Tye Kartye Bio
Tye Kartye (born April 30, 2001) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a left winger for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Undrafted in the NHL Entry Draft, he signed with the Kraken as a free agent in March 2022 after a productive junior career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Kartye earned early recognition through the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as the top rookie in the American Hockey League (AHL), and he continues to be viewed as one of the promising young forwards in the Seattle organization.
Early Life and Background
Tye Kartye was born on April 30, 2001, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Growing up in Kingston, he was introduced to competitive hockey at a young age and quickly developed through local minor hockey programs. Before entering the OHL, Kartye played two seasons of junior hockey with the Greater Kingston Jr. Frontenacs of the Eastern AAA Hockey League.
During the 2017–18 season with the Jr. Frontenacs, Kartye posted 28 goals and 23 assists in 36 games, numbers that drew attention from Ontario Hockey League scouts. His consistent scoring touch and willingness to compete at a high tempo set the foundation for his progression to major junior hockey.
Path to Hockey
Kartye’s junior progression continued when he was selected in the eighth round, 158th overall, by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection. He joined the Greyhounds for the 2018–19 season and steadily increased his production across three campaigns in Sault Ste. Marie. Even after recording 24 points in his first OHL season, he was passed over in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Rather than abandon his development path, Kartye used the missed opportunity as motivation. His breakthrough came during the 2020–21 season, when he registered 25 goals and 28 assists in 64 games, followed by a dominant 2021–22 campaign in which he scored 45 goals and 34 assists in 63 games. That 45-goal total ranked second in the entire OHL, while his 23 power-play goals led all league players. He finished his OHL career with 74 goals and 82 assists in 191 games and was named a finalist for the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy, awarded to the OHL’s top overage player.
Tye Kartye Career
Early Career (2017–2022)
Kartye’s first notable professional opportunity arrived on March 1, 2022, when the Seattle Kraken signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract. The agreement reflected the organization’s belief in his offensive upside and power-play instincts developed during his final OHL season. Although he did not immediately break into the NHL, the contract positioned him within the Kraken’s developmental pipeline.
Assigned to the Kraken’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Kartye spent the 2022–23 season establishing himself as one of the top first-year professionals in the league. He played in all 72 regular-season games and led all AHL rookies with 57 points, totaling 28 goals and 29 assists. He became one of only eight rookies in the league to appear in every game for his team that season.
AHL Breakthrough with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (2022–2023)
Kartye’s performance for the Coachella Valley Firebirds during the 2022–23 AHL season was the clearest indicator yet of his NHL readiness. His 28 goals and 29 assists not only led all rookies in scoring but also placed him among the most productive first-year players in franchise history. Coaches praised his forechecking, shot volume, and ability to generate offense on the power play, all skills that translated well from his OHL experience.
Following the season, Kartye was awarded the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award, given annually to the AHL’s most outstanding rookie. He was also named to the AHL Rookie All-Star Team, reinforcing his status as one of the top young forwards in the Seattle Kraken system.
Seattle Kraken Era (2023–Present)
Kartye received his first NHL recall on April 16, 2023, as the Kraken prepared for the postseason. He made his NHL debut on April 26, 2023, appearing in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round against the Colorado Avalanche during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He replaced injured forward Jared McCann after a late hit by Cale Makar in Game 4.
Playing on the Kraken’s top line alongside Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle, Kartye wasted little time making an impact. During the second period, he scored his first career NHL goal against goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. The goal made him the eighth player in NHL history to find the net in his playoff debut and the first to do so since Cale Makar in 2019, instantly placing his name in the league’s record books.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kartye is recognized for his straight-line speed, persistent forechecking, and willingness to engage physically along the boards. Coaches value his responsible two-way play and his ability to play meaningful minutes on both even-strength and penalty-kill units. His shot release and knack for positioning in the offensive zone remain key components of his offensive profile.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kartye’s NHL debut goal against the Colorado Avalanche stands as the defining early moment of his professional career. He also earned the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s top rookie and was named a finalist for the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy in his final OHL season. Together, these achievements mark him as one of the more promising undrafted forwards in recent Seattle Kraken history.
Tye Kartye Career Wins
Although Tye Kartye is still in the early stages of his professional career, he has collected several notable accolades across junior and professional hockey. His primary individual honors include the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award, AHL Rookie All-Star Team selection, and finalist recognition for the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy.
AHL and OHL Highlights
In the AHL, Kartye led all rookies in scoring during the 2022–23 season with 57 points in 72 games for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, culminating in the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award. In the OHL, his 45-goal, 34-assist performance during the 2021–22 season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds ranked second in league goal scoring and led all players with 23 power-play goals, earning him Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy finalist honors.
Other Awards and Performances
Kartye’s junior résumé also includes strong production with the Greater Kingston Jr. Frontenacs of the Eastern AAA Hockey League, where he posted 28 goals and 23 assists in 36 games during the 2017–18 season. His selection by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection marked the beginning of his major junior career.
Tye Kartye Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Tye Kartye’s family background is limited. He was raised in Kingston, Ontario, where he developed through local minor hockey before advancing to higher levels of competition.
Personal Life
Kartye maintains a relatively private personal life outside of hockey. He is active on social media, including an Instagram account under the handle tkartye12, where he shares updates related to his training and professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Tye Kartye continues to develop within the Seattle Kraken organization as he builds on his promising NHL debut. His entry-level contract, signed in March 2022, was scheduled to conclude after the 2024–25 campaign, making 2025 an important evaluation period for both player and team as they determine his long-term role within the franchise.
Throughout the early portion of his NHL tenure, Kartye has been deployed in middle-six forward positions and has continued to provide energy, forechecking, and secondary scoring. His willingness to play a physical game and contribute on the penalty kill has given Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol flexibility in deploying him in varied situations.
As the 2025 season progresses, Kartye’s focus will be on establishing consistency at the NHL level, increasing his offensive production, and cementing his place as a core piece of the Kraken’s forward group. Given his trajectory from undrafted OHL scorer to AHL award winner and NHL playoff goal scorer, expectations remain high for his continued growth in Seattle.