Kraken Sign Carson Rehkopf, Assign David Goyette To AHL
While Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf is certainly disappointed that his OHL playoffs came to an end, there was some good news for him. The Kraken announced today (Twitter link) that they’ve signed the forward to a three-year, entry-level contract. The deal will carry an AAV of $950K; CapFriendly reports (Twitter link) that the deal breaks down as follows:
2024-25: $775K salary, $95K signing bonus, $80K ‘B’ performance bonuses
2025-26: $855K salary, $95K signing bonus
2026-27: $855K salary, $95K signing bonus
The 19-year-old was a second-round pick by Seattle back in 2023, going 50th overall. Early indications are that the Kraken got good value with that selection. Rehkopf finished second in the OHL in goals this season, posting 52 in just 60 games with Kitchener while chipping in with 43 assists. He also was productive in the playoffs, notching six goals and five helpers in 10 contests before being swept in the second round by London.
As a result of his elimination in junior, the Kraken can assign Rehkopf to AHL Coachella Valley if they so desire to keep him skating during the Firebirds’ postseason. However, that will not be an option for him for the start of the 2024-25 campaign; he’ll either have to stick with Seattle or return to junior. If the latter happens and he plays in fewer than 10 NHL games, his contract will slide and not start until 2025-26.
While they finalize their plans for Rehkopf, they have elected to send another OHL prospect to the Firebirds. CapFriendly reported on Saturday (Twitter link) that the Kraken re-assigned forward David Goyette to Coachella Valley. The 20-year-old center led the OHL in points this season, tallying 40 goals and 77 assists with Sudbury before adding five goals and five assists in ten playoff contests prior to their elimination at the hands of North Bay in the second round. It’s the second straight year that Goyette has been loaned after the OHL postseason so he’ll get a chance to get some more experience before playing at that level full-time next season.
Seattle Kraken Sign David Goyette
The Seattle Kraken announced per a team release that they have signed prospect David Goyette to an entry-level contract. Goyette was a second-round pick of the Kraken in the 2022 NHL Draft after scoring 33 goals and 73 points in 66 OHL games with the Sudbury Wolves in the 2021-22 season. That gave him the most goals and points by any rookie in the OHL that season.
Goyette is not a big player at 5-foot-11 and 174 pounds, but he is highly skilled. He piled up 41 goals and 51 assists for 92 points in 63 games with the Wolves this season. The Saint-Jerome, Quebec native also had four points in four playoff games for the Wolves who were quickly swept in their first round series with the Peterborough Petes.
Goyette just turned 19 last month so he will likely return to the Wolves next season for his 19-year-old Junior season. In the meantime, he is eligible to play for either the Kraken or the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds which is the most likely scenario at this point. The Firebirds have three games remaining in the regular season before the Calder Cup Playoffs begin.