The Seattle Kraken made a low-key move on Friday that bolsters their goaltending depth going into the 2026-27 season. Victor Ostman, the undrafted Swedish netminder who spent his first full pro year in the AHL, signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 against the NHL cap.
Ostman turns 26 this summer, and when this deal expires next June he’ll be a restricted free agent again. So it’s a short-term show-me contract, basically. He’s still a project, but there’s enough there to keep the Kraken interested.
How His Season Went
Ostman played 36 games for the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2025-26. His record: 17-15-3 with a 2.81 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. Not eye-popping numbers, but solid for a rookie. He also posted two shutouts.
Here’s a weird stat that jumps out: Ostman finished with two assists. That led all AHL rookie goalies and tied him for fifth among every netminder in the league. So yeah, he can handle the puck a little bit. His best single game came when he stopped 42 shots. That’s the kind of outing that gets noticed.
The Brief NHL Taste
He got his first NHL start on April 16, 2026 against the Colorado Avalanche. It didn’t go great on the scoreboard — Seattle lost 2-0 — but Ostman stopped 33 of 35 shots. That’s a .943 save percentage in your first start against a top-tier team. Not bad for a guy who wasn’t drafted by anyone.
Road From College to the Pros
Ostman signed with Seattle as a free agent in April 2024 after four years at the University of Maine. He played 86 games for the Black Bears, putting up a .905 save percentage and a 2.82 GAA. His best college season was 2022-23 when he went 14-12-4 with a .918 save percentage. As a senior he went 13-6-1 in 21 starts.
Before that he played one season with the Chicago Steel in the USHL. So the path hasn’t been straight or fast, but he’s kept climbing.
ECHL Grind Before AHL Jump
Most of the 2024-25 season Ostman spent in the ECHL with the Kansas City Mavericks. He went 21-7-4 there with a .903 save percentage and a 2.52 GAA. He also got five games with Coachella Valley that season (2-1-2, .916 save percentage) and even made one relief appearance for Seattle. So he’s been on the Kraken’s radar for a while.
Standing 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Ostman has the frame teams look for in a modern goalie. He’ll slot back into Seattle’s organizational depth chart for 2026-27, likely splitting time in the AHL again with a chance to push for more NHL games if injuries hit or he takes a step forward.
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