4 Coachella Valley Firebirds Players to Watch in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs

The 2025-26 Seattle Kraken didn’t have a great season, but once again, their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, did. The Firebirds have only been in the AHL for four seasons, but in each of them, they have made the playoffs. In their first two seasons in the league, they made it all the way to the Calder Cup Final, but lost both times to the Hershey Bears. 

The Firebirds have made the playoffs once again and are about to kick off the first round against the Bakersfield Condors, the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers. Coachella Valley has been outstanding all season, and their postseason clinch is a testament to that. Here’s a look at four players Kraken fans should pay attention to while the Firebirds work their way through the postseason. 

Logan Morrison

Logan Morrison has been a cornerstone of the Firebirds franchise since the 2023-24 season. The Kraken signed him as a free agent on April 12, 2023. Since then, he has played three seasons with the team and even played in four NHL games with the Kraken at the end of 2023-24. He made his NHL debut on March 26, 2024. 

This season, Morrison led the team in points with 61 in 68 games. This is a career-high point total for him, as he hit 41 and 42 points the seasons prior, respectively. Morrison also played in the Calder Cup Playoffs the two seasons prior and recorded 10 points in 18 games in 2024 and three assists in six games in 2025. 

Morrison has plenty of AHL experience, both in the regular season and the postseason. His veteran presence will aid this young Firebirds team as they try to make a run for the Calder Cup. 

Jagger Firkus 

Another strong hockey IQ player is Jagger Firkus. He was drafted 35th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. He played in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Moose Jaw Warriors in his draft year and spent the next two seasons continuing to play in the WHL. He played his first AHL season in 2024-25 with the Firebirds. 

For his second season in the league, he has leveled up his gameplay. Last season, he had 36 points in 69 games. This season, he had 56 points in 63 games; that’s 20 more points in six fewer games. 

Firkus had some growing pains last season, adjusting to playing hockey in the AHL. Those nerves were all worn off to kick off his second season in the league. 

In the 2025 Playoffs, Firkus played in six games and recorded three assists. Heading into 2026, he not only has two full seasons of AHL experience under his belt, but he also has AHL playoff experience. This will give him a leg up as the Firebirds prepare to make a push for the Calder Cup for the fourth time. 

Tyson Jugnauth 

Tyson Jugnauth has been an excellent defender for the team, but he might as well be a two-way defenseman. He leads defensemen in points with 45 via nine goals and 36 assists. This is only his first season in the AHL, so he will have some growing to do, but he has already demonstrated a strong hockey IQ. 

Unlike the forwards I mentioned above, Morrison and Firkus, Jugnauth has yet to experience AHL playoff hockey. If he continues to find scoring chances and exhibit great ways to defend the puck as he has in the regular season, he should be just fine. 

Nikke Kokko

Nikke Kokko is a name Kraken fans should be familiar with after the end of the regular season. Both Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord were injured at the end of the season, and Matt Murray was away to attend to a family matter. With all three goaltenders absent, the Kraken recalled both Kokko and Victor Ostmann from the Firebirds. Kokko earned his first NHL start on April 11, and this game also resulted in his first NHL win. He played in two subsequent games, but both resulted in a loss. 

This AHL season was strange for Kokko. After Ales Stezka signed in Czechia after the 2024-25 season, this was the first time Kokko had to be the Firebirds’ starting goaltender. He still switched off with Ostman during the season, but Kokko still played in 35 games. He earned a record of 19-10-2 and recorded two shutouts, including his first in the AHL.

Kokko also played in six playoff games last season, earning a record of 3-3-0. He now has NHL experience under his belt, which gives him a leg up over other goaltenders. The NHL is a faster-paced game than the AHL, so this is just extra practice as the Firebirds head into the playoffs. 

Firebirds Open the Series in Bakersfield 

The Firebirds will play the first game of the first round against the Condors in Bakersfield tonight (April 23). Even though they don’t have home ice advantage, the Firebirds will do everything they can to pull out a win in the best-of-three series.