The five rookies that will help the Firebirds soar in 2026-27

The 2025-26 Coachella Valley Firebirds were the youngest team in the American Hockey League. Next season the roster should look very similar, though the collective age of the group could actually be younger.
That’s largely because four rookies appear likely to join the team in the 2026-27 season, meaning that at least a couple of the veteran free agents may not return.
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Forward Jacob Melanson is a restricted free agent, meaning that his entry-level contract has expired but the Seattle Kraken, the Firebirds NHL affiliate, still control his rights if they extend a qualifying offer before June 30. Forwards J.R. Avon, Logan Morrison and Lleyton Roed are also restricted free agents, along with defenseman Ville Ottavainen and goaltender Victor Ostman.
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Defenseman Gustav Olofsson and forward Mitchell Stephens are unrestricted free agents and can explore the market without the Kraken still retaining their rights.
While some of those free agents will likely return, Firebirds general manager Troy Bodie told The Desert Sun, it’s not a guarantee that all will because of myriad circumstances. Melanson spent the last 36 games of last season with the Kraken and made a strong impression. He figured to have an NHL future.
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Morrison led the team in scoring (29 goals) and figures to be sought after by teams. Olofsson and Stephens are standout veterans with a massive locker room presence, Avon was a playoff hero and Roed is among the fastest players in the league. Ottavainen is a solid defender who is still just 23, and Ostman was exceptional in the net when he played last season.
With some uncertainty surrounding the future of those players in a Firebirds uniform, the 2026-27 rookie class figures to be intriguing. How well these rookies acclimate to the AHL will likely determine whether the Firebirds take another step toward a Calder Cup Finals appearance or whether they regress.
Time will tell. But there’s reason to believe that this rookie class could be exceptional. Here’s a breakdown of each player and what they’d bring with them to the Coachella Valley.
O’Brien, the eighth overall selection in the 2025 NHL entry draft, is seen as one of the more high-upside, high-IQ center prospects in pro hockey He’s 6-foot-2 and just turned 19 on June 16.
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The Toronto native will play mostly center this season, either in Seattle or in the Coachella Valley.
Known for his skills with the puck, O’Brien has elite hockey IQ and playmaking vision. He sees passing lanes early and even in four postseason games with the Firebirds in the spring showed an ability to manipulate defenders before making plays. One common scouting report about O’Brien is that he doesn’t merely pass to the open player; he creates the space to get the player open.

Coachella Valley Firebirds forward Jake O’Brien looks for an open shot during the third period of Game 1 of the Pacific Division Finals at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
One thing that is notable about O’Brien as an offensive creator is that he runs the offense through patience rather than speed. He’s not a highlight reel type of player, so his game can be a bit deceptive. He doesn’t need elite athleticism to be a high-level player, thanks to his IQ.
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O’Brien joined the Firebirds during the postseason as an 18-year-old and quickly adjusted to the speed of the games. Each game he was able to make plays despite facing a veteran Colorado Eagles team that was among the oldest teams in the league.
“We saw him get more comfortable each game,” Bodie said. “He likes to have the puck, and he makes plays when he has it.”
It used to be that 19-year-old Canadians were not eligible to play in the AHL. But with the NCAA changing its rules, the NHL has worked to adjust its rules to allow an organization to play one 19-year-old in the AHL. If O’Brien does not make the Kraken roster to start the season, he’ll likely become a quick fan favorite among Firebirds fans.
If the Firebirds lost Melanson either this offseason to free agency or during training camp to Seattle, Villeneuve will slide right into Melanson’s role.
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“He’s very much in that Jacob Melanson mold,” Bodie said. “He’s a big, physical hitter and has good hockey sense.”

Coachella Valley forward Nathan Villeneuve speaks during a media conference after their game at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
The Ottawa native is 20 years old and 6-foot and around 200 pounds. While he’s a skilled offensive forward, he’ll likely be one of the Firebirds’ best defensive forward, too. He’s exceptional on the forecheck, with the ability to both lockdown opposing players or steal the puck and create opportunities on the rush.
Villeneuve, who played in five regular season and three postseason games for the Firebirds in 2025, was drafted in the second round of 2024, and the organization has reportedly been eagerly anticipating his arrival into the organization because of the potential of how good he could one day become.
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A 20-year-old, Miettinen was also a second round selection by the Kraken in 2024. Like Jani Nyman, he’s from Finland and is big (6-foot-4) but his game is much different.
Miettinen is a two-way player who, like Villeneuve, is very strong defensively. He has a 200-foot game, as they say, and defends like a center should. Offensively, he’s capable of contributing on 5-on-5 play, on the penalty kill and on faceoffs.
Miettinen may not be NHL-ready right now, but his long-term potential is believed to be extremely high. Kraken development staff have raved about his “pro habits” and reliability for a player his age. Centers are essentially defensive midfielders who can also provide offense and Miettinen appears to already think that way.
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The Quebec native is expected to be the lone rookie blueliner on the Firebirds’ roster next season. He’ll be 20 at the start of the season, and at 6-foot-1 he should be a steady complimentary defender and an intriguing prospect.
Bernier has good hockey IQ and anticipation, he’s competitive, plays with a physical edge and has a strong breakout passing ability. Bodie said that he reminds him a bit of Kaden Hammell.
Accuracy on his shot and his skating ability will be areas of focus for improvement, but his potential appears to be high, and he’ll be surrounded by some other exciting young blueliners in the Coachella Valley who can help him reach it.
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Evers, who signed with the Kraken this year as an undrafted free agent, is viewed as a bit of a late blooming prospect. He didn’t follow the straight path to pro hockey, but he has abilities and a size/position/IQ combination that could still make him an NHL player one day.
At 6-foot-4, he’s a physically mature two-way center coming off a breakout year. The British Columbia native, who’ll be 21 at the start of the season, amassed 69 points (31 goals, 38 assists) in 58 games this season with the Penticton Vees of the Western Hockey League.
Bodie said that Evers impressed with his ability to protect the puck well in traffic, win board battles and play through contact. Scouting reports also note his net-front presence. There’s a strong belief that Evers will continue improving with pro-level coaching.
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“He tracks as a fourth-line center in the NHL,” Bodie said.
Andrew John covers the Firebirds for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: These five rookies will likely suit up for the Firebirds in 2026-27
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