The 2025-26 season might be over for the Seattle Kraken, but the news for the team doesn’t stop. There have been several pieces of news that have dropped over the past week, so let’s dive right in.
Kraken to Receive 7th Overall Pick in 2026 Draft
The NHL Draft Lottery was conducted on Tuesday, May 5. The Draft Lottery is an opportunity for teams that didn’t qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs to potentially improve their draft order. There are 14 numbered balls placed in a lottery machine, and four numbers are drawn. Based on the numbers that come out, they are matched against a chart to see who gets the first overall pick. This year, the honor goes to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ahead of the Draft Lottery, the Kraken were in sixth place in the draft order. After the lottery, they dropped down one space to seventh overall. Even though they were bumped down a spot, the incoming draft class is full of incredible talent, and although Seattle won’t get the chance to take Gavin McKenna, they’ll still receive a strong player.
According to my colleague Jordan Orth’s April draft rankings, Viggo Björck has the potential to go seventh in the draft. He is a center from Sweden, currently playing for Djurgårdens in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and has 15 points in 42 games. In Jordan’s discussion of Björck, he commends his hockey IQ and mobility.
A center is not quite what the Kraken need at the moment, as their last four out of five first-round draft picks were centers. The Kraken could use a young, skilled defenseman on the blue line with their first-round pick instead; however, time will tell what Seattle will decide.
O’Brien Listed on Firebirds Roster
Speaking of the Kraken’s first-round centers, in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Kraken drafted Jake O’Brien with their eighth overall pick. He spent the 2025-26 season playing in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Brantford Bulldogs, where he recorded 93 points in 53 games. This doesn’t surpass his career-high of 98 last season, but he recorded five fewer points in 13 fewer games, which is certainly impressive.
O’Brien was recently added to the roster of the Kraken’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The Firebirds are still in the playoffs, so O’Brien has the chance to play his first AHL games in the postseason. Even if he doesn’t get a chance to wear the Firebirds’ uniform in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs, this is a larger indicator that he will sign a contract with the Kraken ahead of the 2026-27 season. O’Brien has already had success at the OHL level; hopefully, he can carry this into his AHL career.
Coach Campbell’s Time in Seattle Comes to an End
Jessica Campbell made history as the first full-time assistant coach in the NHL when the Kraken hired her in 2024. She had been an integral part of the Kraken franchise since 2022, however, as she was an assistant coach with the Firebirds. For the past two seasons, she has been behind the bench with the Kraken. On April 30, the Kraken announced Campbell will seek other opportunities within the NHL.
Campbell was not only an incredible coach, but she was also a great role model. She paved the way to show other women that the NHL isn’t all just a “boy’s club”, that women can find success all the same. Her commitment to finding another job in the NHL is a testament to this. Certainly, she could find a job coaching in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), especially as the league continues to expand. However, she wants to remain in the NHL and continue to show young girls that anything is possible if they just set their mind to it.
Good luck to coach Jessica Campbell as she seeks out a new role.
Lindgren Makes Team USA’s Final Roster
The men’s International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship is set to begin on May 15 in Switzerland. The competition will last until the championship game, which will be played on May 31. Ahead of the tournament itself, USA Hockey has announced its preliminary roster, with a familiar face in the mix. Ryan Lindgren was named one of the defensemen on the team.
The Kraken signed Lindgren in free agency last season, making the 2025-26 season his first with Seattle. He played 76 games and recorded nine points and earned a plus/minus of minus-2.
Lindgren will join former Kraken Will Borgen on the blue line. Congratulations to Ryan Lindgren for making Team USA’s preliminary roster.
Kraken May Be Out, but Firebirds Are Still In
Although the Kraken never even made it to the playoffs, the Firebirds are currently competing in the semifinals of the Calder Cup Playoffs. After their win on May 7, their series with the Ontario Reign is now tied. The winner will be decided on Saturday, May 9. Whoever wins this series makes it to the Pacific Division Final.
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