Two Kraken Prospects
Winger Ryan Winterton, considered one of the Kraken’s “top-3” prospects coming out of last summer’s development camp, and fellow right-shot forward Logan Morrison, both arrived from the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League and skated with the big club on Monday.
It’s expected they’ll play Tuesday night at home in Seattle against the Anaheim Ducks. Winterton has already played in three NHL games, without tallying a point, while Morrison would be making his debut.
With Seattle out of the Stanley Cup playoff picture, call-ups like these were expected in some way, shape, or form. Others will likely follow before the NHL regular season schedule wraps up for Seattle on April 18th.
21-year-old center Morrison is 6th on the Firebirds in scoring with 40 points. A former Hamilton Bulldog and Ottawa 67 in the Ontario Hockey League, “Moe” went undrafted by an NHL club and signed with Seattle as a free agent last April.
“It’s surreal,” Morrison said after practice Monday at the Kraken Community Iceplex. “Obviously you never expect to get the first call, you never know when it’s gonna happen, yeah, it was a pretty special day yesterday and I’m really happy to be here.”
Winterton was selected in the 3rd round by the Kraken in their first ever NHL Draft in 2021. He’s overcome multiple shoulder surgeries, coming through them with flying colors, to finish at or near the top of the Kraken’s fitness testing last summer. He’s among the AHL goal scoring leaders with 21 and has 33 points on the season.
“Five-on-five he’s one of top-five goal scorers in the league, his plus-minus is outstanding, that speaks to a guy that’s a really good two-way winger,” Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol said of Winterton.
Both remain eligible to play for Coachella Valley in the AHL’s Calder Cup playoffs, as does Seattle rookie D-man Ryker Evans.
Earlier today:
— Kraken’s Ryker Evans A Step In The Right Direction
