Two Big Kraken Prospects Are Heading To The AHL After A Successful Training Camp

Jacob Melanson and Ville Ottavainen are returning to the Coachella Valley Firebirds for their second season after proving their worth with the Seattle Kraken during training camp.

Melanson dressed in three pre-season games, scoring a goal and an assist. He used his 6'1, 205 lbs frame to be a physical force recording 13 hits and six shots on goal. His ice time increased each game and so did his performances.

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The 21-year-old saw 62 games of AHL action last year where he notched six goals and 18 points. With an increased role, Melanson should improve on his rookie numbers.

The 2021 fifth-round pick spoke about his game and how he attributes to winning.

"I’m just trying to bring my physical aspect to the game,” Melanson said. "I’m trying to bring energy and trying to build up the other guys so they bring the same energy. Get in the dirty areas, play hard, play with my size and just win pucks. A lot of players don’t really want to play that part of the game anymore. It’s a big part of a team, so if I can bring that energy and show I’m willing to go into the corners and go into dirty areas, other guys will follow."

Ottavainen is a big 6'5, 216 lbs right-handed defenseman who enjoyed a very productive rookie season in the AHL where He played in 70 games registering eight goals and 34 points. The 22-year-old featured in two pre-season games recording his lone goal against the Calgary Flames in their 4-3 overtime loss.

Ottavainen fired a point-shot one-timer that tied the game at 2-2 with just 15 seconds remaining in the period.

The Finnish defender likes to think of himself as a two-way defender and has kept a positive and open mind throughout training camp.

"I mean, you really never know what to expect," said Ottavainen. "The coaches make the decisions and then you’ve just got to adapt. But I was just waiting for my turn and being ready for when my name gets called."

The strong performances by the two 2021 Kraken draft picks haven't gone unnoticed. Not only did they survive multiple waves of cuts but received praise from HC Dan Bylsma who coached them with the Firebirds during the 2023-24 campaign.

"I don’t want to say I’m surprised," said Bylsma "It’s been a great job by (Melanson) by playing his game and being able to bring it in his speed and physicality and tenacity. And you know, he’s shown it repeatedly now. He was a factor in the game. And (Ottavainen), we saw it last year in training camp and in his exhibition game, how he can join the play and be a factor offensively."

If both Ottavainen and Melanson can carry the momentum and experience they picked up in training with them to the Firebirds, they could be among the first names to receive a call-up to the NHL if the Kraken deal with injuries.

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Related: Kraken Make Roster Cuts; Place Six Players On Waivers And Reassign Three Others To The AHL

Related: Kraken's Old Habits Key Factor in Overtime Pre-Season Loss in Calgary.