OHL In The System: Seattle KrakenThe latest instalment of OHL In The System takes a closer look at the Seattle Kraken, a franchise that has drawn heavily from the Ontario Hockey League since their arrival in the Emerald City.
This 32-part series spotlights OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.
Join us for OHL In The System!
Nathan Villeneuve (C) – Sudbury Wolves (2022-24)Selected: 63rd Overall, 2024 NHL DraftOHL Career Stats: 111 Games Played | 35 Goals | 37 Assists | 72 PointsAge: 18A former third overall pick by Sudbury in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, Nathan Villeneuve brings a competitive edge to the Wolves’ lineup, and has shown he can also produce and complement skilled players on the ice. The Ottawa, Ont. native put up 50 points (23-27–50) over 56 games in his second OHL season. Internationally, he won silver with Team Canada Red at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Jakub Fibigr (D) – Mississauga Steelheads (2023-24)Selected: 202nd Overall, 2024 NHL DraftOHL Career Stats: 61 Games Played | 7 Goals | 36 Assists | 43 PointsAge: 18The 16th overall pick of the 2023 CHL Import Draft, Fibigr led OHL rookie defencemen with 36 assists in 2023-24. He was voted to the OHL’s second all-rookie team in his first campaign. Fibigr won silver with Czechia at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Eduard Sale (LW) – Kitchener Rangers & Barrie Colts (2023-24)Selected: 20th Overall, 2023 NHL DraftOHL Career Stats: 49 Games Played | 15 Goals | 23 Assists | 38 PointsAge: 18Selected by Barrie with the 29th overall pick of the 2023 CHL Import Draft, Eduard Sale had to adjust to the North American style and it took him some time to do that. He benefitted from a mid-season move to the Kitchener Rangers were he had a big finish in the playoffs, putting up 12 points (5-7–12) over 10 games as Kitchener reached the second round. 6-foot-2, 178Ibs. and still filling-out, Sale finished with 38 points (15-23–38) over 49 games in his first OHL season and looks to be a big contributor to the Kitchener offence in 2024-25. Despite being just 18 years-old, Sale has won a pair of World Junior medals with Czechia, claiming silver in 2023 and bronze in 2024.
Logan Morrison (C) – Hamilton Bulldogs (2018-23), Ottawa 67’s (2022-23)Signed: April 11, 2023OHL Career Stats: 222 Games Played | 111 Goals | 162 Assists | 273 PointsAge: 22The MVP of the 2022 OHL Playoffs, Logan Morrison had himself a tremendous junior career. Selected 18th overall by the Hamilton Bulldogs following their championship in 2018, Morrison led a successful cycle for the Dogs, guiding them back to the J. Ross Robertson Cup in 2022 before joining a competitive Ottawa 67’s program at the deadline in 2022-23. Morrison, from Guelph, Ont., was signed as a free agent by the Kraken in April 2023 and recorded 41 points (16-25–41) over 64 games with Coachella Valley in his first pro season. Morrison was voted to the OHL’s first all-star team in 2023.
Shane Wright (C) – Kingston Frontenacs (2019-22), Windsor Spitfires (2022-23)Selected: 4th Overall, 2022 NHL DraftOHL Career Stats: 141 Games Played | 86 Goals | 111 Assists | 197 PointsAge: 20An exceptional status talent in the OHL, the Seattle Kraken haven’t rushed Shane Wright to the NHL, getting him into more than 100 AHL contests between regular season and playoffs over the past two seasons. Wright has been able to play on a highly competitive Coachella Valley Firebirds squad that has made two consecutive trips to the Calder Cup Final. He contributed 47 points (22-25–47) over 59 regular season games this past season before chipping in with 13 points (4-9–13) in 12 playoff outings as Coachella came up just short against Hershey for the second straight year. Wright remains the Kingston Frontenacs’ record-holder for most goals by a rookie when he scored 39 during the 2019-20 campaign, earning him OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year honours. The Burlington, Ont. native is also a former Canadian World Junior gold medalist.
Carson Rehkopf (RW) – Kitchener Rangers (2021-24)Selected: 50th Overall, 2022 NHL DraftOHL Career Stats: 193 Games Played, 100 Goals, 87 Assists | 187 PointsAge: 19The guy they call Rayzor in Kitchener lit the lamp 52 times this past season, emerging as one of the top scoring threats in the OHL. Despite his impressive output, Rehkopf was the odd man out in OHL All-Star Team voting following the conclusion of the season, that despite his 95 points (52-43–95) over 60 games. Rehkopf represented Canada at the World Juniors this past January and was a bright spot there, producing four points (2-2–4) in his five games. A former 17th overall pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Rehkopf helped Canada win gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
David Goyette (RW) – Sudbury Wolves (2021-24)Selected: 61st Overall, 2022 NHL DraftOHL Career Stats: 197 Games Played | 114 Goals | 168 Assists | 282 PointsAge: 20Goyette finished as the OHL’s leading scorer in 2023-24, racking up 117 points (40-77–117) over 68 games. He was voted to the OHL’s third all-star team, wrapping up his OHL career as the sixth-highest point producer in Sudbury Wolves history with 282 points over a three-year career. Formerly an 11th overall pick by Sudbury back in 2020, Goyette lived up to expectations, coming out of the gate hot as the OHL’s leading goal-scorer (33) and point producer (73) among rookies in 2021-22. He’ll make the jump to the pro ranks next season, looking to make an impression with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Ty Nelson (D) – North Bay Battalion (2021-24)Selected: 68th Overall, 2022 NHL DraftOHL Career Stats: 187 Games Played | 49 Goals | 130 Assists | 179 PointsAge: 20The first overall pick of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, Ty Nelson made his mark in North Bay, graduating as the Battalion’s all-time leading scorer among blueliners. Nelson played a big part in guiding the Battalion to three consecutive Central Division titles that accompanied appearances in the Eastern Conference Championship Series in three straight playoffs. 5-foot-10 with a sturdy build, Nelson was part of Canada’s National Junior Team this past January, recording three assists in five outings. He was voted to the OHL’s third all-star team in 2023-24, recording 52 points (16-36–52) over 54 games. Nelson was also a runner-up for the OHL Humanitarian of the Year Award this past season. The Troops will have a big void to fill on the back end next season as Nelson, with his infectious personality, will be headed to the AHL.
Tucker Robertson (C) – Peterborough Petes (2019-23)Selected: 123rd Overall, 2022 NHL DraftOHL Career Stats: 191 Games Played | 85 Goals | 104 Assists | 189 PointsAge: 21A player who overcame the OHL’s Covid hiatus to become one of the most effective two-way centremen in the league, Tucker Robertson was drafted a year late by the Kraken in 2022 after impressing with 41 goals during the 2021-22 season. As an encore, he returned to Peterborough in 2022-23 to guide the Petes to an OHL Championship, racking up 90 points (36-54–90) over 68 games. Robertson is a skilled presence in the face-off circle and made the transition to the pro ranks this past season, splitting time between AHL Coachella Valley and ECHL Kansas City. Robertson will look to take another step as a second year pro in 2024-25, ideally drawing a full-time role in California.
Ryan Winterton (C) – Hamilton Bulldogs (2019-22), London Knights (2022-23)Selected: 67th Overall, 2021 NHL DraftOHL Career Stats: 124 Games Played | 44 Goals | 61 Assists | 105 PointsAge: 20Like the aforementioned Logan Morrison, Ryan Winterton was a first round pick of the Hamilton Bulldogs, going 8th overall in 2019. Winterton battled injuries during his OHL career, but was a highly effective player when healthy, with some of his best work coming in the 2023 OHL Playoffs when he led the London Knights to a Western Conference title with 29 points (13-16–29) over 21 games. Winterton won U18 gold with Canada in 2021 along with an OHL Championship in Hamilton in 2022. He was close to another title this past spring, producing 12 points (7-5–12) in 18 playoff games for the Coachella Valley Firebirds. His first pro season produced 35 points (22-13–35) over 58 regular season outings.
Ville Ottavainen (D) – Kitchener Rangers (2019-20)Selected: 99th Overall, 2021 NHL DraftOHL Career Stats: 53 Games Played | 4 Goals | 11 Assists | 15 PointsAge: 21A 6-foot-5, 216Ib. defender from Oulu, Finland, Ville Ottavainen spent the 2019-20 season in Kitchener before returning to his home country during the Covid hiatus. Ottavainen came to North America on a full-time basis in 2023-24, putting up 34 points (8-26–34) over 70 games on the back end in Coachella Valley.
Tuesday’s edition of In The System, features the Calgary Flames organization!
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