Seattle Kraken Recall Ty Nelson

The Seattle Kraken have recalled defensive reinforcements after Brandon Montour suffered a lower-body injury last night. According to a team announcement, the Kraken recalled defenseman Ty Nelson from the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds. Seattle had an open roster spot before the transaction, so no corresponding roster move was necessary.

Seattle selected Nelson, 22, with the 68th overall pick (third-round) in the 2022 NHL Draft. The Toronto, ON, native played for the OHL’s North Bay Battalion at the time, scoring 40 goals and 128 points in 121 games in his two post-draft campaigns.

Nelson has continued his strong two-way play in the AHL. Since debuting with AHL Coachella Valley in 2024-25, he has registered 17 goals and 71 points in 140 games with a +34 rating.

He has puck-moving skills similar to those of other smaller defensemen. Still, despite standing at 5’10″and weighing 198 lbs, Nelson plays extremely large. They aren’t all bone-crushing hits, but he plays with an extremely high motor and sacrifices his body almost every shift.

Unfortunately, despite his strong play with the Firebirds, Nelson hasn’t made his NHL debut. Depending on the severity of Montour’s injury, that could change during his current recall. Even without Montour, Seattle maintains a solid mix of handedness in their defensive corps. They could consider removing Cale Fleury for a game or two to provide Nelson with an opportunity.