Chesterfield’s Chase Reid Selected No. 7 Overall by the Seattle Kraken in 1st Round of 2026 NHL Draft
Seattle used the pick to add a top-rated defenseman after taking four centers with five previous draft selections.
- On Friday, the Seattle Kraken selected 18-year-old defenseman Chase Reid seventh overall in the first round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, marking the franchise's first-ever first-round selection of a blueliner.
- General Manager Jason Botterill noted the organization previously prioritized centers, with four of five first-round picks playing that position, making Reid's selection a strategic shift to address a thin defensive corps.
- Recording 48 points in 45 games for the OHL's Soo Greyhounds last season, the 6-foot-2 prospect committed to Michigan State University for the upcoming year after being considered a top-five talent by experts.
- Botterill expects Reid to continue development with the Spartans before joining the professional ranks, though analysts suggest the defenseman is likely two years away from breaking into the National Hockey League full-time.
- Analysts question how Reid will measure up against Bowen Byram in three years, as Byram, 26, offers immediate impact while Reid represents a longer-term organizational investment for the Kraken.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Will Blackhawks regret trading for Bowen Byram instead of drafting Chase Reid?
The Artyom Levshunov vs. Ivan Demidov debate no longer stands as the only player comparison question that will loom over the Blackhawks for many years.Based on the NHL draft results Friday, there's a new question: How will Bowen Byram compare to Chase Reid in three years? What about in five or seven years?The Hawks decided to trade the No. 4 overall pick to the Sabres for Byram on Tuesday once they determined they would likely be stuck selecting…
Greyhounds’ defenceman hears his name called early at NHL draft in Buffalo
The Seattle Kraken used the seventh pick in the first round Friday to select Soo Greyhounds defenceman Chase Reid, capping a rapid rise that included time in the North American Hockey League
The Detroit News
Blue Water Healthy LivingChesterfield's Chase Reid drafted seventh overall by Kraken in NHL Draft
Chase Reid was drafted seventh overall by the Kraken in the NHL Draft on Friday.
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