Kraken Fan? You Need to See Who We Drafted While the League Lost Its Mind!

Alright, Emerald City! You gotta hear this. The 2026 NHL Draft just went down, and our Seattle Kraken were right there, snagging Reid to beef up our future. But hold onto your hats, folks, because while we were celebrating, the rest of the league went absolutely bonkers with trades, signings, and some news out of Columbus that has their coach, Bowness, flat-out "shocked"! This offseason is officially a wild one, and it is barely started.

A New Kraken Arrives and the Draft Delivers Some Wild Moments

First up, let us talk about our boys! We added Reid to the Kraken family in the 2026 NHL Draft. That is a huge step for the future of our squad, getting fresh talent into the system. It is all about building for the long haul, right? While we are stoked about Reid, the rest of the draft board was a whirlwind of action. We saw Gavin McKenna go No. 1 overall to the Maple Leafs. Stenberg headed to the Sharks. Caleb Malhotra got picked up by our rivals, the Vancouver Canucks. Daxon Rudolph is a Buffalo Sabre. Alberts Smits is a New York Ranger. Even the Ruck twins, Markus and Liam, got split up going to Pittsburgh! It is a new crop of talent, and every team is trying to build something special for the season ahead.

Columbus Coach Bowness 'Shocked' and the Trade Market Explodes

But the draft was just the appetizer, folks. The real main course is the absolute frenzy happening in the trade and free agency market. We are talking blockbuster

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moves! Markstrom is returning to the Panthers, coming over from the Devils with Rodrigues in the package. The Golden Knights sent Schmid packing to the Panthers for a pick. Gudas' rights were shipped from the Ducks to the Panthers too. Clearly, Florida is making moves! Then there is the jaw-dropping news out of Columbus: coach Bowness is reportedly "shocked" that Werenski might not want to re-sign there. You hear that? A coach "shocked" by a player potentially walking? That speaks volumes about the shifting landscape and how tight these negotiations can get. What a bombshell! Other moves include Hoglander getting traded to the Predators by the Canucks. Players like Dorofeyev and Peterka heading East in separate trades, with Dorofeyev going to the Rangers and Peterka to the Bruins. Cossa signed a 2-year deal with the Mammoth. Malenstyn inked a 6-year contract with the Sabres. It is an all-out free-for-all right now! So, there you have it, Seattle. Our Kraken got Reid, and the entire league is making massive moves that could reshape rosters across the board. The dust is far from settled, and with qualifying offers out to guys like Bobrovsky, Carlson, and Lee, plus Ovechkin talking about a potential return with the Capitals, there is no telling what is next. Every single decision feels like it has massive implications for who will be battling for the Cup next season. Keep your eyes peeled, because this summer is just getting started, and you know our Kraken are always looking for an edge. We will be here, watching every single play!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.