The Kraken announced they’ve reinstated winger Tye Kartye from his conditioning loan to AHL Coachella Valley, which managed to avoid us when it was announced on Feb. 27. They’ve also summoned defenseman Cale Fleury from the minors, filling the roster spot they opened in yesterday’s trade with the Lightning.
Kartye, 23, was an undrafted free agent signing by Seattle in 2022 and has quickly climbed up their depth chart. He burst onto the scene with a 57-point rookie season in AHL Coachella Valley that got him called up for the Kraken’s first-ever playoff appearance in 2023, making his NHL debut in the postseason and performing well with 3-2–5 in 10 games.
The center/winger has been a fixture on Seattle’s roster since. The 5’11”, 202-lb lefty was solid in a fourth-line role last year, contributing 11-9–20 in 77 games with a team-leading 229 hits. He shot with aplomb for his limited minutes too, ranking 10th on the team with 109 shots on goal with a good 10.1% finishing rate. This season has been far less successful. Kartye has just 3-4–7 through 49 games with a team-worst -16 rating and has been averaging fewer than 10 minutes per game. He was a healthy scratch in three games coming out of the 4 Nations break before his conditioning loan last week.
Kartye did well in his return to AHL play, posting 2-2–4 and a plus-one rating in three games for Coachella Valley. The Kraken hopes that bodes well for his confidence ahead of his expected return to the lineup down the stretch. They’re widely expected to deal pending UFA Brandon Tanev before tomorrow’s deadline, creating a spot for Kartye as their fourth-line right wing.
Fleury, meanwhile, continues his season-long shuffle between leagues. It’s his first recall since Feb. 24, and he’ll likely be sent back to the AHL tomorrow to make him eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs. He’ll give Seattle injury insurance for their road game against the Predators tonight, although he’s not currently expected to draw into the lineup. The 26-year-old has an assist and a plus-two rating in seven showings with the Kraken this year, seeing brief NHL action in all four years of the team’s existence. He has 6-18–24 through 36 minor-league appearances this year.