Our Kraken Are Locked In at Pick No. 7 and We Just Traded Away a Third Rounder?!
Yo, Emerald City! You know the 2026 NHL Draft is just around the corner, but we finally have the *full* picture of where our Kraken stand across all 224 picks. And let me tell you, there's big news, exciting news, and then there's a head-scratcher. It's official, fam: our boys are picking SEVENTH overall in the first round! SEVENTH! This is massive for the future of our squad, giving us a shot at a true game-changer to add to the Climate Pledge Arena ice.
Our Kraken Picks Are Locked In!
The 2026 NHL Draft is set to light up the KeyBank Center in Buffalo on June 26th for Round 1, then June 27th for Rounds 2-7. The whole order, all 224 picks, got finalized after the 2025-26 regular season wrapped and the Stanley Cup playoffs concluded. But the top of the first round, that was decided by the draft lottery back on May 5th. We saw the Toronto Maple Leafs snag the first overall pick, with the San Jose Sharks right behind them at number two. What a bummer for them, but hey, not our problem!
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Our Kraken, after all the dust settled, are holding strong at pick number seven in the first round. That's a top-tier talent waiting to happen! Think about the impact a player selected at #7 can have on our team, joining our core guys like Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle, and Jared McCann. This is where you find future captains and star power, folks. Then, in the second round, we're picking 38th. Another high pick, another chance to grab some serious talent for our future. These early picks are absolutely crucial for building a sustainable winner here in Seattle.
What's Up With Pick No. 70?
Okay, so here's the part that had me scratching my head. While we're hyped for #7 and #38, I noticed something else on the draft board. Our original third-round pick, number 70 overall, isn't ours anymore. Nope, it's listed as belonging to the Nashville Predators, specifically "Nashville Predators (from SEA)." What?! We traded away a third-rounder? That's a tough pill to swallow, giving up a mid-round pick where you can often unearth some real gems for the future. You always want as many swings as possible, right?
It just goes to show you that General Manager Ron Francis is always working the angles. But giving up a pick like that means we really need to nail those first two selections. You look at teams like the Canucks, picking third overall, or the Blackhawks at fourth, and you know every single pick counts. We can't afford any misses, especially when we've shipped off a valuable asset like a third-round choice. We need to make these picks count to keep up with the competition and continue building our identity on the ice.
So, the stage is set for the 2026 NHL Draft. Our first-round pick at number seven is a golden opportunity to add a cornerstone piece to our lineup, someone who can skate hard and battle alongside Vince Dunn or provide offense with Chandler Stephenson. We need to hit a home run with this pick, especially since we're down a third-rounder. Get ready to cheer, Seattle, because the future of our Kraken is about to get a major injection of talent. Let's see who GM Francis brings home to the Emerald City!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.