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Kraken select F Berkly Catton with the 8th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft



Catton is a 5'11" center who put up 54 goals and 62 assists for 116 points in 68 games for the WHL's Spokane Chiefs.

Scouting reports

Catton draft night content

Analysis from folks in the know

Tier: Bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player

Player comparable: Logan Cooley

Analysis: Catton was one of the best players in the WHL this season and was the best player at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in the summer. He is a well-rounded center and a high-end skater, with powerful edge work that will make him very difficult to check in the NHL and lets him elude pressure constantly. His footspeed is strong, but not at the same level as his edges. He’s a very skilled puckhandler and a great passer who can run a NHL power play. Catton makes a ton of difficult plays on the move and has a lot of pace in his game. He’s not overly physical, but he competes. He wins pucks, gets to the net and can kill penalties. He projects as an excellent top-six center with a chance to be a No. 1 center.

Pick grade: B+

Thoughts on the pick: I’m a huge fan of Catton’s game. I thought he was one of the most dynamic players in the draft. Given how much Seattle needed a premier defense prospect, it’s a bit surprising that they went and took a forward, but if they were going to take one, Catton is more than reasonable at this slot. He has top-line forward potential and could be a star if he truly hits. Teams were worried by his size, but everything else about his game was a major positive.

BERKLY CATTON GOES TO SEATTLE AT #8!!!

Catton is a great talent that most expected to go a little later. Tremendous pre-draft year and draft year production.

Comparables include Svechnikov, Seguin, Lindholm, Guenther, Reinhart and Draisaitl.

In other years, Catton probably goes even higher especially if he's an inch or two taller.

Love this pick for Seattle!

Every CHL draft-eligible skater to produce 50+ goals and 115+ points in the 21st Century:

  • Sidney Crosby
  • Patrick Kane
  • Connor Bedard
  • Berkly Catton

Fade Catton at your own peril.

by SiccSemperTyrannis

39 Comments

  5. PainInMyArsenal

    Was not expecting that 😂 really thought we’d go D there. But boy do we need offense! Excited to see what this kid can do for us in the future!

  6. chunderous

    Dominated the WHL, but I’m shocked we didn’t pick an offensive Dman.

    Surely that means that we’re going to sign/trade a solid FA Dman …?

  7. sktgamerdudejr

    Least he won’t have to move far.  

    Also get to save him from the hellhole that is Spokane /s 

  8. tonytanti

    Shocker! I was sold on them going D. Love it when the draft surprises.

  10. PSGooner

    I just heard about Catton today, but I’ve always rated him 🤪

  11. Picklepucks

    Centre with a ton of points? Sign me up. Can always move him to the wing if need be

  12. PixelGhost25

    Whyyyyy. We literally ***needed*** to pick Zeev Buium…

  13. Distinct_Mud_2673

    I’m pretty sure I’ve drafted him in Chel before. Good kid

  14. juanthebaker

    Great player, not a stretch. Still shocked we didn’t take a D man.

  15. EverythingIsAwful69

    Interesting. Really feel like we needed a Dman here. A lot of good ones still available.

    This kid have any chance of playing straight away, ala Matty?

  16. NWTexan

    So many defensemen fell and we really could have used one. I don’t get it.

  18. WILD-And-KRAKEN-FAN

    Another center threw me off but then again it’s four lines so can’t be a bad thing. Just wish we could have gotten an elite right winger to add to that side since Bjorkatrand is the only top tier guy on that side but nonetheless looking forward to this kid coming up to the pros in a couple seasons ⚓️

  19. tateand99

    I would’ve preferred a defenseman, but if it was going to be a forward I’m happy with the pick

  21. ghostxvoices

    Wonder if there’s a reason all of these d-men are falling so much. I like Catton! Hope he can fill out some

  22. nataska07

    Hosting a draft watch party over discord and all of my friends cheered when our boy Matty showed up.

    Welcome to Seattle Berkly!

  23. B9RV2WUN

    Francis has an affinity towards centers I guess. Can’t have too many good centers I suppose.

  24. Kindly_League9913

    Why did we go offense our biggest need is the D kinda disappointed In this pick I was getting all excited us getting so top defensive prospect

  25. SAVIORandLORD

    I love this pick, he’s electrifying. A player people pay to watch.

  27. surfingeagles

    I don’t care that we didn’t draft a dman!! This kid is solid, my guess would be a winger down the road, but great skills nonetheless. I love the offensive prospects this team has.

  28. maceo6

    Here is the Athletic’s profile on Catton since it’s behind a paywall.

    The WHL’s fourth-leading scorer this season, Catton registered 54 goals and 120 points in a combined 72 regular season and playoff games on a Spokane team that lost more games than it won. He had real pedigree even before this season, too, as a No. 1 pick into the WHL who was an offensive catalyst on a bad Chiefs team in his rookie season who also led Canada Red to a silver as captain at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with 12 points in seven games and then again captained Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup with a tournament-leading eight goals and 10 points in five games.

    He’s dangerous whenever he’s on the puck and shines with his knifing, slippery game. Inside the offensive zone, the way he baits and shades, drawing players to him and then playmaking past them with a pass or a cut, is pretty impressive to watch. Catton is a heady playmaker who uses spacing to his advantage and sees the ice at an advanced level, regularly executing quick plays through coverage or delaying into a pre-planned play. He’s got multi-dimensional skill, with an ability to play both with speed on the rush (he’s a smooth, fast and nimble high-end skater) and more slowly inside the offensive zone when the pace ramps down and he has to spin away from pressure (which he does so well). He’s got great instincts offensively. He tracks back consistently and will get up and under sticks to win his fair share of battles, with more room to round out his game defensively (mostly inside his own zone). He thrives in tight spaces and on cutbacks, he can play on the perimeter or take it to the net, and he’s got a dangerous and quick release while moving. He does such a good job losing defenders with his back to them to avoid getting pinned down because of how adjustable his skating is through stops and starts and tight turns. He draws a lot of penalties with his skating. Catton went from fitting right in as a rookie who was asked to play center on a top line and handled it extremely well (he even won the majority of his draws last year) to constantly threatening as a deceptive and dangerous player offensively has positioned him as one of the top forward prospects in the draft. He was also a top penalty killer in the WHL this year. He’s got some very translatable top-six elements with his skating and skill set type. I believe he’s got the chops to stick as a center despite being on the smaller side, as well, because you want him getting touches lower in the zone so that his skating can lead in transition. He’s got a bit of an injury history which has impacted a couple of offseasons and led to him sitting out U18 Worlds, but he’s an exciting talent.

  29. Go_Hawks12

    High skill and can score in bunches, I like it. People gotta remember that these kids are years away from the NHL.

  30. inalasahl

    Very excited by this pick. Everything I’m reading sounds great. Sounds smart, good skater, can score & pass, can play center & wing. If his only weakness is his size, that’s awesome! Corey Pronman had him 10th (the players he had at #8&9 were already gone IRL) and said in his Final Athletic ranking:
    > New Jersey and Buffalo would be in a similar situation with Catton. He’s the best player available on talent likely at this pick, but they both have a lot of small forwards. Catton is a tier ahead of guys like Iginla or Konsta Helenius, so I think you bite the bullet on him and figure it out later because he’s the best asset.

  31. TheoverlyloadTuba

    Oh man, I love that we got him, I was expecting us to go D but catton is for sure a good pkayer to choose. He filles the need for a solid top line quality winger that we were also lacking in (sale and rehkopf being the only 2 isn’t enough) him playing on Shane’s wing will be so freaking fun in a few years

  34. juanthebaker

    Corey Pronman’s instant analysis:

    8. Seattle Kraken: Berkly Catton, F, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

    January 14, 2006 | 5′ 11″ | 174 pounds

    Tier: Bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player

    Player comparable: Logan Cooley

    Analysis: Catton was one of the best players in the WHL this season and was the best player at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in the summer. He is a well-rounded center and a high-end skater, with powerful edge work that will make him very difficult to check in the NHL and lets him elude pressure constantly. His footspeed is strong, but not at the same level as his edges. He’s a very skilled puckhandler and a great passer who can run a NHL power play. Catton makes a ton of difficult plays on the move and has a lot of pace in his game. He’s not overly physical, but he competes. He wins pucks, gets to the net and can kill penalties. He projects as an excellent top-six center with a chance to be a No. 1 center.

    Pick grade: B+

    Thoughts on the pick: I’m a huge fan of Catton’s game. I thought he was one of the most dynamic players in the draft. Given how much Seattle needed a premier defense prospect, it’s a bit surprising that they went and took a forward, but if they were going to take one, Catton is more than reasonable at this slot. He has top-line forward potential and could be a star if he truly hits. Teams were worried by his size, but everything else about his game was a major positive.

  35. QuackerMcQuackerson

    Ducks fan checking in who’s been following Catton all year.

    Kraken got a steal of a pick. Catton is easily the next best well-rounded player after Celebrini. He moves almost too fast for his own good while leaving defense confused as to where the puck is.

  36. Prudent_Cookie_114

    Do we take Matty being the presenter as a sure sign he has a contract?

  37. DuckMads

    Francis mentioned Rehkopf and Goyette moving to the wing hence the need for a center. Still shocked they didn’t draft a defenseman given the lack of prospects in the pipeline.

  38. Potatodrgn11

    Bit off topic but how do you guys have so many kraken symbols by your name? I only know how to add a flair for 1 player

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