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# New Year, New Number, New Beginnings: Catton Looking to Break Out For Kraken
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-kraken-berkly-catton-new-year-new-number-new-beginnings-looking-to-break-out/
- Published: 2026-01-01T02:15:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T06:16:35.000Z
- Author: Corbin Smith
- Tags: News, Features, Analysis, Kraken, Berkly Catton, Jared McCann, Shane Wright, Lane Lambert, Mason Marchment, Jason Botterill

[Embed from Getty Images](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2253409744?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)

SEATTLE, Wash. - It may not be a New Year’s resolution, but Berkly Catton has already made some changes for 2026.

After wearing No. 77 this season, the 19-year-old Seattle Kraken forward officially switched to No. 27 on Wednesday. With the trade of Mason Marchment on Dec. 19, the number became available again, and Catton took back the digits he wore with the Spokane Chiefs in the WHL as well as other stops in his past. Catton started wearing the number in honor of his mother, Desrae, whose birthday is April 27.

“I’ve always just kind of worn it. I think she picked it for me when I was young enough,” Catton said after Wednesday’s practice. “So that’s kind of how it started, and I always kind of had it growing up, and obviously in Spokane.”

Catton said that Kraken general manager Jason Botterill gave him a call on Tuesday to let him know the team could try to get the switch done this season instead of next. Thanks to the efforts of the equipment staff led by Jeff Camelio, they got it done.

With that piece of business taken care of, Catton will look to address a far more pressing need as the calendar flips: Bringing more consistent production. Through 24 games, Catton has five assists and no goals. He has not scored a point since Nov. 26, and had a couple weeks interrupted by a hand injury sustained on Dec. 6\. It’s the type of growing pains that are common among rookies his age in the NHL.

The Kraken will remain patient with him since he is unable to play in the AHL due to age, and after back-to-back 100-plus point seasons in the WHL, Catton has proven to be too good for juniors.

“He’s getting some opportunities,” Kraken coach Lane Lambert said. “It’ll be nice to see him sort of break the goose egg and see where it happens to go from there, but in saying that, having him continue to be responsible and play at both ends of the rink is extremely important.”

The latest plan has been a new-look third line with Catton, Shane Wright and Jared McCann. McCann has played just two games since returning from a lower-body injury, amid a season where injuries have limited him to just 13 games.

The early returns have not been great from a production standpoint. Through 18:08 of 5-on-5 ice time together across the past two games, the trio has been outshot by opponents 14-6, and out-chanced 11-3 with a 7-1 disadvantage in high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. It’s a small sample, and with both McCann and Catton each coming back from injuries recently, it’s reasonable to expect the individuals and the line as a whole to take some time to get up to speed.

“I thought we had some good chances,” McCann said after Sunday’s 4-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers. “Obviously, ‘Catts’ made some good plays tonight. You can see the offense coming for him. You know, me and ‘Wrighter’ are still trying to work with each other and create good offense.”

For Catton, the biggest challenge with working his way back into action has been getting adjusted to the speed of the NHL game. 

“You can do as many bikes and skates as you want, but nothing can emulate an NHL game,” Catton said. “So I think just getting used to that again is good. And I do, in a sense, feel stronger. I had a little time off to work on stuff, so just trying to build.”

Lambert, for his part, is confident the chemistry will come as they continue to play together, and while Catton acknowledged they’ll need to start putting the puck in the back of the net, he believes all three players possess the tools to do that on a consistent basis.

“(McCann) is obviously a shooter, and I think me and (Wright) have a good ability to make plays and whatnot,” Catton said. “And obviously (McCann) can too, but I think it’s a good mix of everything, and I think we’re trending in the right direction.”