NHL Mock Draft: Kraken Address Defensive Pipeline, Swing on Upside

The Seattle Kraken enter the 2026 NHL Draft already boasting a top prospect pool in the NHL. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler rated the pool as seventh in the NHL, propped up by young forwards like Berkley Catton, Jake O’Brien, and Jagger Firkus. Plus, the Kraken already receive key NHL contributions from recent top picks like Matty Beniers and Shane Wright.

But, those contributions haven’t been enough. After all, the Kraken select seventh overall in Friday’s opening round because they won only three of their final 16 games and finished 27th in the NHL. They enter the draft with seven picks, including picks No. 7, 38, 99, and 102.

The Kraken, of course, could use any of their seven picks this draft to trade up-and-down the board as they see fit. Or, they could use the picks to address needs on the current NHL roster. But with four picks in the first four rounds, the Kraken can address a large need at defense and take meaningful swings on high-upside prospects.

Interestingly, the Kraken have never selected a defenseman in the first round of the NHL Draft since their inception in 2021. This year’s class has a consensus of Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Alberts Smits, and Keaton Verhoeff as the top four defenseman, opening the door for at least one of those players to be available when Seattle comes on the clock.

Is this the year the Kraken draft a blue chip defensive prospect in the opening round? Or will they go a different direction?