Henman becomes first player in Seattle Kraken history

A Nova Scotian made history with the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday.

Cow Bay's Luke Henman signed an entry-level contract with the NHL expansion team, becoming the first player in the franchise's history.

"I am super excited and honoured," Henman said in a news release. "I have a belief in my game. My main focus will be to put in the work to get better.

"I immediately face-timed my parents. I wouldn't be where I am today without my parents (Melanie and Anthony). Then I called my siblings (two sisters and one brother)."

Henman, 21, is a centre for the Blainville-boisbriand Armada, who are in the thick of a second-round QMJHL playoff series against the Victoriaville Tigres. He was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round in 2018 but was not able to secure a contract so he became a free agent in the off-season.

"Our scouts have been watching players all year," Kraken general manager Ron Francis said in a news release. "In this case, (scout) Mike Dawson has been a strong supporter for Luke. Robert Kron (director of amateur scouting) and Tony Mcdonald (scouting advisor) like him too.

"Luke has put up the numbers in the Q and he is team captain. He has solid character. We do think he needs to get stronger. We are excited to sign him as our first player."

Henman has 214 points in 225 career Quebec league regular season games and is listed at six-foot, 168 pounds.

"He's still a little bit light," Francis said. "But he thinks the game well and has the skating and hockey skills we like when scouting players."

Added Henman: "I will be working to get bigger and stronger. My goal every summer is to gain 10 pounds."

The Armada trail the Tigres 2-1 in their best-of-five. Game 4 is on Thursday inside the league bubble in Quebec City. Henman is second on his team with eight points in seven playoff games.

"We are really, really fortunate to be playing hockey in a playoff series right now," Henman said. "There are many players in North America and the world who would like to be in this position."