Get to know Kraken's new first-round pick

Berkly Catton

Catton followed up a strong rookie season in the WHL with an even more impressive sophomore campaign, finishing third in goals and fourth in points with 116 in 2023-24. He showcased his talents at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, leading the tournament with eight goals and tying for the lead with 10 points, helping Canada win gold.

Despite his smaller stature, the 18-year-old has earned praise for his skills as a well-rounded center and talented skater. Catton won 53.4% of his faceoffs for the Spokane Chiefs last season and excelled on their penalty kill, leading the league with seven shorthanded goals.

Catton climbed one spot in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings, moving up to eighth after being ranked ninth at midseason.

What They're Saying

"Catton makes a ton of difficult plays on the move and has a lot of pace in his game," wrote The Athletic's Corey Pronman in May. "He's not overly physical, but he competes. He wins pucks, gets to the net, and can kill penalties. He projects as an excellent top-six center with a chance to be a No. 1 center."

Pronman compared Catton to Utah's Logan Cooley. "On the rush, Catton can slice through opponents with ease while handling the puck as well as anyone," noted Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis in June. "Catton's ability to weave through traffic makes him so difficult to contain."

The Kraken continued their trend of investing in offensive talent early in the NHL Draft, selecting Catton from the Spokane Chiefs with the No. 8 overall pick.

Catton, 18, has had two stellar seasons with the Chiefs, establishing himself as one of the WHL's most dangerous offensive players. He was named WHL Rookie of the Year in 2022-23, posting 55 points with 23 goals and 22 assists. He improved in his second season, scoring 54 goals and adding 62 assists, with 14 multi-goal games.

Catton is ranked as the No. 8 North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft, captain for Canada Red at the 2022 U17 World Hockey Challenge, and helped Canada to bronze at the 2023 U18 World Juniors.

A left-handed shooter, Catton stands at 5 foot 10 and weighs 175 pounds. The Kraken have selected a forward or center in the first round of all four drafts in team history.

The NHL Draft continues Saturday with rounds 2-7 starting at 8:30 a.m. Seattle currently holds eight picks on the draft's second day.