Seattle Kraken Draft Pick Celebrates Contract By Throwing Fake Fish Into The Crowd

Despite a stellar, all-star career in the Central Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League, I was never anywhere near close enough to signing an NHL contract to think about how I would celebrate accomplishing that life-long dream.

However, a top prospect and first-round pick Berkly Catton probably has, but I guarantee he didn't think signing his entry-level NHL deal would be immediately followed by throwing a fake fish into the crowd, but hey, this is the Seattle Kraken way.

Seattle had the No. 8 pick in this year's draft and they used it to select Berkly Catton of the WHL's Spokane Chiefs.

Like other teams across the NHL. The Kraken were holding a development camp this week with players like Catton in attendance. That also makes it a good time to get some paperwork done.

So, Kraken GM and Hockey Hall of Famer Ron Francis joined Catton on the ice to pen to paper on his entry-level contract and then celebrate in very Seattle fashion.

That's right. Nashville Predators throw catfish onto the ice; Kraken players toss fake salmon into the crowd, usually after they are named one of the stars of the game, but apparently, they'll do it after signing an ELC too.

Hockey is the best.

I think it's awesome that even though they're headed into just their fourth season in the NHL, the Kraken have already developed their own traditions. It's even cooler to get new players joining the organization in on these traditions right from the start.

Seattle had a down year in 2023-24 after making it to the postseason the year before. This offseason they fired the first coach in franchise history Dave Hakstol and replaced him with Dan Bylsma who led Seattle's farm team the Coachella Valley Firebirds to Calder Cup Final appearances in both of the team's first two seasons.

They're also adding Coachella Valley assistant Jessica Campbell and longtime NHL assistant Bob Woods to the mix, which should help them develop some of the young talent they've got on the books like Berkly Catton.

Don't be shocked to see a better Seattle Kraken team hit the ice this October.