The Kings’ training center is the venue for the weekend, with a crowd populated by 50 to 70-some scouts attached to the seven teams, plus front-office executives from the matching NHL and AHL franchises. Some Kings fans were on hand (the larger fan counts will be at Kings prospects playing evening games), while many seats were occupied by young players not in-game action Saturday but sitting down to watch the Kraken-Avalanche after team practices.
Colorado received the first power play with three-plus minutes left in the opening frame. The aforementioned forward Melanson and one of the day’s alternate captains were whistled for tripping. Seattle snuffed the powerplay with strong efforts from penalty killers Ville Ottavainen and Caden Price on defense and Goyette, 2023 4th-round Andrei Loshko and AHL/NHL-tested Logan Morrison, who served as an alternate captain Saturday in Southern Cal.
Morrison Doubles the Score, Then Fibigr Triples
Kraken prospects Shane Wright and Ryan Winterton practiced at rookie camp on Thursday and Friday but didn’t join the traveling party. One reason is Morrison is a natural leader as an undrafted free agent who earned NHL games in his first year as a pro and was an AHL standout.
A great keep-in by defenseman Tyson Jugnauth started the second Kraken goal just under four minutes into the middle frame. Jugnauth’s elite effort sent the puck to 2024 Western Hockey League player of the year Jagger Firkus, who made sure to make good his teammate’s gritty move by sending the puck net-front to Logan Morrison to make it 2-0 Seattle.
Czech-born defenseman Jakub Fibigr (last name pronounced “fib-ah-grrr”) follows a basic hockey position by sending a shot on the goal from the left point when no other pass makes sense. The shot, a bit of a knuckler, beat Colorado goalie Jake Barczenski, who played 37 games for NCAA Michigan last season. Melanson picked up the second primary assist, and 2024 2nd-round Nathan Villeneuve earned an assist, too.
Kokko Stars in Goal
Niklas Kokko, who starred for his Pelicans team in Finland's top pro league’s playoffs, got the start in goal. The 2022 second-round draft choice turned in a solid game, especially turning away several potential Grade-A chances that could have halved the score in the second period and a scoring chance in the opening period that would have Colorado to an early lead.
Minutes after Morrison upped the margin to two goals, Kokko kept his zero by stopping not one but two point-blank shots by two Colorado running high-motoring in transition to achieve high-danger attempts. Kokko, who will likely play for Coachella Valley this season, notched 23 saves in the first 40 minutes.
“Kokko was outstanding,” said Laxdal. “He made the big save when he needed to and kept the game at 0-0 for us.”
Laxdal awarded the game puck to the big-smile Finnish goaltender. “First game, first win,” said the 6-foot-3 goalie. There were noisy cheers and no objections from teammates about Laxdal awarding the puck to Kokko. Fun fact: Kokko’s name label on his goalie sticks read “Hot Coco.”
Colorado’s Jake Barczewski held form with Kokko in the scoreless first period, but his day turned sour with three goals in the second period and one more in the final frame.
Another high-quality keep-in, this time by 2024 4th-round pick and defenseman Lukas Dragicevic, powered Seattle’s fourth goal. Loshko, solid on the PK, took a pass from 2023 1st-round pick Eduard Sale to make it 4-0. Colorado ruined the shutout with a late goal by forward Jason Polin, who scored in the Avalanche’s Friday loss to Anaheim. Sale then notched his second assist by setting up Finnish sensation Jani Nyman for an empty net goal and a 5-1 final.
Work to Do, Plus Catton and Others in Sunday Lineup
Laxdal was visibly pleased and relaxed during the media queries, but like any ambitious coach, he will have plenty of items on the to-do list for his charges: “We will watch the video on some of the structure stuff and details. There were a lot of good things that we talked about, and there were some things that we need to work on, like most games. At the end of the day, this is the first prospect [tournament game] for the organization. We're representing the Seattle Kraken and our culture. We want a winning culture. I thought the kids did a really good job of representing.”
The 2024 Rookie Faceoff continues for Seattle with Game 2 Sunday to finish a pair of debut contests this September. The 1 p.m. puck drop against Vegas will feature a first appearance by 2024 No. 8 overall draft pick, center Berkly Catton, plus lineup additions 2022 third-rounder Ty Nelson he will likely play in the AHL this season\], 2024 third-rounder defenseman Alexis Bernier, 2022 fourth-rounder forward Tucker Robertson, [plus undrafted NCAA free agent Lleyton Roed, whose speed and scoring touch impressed Dan Bylsma in Coachella Valley from the then-college sophomore’s first practice last spring. Sunday’s game will be livestreamed on NHL.com/Kraken with Firebirds announcer Evan Pivnick on the call.
