Zoning In: Firkus Growing His Game

At the 2026 Prospects Showcase last weekend, Kraken forward hopeful Jagger Firkus proved notable right from his Saturday opening shift with linemates Julius Miettinen and Jani Nyman right through the final minutes of Sunday’s Game 2 versus Vancouver prospects. The 2022 second rounder (35^th overall) displayed attributes his coaches recognize and value: Leading the rush up ice with speed and an elite vision for finding open teammates, putting shots on goal, getting net front, battling for pucks in corners and winning pucks back in the offensive zone.

That last component of Firkus’ games in B.C. – fortified by two productive seasons with American Hockey League affiliate Coachella Valley -- is what first comes to mind when Firebirds assistant coach Brendan Sonne was quizzed about the 200-foot evolution of Firkus’ professional development. The 2024 Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year arrived in the southern California desert with wow-factor goal-scoring and assists numbers but has by all accounts become a standout on the forecheck in the defensive zone.

“He’s got a good stick,” said Sonne last Sunday morning a few hours before game time. “He is always stripping guys of the puck.”

Coachella Valley head coach Derek Laxdal couldn’t agree more about the 5-foot-11 winger and power play first-teamer who weighed in at 179 this fall (up from 170 last September) to help continue his already solid work in rink corners. 

“‘Firks’ is the type of player we don't expect to run through opponents and blow players up,” said Laxdal. “We expect him to go through [opponents’] hands, go through the sticks, get underneath sticks, win battles, reload, get above pucks [reversing in his team’s favor].”

“Lax and the coaching staff have leaned on me to make sure I round out my game,” said Firkus, outside his squad’s locker room after Saturday’s 7-3 win. “You won't get to the next level without getting back in the D-zone and being in the right spots. Plus, when you're dedicated to the D-zone work, it seems like you get more offensive chances too.”

What Separates AHL and NHL

“We know what Firks can do offensively,” said Laxdal, who assigned Firkus and fellow forward Oscar Fisker Molgaard as alternate captains last weekend with defenseman Ty Nelson wearing the “C.” “He scored a nice goal [Sunday] off a set play from the face-off [in the defensive zone]. It’s called a ‘wing under.’ Ended up going through the D-zone, skate through the neutral zone and put a shot through a defenseman and a goalie. It’s his play away from the puck, his ability to be strong positionally, his ability to strip pucks that is going to be the difference between him playing in the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League.”

Firkus indeed has showed up offensively as a pro. He raised his scoring total by 20 points last season for the Firebirds, notching 21 goals and 35 assists for 56 points in 63 games. He progressed from gathering points in 52 percent of games as an AHL rookie to putting up scoresheet numbers in 88 percent of games last regular season, in which he was named to the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic. He was second on the team in both goals and assists; only veteran Logan Morrison tallied more. Fun fact: At the All-Star skills fest, Firkus became just the sixth AHL player ever to be perfect in the accuracy shooting competition. 

 After other prospects drew into Kraken games during the final handful of matchups last regular season, it is fair to speculate Firkus didn’t make his NHL debut only because he was working to fully recover from an injury in time for the AHL Playoffs.  Firkus took to the postseason with purpose, squared-away health and a leadership mindset on a team with the AHL’s youngest average age. He contributed four goals, five assists and a whole lot of winning back pucks in 18 games as CVF went deep in the playoffs for a fourth straight year. 

No one in the Kraken organization overlooked how the 22-year-old Firkus handled matters with a mature team-first mentality. His outlook for Thursday’s start of Kraken Training Camp presented by Starbuck is similarly veteran. 

“I was looking to earn what I get given,” said Firkus. “It's not going to be given. I mean, it’s an NHL team. No one is giving you a spot. I’ve got to go out there and earn every opportunity, fight for opportunity every single time, show I deserve to be there. It's pretty simple. Go out there, put your best foot forward. When you put your head on your pillow at night, know you gave it your all and your best.”

Building Body and Mind

Hockey is not a mistake-free sport, even for Hall of Famers. When discussing how he feels stronger than ever physically heading into camp, he pointed out his mental approach is steel-solid too.

“I've matured a lot too,” said Firkus. “My body's matured along with my brain growing in different aspects of the game. I've taken steps with both body and mind, which I think they [coaches and front office leadership] will be happy about.”

As for mistakes, Firkus said, “It’s a game where you can’t be perfect.”

“It’s hockey and sports in general,” said Firkus. “You’ve dealt with it since you were a little kid. It’s a different level now, but if you make a mistake, you can’t put your head down and give up. If you make a mistake, the hockey staff will be looking to see how you come out on the next shift, see if you give up on yourself or if you're willing to get back into the fight with the boys.”