In a stunning NHL debut, rookie forward Kartye led the Seattle Kraken to a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night. The 22-year-old center scored two goals and added an assist in his first game with the expansion team, making an immediate impact and earning high praise from his coach and teammates.
Kartye was selected by the Kraken in the third round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft after an impressive college career at Boston University. He played his first professional season with the Kraken’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte, where he tallied 23 goals and 20 assists in 54 games. Despite his strong performance in the minors, few expected Kartye to make such a significant impact in his NHL debut.
But from the opening faceoff, Kartye looked right at home on the Kraken’s top line alongside veterans Jordan Eberle and J.T. Miller. He netted his first goal just 3:14 into the game, tapping in a rebound off Miller’s shot to give Seattle an early lead. Kartye’s second goal came in the second period, when he corralled a loose puck in front of the net and roofed a backhander past Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better start,” Kartye said after the game. “I was just trying to keep things simple and play my game, but it definitely feels good to contribute and help the team win.”
Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol was effusive in his praise for the young forward, calling Kartye’s debut “remarkable.”
“He’s got a lot of skill, obviously, but what impressed me most was his poise and confidence out there,” Hakstol said. “He looked like a seasoned pro, not a kid playing his first game. It’s exciting to see what he can do for us going forward.”
Kartye’s teammates were equally impressed by his performance, with Miller calling him a “game-changer” and Eberle saying he was “blown away” by the rookie’s composure on the ice.
“He’s got a bright future ahead of him,” Eberle said. “To come in and play like that in your first NHL game is pretty special. We’re lucky to have him on our team.”
Despite the excitement surrounding Kartye’s debut, the Kraken know they still have a long way to go in their inaugural season. The team currently sits in seventh place in the Pacific Division with a 9-10-2 record, and they’ll need more contributions from players like Kartye if they hope to make a playoff run.
For his part, Kartye is just focused on taking things one game at a time and continuing to improve.
“I know I still have a lot to learn and a lot of work to do,” he said. “But this was definitely a good start.”
As Kartye and the Kraken look ahead to their next game, fans will surely be eager to see if the rookie can keep up his impressive performance and help lead Seattle to more victories in their inaugural season.
