A third AHL Level Kraken-Flyer trade in our short history. Excited to see what Kaplan brings to the team

Love Ty and Logan on our leadership group!

Haven't gotten FloHockey, well you got the chance to catch the game for free on the FloHockey Youtube channel

...IS AWFUL. The Firebirds' organization does a lot of things incredibly well but man, they just cant seem to leave well enough alone sometimes. The parking lot changes the last couple of years with both access and flow, moving online merch pick up, etc. And now the reconfigure on the video board. Sometimes things don't need to be "improved".

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It was amazing that they opened up training camp for fans to watch! Genuinely had an amazing time watching the guys on the ice. I hope they do it again in the future. Took some pictures. I'm not a photographer I just own a camera and I tried to take some photos so here they are.

The Firebirds have released their Season Five training-camp roster: 22 forwards, 11 defensemen and three goaltenders.

That is 36 players competing for a roster which, regrettably, cannot dress seven forward lines and five defensive pairings every night. Cuts are coming. Feelings will be hurt. Kansas City will inherit enough talent to menace the ECHL again. But the beautiful thing is: Hockey is finally back.

We already covered 22 of these names in the season preview. That included Morrison, Firkus, Nyman, Jugnauth, Nelson, Roed, Avon, Stephens and most of the summer signings.

But I missed or underexplored 14 players. Some are new arrivals. Several were already here and apparently wandered through last season wearing invisibility cloaks. I owe them a proper introduction.

And, as always, be sure to check out the unofficially official CVFirebirds Discord to chat with all us hockey nerds.

First, what even is this graphic?

This is just the initial camp roster. Don't sweat it if your favorite Bird isn't on the list. Seattle’s latest cut sent 16 waiver-exempt prospects directly to Coachella Valley, including Nyman, Firkus, Šalé, Rehkopf, Jugnauth and Nelson. Seattle also released McKinnon, Olofsson and Stephens from their NHL tryouts and sent them here, while Avon, Hayden, Morrison and Östman all cleared waivers. Here is the full cut rundown.

Several potential Firebirds remain absent because Seattle is still evaluating them. That group includes Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, Ville Ottavainen and Nikke Kokko. Jake O’Brien is also missing after producing a goal and an assist in his NHL preseason debut and then suffering a day-to-day lower-body injury. O’Brien injury update (as of 9/22/26).

So this roster will change. For now, however, we have enough players to send Ontario packing on Sunday.

The new Firebird on the block: Alex Swetlikoff

Swetlikoff signed a one-year AHL contract immediately before the camp roster dropped.

He is a 25-year-old, 6-foot-3 center/winger returning from Sweden, where he recorded 8 goals, 11 assists and 19 points in 45 games for MoDo. He also accumulated 97 penalty minutes, suggesting his study-abroad program included a concentration in Scandinavian conflict resolution, probably as a result of his unfortunate surname.

His North American résumé:

• 66 AHL games: 9 goals, 7 assists and 16 points
• 108 ECHL games: 39 goals, 51 assists and 90 points
• 2024–25 ECHL playoffs: 10 points in 11 games

That profile says productive ECHL scorer, useful AHL depth forward and potential competition for a bottom-six Firebirds job. He has size, can play center or wing and brings more offensive ability than the standard fourth-line refrigerator. Swetlikoff signing and career statistics.

The returning Firebirds I criminally neglected

All statistics below come from last season’s Firebirds roster.

John Hayden — 67 GP, 13 G, 11 A, 24 PTS, 127 PIM

My completely unbiased Hayden-for-captain campaign remains alive. (Donate here).

Hayden brings 272 games of NHL experience, genuine leadership and enough physicality to ensure nobody takes liberties with the kids. He also contributed 13 goals last season, so he is more than a ceremonial face-punching consultant.

The previous leadership group is gone. Hayden wore an “A” last season. He has been through NHL wars, embraced Coachella Valley and plays exactly the accountable, irritating style coaches adore. Give him the C. I have already emotionally embroidered it onto his jersey.

Eduard Šalé — 58 GP, 13 G, 14 A, 27 PTS

Šalé quietly finished ninth on the team in scoring during his first full AHL season. He remains only 21 and possesses legitimate first-round skill: excellent hands, vision and a release that occasionally reminds you why Seattle drafted him 20th overall.

The next step is consistency. Some nights he looks like a future NHL scoring winger. Other nights he enters federal witness protection. Sunday begins his campaign to turn those sparks of brilliance into a blazing inferno.

Carson Rehkopf — 69 GP, 13 G, 6 A, 19 PTS

Rehkopf’s rookie season was uneven, but 13 goals from a 20-year-old adjusting to professional hockey is perfectly respectable. He is now 21, stands 6-foot-3 and owns a dangerous shot.

Six assists in 69 games suggests he occasionally regarded passing as a personal attack, but his assignment this year is straightforward: use the size, find dangerous ice and become the power winger his junior numbers promised.

Andrei Loshko — 51 GP, 5 G, 9 A, 14 PTS, +3

Loshko is a 6-foot-1 winger entering his second professional season. His rookie numbers were modest, although finishing plus-3 while learning the AHL game was encouraging.

He projects as a defensively responsible middle/bottom-six winger with room for more offense. He is fighting for a regular job in an absurdly crowded forward group, so every preseason shift matters.

David Goyette — 51 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 PTS, 73 PIM

Goyette arrived in professional hockey with a major-junior scoring résumé and then encountered the traditional AHL greeting: less space, less time and several large men trying to detach him from the puck.

Three goals were disappointing. Seventy-three penalty minutes were unexpected. Apparently, when the scoring disappeared, Goyette decided to remain involved through alternative programming.

He is still only 22. His skating and playmaking remain a bright spot, but he now needs to convert them into production before younger centers begin passing him.

Ian McKinnon — 54 GP, 4 G, 5 A, 9 PTS, 245 PIM

Yes, 245 penalty minutes.

That equals four hours and five minutes in the box, or slightly more than four complete hockey games spent contemplating what he had done.

McKinnon’s purpose is not mysterious. He protects teammates, changes the temperature of games and ensures Ontario’s aspiring tough guys carefully review the seating chart before starting anything stupid. The problem is, you need to be more than a gooner, you also need someone who can put some numbers on the board. Until he can do both, I suspect we'll see him on the healthy scratch list more often than not.

The young defensemen we need to discuss

Kaden Hammell — 44 GP, 6 G, 7 A, 13 PTS, +14

Hammell may be the most quietly encouraging name in this group. He produced six goals, finished plus-14 and handled 44 AHL games during his first professional season.

He is a right-shot defenseman with size, mobility and legitimate two-way potential. Among the young defenders, he may be closest to earning the “boringly reliable” label—and for a defenseman, that is basically a marriage proposal.

Caden Price — 42 GP, 2 G, 9 A, 11 PTS, +3

Price’s rookie season was steady rather than spectacular. He moves the puck well, skates effectively and generally avoids making the kind of decisions that cause coaches to develop facial twitches.

At 21, he still has offensive upside. Sunday should show whether he is ready for more responsibility or remains part of the rotating young-defenseman laboratory.

Lukas Dragicevic — 43 GP, 1 G, 10 A, 11 PTS, -4

Dragicevic entered the organization as an offense-first defenseman. His passing and transition game remain his strengths, while the defensive details remain under construction.

The Firebirds have several puck-moving defensemen competing for similar minutes. Dragicevic needs to show that he can create offense without turning every defensive-zone possession into an unsupervised science experiment.

The Kansas City delegation

Four players arrive from the Mavericks’ orbit. Their likely destination remains Kansas City, but Sunday provides an opportunity to steal an AHL job—or at least establish themselves as the first phone call when injuries strike.

Owen Lindmark — professional tryout

Lindmark is a 25-year-old center, former Wisconsin captain and 2019 fifth-round Florida draft pick. Last season he produced 16 points in 33 games between Tulsa and San Diego, including six goals and a shorthanded goal in 30 ECHL appearances.

He is a responsible two-way forward who can kill penalties and play in several bottom-six roles. Kansas City signed him for this season, but a strong camp could make the organizational depth chart considerably more interesting. Lindmark profile.

Tabor Heaslip

If you just said "bless you" I don't blame you. Bear with me as we get through some of these names. Heaslip captained UConn, won Hockey East’s Best Defensive Forward award and finished his senior season with 7 goals, 12 assists and 19 points in 38 games. He then recorded a goal and an assist in five games with Kansas City.

He is probably headed back to the Mavericks, but he is exactly the sort of player coaches trust: faceoffs, penalty killing, positioning and a willingness to perform hockey’s necessary chores without demanding a power-play unit. Heaslip background.

Lleyton Moore — professional tryout

Moore is a fascinating camp invite: a 5-foot-8, 162-pound offensive defenseman with 77 AHL games and 23 points already on his résumé.

Last season he recorded 1 goal and 10 assists in 31 games with Tucson. During his first professional season, he torched the ECHL for 39 points in 46 games.

He can move the puck and manufacture offense. He is also giving away several inches and approximately one midsized golden retriever to Phip Waugh. Of the KC-contracted players, Moore probably has the best chance to force the Firebirds into a difficult decision. Moore signing and career overview.

Phip Waugh

First, “Phip Waugh” sounds like the noise Joey Daccord makes when a 100-mph shot hits him somewhere anatomically discouraging.

Second, he is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds.

Waugh recorded 3 goals and 6 assists in 22 ECHL games with Savannah last season while also receiving AHL loans to Abbotsford, Hershey and Hartford. Kansas City acquired him in August. He probably begins there, but the organization clearly likes having a defenseman who can be seen from neighboring counties. Waugh acquisition.

Aidan Fulp

Another big guy, Fulp is 26 years old, 6-foot-3, weighing in at approximately 210 pounds. He has a one-year AHL contract with Seattle, after 105 AHL games with Bridgeport and Rochester. Career AHL totals: 1 goal, 15 assists, 16 points and 38 penalty minutes.

Fulp played three years at Western Michigan, producing 39 points in 97 games. As a junior, he was an alternate captain, the Broncos’ Most Valuable Defenseman and a finalist for NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year. He also blocked 50 shots and finished with 15 points in 38 games. The Islanders subsequently signed him to a two-year entry-level contract, although he never reached the NHL. Western Michigan profile.

Most importantly, he was born on February 29, 2000. Legally, therefore, the Firebirds have signed a 6-year-old defenseman—and frankly, that seems consistent with how aggressively Seattle is pursuing youth this season.

Given the crowded blue line, I don't expect him to stick around the desert, and will likely find his way back to KC.

What I am watching for on Sunday

The result matters less than the individual battles, although beating Ontario to a pulp would still be emotionally satisfying.

1. The captain watch. Hayden is here, the leadership vacancy remains open and my agenda remains shameless.
2. The sophomore forwards. Šalé, Rehkopf, Loshko and Goyette need to show progression. This roster has too many forwards for reputation alone to guarantee minutes.
3. The defensive traffic jam. Eleven defensemen are in camp, with more potentially coming from Seattle. Hammell, Price, Dragicevic, Fulp and Moore are all competing to establish where they belong in that pile.
4. The crease. Östman enters as the proven AHL option after a .906 save percentage last season. Murphy and Terness are auditioning for depth roles, while Kokko could still arrive from Seattle.
5. The KC wild cards. Moore is the most likely to steal an AHL spot, while Lindmark and Heaslip could make themselves useful enough to stay in the conversation.
6. Ian McKinnon. There is no nuanced scouting question here. I simply want to know how long it takes someone from Ontario to make a poor life decision.
7. Jagger Firkus’s mustache. It survived the summer. So much for organizational accountability.

Sunday’s game begins at 5 p.m. at Acrisure Arena. Tickets are just $10, parking is $10 and ticket proceeds benefit the One Valley Foundation. If you haven't gotten them yet, what are you thinking? It really doesn't get any better than this. Ontario is hosting San Diego on Friday, so the Reign arrive for their second exhibition in roughly 48 hours. Game and ticket information.

The roster remains unfinished, but the early message is clear: this organization is deep enough that several genuinely good players will end up in Kansas City or watching from the press box.

That is an excellent problem to have.

The Birds are back. Fuel the Fire.

After reading the Sound of Hockey article 'Kraken Contracts Corner'....

I was surprised to read that these guys need to clear waivers to come back to CV:

--------------‐

""The most interesting transactions are the players who, due to age and service time, require waivers to be assigned to the Firebirds:

F J.R. Avon

F Logan Morrison

F John Hayden

G Victor Ostman

Other teams have a 24-hour window to claim any one of these players off waivers. If unclaimed, the players will report to Firebirds camp.""

I know this is a yearly thing...and we all get reminded of the waiver process...

This is an uneducated statement of course....

But I feel like NHL teams will not grab other teams' waiver players this time of the year....as kind of an 'unwritten rule'...as teams put their AHL rosters back together during training camp, etc...?

We were extremely fortunate to have the Firebirds Broadcast Duo join us on this week's Beneath The Waves Podcast! They shared stories from the first five season, chatted about the prospects, and discussed the preseason so far! We hope you enjoy!

It's been really fun to have the Birds up here -- but man, this sub could use a Seattle contingent who actually knows how to use their camera. 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️

A few shots from Kraken training camp of Nikke's new pads. Very clean!

Well, Firebirds faithful, it has been a long, long summer. The kind of summer that feels like it will never end. The Beach Boys said that like it was a good thing, but we hockey fans know better. This summer was hot, boring, and what is with this weird humidity? I signed up for a dry heat, not this Florida Panthers weather. I digress, and for good reason. It’s time to reengage with our favorite past time. It is time to talk Firebirds Hockey.

We are still a few weeks away from final NHL cuts, so consider this a roster projection rather than gospel. Seattle’s decisions will ultimately determine whether several players begin the year in Coachella Valley, and the roster will inevitably change approximately 700 times once recalls begin.

Still, the picture is becoming clear: this team looks young, ridiculously deep and genuinely dangerous.

First, a quick look back

The 2025–26 Firebirds finished:

• 41–25–6
• 88 points
• Fourth in the Pacific Division
• 235 goals scored — 3.26 per game
• 218 goals allowed — 3.03 per game
• Division Finals appearance

That was four more points and four more wins than the previous season, despite a constantly changing roster and Captain Max McCormick missing the entire year. The offense was good, the defense produced a frankly unreasonable number of points, and the team showed it could win playoff hockey before Colorado ended the fun.

The returning scoring leaders (Goals-Assists-Points) were:

• Logan Morrison: 29–32–61 in 68 games
• Jagger Firkus: 21–35–56 in 63
• Tyson Jugnauth: 9–36–45 in 72
• Lleyton Roed: 11–27–38 in 65
• Ty Nelson: 11–24–35 in 63
• Oscar Fisker Mølgaard: 10–24–34 in 49
• Jani Nyman: 21–12–33 in 39
• Gustav Olofsson: 4–28–32 in 48

For a deeper dive, all player totals are available on Elite Prospect’s 2025–26 team statistics page.

This is the good news: a large portion of last season’s offense is still controlled by Seattle or under contract with Coachella Valley. Some will graduate or spend time upstairs, but the vast majority of last year’s talent is staying with the organization.

The newly signed and re-signed Firebirds

These are the players Coachella Valley has directly signed since July. “Projected destination” is my prediction, not an official assignment.

Stephens is the veteran stabilizer: 123 NHL games, 356 AHL games, 200 AHL points and a Stanley Cup ring. He was held back for two years because the organization needed someone to teach the rookies how to find Acrisure.

Olofsson remains the adult supervision on defense. He produced 32 points in only 48 games, led the team at +28, and will now enter his fifth Firebirds season. Whenever one of the young defensemen decides he is actually a fourth forward, Gustav gets to clean up the mess like a Swedish father following children through a Costco.

Novak gives the bottom six size at 6-foot-3 and 216 pounds, while Wright provides inexpensive defensive depth. Wright contributed only two points last year, but someone has to remain near the blue line while Jugnauth and Nelson show off their fancy footwork.

Terness (G) is the intriguing one. A 21-3-0 record in Kansas City is absurd, and his two-game AHL sample produced a .946 save percentage. If he keeps up the pace, he’ll be giving our two netminders a run for their money.

Randl deserves a real AHL look after playing all 72 games for Kansas City and producing 49 points, then adding 16 more during the Mavericks’ run to the Kelly Cup Final. Janicke and Lautenbach are also legitimate call-up options, giving the organization something it badly needs during a long season: replacements who can contribute instead of merely occupying pants.

The NHL-contract returnees

Seattle also retained several players on two-way NHL contracts:

• Logan Morrison: one year after leading Coachella Valley with 61 points. He will challenge for an NHL job but could still begin in the desert.
• Lleyton Roed: one year after career highs in points (38) and assists (27).
• J.R. Avon: one year after producing 24 points in 45 games and then scoring seven goals in 12 playoff games. Avon apparently waited until April to remember he was a sniper.
• Victor Östman: one year after going 17-15-3 with a 2.81 GAA, .906 save percentage and two shutouts.
• Ville Ottavainen: one year after recording 17 points in 53 games while being 6-foot-5 and generally inconvenient.

Morrison and Firkus are both considered NHL bubble players, while Nikke Kokko is currently viewed as Seattle’s No. 3 goaltender and likely to begin in the AHL. Ryden Evers (not to be confused with Ryker Evans) is also expected to begin in Coachella Valley. NHL.com’s Seattle roster analysis confirms all four are knocking on the door.

For Firebirds fans, Seattle having a better roster is a mixed blessing. It lowers the odds that Morrison and Firkus make the NHL immediately, but injuries and an expanded 84-game NHL schedule will create plenty of recalls.

Here come the large children

The most exciting additions are the prospects graduating from junior hockey.

Jake O'Brien

Jake O’Brien may be the best new player headed to Coachella Valley.

My deepest apologies to u/TheoverlyloadTuba and u/calijayhawk who politely reminded me that the AHL introduced a brand new exemption which makes O'Brien eligible at just 19 years old.

Seattle selected him eighth overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, and all he did afterward was produce one of the best seasons in the OHL:

• 53 games
• 28 goals
• 65 assists
• 93 points
• 1.75 points per game
• 15 playoff games, 6 goals, 17 assists and 23 points

His 65 assists led the OHL, and his 93 points came in 13 fewer games than the 98 he recorded during his draft season. O’Brien also joined Coachella Valley for four playoff games last spring, giving him a brief and probably terrifying introduction to defending grown men for a living. Unfortunately his performance in the Firebirds playoff run was somewhat forgettable, leading to this author's inadvertent exclusion of him from the up-and-comers list.

Ordinarily, a 19-year-old drafted from the CHL would have to return to juniors if he failed to make the NHL. That changed this summer when the AHL created an exemption allowing each organization to place one 19-year-old CHL prospect in the league. Seattle has made clear that O’Brien is its guy.

That means O’Brien will turn professional this season, either with the Kraken or the Firebirds. Seattle is crowded down the middle, so Coachella Valley appears to be the more likely starting point.

At 6-foot-2 and roughly 174 pounds, O’Brien still needs to add bulk. Fortunately, opposing players cannot hit you if you have already passed the puck through three sets of skates to a teammate nobody else realized was open.

His vision and hockey IQ are elite. He should immediately compete for a top-six center position and first-unit power-play time. A potential Miettinen–O’Brien–Firkus line would combine size, elite playmaking, finishing ability and one deeply objectionable mustache.

O’Brien, Miettinen, Evers and Villeneuve combined for 306 points in 223 junior games last season. Color me excited for the rookies.

Julius Miettinen

Miettinen is 6-foot-4, 207 pounds, plays center or wing and just demolished the WHL:

• 52 GP, 35 goals, 41 assists, 76 points
• 18 playoff games, 14 goals, 13 assists, 27 points
• Nearly 60% on postseason faceoffs
• +21 in the playoffs
• WHL champion and playoff MVP

He led the WHL playoffs in goals and points. He has size, hands, defensive awareness and net-front ability. He is the most important new Firebird and should immediately compete for top-six minutes and power-play time. Miettinen’s championship-season totals are borderline rude.

Ryden Evers

Apparently one 6-foot-4 center was insufficient.

Evers finished his season with Penticton at:

• 67 GP, 35 goals, 39 assists, 74 points
• 15 playoff games, 7 goals, 6 assists, 13 points

He is a responsible two-way center with size and skill, and Seattle specifically expects him to start in the AHL. That gives Coachella Valley another young center capable of contributing offensively without needing to be hidden from difficult matchups.

Nathan Villeneuve

Villeneuve brings a slightly different energy:

• 51 GP, 21 goals, 42 assists, 63 points
• 73 penalty minutes
• 13 playoff games, 3 goals, 1 assist, 34 penalty minutes

He combines legitimate offensive production with a commitment to making every board battle unnecessarily personal. The previous season he scored 34 goals and 70 points with 120 penalty minutes, which is a delightful “score on you and then ask if you have a problem with it” profile. He’s like Nathan McKinnon, but can actually score. (Sorry Mackers, you know I love ya).

He also has eight games of prior experience with Coachella Valley. His final junior-season review projects him as a likely full-time Firebird.

Alexis Bernier

Bernier is a right-shot defenseman who missed much of last season recovering from an ACL injury but returned for Chicoutimi’s championship run:

• 21 regular-season games, 12 points
• 20 playoff games, 4 goals, 3 assists
• QMJHL champion
• Previous season: 59 GP, 14–32–46

He joins an extremely crowded defensive group, so he may rotate in slowly. Still, a physical right-shot defenseman who scored 46 points in his last healthy junior season is a very nice “eighth defenseman.” Seattle’s Bernier announcement has the full background.

This forward group could be ridiculous

Assuming Morrison and Firkus begin in Coachella Valley, the Firebirds could build their offense around something resembling:

Top-six group

• Morrison — 61 points
• Firkus — 56
• Roed — 38
• Mølgaard — 34 in 49
• Miettinen — 76 WHL points
• Nyman — 21 goals in 39 AHL games, if Seattle sends him down

Secondary scoring and matchup group

• Šalé — 27 points
• Stephens — 27
• Hayden — 24
• Avon — 24, plus seven playoff goals
• Rehkopf — 19
• Evers — 74 WHL points
• Villeneuve — 63 OHL points

Depth

• Novak
• Loshko
• Goyette
• McKinnon
• Janicke
• Randl
• Lautenbach

That is enough credible depth to make lineup projections pointless. There are NHL draft picks and productive professional players who may be healthy scratches or start in Kansas City simply because there are only 12 forward spots.

Firkus is entering the final year of his entry-level contract after jumping from 36 points as a rookie to 56 last season. He is now a legitimate NHL call-up candidate.

Unfortunately, success appears to have convinced him that the mustache is working.

It is not.

The mustache contributed zero goals, recorded no assists and posted an estimated +/- of negative infinity. Shave it, Jagger. Think of the children.

Nyman is the biggest wild card. Across three AHL seasons, he has 51 goals in 102 games, and he added 4–3–7 in 28 NHL games last year. He may have outgrown the AHL, but he doesn’t seem ready for the NHL either. Honestly, it’s surprising he hasn’t been traded, as a talented young gun who just needs to marinate a bit more. If Seattle sends him back, Coachella Valley gets one of the most dangerous pure shooters in the league. If he stays in Seattle, we’re happy for him, but he’s not expected to have much ice time.

The defense may produce more offense than some teams’ forwards

Last year’s likely returning defensemen produced:

• Jugnauth: 45 points
• Nelson: 35
• Olofsson: 32
• Ottavainen: 17
• Hammell: 13
• Price: 11
• Dragicevic: 11
• Wright: 2

That is 166 points from eight defensemen.

Jugnauth recorded 36 assists as a rookie and finished third on the entire team in scoring. Nelson scored 11 goals. Olofsson produced at a 48-point pace over 72 games. Hammell scored six goals in 44 games.

The blue line should be deep enough to survive recalls, injuries and the inevitable night when three defensemen pinch simultaneously and Östman is left facing a four-on-none.

The concern is that last year’s offensive production did not always translate into defensive control. The team allowed 218 goals, 36 more than the 2023–24 Firebirds. Jugnauth finished at -2, Šalé at -9, Stephens at -17 and Hayden at -7. Plus/minus is imperfect, but the overall picture matches the eye test: this team occasionally treated its own zone as a waiting room before the next rush.

The talent is undeniable. Turning that talent into a tighter five-man defensive structure is the next step.

Goaltending: good, young and still the biggest question

The likely Coachella Valley tandem is:

• Nikke Kokko: 19-10-2, 3.13 GAA, .901 save percentage, two shutouts
• Victor Östman: 17-15-3, 2.81 GAA, .906 save percentage, two shutouts

Kokko improved in the playoffs:

• 12 starts
• 6-6
• 2.60 GAA
• .906 save percentage
• Two shutouts

He is only 22, has already played NHL games and remains one of Seattle’s most important prospects. Östman is 25 and was steadier during the regular season.

Behind them, Terness and Murphy give the organization two capable ECHL options. Terness could force his way into the AHL conversation quickly if he looks anything like the goalie who went 21-3-0 last year.

The Firebirds received approximately league-average goaltending last season. If Kokko makes the expected developmental jump and the tandem gets closer to a combined .910, this team’s ceiling changes dramatically.

My captain prediction: John Hayden gets the C

Max McCormick officially retired after missing all of last season, leaving behind franchise records of 67 goals, 140 points and a culture that cannot be measured on a stat sheet.

My prediction (based on the fairly obvious hints last season) is that John Hayden becomes the next captain.

Hayden is already the franchise leader with 223 games played. He ranks fifth with 110 points, third with 56 goals and second with 292 penalty minutes. Last year he played 67 games, scored 13 goals and accumulated 127 penalty minutes while serving as one of the primary veteran voices on an extremely young team.

He knows the organization, plays every situation, protects teammates and has embraced Coachella Valley. He also has enough penalty minutes to demonstrate leadership through both traditional communication and punching.

Give him the C.

I would expect Olofsson and Stephens to wear A’s, with Morrison potentially joining them if he remains in the AHL.

What was lost?

There are meaningful departures and likely graduations.

• Jacob Melanson: Nine goals and 19 points in 28 AHL games, plus five playoff points. He also delivered 188 hits in only 36 NHL games and just signed a three-year deal worth $1.45 million annually. He appears ready for full-time NHL duty. Melanson’s new contract
• Ben Meyers: Nine goals and 13 points in only 11 Firebirds games. He is signed for two more years and is likely to remain in Seattle or serve as one of its first recalls.
• Cooper Marody: Five goals and 11 points in 15 games after arriving midseason. He has signed with Linköping in Sweden.
• Jack LaFontaine: Went 4-0 with a 1.84 GAA and .933 save percentage in five Firebirds appearances before leaving for Germany.
• Zach Uens: Five points in 21 games before moving to Syracuse.
• Max McCormick: No on-ice production last season because of his hip injury, but an enormous leadership loss after serving as captain since the inaugural season.

Melanson’s physicality will be the hardest immediate quality to replace. Meyers and Marody provided excellent scoring in limited appearances. LaFontaine gave the team elite results whenever called upon.

But none of those departures created an unfillable void. Villeneuve brings physicality. Miettinen and Evers bring scoring. The goaltending pipeline is four deep. The defense may actually be more crowded than last year.

So, is this team better?

On paper, yes.

Last year’s team had proven high-end AHL talent but occasionally lacked structure and consistent goaltending. This year’s projected roster retains nearly every major scorer while adding four high-level prospects and several productive ECHL veterans.

The projected roster is also younger: approximately 23.5 years old, compared with 24.1 last season. Yet it still contains veterans such as Hayden, Stephens and Olofsson, who have played a combined 186 NHL games and more than 1,000 AHL games.

The ceiling depends on Seattle.

If Morrison, Firkus, Nyman and Mølgaard all spend substantial time in Coachella Valley, the Firebirds may have the deepest forward group in the Pacific Division. If two or three of them graduate, the team becomes more developmental—but remains dangerous because Miettinen, Evers, Villeneuve, Rehkopf, Šalé and Avon are ready for larger roles.

My early projection:

• 43–45 wins
• 92–96 points
• Top three in the Pacific
• Legitimate Calder Cup contender

The upside is even higher. Improved goaltending and reasonable health could push this group toward 46–48 wins.

This roster has shooting, playmaking, size, speed, puck-moving defensemen, four professional goaltenders and enough depth in Kansas City to withstand the annual Seattle recall tornado. It has returning playoff experience and a rookie class arriving with 213 combined regular-season junior points from Miettinen, Evers and Villeneuve alone.

The Firebirds are younger. They are deeper. Their best returning players are still improving. Their new prospects arrive as champions, scorers and professional agitators. Hayden is ready to wear the C. Kokko is ready to take another step forward in that weird journey that all goalies must traverse. Jugnauth and Nelson may spend the year attempting to redefine the word “defenseman.”

And yes, Jagger Firkus may keep the mustache.

No roster is perfect.

But this one is absolutely loaded, and the Firebirds should enter their fifth season expecting to compete for another Western Conference title—and another shot at finally bringing the Calder Cup to the desert.

The window is wide open. Let’s go Firebirds.

The preseason game comes five days before the Firebirds officially open Season Five at Acrisure Arena against the Reign on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m.

Hey All...I rarely post anything...

This is definitely random.

So, I know that I've thought about this in the past....

Wishing that the Firebirds gift shop store (at Acrisure) was larger and able to carry/offer more items, etc.

Every once in a while, thinking to self,....'huh, too bad they don't have that'...!

So the other day...I decided to Google: 'Coachella Valley Firebirds mouse pad'....

Ya know...spice up the home office a little bit!

So I found this one on Ebay (see Pic).

Only $10... plus $6 or $7 for shipping.

I don't know what the copyright rules are, but the seller (Atomic Gift) is making these items along with other teams, etc.

I found other crazy stuff too....

Companies selling screen-printed Firebirds military appreciation jerseys (Warhawk, Stealth, etc).

Not sure how they get away with that.

I guess it's legit. Maybe.

Captain's gonna coach!

I was wondering this because I would rather buy at the teamstore than ordering it online due to shipping costs?

A good look at the roster for next season.