Berkly Catton, Jani Nyman Granted Big Opportunity at Kraken Training Camp
SEATTLE, Wash. - It was only the first day of training camp at Kraken Community Iceplex on Thursday, and Seattle Kraken coach Lane Lambert confirmed that he plans to try out a bunch of different line combinations throughout camp, so there’s not too much to read from the first set of forward lines, which included two of the following:
Jani Nyman – Matty Beniers – Kaapo Kakko
Jared McCann – Berkly Catton – Jordan Eberle
That said, it is telling that the 21-year old Nyman and 19-year old Catton are starting out playing alongside established top-six forwards. Nyman already has some NHL games under his belt, appearing in 12 games towards the end of last season, while Catton dominated with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs, and both are looking to earn spots on Seattle’s opening night roster.
The young duo hit the ground running in training camp Thursday after spending the past week in Seattle’s rookie camp.
“I think what got you excited was just the speed that [Catton] showed through the neutral zone [in a scrimmage against the Vancouver Canucks’ prospects last Saturday], his willingness to shoot,” Kraken general manager Jason Botterill said. “I thought Jani Nyman in the practices did a great job. You can certainly see he’s a player that’s come into camp with the goal of, you know, ‘I’m making the team.’”
The path is clearer for Nyman, a winger that already has a full season of AHL experience under his belt. The Kraken like to “slow-cook” their prospects, and the 2022 second-round pick scored 28 goals and 44 points in 58 games with Coachella Valley last season.
Catton, while a higher-ceiling prospect as the eighth overall pick from 2024, has a harder path to making the initial roster given Seattle’s depth at center between Beniers, Shane Wright, Chandler Stephenson, and new fourth-line pivot Frederick Gaudreau.
However, given the current age restrictions in the AHL not allowing players under the age of 20 until the new CBA kicks in for the 2026-27 season, Catton would have to go back to juniors — a level where he has nothing left to prove — if he does not make the roster.
Whether it’s on opening night or later in the season, Catton will appear in the NHL at some point this year. He can play up to nine NHL games without burning a year on his entry-level contract, during which time the organization can evaluate whether or not they want to keep him in the NHL full-time.
It will be up to Catton to force management’s hand to fit him in the roster somehow — either by beating out one of the established centers or, more realistically, shifting over to the wing. However, by slotting both Catton and Nyman with the team’s top forwards, the Kraken are at least giving them the runway to prove it.
Should either player make the team, they likely would not stick in the top-six, but the experience playing alongside established teammates will allow Botterill and company to evaluate whether or not they can keep up.
According to Eberle, who slotted on Catton’s wing on Thursday, there’s a lot to like about his game that he believes will translate well to the NHL.
“He’s going to be a hell of a player,” Eberle said. “You’ve seen the numbers he put up last year. (109 points in 57 games) … His biggest attribute is just the IQ level that he plays with. That’s going to help him a lot as he plays more and gets more confidence. Like any young guy, he’s going to get better.”
Aside from engaging in the training camp battles, Catton, Nyman, and any other prospect hoping to earn a roster spot will receive opportunities to prove themselves across the six-game preseason slate, which begins Sunday at home against the Canucks.
While a first-year coach like Lambert may decide to give veterans more ice time in the exhibitions as he tries to feel out different parts of his roster, Lambert said things may not necessarily play out that way.
“We have a lot of confidence and we have a lot of belief in our younger players as well,” Lambert said. “So it’ll be a good mix. We have to get our team ready to play, but with the understanding that, you know, we have some players that need to get opportunities as well.”
