Seattle Kraken Sign Niklas Kokko to Entry-Level Contract

SEATTLE, Wash. - May 9, 2023 -Today, the Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) announced that they have signed goaltender Niklas Kokko to a three-year, two-way contract ($950,000 AAV).

"We're happy to officially welcome Niklas to the Kraken organization," said Seattle Kraken General Manager Ron Francis. "He elevated his game over the last year and we look forward to him continuing to take steps in his development."

Kokko, 19, spent the majority of the 2022-23 season with Hermes of the Mestis league, the second-highest men's professional league in Finland. He posted a 4-6-4 record with a 2.95 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. The netminder appeared in three playoff games for Hermes, finishing the postseason with a 1-2-0 record, 2.31 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. Kokko also played in eight regular-season games for SaiPa of the Liiga league, the top men's professional league in Finland. In those games, he had a 2-2-1 record with a 2.98 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.

Prior to the 2022-23 season, the six-foot-three, 184-pound netminder had spent the entirety of his career with the Kärpät organization, playing with their teams at the Liiga, U20, U18 and U16 levels, earning several accolades along the way. In 2021-22, he was named to the U20 SM-sarja Second All-Star Team after leading the league in wins (17) and ranking in the top 10 in goals-against average (2.06; tied for third) and save percentage (.914; sixth) among goaltenders that played in at least 10 games. He won the Jarmo Myllys Award as the U18 SM-sarja's top goaltender and earned U18 SM-sarja First-Team All Star honors at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season.

A native of Oulu, Finland, Kokko has represented his home country in several international competitions. He backstopped the Fins to a bronze medal at the 2022 U18 IIHF World Junior Championship and was named to Finland's roster for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, although he did not appear in a game. He was originally drafted by the Kraken in the second round (58th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.