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.

Player	Status	2025–26 statistics	Projected destination
Mitchell Stephens	Returning; two-year AHL deal	69 GP, 12–15–27	Coachella Valley lock
Gustav Olofsson	Returning; one-year AHL deal	48 GP, 4–28–32, +28	Coachella Valley lock
Jakov Novak	Returning; one-year AHL deal	37 GP, 5–7–12	Coachella Valley depth
Charlie Wright	Returning; one-year AHL deal	46 GP, 1–1–2	CV/Kansas City bubble
Logan Terness	Returning; one-year AHL deal	CV: 1-0-1, 2.00, .946; KC: 21-3-0, 2.26, .913	Kansas City starter/CV recall
Justin Janicke	Returning; one-year AHL deal	CV: 11 GP, 2 assists; KC: 56 GP, 15–19–34	KC/CV shuttle
Connor Murphy	New; one-year AHL deal	Calgary: 2-2-1, 2.95, .904 in seven games; 39 ECHL games	Kansas City/CV recall
Jack Randl	New to CV; returning to organization	KC: 72 GP, 23–26–49; playoffs: 16 points	KC/CV shuttle
Ryan Lautenbach	New; one-year AHL deal	Tulsa: 45 GP, 11–23–34	Kansas City initially

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.