Overview
- The Seattle Kraken announced the one-year signings of goaltender Victor Östman and defenseman Ville Ottavainen on July 10, 2026, with both contracts reported as two-way deals.
- Östman’s deal was reported to carry an NHL-level $850,000 cap hit, a $125,000 AHL salary and $150,000 guaranteed, which frames him as a low-cost depth option eligible for NHL recall.
- Östman established himself as an AHL regular last season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, posting a 17-15-3 record, a .906 save percentage and a 2.81 goals-against average in 36 games and making one NHL start where he stopped 33 of 35 shots.
- Ottavainen, a 2021 fourth-round pick from Finland, has one NHL assist from his debut but has seen his AHL offense slow to six goals and 32 points across 121 games over the past two seasons.
- The moves underline Seattle’s reliance on its college, ECHL and European development pipeline for cost-controlled depth and set up next steps that include Östman competing for NHL backup call-ups and Ottavainen needing a rebound season in the AHL to regain NHL consideration.