Canada Kids

NASHVILLE - On Day 2 of the now completed 2023 NHL Draft, Kraken second-round picks Carson Rehkopf and Lukas Dragicevic got the chance to catch up when they were selected by Seattle just seven slots apart. The two have been teammates for Canada in U18 international play and were all smiles while making the league-required stops for photos, NHL.com interviews and branding efforts.

Less than an hour later, Kraken third-round pick Caden Price joined Rehkopf and Dragicevic in the team suite at the top level of Bridgestone Arena. The pair of second-rounders were anticipating Price's arrival and there were hugs and congrats all around. Three Canadians from three different provinces now part of the Kraken organization.

More importantly for Kraken fans and Seattle's hockey operations group alike, all three teens were on the preferred shortlist of players to be drafted this week.

"The day went very well for us," said Robert Kron, director of amateur scouting. "We got the players we began the day wanting, very pleased."

The draft picks were just as thrilled to be selected by the Kraken. Each expressed admiration for the impressive postseason run in just Year 2, said they heard nothing but good things from other prospects they might know in the Kraken system and what they hear about Seattle as a city excites them. And if Rehkopf (Toronto area) or Price (Saskatoon, SK) need to know any more details, they can tap into Dragicevic's travelogue.

"I live in Richmond [B.C., Vancouver area]," said the offensively-gifted defenseman who scored 15 goals and added 60 assists for the Western Hockey League Tri-City Americans this season. "My family and I get down to Seattle a lot for baseball and football games."

The trio will be in Seattle this coming week for the Kraken's third development camp, which finishes July 5 with a 3-on-3 scrimmage open to the public at Kraken Community Iceplex. Kron and his scouting staff, along with Seattle's player development group, will be looking forward to welcoming the Team Canada U18 teammates among others.

During a wrap-up media session Thursday afternoon, Kron offered analysis of Rehkopf, Dragicevic and Price.

"Carson was a CHL Top Prospects Game MVP and played very well for Team Canada in the Hlinka tournament last summer," said Kron about Rehkopf. "He's a big 6-3-plus centerman who plays a 200-foot game, great skill guy who can play on special teams."

Rehkopf sees himself as a power forward, which no question Kraken fans will appreciate: "I think showing I can play a heavy style of game with skill is a valuable package and showing that every game."

Kron's take on Dragicevic: "Lukas is a 6-2 right-handed shot offensive defenseman [filling a Kraken position need in the prospect pool] who played for Tri-City and [coach] Stu Barnes and, of course, Team Canada U18 as well. He's a player with great offensive instincts and can run a power play as well."

While the three Canadian prospects enjoyed gathering in the Kraken suite, Dragicevic excused himself to go find Barnes and his other WHL coaches to thank them and mark the occasion of getting drafted. Barnes, who played 1,242 NHL games (regular season and playoffs), served as a Kraken pro scout in the first formative year of the franchise. Kron and Francis clearly trusted Barnes' positive comments about his mobile and productive defenseman, who only switched to the position three years ago when his bantam team was short on blue liners due to injury. Dragicevic was the first to volunteer and the rest is hockey history in the making.

In Price, who at 17 has already notched two minutes-heavy seasons with Kelowna, Kron and the Kraken selected Western Hockey League defensemen with back-to-back picks: "He is another one in this group to make a strong showing for Team Canada U18 and had a great season in the WHL [five goals, 35 assists in 65 games while also shutting down opponents' top lines]. He is a highly mobile two-way defenseman with great skill and hockey IQ. Caden can also play in all defensive positions and situations, including power play and PK."

Scouts refer to Price as a puck-mover and he embraces the label: "I take pride in that," said Price, who as an eight-year-old met Kraken veteran forward Jordan Eberle when the Seattle alternate captain was playing for Edmonton. "I'm a two-way transitional defenseman with a lot of offensive upside ... one of my strengths is moving the puck out [of the defensive zone and through the neutral zone]."

That meeting with Eberle was documented. Price's father, Dave, confirmed there is a photo showing the meet-and-greet and remembers the Oilers posters and paraphernalia on his oldest son's bedroom walls.

Price said playing for Team Canada in international competition has expanded his thoughts about his roles on a hockey team, which is likely to come in quite handy in his pro hockey pursuits.

"Playing against the other country's best is important," said Price. "Whenever you're playing against the best, you've got to rise to the occasion. Also, there's going to those events, getting put in different roles than I'm used to playing in Kelowna. The roles get reversed kind of thing. It helps round out your game and adapt to new scenarios."

Ron Francis concurs and called it a big plus that the three young Canadians have competed for their countries, as have first-rounder Eduard Sale for Czechia and the third second-rounder, forward Oscar Fisker Molgaard playing for his native Denmark.

"I think anytime you're competing against the best in the world, you get a pretty good read on who you are and what your game is," said Francis. "Getting that experience, you gain confidence from that moving forward."