Top Pick Heads to Seattle
Michigan State Commit Chase Reid Makes History as Kraken's No. 7 Overall Pick
Key Points
Reid spent time in multiple junior leagues before the OHL, including 10 games with the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) in 2023-24 and 18 games with the Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL) in 2024-25.
In his final OHL season with the Soo Greyhounds, Reid posted 18 goals and 30 assists for 48 points in 45 games.
Reid attended Macomb L’Anse Creuse North High School and also competed on the boys golf team, highlighting a multi-sport background.
Seattle Kraken general manager Jason Botterill is a former Michigan player, a detail noted as part of Reid’s draft storyline.
Spartan-focused reporting indicates Seattle already has three defensemen signed for the 2026-27 season, with two on long-term deals, meaning Reid may spend a year or two at Michigan State before possibly joining the Kraken.
The Seattle Kraken made history at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo, selecting defenseman Chase Reid No. 7 overall — the first time the franchise has ever taken a defenseman in the first round, according to Sound Of Hockey. Reid, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-shot defender from Chesterfield Township, Michigan, was ranked as high as No. 1 overall by some analysts before sliding to the Kraken, who called it the steal of the draft.
Reid starred for the Soo Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), posting 18 goals and 30 assists for 48 points in 45 games this past season. He now heads to Michigan State University, where he becomes the program's first 2026 NHL Draft pick, per Michigan State Athletics.
From NAHL Castoff to Top-10 NHL Pick
Reid's path to the top 10 was anything but straight. He was cut by the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL early in the 2024-25 season after just 10 games, according to Sportsnet. He then played 18 games for the Bismarck Bobcats in the lower-tier NAHL before the Soo Greyhounds — who had taken a flyer on him in the 7th round (125th overall) of the OHL draft — called him up in December 2024.
Once in the OHL, Reid exploded. He was named OHL Rookie of the Month in January 2025 after a 19-point stretch in just 12 games, per Soo Greyhounds. Greyhounds GM Kyle Raftis said scouts were already asking during that season, "Where do you think Chase Reid would go in this draft if he was eligible?" Reid also grew physically during this stretch, going from under six feet to his current 6-foot-2 frame — a late growth spurt that changed his entire trajectory.
Kraken's GM "Exploded" With Excitement at Pick No. 7
Seattle GM Jason Botterill — himself a Michigan alumnus — called Reid the moment his name was announced. "You should have seen our room. We were so fired up, the room just exploded," Botterill told Reid by phone, according to NHL.com. Botterill praised Reid's skating, saying, "Chase always has his head up. He has a nice combination of being able to skate his way out of trouble."
Multiple top analysts agreed the Kraken got a bargain. FloHockey analyst Chris Peters called Reid a "real difference maker." The Athletic's Corey Pronman had ranked Reid No. 1 overall in the class. NHL Central Scouting put him at No. 2 among all North American skaters. Despite those rankings, six teams passed on him — making Reid's slide to Seattle one of the draft's biggest storylines.
Reid Will Sharpen His Game in East Lansing First
Don't expect Reid in a Kraken uniform right away. Seattle already has three defensemen signed for the 2026-27 season, with two on long-term deals, according to MSU-focused reporting cited by Sound Of Hockey. That logjam means Reid is likely to spend one or two seasons at Michigan State before turning pro. Reid has already committed to the Spartans, and coach Adam Nightingale is using the pick as a major recruiting tool.
Reid also represented the U.S. at the 2026 World Junior Championships, recording two goals and two assists in five games, per Michigan State Athletics. He told CBC Sports after the draft, "If [the Greyhounds] didn't give me the opportunity, I don't know where I'm at today." Off the ice, he competed on the golf team at L'Anse Creuse North High School and shot a 90 at the 2024 MHSAA Division 1 Regionals — a reminder that Reid is as versatile as they come.
Spartan Pipeline Reaches New Heights With Four First-Rounders
Reid is just the start of what could be a transformational era at Michigan State. According to Michigan State Athletics, four Spartans were selected in the first round of the 2026 draft — Reid, along with Klepov, Belchetz, and Hextall. That level of first-round concentration makes MSU an immediate contender heading into the 2026-27 college season and a projected Frozen Four favorite in 2027.
Reid's selection also sets a franchise record for the Kraken. He is Seattle's highest-drafted defenseman ever and the first defender the team has taken in the opening round in its short history, according to Sound Of Hockey. The Kraken used all five of their previous first-round picks on forwards. With Reid, they finally have a cornerstone blueliner to build around — whenever he decides to make the jump from college to pro.
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