Kraken’s Silent Enforcer: Why Jacob Melanson Matters More Than You Think

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Seattle Kraken right wing Jacob Melanson (63) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images [/caption]

Being drafted in the fifth round of the NHL Entry draft leads to going under the radar to a certain extent. In fact, only 12 of the 96 players drafted in the fifth round or later of the 2021 draft have even appeared in an NHL game.

Seattle winger Jacob Melanson is one of them. He was Seattle’s fifth-round selection in their first ever draft as a franchise, the same draft that Seattle picked Matty Beniers, Ryker Evans, and Ryan Winterton. However, Melanson’s path to the NHL was not as direct or smooth. He spent the first few seasons as a drafted Kraken man playing in the QMJHL. Starting in the fall of 2022, he went to Coachella - not to see Blink-182, but to play for the Firebirds for what would be the next two full seasons.

This year, Melanson appears to be a solidifying himself along the Kraken’s fourth line. His stats may not jump out at you, with just one goal and three assists to his name. However, opponents are getting to know Melanson very well and very quickly.

Let’s paint the picture like this. Melanson has 108 hits in 20 games so far this season. That ranks 62nd in the NHL. However, every single player that ranks higher than him in hits has played at least 27 games. with just three playing less than 40.

If you sort it out on a per-game basis, Melanson has the highest tally (5.4 hits per game) of anyone with two or more games played.

This is still with the Kraken ranking 25th in hits in the NHL. Without Melanson, the Kraken simply are not laying a finger on anyone.

It appears to come from a mentality. A mindset. Melanson is not the most skilled athlete Seattle has on their roster. He won’t lead the team in goals. What he does bring, is what Seattle desperately needs more of - a tough, hard-nosed approach that can strike fear in opponents.

His approach might also trickle down to the rest of the team. It appears they feed off of it. In the 20 games Melanson has played so far this year, Seattle is 13-5-2. In games where he has not played, Seattle is 13-14-7. Is that a coincidence? Perhaps.

Beyond the raw hit totals, Melanson’s value shows up in the little moments that don’t always make the stat sheet. He finishes checks on the forecheck, forces rushed exits, and makes opposing defensemen think twice before holding onto the puck. Those plays shorten shifts, tilt ice position, and quietly create space for linemates to operate. On a Kraken team that can sometimes struggle to dictate pace, Melanson gives them an identity shift by simply refusing to let games stay comfortable for the opposition. That kind of impact is rare for a fifth-round pick, and even rarer for a fourth-line winger still early in his NHL runway.

Is it a sign that the team feeds off of his kind of effort and tone he sets on the ice? The Kraken need more of it, if so. They need more Melanson.