Oct. 1 marked the 2026-27 National Hockey League (NHL) season opener for the Seattle Kraken, and many thought this was going to be the biggest piece of news for the day. However, the Kraken surprised fans before puck drop and finalized a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Kraken sent forward David Goyette to Philadelphia, and in exchange, Seattle received forward Devin Kaplan.
Strong Kraken prospect heads to Philly
The Kraken selected Goyette in the second round of the 2022 NHL draft. It wasn't until the 2024-25 season that he laced up full-time for Seattle, but for their American Hockey League (AHL) team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. He played in 54 games and recorded 18 points. Last season, he laced up again for the Firebirds, this time recording 10 points in 51 games.
Goyette was just one of the several centers in the Kraken's pipeline. He hadn't played in his first NHL game, but the Firebirds were trying to prepare him for this opportunity. While he won't get a chance to play his first NHL game in Seattle, he can take his rookie lap in Philadelphia.
Kraken gain young, promising star
Kaplan was selected in the 2022 NHL draft as well; however, he was selected in the 3rd round. He spent three seasons in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), where he went to school and played for Boston University. In his last season with Boston, the 2024-25 season, he was named an alternate captain, showing his leadership prowess.
The 2024-25 season was a big one for Kaplan, because he also made his NHL debut on April 11, 2025. He took 16 shifts and spent a total of 12:12 on the ice. Kaplan managed to get his first NHL game under his belt, but he is still searching for his first NHL point.
Last season, Kaplan spent the entire season with the Flyers' AHL team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He played in 49 games and recorded 13 points, via five goals and eight assists. Even though he spent the entire season with the Phantoms, he's getting great training to work his way up to the NHL.
Both Goyette and Kaplan were selected in the same draft class, just one round apart. Both are showing promise, but a change of pace might bring out more potential in both forwards. The Kraken are getting a great young forward in Kaplan. It's time for the Firebirds to get some extra offensive power out of him.
The Kraken have plenty of forwards in their prospect pool, and a majority of them are centers. By picking up Kaplan, they add another winger into their repertoire. The Firebirds haven't started their season just yet, but they will play their first game tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 2. This might be a quick turnaround, but there's a chance Kaplan can play his first game in Firebirds colors tomorrow. If not, he has another chance to hit the ice for Coachella Valley the next day, Saturday, Oct. 3.
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