“Obviously, you’ve been working for it since you put on your first skates,” the 22-year-old forward said after Seattle’s morning skate. “Obviously, I’m just excited right now.”
Firkus has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 12 games with Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League this season. The Krakens (9-7-1) were looking for a spark after losing to the Hurricanes 4-1 in Thursday’s first game of the Global Series.
“I guess everything a little bit from that perspective,” Kraken coach Lane Lambert said when asked what Firkus could bring. “New blood, new energy. He has been playing well in the American Hockey League for a while. Lung follows him a bit. It’s not a fluke and he can shoot it and shoot it in the net.”
Playing his first NHL game in the Global Series was a little difficult, but Firkus said his parents noticed enough that they were able to travel to Helsinki to see him play.
“It’s a whirlwind,” said Alberta resident Irma. “Obviously you can’t really imagine playing your first game in Finland, but obviously it’s a unique experience that you’ll look back on and be grateful for.”
Firkus, who played 11:38 in the 5-1 loss, became the 38th player to make his NHL debut outside of North America.
A second-round pick (No. 35) by Seattle in the 2022 NHL Draft, Firkus had to be patient while waiting for his first opportunity to play in the NHL. After being drafted, he played two more seasons with Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League and led the league with 126 points (61 goals, 65 assists) in 63 games in 2023–24 before turning pro.
Firkus had 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) in 69 games for Coachella Valley in 2024-25 and was second in scoring with 56 points (21 goals, 35 assists) in 63 games last season.
“You are drafted at a young age, 18 to be honest, you have a lot to learn at that age,” said Firkus. “Obviously just going through the (Coachella Valley) program and having coaches there, guys you can lean on and ask questions that have coached and played at the levels you want to be at. You have many players at home. Bobby McMann), lots of people you can turn to if you have questions.
“There have been many people. The support group that I have, I think, is a big, big reason, looking back, why I can do (his debut) tonight.”