‘Showcasing’ Their Stuff

Seattle prospects get a jump on the start of next week’s Kraken Training Camp with a full practice Friday morning before heading to Abbotsford, BC, by bus for a pair of games against Vancouver Canucks prospects. The 2026 Prospects Showcase drops the puck with a 4 p.m. Saturday game at Rogers Forum just over the border and then an encore matchup Sunday at 1 p.m. 

“Our roster has a lot of returning players that were in Coachella Valley last year,” said Derek Laxdal, referring to the American Hockey League affiliate of which he is head coach. “Given the shortened schedule for training camp with four exhibition games [two fewer than usual while the NHL regular season expands to  84 games], the weekend games are a way for our younger players to springboard into the NHL training camp on the 17^th. Their evaluation starts Friday and continues over the weekend.”

The Showcase roster includes several players with significant AHL experience looking to make a case for sticking with the Kraken, including 2022 second rounder Jani Nyman and 2023 second-round pick Oscar Fisker Molgaard. Both forwards suited up for Seattle last season to positive reviews and played pivotal roles in the Firebirds’ fourth-straight deep postseason run in four years of existence.

Other scoring threats in the Seattle prospects lineup include 2022 second-round pick Jagger Firkus (36 goals, 56 assists in 132 AHL regular-season games) and 2023 second-round selection Julius Miettinen, who was named MVP of the Western Hockey League Playoffs last spring to complete a stellar amateur career.

“There are a number of players who will be trying to make the big club and making a great impression,” said Laxdal. “But they also know after training camp many will most likely be going to CV. This weekend is a great chance to get acclimated.”

That adjustment period is especially relevant for the young defensive corps heading up to B.C. Five defensemen on the trip played for the Firebirds last season, headlined by AHL All-Rookie Team defenseman Tyson Jugnauth and CVF top-pair defender Ty Nelson. Along with Alex Bernier, a 2024 third-rounder ticketed for the Firebirds, the D-group will be working with new Coachella Valley assistant coach Scott Ford, who guided Norris Trophy winner Zack Werenski for the Columbus Blue Jackets last season.

Ford replaces Stu Bickel, named head coach of the AHL Iowa Wild this summer. Ford coached for two years in Columbus and spent seven years behind the bench with AHL Milwaukee, a perennial top team in the league. 

“Scott comes highly recommended by coaches who have worked for me,” said Laxdal. “He’s going to be a great addition to our staff and bring an element [of working at the NHL level] to our staff. I am so happy for Stu. He’s done a great job developing young defensemen for this organization.”

Speaking of defense, a pair of 2026 draft picks, Finn Kearns (fifth round) and Ryan Singh (7th round), will man the blue line against Vancouver’s prospects along with 2025 third-rounder Will Reynolds. Firebirds star goalie Nikke Kokko is on the Showcase roster along with camp invitee Maks Corovic, an 18-year-old goaltender who appeared in a pair of games for OHL Brantford last season. Another 18-year-old camp invite on the Showcase roster, Brody Gillespie, is a Vancouver, WA, native who played for WHL Spokane last season.