Taking A Kraken At The NHL

NHL development camps opened today across the league for most of the 32 franchises, and I have to admit that I don't really care about these camps. Players attend these camps to try and impress the coaching staff so they'll be invited to the main camps of these teams in an effort to crack a professional hockey roster in North America. Some will go simply to get the professional experience while playing at a high level in what could be called a "training camp in July" before returning to their junior teams. There is one reason, though, for me to read over the development camp rosters that teams were posting, though, and that's because there's a chance that someone from Canada West will be skating this week!

It should be noted that there are actually two players who are in camps this summer, but this article will focus on only one and why I believe he should be given a long look by that NHL team. Noah Philp is skating with the Edmonton Oilers this week, and there's a decent shot he can crack the lineup in Bakersfield with a good showing this week. Noah, though, isn't the player I'm focusing on because I think another NHL team has a great player in camp that should be given a shot as Mount Royal Cougars sniper Riley Sawchuk is attending the Seattle Kraken Development Camp!

The 23 year-old forward has rounded into form thanks to an exceptional season at Mount Royal followed by a great WHL campaign with the Edmonton Oil Kings. His time with the Tri-City Americans saw him progressively get better each season before the Americans dealt the 20-year-old overage forward to Edmonton for a third-round pick in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft. 25 goals and 76 points in 67 games later in 2019-20, and Sawchuk looked like a promising free agent coming out of the WHL.

The pandemic paused Sawchuk's debut in Canada West in 2020-21, but it was well-worth the wait as he rattled off 15 goals and 38 points in 20 games in his lone season with the Cougars, winning Canada West Rookie of the Year honours and being named as a Canada West First Team All-Star. Sawchuk also picked up two U SPORTS honours as he was named as a Second Team All-Canadian and as part of the All-Rookie team. There was no doubt in watching Sawchuk play this year that he was destined for bigger things, but would anyone have suggested an invitation to the Seattle Kraken Development Camp?

Sawchuk will skate this week among some pretty impressive names as 2021 first-round selection Matty Beniers, 2022 first-round selection Shane Wright, and 2022 second-round selection Jagger Firkus will all be present in Seattle. Sawchuk will likely come in as one of the lesser-known names at the camp, but he knows he'll need to work hard after competing at the Canada West level this past season.

If there's one advantage that Sawchuk will bring to the Kraken camp, it's that he'll be one of the older players there. Born in 1999, he's more physical mature than perhaps the 2003- or 2004-born players, and he has played against older players in Canada West. That physical strength could see Sawchuk push past a few players down on Seattle's depth chart to give him a shot at possibly heading to Coachella Valley this winter. We know he has hands and speed after his amazing season, but he'll need to bring all three traits in spades this week to make an impact.

If Riley Sawchuk ends up back at Mount Royal in September, there's no harm in that reality as he can still get his Business Degree from MRU while playing hockey with the Cougars. He'll have had a fantastic week of hockey training in Seattle, though, and that will greatly benefit his preparation for Canada West hockey if he were to return. There should be no doubt that Sawchuk is going to be a star in Canada West this upcoming season, so keep your eyes on the Cougars if he's back in Calgary.

If Seattle likes how he works in camp, however, he could be signed to a minor-league deal and sent to one of Coachella Valley or the ECHL's Allen Americans. Ending up in Palm Springs would be ideal, especially if Sawchuk can earn himself a top-six role with the Firebirds, but going to Allen wouldn't be a bad start for his professional career either considering how Allen often ices good teams, posting a 35-28-8-1 record last season to finish in third-place in the Mountain Division before being ousted in the opening round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Allen, though, has won two Kelly Cups since their founding in 2009, and Sawchuk would immediately make the Americans a better team with his skill and scoring.

Wherever Riley Sawchuk lands, that team is getting an exceptional scorer and a better person. He'll score goals, he net points, and he'll be one of the more popular players thanks to his work ethic and knack for finding open spots on the ice. He may not be a Kraken next season, but whether he's a Firebird, an American, or a Cougar, Riley Sawchuk is going to make some team better. Selfishly, I'd love to see him play at least one more season in Canada West, but here's hoping he wows the Kraken enough for them to ask him to join their organization.

He lit the lamp often in Cougars' blue-and-white, and we'll know by week's end if Sawchuk has impressed the Seattle staff!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!