Seattle Kraken’s rookie forward, Kaden Kartye, had a memorable NHL debut as he helped his team take a 2-1 series lead over the Colorado Avalanche. The 21-year-old Minnesota native, who was called up from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, scored two goals and added an assist in the Kraken’s 6-3 win on Monday night.
Kartye’s first goal came at 13:44 of the first period, as he found the back of the net with a quick snap shot after a beautiful feed from his linemate, Joonas Donskoi. The rookie’s second goal of the game came early in the third period, as he picked up a loose puck in front of the Avalanche net and fired it past goaltender Philipp Grubauer to give the Kraken a 4-1 lead.
“I couldn’t have dreamed of a better debut,” Kartye said after the game. “I just wanted to come in and contribute any way I could, and to be able to score a couple of goals and help the team get a win is just an amazing feeling.”
Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol was impressed with Kartye’s performance and said the young forward earned the opportunity to play in the NHL.
“He’s a hard-working kid, he’s got a great attitude, and he’s been playing really well down in the AHL,” Hakstol said. “We wanted to give him a shot, and he made the most of it tonight. He’s got a bright future ahead of him.”
Kartye’s impressive debut wasn’t just a one-night show, as he has been making waves in the AHL this season. In 33 games with the Checkers, Kartye had 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points, and was named the AHL Player of the Month for April.
The Kraken selected Kartye in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Draft, and he spent the 2019-20 season playing for the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he helped the Bulldogs win the NCAA Championship.
Kartye’s breakout game couldn’t have come at a better time for the Kraken, who are in the midst of their first playoff series in franchise history. With a win in Game 4 on Wednesday night, Seattle could advance to the second round of the playoffs and continue their Cinderella run in their inaugural season.
The Kraken, who finished third in the Pacific Division with a 33-24-8 record, have been the surprise of the NHL playoffs so far. Led by veteran goaltender Chris Driedger and a balanced scoring attack, Seattle has won two of their first three playoff games against the Avalanche, who finished the regular season with the best record in the NHL.
While Kartye’s breakout game was the talk of the town on Monday night, he knows that the series is far from over and that the Kraken will need to continue to play their best hockey if they want to advance.
“We’re playing a great team in the Avalanche, and we know they’re going to come out hard in Game 4,” Kartye said. “We just have to keep working hard, stick to our game plan, and see what happens.”
