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.
However, if the Kraken trade up to the three or four spot, there is another player that could be of the franchise-altering ilk. The Kraken really have never had a true “north star” player, a leader who also impacts the team every single game.
Chase Reid could be that true difference maker to pull Seattle in the right direction.
The Chesterfield, Michigan native projects as a true two-way defenseman. He plays for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) and is committed to Michigan State University, previously playing for the US Junior National Team as well.
The word “dynamic” is overused in today’s jargon for scouting reports, but in Reid’s case, it fits perfectly. He dominates in transition as an elite skater. He led his team in plus-minus (+27) and earned recognition as one of the OHL West's top defensive defensemen.
He has the frame (6-2, 190 pounds) to get even stronger and faster with an NHL regimen. Even at just 18 years old, he projects as a true No. 1 blueliner in the NHL very soon.
The Kraken have a strong forward-heavy prospect pool, with a clear need for high-end defensemen. Reid would be the perfect building block for a franchise still looking for it’s true superstar. It’s not fair to toss that word around for a player this young. But if you dive into his scouting reports, you don’t need to go too far before you see things like “Cale Maker Lite” to describe him, further adding to the intrigue.
The Kraken should not trade up just for trading up’s sake. They need to do it if they truly see a player that could alter the trajectory of their middling franchise, and Reid could be that very player. If the Kraken can get him by trading up to the No. 3 or 4 pick with him still being available on the board, they should find a way to get it done.
