Kraken Recall Goalie Prospect Nikke Kokko as Matt Murray Takes Leave

The Seattle Kraken's latest roster move highlights the NHL's ongoing goaltending depth challenges.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:39pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey goalie's movements and actions broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant navy, green, and red colors, conceptually representing the fragility and unpredictability of the NHL's goaltending landscape.The Kraken's goaltending shuffle highlights the NHL's ongoing depth challenges, as teams increasingly rely on unproven prospects to fill critical roles.Seattle Today

The Seattle Kraken have recalled 22-year-old goalie prospect Nikke Kokko from the AHL under emergency conditions, as starting goalie Philipp Grubauer is injured and third-string goalie Matt Murray has taken a leave of absence for a family matter. Kokko, who has struggled with inconsistency in the minors, now finds himself thrust into the NHL spotlight as the Kraken's backup to Joey Daccord for the final five games of the season.

Why it matters

The Kraken's decision to turn to an unproven prospect like Kokko is emblematic of a broader goaltending crisis in the NHL, where teams are increasingly relying on young, inconsistent goalies to fill critical roles due to injuries, absences, and salary cap constraints. This situation shines a light on the challenges the league faces in developing reliable backup and third-string goalies to support their starters.

The details

Kokko, a 2022 second-round draft pick, has posted a .903 save percentage and 3.10 goals-against average in the AHL this season, suggesting he may not be NHL-ready. However, with Grubauer injured and Murray unavailable, the Kraken have no choice but to turn to the young Finn. Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Murray is dealing with a family matter, highlighting the fragility of an NHL player's career and the need to balance professional and personal priorities.

  • Grubauer has been out with a lower-body injury since early April.
  • Murray has been unavailable since November due to injury and is now on leave for a family matter.
  • Kokko's recall comes with just five games remaining in the Kraken's regular season.

The players

Nikke Kokko

A 22-year-old goalie prospect for the Seattle Kraken, who has been recalled from the AHL under emergency conditions to serve as the team's backup for the final five games of the season.

Matt Murray

A 31-year-old veteran goaltender for the Seattle Kraken who has taken a leave of absence from the team for a family matter.

Philipp Grubauer

The Seattle Kraken's usual backup goaltender, who is currently out with a lower-body injury.

Joey Daccord

The Seattle Kraken's starting goaltender, who will now be backed up by the recalled prospect Nikke Kokko.

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What’s next

The Kraken will need to closely monitor Kokko's performance in the final five games of the season to evaluate his potential as a future NHL goaltender. The team will also need to determine if Matt Murray will be able to return to the team or if they will need to explore other options for their third-string goalie position.

The takeaway

The Kraken's decision to recall Nikke Kokko highlights the broader goaltending crisis facing the NHL, where teams are increasingly forced to rely on unproven prospects due to injuries, absences, and salary cap constraints. This situation underscores the need for the league to rethink its approach to goaltending development and find ways to better support and cultivate reliable backup and third-string goalies.