Kraken’s Berkly Catton out week-to-week with upper-body injury

The Seattle Kraken announced Monday that forward Berkly Catton has an upper-body injury and will be out week to week.

It’s not definitely known when Catton suffered the injury, but he was in discomfort on the bench after blocking a shot with his right hand during Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

Catton, 19, was selected eighth overall by Seattle in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. In 21 games with the Kraken this season, he has five assists while averaging about 12 and a half minutes of ice time.

Catton’s injury not only affects his rookie season in the NHL, but also the possibility for him to join Team Canada for the upcoming World Junior Championships in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota. At still just 19 years of age, the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native remains eligible for the tournament, and there was a belief that Seattle would allow him to go play for his country. With the tournament scheduled to begin on December 26th, this injury raises doubts about whether Catton will even be healthy enough to play when the time comes.

He did play at last year’s World Junior Championships in Ottawa, where he put up an assist in five games as Canada failed to medal for the second consecutive year.

Catton is coming off an impressive four-year career with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. In the 2023-24 season, he put up 54 goals and 62 assists for 116 points in 68 games. Last season, he notched 38 goals and 71 assists for 109 points in 57 games.

The Kraken currently sit three points out a playoff spot in the Western Conference, with 28 points through 26 games.

Seattle will play the second game of a three-game homestand Monday against the Minnesota Wild, before hosting the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.