Unexpected drama unfolds on the Draft floor on Friday night!

The 2026 NHL Draft was supposed to follow a relatively predictable script at the top, with the consensus best defenseman in the class expected to come off the board well before the midway point of the first round. But as the picks rolled in on Friday night, something stunning unfolded.

Chase Reid, widely considered the premier blue liner available and ranked as high as third overall on some boards, kept sliding. Pick after pick, his name went uncalled.

The Seattle Kraken finally ended the suspense, scooping up the Soo Greyhounds standout with the seventh overall selection.

Former NHL forward Nate Thompson captured the mood of the draft floor in real time, writing on social media that he never imagined Reid would escape the top five. He called the defenseman a franchise talent who "does it all" and summed up the atmosphere in one word: drama.

Seattle must be ecstatic that Reid tumbled all the way to their pick. Many observers considered him the best overall player available in the entire draft class.

The Chesterfield, Michigan native stands six foot two, shoots right, and brings elite skating to go along with a well-rounded two-way game. Scouts point to his goal-scoring upside and what they project as a remarkably high floor for a defensive prospect.

Reid's stock climbed steadily throughout the season. At the start of the year, Keaton Verhoeff was generally viewed as the top defenseman in the class. Verhoeff was picked ninth by the San Jose Sharks. But Reid's dominant campaign with the Greyhounds changed that conversation. He posted 18 goals and 30 assists for 48 points across 45 OHL games, his most productive season yet. He also impressed on the international stage, recording two goals and two assists in five games for Team USA at the IIHF U20 World Junior Championships.

At the NHL Draft Combine, Reid was asked which current NHL player his game most resembles. He pointed to Columbus Blue Jackets star and reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski, a fellow Michigan native. Reid currently holds a commitment to play at Michigan State University.

But this was so unexpected and now the Kraken appear to have landed a potential cornerstone on the blue line at a draft slot nobody anticipated he would reach.