A significant and telling factor in developing young players for the NHL is to evaluate how prospects perform under the pressure of the postseason, such as in the Western Hockey League, one of the top junior leagues in North America. A number of Kraken draft picks are impressing on that test. Both 2024 first-round pick Berkly Catton and 2023 fifth-round Kaden Hammell were named No. 1 Star in pivotal games of the first round of the Western Hockey League playoffs.
Catton, picked No. 8 overall last summer and captain of WHL Spokane, scored the Chiefs opening goal in a 9-4 win over the Vancouver Giants that closed out the best-of-seven series in five games. Catton scored a late empty-net goal but, in between, racked up five assists to make the scoresheet on seven of his squad’s nine-spot. Catton ranks second in postseason scoring with 14 points (four goals, 10 assists), only two points behind leader and Medicine Hat forward Gavin McKenna, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2026 NHL Draft.
To date, Catton is validating his eye-popping regular season numbers of 38 goals and 71 assists for 109 points in 57 games. His 10 postseason assists ranks him second among WHL skaters, tied with Portland defenseman and Kraken 2022 fourth-rounder Tyson Jugnauth, whose Winterhawks squad is up 3-2 in a series against Prince George with Game 7 scheduled Monday in B.C. after Prince George scored two-period goals to win 3-1 in Portland Sunday. Jugnauth has added two goals in that series to rank him fourth in overall WHL scoring. Both he and Catton were recently named WHL Western Conference First-Team All-Stars.
Hammell’s Big Night Delivers Big Win
In a tight “I-5 Series” between the No. 8 seed Kent-based Seattle Thunderbirds and the No. 1 seed Everett Silvertips, the Game 5 No. 1 Star Hammell generated his best offensive effort of the series. He scored Everett’s first goal and assisted on the game-winner in a 7-4 home win. Hammell finished the game with the opening goal and three assists, including an assist on Everett’s fourth goal scored by fellow Kraken draft choice Julius Miettinen (2024 second round, 40th overall). Miettinen, who played well for his native Finland in last winter’s World Juniors Championship, worked his way from an injury sustained in that tournament to finish strong in the WHL. He finished the regular season with 39 points (11 G, 28 A) in 36 games. Everett will travel south for Game 6 on Monday.
Kraken, 2023, second-rounder and Prince Albert defenseman Lukas Dragicevic is on the opposite side of his fellow prospects playing for Everett. He and his Raiders teammates face elimination in Sunday night’s game in Edmonton against the Oil Kings. Dragicevic had been a strong contributor with three goals and four assists for seven points in the first five games. Sunday night, he was even better, scoring the power play game-winning goal with 53 seconds left in regulation. Game 7 is Tuesday night in Prince Albert.
