Kraken the Ice: How Can Seattle Maximize Multiple First Round Picks in 2026 NHL Draft?
Days after the Carolina Hurricanes were crowned Stanley Cup champions, the Seattle Kraken will hope to close the gap with the top teams in hockey with a wealth of picks going into the 2026 NHL Draft, including two first rounders.
Emerald City Spectrum writer Nick Lee breaks down potential targets for Seattle to consider with the seventh overall choice, headlined by standout defenseman Chase Reid, revisits the team's biggest needs heading into the draft, and examines how the organization can get the most out of two first round picks while weighing the possibility of using extra draft capital to facilitate a draft weekend trade.
Should Kraken Trade Up in 2026 NHL Draft to Snag Chase Reid?
The 2026 NHL Draft is now in the same calendar month in which we currently reside, taking place on June 26 and 27 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. That is a two-day period that could alter the trajectory for the Seattle Kraken, if they do it right.
General manager Jason Botterill has plenty of firepower to make a big move on draft night. Indeed, it was disappointing to watch Seattle draw the seventh pick, dropping a slot in the lottery. However, the Kraken still hold three picks in the top 38, including another first rounder at 25, which they received from the Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde trade to the Lightning. If there was a team that had the capital to make a big move in the first round, it’s Seattle.
It’s likely unrealistic to expect the Kraken to trade all the way up to the top pick to snag the super-prospect Gavin McKenna. They likely would need to trade all the way up to No. 1. It seems tough to try and pry that spot from Toronto’s clutches.
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