5 rookies to watch for in Los Angeles

The start of the hockey season is perhaps subjective, depending on your official definition of the starting blocks. Regular season, pre-season, training camp, or (if you’ve waited too long with anticipation to see a fresh, white canvas with any signs of humanity in a Seattle Kraken jersey with youth as their advantage) rookie camp – your call. 

Whatever it is, your wait is over soon, if not now. As we’re inside of a month before opening day, the future has begun to take shape in rookie camp, opening Thursday, with a collection of talent bearing hints of possibilities to break into the Kraken roster as soon as this season. 

What’s intended starting Saturday when the Kraken, led by Coachella Valley Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal and staff, will head to Los Angeles in the Kings annual rookie tournament at Toyota Sports Performance Center, is no Mickey Mouse operation. 

“It’s a great opportunity for these kids to springboard into training camp,” said Laxdal. 

“When we get on that plane (Friday), it’s all business. We’re not going to Disneyland.” 

The rookie squad from the Colorado Avalanche awaits at 3pm, then the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday at 1pm before the call to return home for the week of main training camp, opening next Thursday at Kraken Community Iceplex. 

A look at five potential impact players among the rookies, on the road in California, to take us for a ride like the Matterhorn: 

1. Berkly Catton (C): Here’s another in the line of “not a matter of if, but when” for an NHL roster spot. To suggest Catton, age 18 and at just 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, is ready now would be an extreme reach. But he’s on his way after a 54-goal and 116-point campaign in WHL Spokane, while turning many heads during camp periods in a Kraken jersey with a prolific skill set and willingness to create offense high traffic areas of the ice. We’ve been watching a player who’s got “franchise cornerstone” potential. 

If he goes back to Spokane, which is likely, he’ll be one the best players in the WHL. But he’s not letting go of loftier goals. 

“I’m wherever my feet are at,” said Catton. “(If) I go through this camp, impress and play some NHL hockey games, good for me. That’s obviously what I’m striving for.” 

2. Ville Ottavainen (D): The Kraken defensive corps is perhaps the strongest and deepest it’s ever been in four years – thank Ron Francis for the massive upgrade of Brandon Montour, fellow former Panther Josh Mahura in line, Ryker Evans set to claim a bigger role, and the top pairing of Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson set to be here for a long time. But nothing is certain when it comes to injuries, and the Kraken will need standby options at the AHL level – especially from their draft stock. Enter this 6-foot-5, 218-pound behemoth with a pro-frame, who plays physical, and shoots right-handed: stuff that coaches salivate over. He almost hit double digits in goals last season for the Firebirds. 

Ottavainen adjusted well in his first pro season, like Winterton and Wright, becoming a linchpin during Coachella’s second straight run to the Calder Cup Final. It doesn’t hurt that he’s got two coaches now with the big club (Dan Bylsma, Jessica Campbell) who know his game. It’s very possible he starts this year in the AHL. But this camp represents the final statement, for stating his case of being NHL ready. If any injury issues hit the Kraken blueline, he’ll probably need to pack his bags quickly. 

3. Lleyton Roed (F): There’s a growing trend in the Kraken front office, and it’s identifying “diamond in the rough” talent. Tye Kartye and Logan Morrison both went undrafted and after their signed contracts, made their NHL debut within a year. Though it’s not a given, and there are others who are more debut ready than him, Roed could be next from this group. The high-octane speedster forward out of Bemidji State wasted little time contributing with his first AHL goal in his second career game, didn’t look out of place in five Calder Cup Playoff games (scoring another in the postseason), and caught attention at development camp. Like Kartye and Morrison, he’s a project. But he's got tremendous potential. 

4. Jagger Firkus (RW): There’s virtually nothing left for Firkus to do at the major junior level, where he cleaned house following a championship season last year in Moose Jaw along with 61 goals, a league leading 126 points, and league MVP honors. He’s eligible to turn pro and is a prime candidate to play a significant role in Coachella Valley this season. The NHL isn’t out of the question, though questions remain unanswered about his frame at 5-foot-11 and 163 pounds, the ability to presently handle the pace and physicality of NHL play. But without question, his skill has delivered results, time after time. 

5. Niklas Kokko (G): The Kraken are once again set in net with Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer, but no longer do the have the backup insurance they used to have with Chris Driedger – and Daccord on previous terms, to team with Ales Stezka in Coachella Valley. That’s opened the door for Kokko, a 20-year old towering presence in net at 6-foot-3, two years removed from being taken in the second round, and since then posting productive numbers (including a .926 save percentage) in the Finnish Elite League where he took the Lahti Pelicans to the Finals. He looks the part as a pro goaltender set for success in North America. 

Honorable mention:

• Shane Wright (C): Wright and Ryan Winterton aren't traveling to Los Angeles, it still bears mentioning for future watch as a part of the roster (which wraps up rookie camp early next week) that Wright is a “sage” veteran of the group - only 20 but is already now two years past Gary Bettman’s handshake on the draft stage in Montreal. He played like a beast in Coachella Valley last season, scored four goals in eight NHL games across sporadic call-ups, and is a breakout candidate on this season’s roster. At this point, an opening day spot is his to lose.

“I think for me, I just want to make the new guys comfortable coming in,” said Wright. 

• Ryan Winterton (F): You could basically copy and paste Wright’s capsule above and use it here. Winterton is among the older forwards in the group, but one of few that carry NHL experience and based on last season, is also a prime candidate to earn a roster spot on the Kraken next month. He had no issues adjusting to the pros last season with a 22-goal campaign in Coachella Valley, lauded for his penalty kill abilities.