The Seattle Kraken will head into June’s NHL draft armed with a top‑ten selection for the fourth time in five years, and this time the intrigue around pick six feels immense. Seattle’s prospect cupboard is already stocked with premium forwards such as Jani Nyman, Carson Rehkopf, and last summer’s first‑round steal Berkly Catton, yet the organization still lacks a true power winger and a surefire top‑pair defender. With the lottery still to come, the board could shift, but assuming the Kraken remain at No. 6 the scouting staff will likely be weighing three very different talents who each solve a separate need.
Reading the draft board at six
Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, and James Hagens will almost certainly be gone before the Kraken are on the clock—and a lottery win would blow the whole board wide‑open. But if Seattle stays at No. 6, there are three prospects I keep circling in my notebook as the best fits for this franchise. Below is my personal short‑list, complete with their 2024‑25 production, stylistic snapshots, and an NHL comp to help picture each one in Deep Sea blue.
Porter Martone
Right Wing, 6'3", 207 pounds — Brampton Steelheads (OHL) — 57 GP, 37 G, 61 A, 98 PTS
If the Kraken want a Tkachuk‑type presence who can slide straight into a top‑six role, Martone is the dream scenario at six. His progression this year has been eye‑opening: in Brampton he bullied defenders below the dots, showcased soft hands on zone entries, and still had the juice to finish checks on the next shift. Scouts rave about his heavy shot and relentless motor. Beyond the raw offense, Martone’s knack for driving the interior would instantly give Seattle the net‑front edge it sometimes lacks, especially on the power play.
NHL comp: Matthew Tkachuk. Like the Panthers’ heartbeat winger, Martone fuses edge, puck skill, and fearless net‑front swagger. If he is somehow still on the board at six, expect Ron Francis to bolt to the podium.
Radim Mrtka
Right Defense | 6'6", 200 pounds — Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) — 43 GP, 3 G, 32 A, 35 PTS
Plucking a towering defender from across town would be an on‑brand move for the Kraken, and Mrtka offers more than hometown optics. His gap‑control work is already pro quality; he uses rangy stick‑checks to erase rush chances, then pivots smoothly to lead a breakout. At six foot six he naturally leans on reach, yet video shows a player unafraid to step up, close space, and end plays early. The offensive totals will not overwhelm, but the first‑pass crispness and calm under pressure hint at a defender who can log heavy minutes once he adds muscle.
NHL comp: Travis Sanheim. Much like Philadelphia’s top line defender, Mrtka combines elite skating for his size with smart risk assessment, capable of shutting down top lines while still pushing play north. For a Seattle pipeline thin on blue‑line headliners, he checks every long‑term box.
Roger McQueen
Center | 6'5", 190 pounds — Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) — 17 GP, 10 G, 10 A, 20 PTS
No prospect in this range divides scouting rooms more than McQueen. At full health he looks like a franchise center with a huge frame, heavy stick in puck battles, and a knack for arriving at the blue‑paint right when a rebound kicks loose. Injuries have limited his sample size to just seventeen games this season, but the per‑game impact remains undeniable. For the Kraken, who already boast enviable depth down the middle, McQueen represents a swing at upside without pressure to rush development. If his medicals check out, Seattle could stash him in the WHL or AHL and one day unveil a shutdown center with thirty‑goal pop.
NHL comp: Jordan Staal. Both use length to dominate defensive matchups and turn board wins into extended zone time. Banking on health is a risk, but the payoff could be a two‑way horse who looks custom built for playoff hockey.
What the pick says about the plan
Selecting Martone signals an all‑in commitment to adding edge and instant offense on the wing, potentially forming a future power trio with Beniers and Wright. Choosing Mrtka would acknowledge that true contenders are built from the back out, handing Dan Bylsma a potential shutdown anchor to pair with Vince Dunn in a few seasons. Rolling the dice on McQueen hints that Seattle is confident enough in its current core to gamble on ceiling, trusting its medical team and development pipeline to polish a gem that other clubs might fear.
No matter which name is called, pick six should yield a prospect with legitimate first‑line or top‑pair potential, ensuring Seattle’s ascent continues. The lottery may yet rewrite every mock draft, but for now these three stand out as the clearest Kraken targets — and any one of them would make draft day feel like a win.