The Seattle Kraken have just brought in one of their most promising young talents, extending an NHL call-up to forward Jani Nyman for the first time in his pro career. Nyman has been on a tear with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, registering 26 goals and 41 points through 55 games. These numbers not only top the leaderboard for Coachella Valley in both categories, but also rank him as the AHL’s highest-scoring rookie in terms of goals.
This year marks Nyman’s first full season playing in North America, though he had a brief stint of five AHL games at the tail end of last season. His smooth transition has been evident: if he maintains his current scoring pace, he’ll close the season with around 35 goals. Only a handful of players under 21 have surpassed the benchmark of 34 goals and Jani is well on his way, assuming he does not stay up in the NHL for a long period. These eye-opening stats point toward a player with a special knack for finding the back of the net.
Seattle landed Nyman by drafting him as a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, a pick they acquired by trading defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to the Nashville Predators. After being selected, Nyman returned to Finland and joined Ilves in the Liiga. He put up 10 goals and 14 points in 29 games during that initial Liiga run, then boosted his totals the following season, recording 26 goals and 43 points in 48 games. That upward trajectory made him a prime candidate to bring his talents stateside, and he has quickly justified the hype.
What Nyman can bring to the Kraken
One of Nyman’s defining traits is his consistently high goal output. He’s built with a strong frame that helps him get inside defensive coverages, and he has a shot that can beat goaltenders from all kinds of angles. These attributes helped earn him an AHL All-Star nod in his rookie campaign. Now, the Kraken hope those same strengths will translate to the NHL level. With Seattle having better odds at the number one pick than making the playoffs, they will look test out some younger players at the NHL level and Nyman is the first major name to get the call.
Seattle’s general manager, Ron Francis, had recently mentioned a desire to test Nyman in the NHL before the season concluded. That moment has arrived, bringing both excitement and roster questions for head coach Dan Bylsma. Integrating a hot-scoring prospect may require a bit of a shuffle in the forward lines, but it also promises an exciting glimpse at what the franchise’s offensive future might hold. For Kraken fans, there’s plenty of reason to tune in and see if Nyman can replicate his AHL success in the world’s top league. Only time will tell, but the early signs suggest a bright future for both the player and the team.