Kraken 2024 draft profile: Berkly Catton
By Jayd Serdy, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - Ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft, where our Seattle Kraken hold the 8th overall selection in the first round and nine picks in total, we’re going to be taking a look at a few different player profiles for who the team may be selecting with that eighth overall selection, as well as a look at a few potential options for the teams pick after that, selection #40. Our own Jayd Serdy will provide you with some essential notes, some information, and a quote regarding each of those players within these draft profiles, and we begin with a face that played within the state of Washington this past season in Spokane Chief’s forward Berkly Catton.
Berkly Catton just finished up his third season with the Spokane Chiefs where he played in a total of 140 games and tallied an impressive 175 total points. The 2023-24 season was his most successful with the Chiefs, as Catton and Spokane made the postseason for the second time during his tenure and Catton himself racked up 116 points (doubling his total from last year) with an additional four assists in four postseason contests.
Catton has been described as a “dynamic puck-rushing forward with the handling skill, manipulation, and pace to slice through opponents, drive the net, and open passing lanes” by Elite Prospects. The current concern with Catton is if this skill will translate into the NHL and if he will be able to keep up with the rigorous pace of the NHL, which is something that the Kraken are dealing with currently as a few of their top prospects in the forward department have similar skillsets but are working to develop further at various levels throughout the system.
Catton is a very manipulative and skilled player, he is able to create openings and make space for himself with different series’ of look-offs and fakes before connecting with perfectly weighted passes. That sort of offensive play making and dynamic ability is something that Seattle will want more of within their organization as the continue to grow their prospect pool and slowly move into an era that is drifting away from their group created through the expansion draft back in 2021.
“The team that takes Catton is getting a play-driver that can do much with the puck, and you won’t be disappointed. Don’t make the same mistake teams did by passing over Zach Benson last year.”
Essentials to know
RANKING: 8th North American Skater (Central Scouting)
POSITION: Center
AMATEUR CLUB: Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
HEIGHT: 5’11”
WEIGHT: 163
SHOOTS: L
COUNTRY: CANADA
2023-24 STATS: 68 GP, 54 G, 62 A, 116 PTS, +15, 41 PIM
What’s next?
The 2024 NHL draft will take place at the end of the month of June, as it spans from the 28th of the month through the 29th as it will take place in Las Vegas at the “Sphere.” This will be the 62nd entry draft in the history of the National Hockey League, and the fourth draft class that our Seattle Kraken will welcome into their prospect pool following some strong classes dating back to their inaugural year when they got Matty Beniers and Ryker Evans with their first two selections ever. With a top ten pick this season following a year that didn’t go how they thought it would given the playoff success in 2022-23, the Kraken have the opportunity to “reload” in a sense as they’ll look to bring in some serious offensive firepower via free agency or the trade market while also having a high pick that has the chance to be a major impact player at the NHL level at some point in the semi-near future.
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Check out our previous Seattle Kraken articles here.
Check out our previous articles with writing by Jayd Serdy here.
Check out our previous articles with photos by Liz Wolter here, and her portfolio here.
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