Seattle Kraken rank No. 15 in NHL Pipeline Rankings for 2022

Seattle shoots up from dead last in the 2021 rankings after a strong 2022 draft class, and good progress from their 2021 draftees this past season. Matty Beniers and Shane Wright are two centers they can build their franchise around for the next decade, but the system isn’t overly deep after them as one could expect with only two draft classes to their name.

Key additions: Shane Wright, Jagger Firkus, Jani Nyman, David Goyette

2021 ranking: No. 32

2022 NHL Draft grade: A

Full 2022-23 NHL Pipeline Rankings

player ranking

1. Matthew Beniers, C

19 years old | 6-foot-2 | 175 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 2 in 2021
Tier: Bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Beniers had an excellent season. He was a top player in college, a go-to option for USA’s Olympic team and ended his season with 9 points in 10 NHL games. He’s a well-rounded center with no notable flaw in his skill set. Beniers can play with NHL pace, skill, and energy. He’s able to create controlled entries with his skating and hands. He can create around the net, while also having vision off the perimeter and a good shot that can score from the dots. He’s a reliable defensive center who projects to take tough minutes right at the top of an NHL lineup with a chance to be a star two-way pivot.


Shane Wright projects as a no. 1 center in the NHL. (Eric Bolte / USA Today)

2. Shane Wright, C

18 years old | 6 feet | 199 pounds | Shoot right

Drafted: No. 4 in 2022
Tier: Bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Wright is a very well-rounded center who has no noticeable flaw in his skill set but there also isn’t a ton about his game that gets you overly excited. He can skate and handle the puck like an NHLer. Wright’s game translates because of his compete and direct style of play. He takes pucks to the net and plays quick. He can pull up to make a tough pass but can take pucks to the interior too. He has the high-end vision to run a power-play unit and make tough plays with pace. His shot is very good, showing the ability to pick corners from long range consistently. Off the puck he’s competitive and responsible, showing maturity beyond his years. He projects as a no. 1 center in the NHL due to his all-around play with a chance to be a star, but probably won’t be an elite scorer in the league.

3.Jagger Firkus, RW

18 years old | 5-foot-10 | 151 pounds | Shoot right

Drafted: No. 35 in 2022
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High end

Analysis: Firkus’ skill and creativity stood out consistently. He shows great ability to beat defenders one-on-one with his stickhandling. He can make tough passes at a high rate through seams and under pressure. He is a shot-and-pass threat which makes him a major asset on a power play and often scores from range with a release that will beat NHL goalies. Firkus is quick but not fast, showing good enough skating and compete to win battles but he’s not going to beat NHL defenders wide. The scoring ability is significant enough that I think he can be a middle-six winger.

4. Jani Nyman, RW

18 years old | 6-foot-4 | 217 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 49 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Nyman is a talented winger who is dangerous inside the offensive zone. He possesses good puck skills, can make plays and has a big shot that is a threat from range, which is his main weapon. Nyman’s footspeed is just OK so he probably won’t be a driver at higher levels of controlled entries. You’d like to see him be more consistently impactful given his size and skill. I think Nyman will be an NHL player, with the talent to play in the middle of a lineup if he hits.

5. Ryan Winterton, C

18 years old | 6-foot-2 | 175 pounds | Shoot right

Drafted: No. 67 in 2021
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Winterton missed the first half of the season due to injury but when he came back he went on a tear in the OHL, being a big reason why Hamilton was a top CHL team. He’s a tall, highly skilled forward who can make and finish plays. He’s a threat inside the offensive zone due to those elements. He can also use his size to create around the net. His skating is the only area of ​​his game that needs work, but there’s enough to his game that I could see him as a bottom-six forward with a chance to play higher in a lineup.

6. Ryker Evans, D

20 years old | 5-foot-11 | 189 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 35 in 2021
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Evans had another highly productive WHL season in his overage campaign. He’s a solid two-way defenseman. His skating allows him to close gaps well on checks, and despite not being the biggest defender he plays with an edge and can win a lot of battles. Offensively he’s not flashy, but he can transition pucks with his stick and brain, make the occasional tough play and has a good point. I think he plays in the league, but I’m not sold he stands out enough at either end to have a defined long-term role.

7. David Goyette, C

18 years old | 5-foot-10 | 175 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 61 in 2022
Tier: Projected to play NHL games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average

Analysis: Goyette is a talented forward. He has strong speed and puck skills, showing the ability to transition pucks like a pro. Goyette displays good creativity off the rush and can make tough plays with pace. His work ethic is up and down for me. Some days I find him too perimeter and on others I see him engaged in battles and being a factor on the ice consistently. I think he’ll play games but he’ll need to be more consistent to become a reliable top-nine forward.

Has a chance to play (listed alphabetically)

Ben MacDonald, C

18 years old | 6 feet | 180 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 91 in 2022

Analysis: MacDonald is a forward with an intriguing talent level. He’s a skilled player who can make plays and do so with pace. He’s not a burner but can create through the neutral zone with speed. He also shows the ability to slow the game down and create off the perimeter with his vision. MacDonald’s compete is fine, but I find his game inconsistent at times. The talent level gives him a chance but whether he can find an actual NHL role is to be determined based on how he does at higher levels.

Niklas Kokko, G

March 14, 2004 | 6-foot-3 | 184 pounds | Catches left

Drafted: No. 58 in 2022

Analysis: Kokko is an interesting prospect. On his best days he looks like a strong NHL prospect as a 6-foot-3 goalie who moves well, reads the play well and makes tough stops. He’s inconsistent though, can scramble too much in the net and lets in too many easy goals.

Jacob Melanson, RW

19 years old | 5-foot-11 | 190 pounds | Shoot right

Drafted: No. 131 in 2021

Analysis: Melanson’s offense popped this season; he scored 35 goals in 54 QMJHL games. He’s a good skater who competes hard and has some skill. Whether the offense translates to the pros is a question but his style of play gives him a chance to make it.

Ty Nelson, D

18 years old | 5-foot-10 | 199 pounds | Shoot right

Drafted: No. 68 in 2022

Analysis: Nelson brings a lot of pace to his shifts. He’s an excellent skater who can generate a lot of controlled exits and entries due to his skating. He has good enough skill to carry and create offense, and displays good poise as a passer. Nelson’s biggest issue is his frame at 5-foot-10, but he’s a highly competitive player who can land surprising hits for his size. He has a chance but given he’s not that dynamic offensively and undersized he’s not a sure thing to make it.

Tucker Robertson, C

19 years old | 5-foot-10 | 190 pounds | Shoot right

Drafted: No. 123 in 2022

Analysis: Robertson is a highly skilled and intelligent forward who can make a lot of tough plays. He can make the flashy plays with the puck, but despite his 5-foot-11 frame he’s not afraid of going to the tough areas of the offensive zone to create offense. He also killed penalties this season. His main issue, other than his frame, is his lack of speed, which makes him a long shot.

Player Eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2022, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.

Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.

Tier Definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.

(Illustration: Wes McCabe / `; photo of Matthew Beniers: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)