QMJHL experience towards building his journey towards the NHL.

Round 5, Pick 134: Defenseman Maxim Agafonov, (Russian Junior League)

A defenseman meant for truly defending, his mobility stands out as one of his growing characteristics.

Round 7, Pick 205: Defenseman Karl Annborn, (Sweden Junior League)

The blue liner from Sweden is lauded for his defending capability and can impressive with his stick handling skills on occasion.

Round 7, Pick 218: Right Wing Loke Krantz, (Sweden Junior League)

Krantz scored 12 goals and had five assists for two different teams in Sweden’s junior league.

Kraken Draft Class:

These draft picks likely won’t be seen on the Kraken roster for another four to five seasons, but their development certainly could be the building blocks to the team from the deep in the future. Jake O’Brien’s upside is one to certainly pay attention to over the course of next season.

Seattle Buys Out Joe Veleno

The Kraken placed newly acquired center Joe Veleno for purposes of buying out his contract. This comes after Seattle traded away Andre Burakovsky to Chicago for Veleno’s rights. With Veleno being under the age of 26, his cap penalty was only a third of his remaining salary. The trade comes with the means of offloading the salary for Andre Burakovsky. Kraken General Manager Jason Botterill said of the move, “we certainly made the trade to open up cap space.”

Other NHL Headlines:

The New York Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick. Schaefer lost his mother to cancer 16 months prior. The new Islander defenseman received his Islander jersey from commissioner Gary Bettman with a pink ribbon, in a heavy emotional moment.

The Islanders also traded away star defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens for two first round draft picks and forward Emil Heineman.

This year’s draft saw plenty of WHL players drafted in the first round. Several from US Division Teams. Seattle Thunderbird Defenseman Radim Mrtka, (Pick 9, Buffalo Sabres) was the first name from the US Division off the board. His teammate forward Braeden Cootes (Pick 15, Vancouver Canucks) followed soon after. At Pick 13, Everett Silvertip forward Carter Bear (Pick 13, Detroit Red Wings) highlighted the first round picks from the US Division. Nine first round picks came from the WHL in this year’s entry draft.

A new player’s collective bargaining agreement was signed through the 2029-30 season.

Stay tuned to ESN as NHL Free Agency begins this week.

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