2025 second-rounder Blake Fiddler is impressing coaches and executives with formidable skating and stickhandling skills for big-framed player, showing why Seattle traded up to draft him
Seattle Kraken Training Camp, pres. by Starbucks, begins on September 18th and runs through September 30th. Check back daily for the latest updates from camp as the Kraken look to finalize their roster ahead of October 9th’s season opener.
When defenseman prospect Blake Fiddler stepped off the practice ice Friday morning at training camp, he stopped to sign items for fans at an organized booth. Then, walking to the locker room, the barely 18-year-old met Kraken Hockey Network analyst Eddie Olczyk.
“I gave you a little shout-out during a game broadcast,” said Olczyk. “I know your dad a little bit [Vernon, former NHLer who appeared in 877 games]. I mentioned I’d watched you play a couple of years and showed potential.”
Fiddler smiled and said thank you. Olczyk was prodded (hey, here for you!) for a more detailed scouting report on Fiddler, who just turned 18 in July.
“He knew what he was doing out there on the ice,” said Olczyk, happy to oblige. “It looks like Blake has had a chance to fill out a little.”
Fiddler, who measured 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds when reporting last week to Kraken Rookie Camp, played in both prospects’ games against Vancouver last weekend. He held his own by all accounts, including thumbs up from AHL Coachella Valley head coach Derek Laxdal and Kraken director of player development Cory Murphy. The scoresheet confirmed good things happening when the 2025 second-rounder was on the ice, as he tallied a goal and two assists. His performances provided strong clues as to why GM Jason Botterill and director of amateur scouting Robert Kron were eager to trade up in this past summer’s second round to select the D-man.
“In a first game with the Kraken jersey on, there’s a lot going on when a prospect gets into a game,” said Murphy in a recent conversation. “Blake had to make some adjustments during the first period [of Game 1], but I was super impressed with the second half of Saturday’s game. He carried over that momentum to Sunday’s game. He looked comfortable and poised with the puck. He was jumping into the play and using his skating, which is an asset. He moves really well for a big guy. We’re really, really happy with how he performed.”
For his part, Fiddler said the rookie week fortified his outlook about training camp: “I want to go in and play my game, do what I do best, and, most importantly, have fun while doing it. You only get one first NHL training cap. I am just trying to take it all in and learn from some great coaches.”
Even with all that poise and confidence, Fiddler admitted to some wonder about actually skating and competing in an NHL camp.
“Last year, this seemed so far away, but now we’re here,” said Fiddler, whose dad was in attendance for the second prospects game to see him score a goal Sunday at Kraken Community Iceplex. It’s been awesome, meeting all the guys and getting used to everything. [AHL standout] Ty Nelson is my roommate, and he’s been really good to me.”
Fiddler self-describes “as a rink rat since even before I was enrolled in school.” That marks him as a hockey regular by age 4, helped, of course, by his NHL dad, who broke in the league with Nashville and played a block of seasons with Dallas, where Fiddler subsequently played for the Stars’ elite juniors program.
After soaking up what he can for however long he sticks at training camp, Fiddler has already been briefed on what parts of his game he can work on during his third season with the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings.
“I’m going to take another step defending with my body, using my body a little bit more,” said Fiddler. “Then I intend to get used to those pro habits I see here in camp. These guys are so good with their stick details and seeing the ice. I’m taking those habits from training camp and bringing them back to my season in juniors.”
It didn’t take Matty Beniers long to parse the difference between Day 1 of training camp entering in fourth NHL season, than last fall’s opening practice. Beniers was part of an early morning group to take the ice at Kraken Community Iceplex, with a second group to follow.
“It was a tough skate and practice,” said the Kraken center and 2025 gold medalist at the IIHF Men’s Worlds this past summer. “But I liked the intensity. It was definitely more intense and probably a little more detailed [than last September’s Day 1] … It was great, no details off, no reps off.”
Matty Beniers shares his thoughts after the Kraken’s first day on the ice at Training Camp.
Beniers said Lambert “put a big emphasis today on being a good defensive team, so we can get out of our own zone and go play offense. I think he’s got us all pretty dialed in and on Day 1. So that’s good.
After pushing the second split-squad group as hard as the first, Lambert was pleased, standing at the media podium outside the Kraken locker room.
“We mandated our players to come in to camp in good shape,” said Lambert. “We want players to work through adversity when they are tired. … We want to be a working team. In order to do that, you’ve got to compete, you’ve got to work. They did a great job of that today.”
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GM Jason Botterill talked to the media later in the morning and was equally quick to reference “some exhausted players out there” and to commend “it was a very difficult practice. There was a lot of intensity, a lot of battle out there.”
Botterill made a point to categorize three clusters of players on the ice for the split-squad workouts that lead up to the first preseason game Sunday night against Vancouver at Climate Pledge Arena:
When asked about standouts at rookie camp, Botterill offered several names. “I thought the two games against Vancouver were great, especially the first game up in Everett. Just, you know, our ability to come back in that game, I think what got you excited is just the speed that Berkly [Catton] showed through the neutral zone, his willingness to shoot … You can certainly see [Nyman] is a player that has come into camp with the goal of ‘I’m making the team making the team’ … On the back end. I thought a player like [defenseman] Caden Price did very well in the two games. Ville Ottavainen has come in great shape. I think goaltending continues to be a strength in our prospect pool, I thought both Victor Ostman and Nikke Kokko did a nice job.
General manager Jason Botterill speaks with the media following Day 1 of Seattle Kraken Training Camp.
In his media session, the aforementioned 18-year-old O’Brien indicated he would be watching the 22-year-old Matty Beniers closely in camp. “I’m definitely watching Beniers because he is so skilled with the puck. When he enters the blue line [and offensive zone], he’s always making really nice plays. I want to learn from him, and hopefully he can give me some tips.”
Montour’s Minor Surgery Allows Opening Night Readiness
The Kraken announced Wednesday that star defenseman Brandon Montour will miss two weeks of practices and preseason games due to undergoing a minor procedure to remove a bursa from his ankle. All parties expect the D-man to be at full strength for the Oct. 9 season opener at home against Anaheim.
“It’s disappointing he can’t be out there right away because he is a driver of our intensity or pace of practices,” said GM Botterill about Montour’s absence. “But we tried to get this procedure done now so he doesn’t have to deal with it throughout the season. Our whole mindset is he’ll be ready to go for game one against Anaheim.”
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