The Seattle Kraken entered the 2025 NHL Draft looking to bolster their prospect pool, and they appear to have done just that with a diverse class of players selected over the seven rounds held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. With a focus on adding size and skill, General Manager Jason Botterill and his scouting staff addressed needs at both forward and defense, adding a mix of potential high-end talent and intriguing developmental projects.
Leading the way for the Kraken's 2025 draft class is center Jake O'Brien, selected with the 8th overall pick. O'Brien, who played for the Brampton Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), is known for his quick skating, playmaking ability, and offensive instincts. In 66 games this past season, O'Brien tallied an impressive 32 goals and 66 assists for a total of 98 points. Praised as a creative playmaker with first-line potential, O'Brien could become a key piece of Seattle's future down the middle.
After selecting O'Brien, the Kraken turned their attention to the blue line, selecting four consecutive defensemen. This was likely influenced by the fact that the Kraken's system is well-stocked with centers and wingers, but after Ryker Evans made the jump to the NHL, the list of promising defensemen was short. It began with Blake Fiddler, taken 36th overall after a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers to move up two spots. Fiddler, a towering 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-shot defenseman from the Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL), is the son of 14-year NHL veteran Vernon Fiddler. Fiddler describes himself as a big, long, rangy, two-way defenseman who skates well for his size and can play heavy minutes. Will Reynolds, a 6-foot-3, 188-pound left-shot defenseman from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan (Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League), was selected in the third round, 68th overall.
In the fifth round, the Kraken selected Russian defenseman Maxim Agafonov with the 134th pick. Agafonov, who put up six goals and 14 assists in 35 games with Tolpar Ufa, is described as offensively raw but solid in his own end. The Kraken hope to bring Agafonov to Seattle for development camp, but he is expected to play in Russia for at least another year. Karl Annborn, a 6-foot-1, 192-pound right-handed shot defenseman from HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League, was selected with the 205th pick in the seventh round. For the HV71 junior club, Annborn played top-pair minutes and logged time with both the power play and penalty kill special teams.
With their final pick in the seventh round, 218th overall, the Kraken selected Swedish left wing Loke Krantz from Linkoping HC in the Swedish Juniors League. Krantz, a right-shot, 6-foot-2, 187-pound winger, recorded 17 points in 44 regular-season games last season.
Overall, the Seattle Kraken's 2025 draft class appears to be a promising group of players with a mix of skill, size, and potential. With the selection of Jake O'Brien, the Kraken added a highly skilled center with top-line potential. The additions of Blake Fiddler, Will Reynolds, Maxim Agafonov, and Karl Annborn address the need for defensive prospects within the organization. Finally, Loke Krantz provides additional depth and potential on the wing. It will be several years before we know the full impact of this draft class, but the Kraken have taken a step in the right direction toward building a successful future.
