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Oscar Fisker Molgaard, Seattle Kraken (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

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3 Kraken to Watch This Preseason

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Jess Amato | Last updated Sep 19, 2026 3:00 PM ET

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The 2026-27 NHL season is officially upon us. Teams have finished up their rookie camps, and training camp is now underway. Every team is trying to finalize its roster to make sure it has the best players come opening night.

The Seattle Kraken are no different. After a poor performance in the 2025-26 season, missing the playoffs for the third season in a row, the Kraken will look to become a contending team. With preseason around the corner, these are just three of the players to keep an eye on before the start of the regular season.

Jagger Firkus

Jagger Firkus has been part of the Kraken organization since 2022, when he was drafted by the team in the second round. In the 2022-23 season, he played for the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and played in one postseason game with the Kraken’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Firkus spent the entirety of the 2023-24 season with the Warriors.

By 2024-25, Firkus played his first full season with the Firebirds, playing in 69 regular-season games and recording 36 points. Last season, Firkus had an even stronger season, recording 56 points in 63 games.

Firkus had a strong second season in the AHL; now he’s setting his sights on the NHL. With a strong training camp and preseason performance, he has the chance to crack the Kraken’s opening night roster. Even if he doesn’t make the opening roster, Firkus has the chance to at least get called up to the NHL in the event of an injury. He is one of the Kraken’s top prospects; the 2026-27 season is the perfect time for Firkus to touch NHL ice.

Oscar Fisker Molgaard

Oscar Fisker Molgaard is a name some Kraken fans might remember from last season. On Nov. 20, Molgaard made his NHL debut against the Chicago Blackhawks. He recorded an assist on Tye Kartye’s goal in the third period, the Kraken’s first of the game. Molgaard’s family flew in from Denmark to witness this amazing moment. He went on to play 12 more NHL games and recorded another assist.

Molgaard spent the rest of his time in the 2025-26 season with the Firebirds, playing 49 games and recording 36 points. He was also named to Denmark’s Men’s Hockey Winter Olympics team, where he played in four games and recorded three points for his country on the international stage.

He had a great start to his NHL career, and now Molgaard will look to have another chance at cracking the NHL roster.

Nikke Kokko

Nikke Kokko has been the primary goaltending prospect for the Kraken for the past two seasons. In 2024-25, Kokko was called up to the Kraken, following Philipp Grubauer being sent down to the Firebirds for a conditioning stint. He only played in half a game, entering the crease after Joey Daccord let in five goals within 29 minutes. Kokko finished out the remaining 29:57 of the game, facing six shots and stopping two of them.

Toward the end of the 2025-26 season, Kokko was called up to Seattle and was in net for the Kraken’s last three games of the season. He helped the Kraken beat the Calgary Flames, but Seattle unfortunately fell to the Los Angeles Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights while he was in the net.

Heading into the 2026-27 season, Kokko will once again be the Firebirds’ starting goaltender. He has been a primary resource for the team and consistently plays a strong game. However, there’s always the chance he could get called up to the Kraken during the season at any point. Kokko needs to be prepared for that possibility, which is why it was great for him to get some NHL experience at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Kraken Open Preseason on Saturday

The Kraken are preparing to play their first preseason game on Saturday, Sept. 19, when they host the Vancouver Canucks. Every NHL team has only four preseason games this season, so there is a smaller window to make an impact and crack the opening night roster.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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