Catton Set to Make NHL Debut for Kraken Against Flyers Amid More Injuries
The time has finally arrived for Berkly Catton. The 19-year-old forward is slated to make his NHL debut with the Seattle Kraken against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday (4 PM PT; KHN, KONG, NBCSP).
After the Kraken ruled out Jared McCann, who is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury, a spot opened in the lineup for Catton, who spent most of the preseason playing alongside Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle and is expected to return to that spot on the top line with McCann out.
“Lots of excitement, lots of emotions for sure,” Catton told reporters in Philadelphia on Monday morning. “At the end of the day, it’s just hockey, and I’m going to go out there and do my thing, and just play my game.”
Catton is coming off a 109-point season (38 goals, 71 assists in 57 games) with the Spokane Chiefs in the WHL. The organization felt his development would be better served training with the NHL team every day without as much real game action as opposed to returning to the WHL. As a 19-year-old, Catton is too young to play in the AHL with Coachella Valley.
Kraken coach Lane Lambert had preached patience anytime he was asked when Catton would receive an opportunity to enter the lineup, and while injuries have forced his hand, Lambert is finally giving him that opportunity in the sixth game of the season.
“He’s been, obviously, here for quite awhile and waiting for an opportunity,” Lambert told reporters in Philadelphia on Monday morning. “And he’s been in the meetings, and the older players have been helping him out with systems and things like that. And so what he needs to do now is just go play. Don’t overthink it, enjoy the moment. Super exciting time for him and his family, so I’m looking forward to seeing him play.”
Captain Jordan Eberle, the team’s elder statesman, said he remembers his first NHL game in October 2010 “like it was yesterday,” and that he’ll encourage him to soak in the moment because it goes by fast.
Eberle is also confident that Catton can jump in seamlessly based on his involvement in the team meetings and other processes leading up to Monday.
“He’s been watching us,” Eberle told reporters in Philadelphia. “I think he knows how to play as far as the structure that we’re trying to play. He’ll be in the right places at the right time.
“(Beniers) and I have obviously played together quite a bit, know each other’s game well, but ‘Berks,’ I’ve played with him in preseason. I know what to expect from him and the way that he can cut back and make plays that maybe you’re not expecting.”
Catton shared that Lambert called him on Sunday night to share the news, and pretty soon after, his parents started to board a flight from Saskatoon. With it so last minute, Catton believes there are a few connecting flights they have to make in order to get there on time, but he expects them to be there for his major milestone.
“Saskatoon to Philadelphia is not an easy flight path, though, so I think they’ve had a long day of travel,” Catton said. “But I’m excited for them to be here.”
Seattle (3-0-2) looks to extend its season-opening five-game point streak against Philadelphia (2-2-1), which is coming off a 2-1 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild. The Kraken have reached overtime and/or a shootout in each of their past four games, and facing what Lambert called a “fast” and “aggressive” team, they expect another tight matchup on Monday.
“Every play matters. You never know what three or four seconds is gonna win or lose you a hockey game,” Lambert said. “It’s the best league in the world, and that’s the mentality that you have to have at all times.”
