How to develop better youth hockey talent - Corey Murphy - Seattle Kraken Player Development

What if the key to building NHL-ready talent isn’t more games—but more fun?This week on Rinkside, Emma and Ryan sit down with Corey Murphy—former NHLer and current Player Development Consultant for the Seattle Kraken—for a wide-ranging, eye-opening conversation on how elite hockey players are developed, and what North America could learn from European systems.Corey shares insights from his global playing career (NHL, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland), his experience raising two hockey-playing sons overseas, and his role helping Kraken prospects grow into complete athletes. From Sweden’s "fun-first" youth model to the Kraken’s forward-thinking development strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights for athletes, coaches, and parents.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro & Listener Feedback00:34 – Welcome Corey Murphy01:13 – NCAA Rivalry Memories: Colgate vs. Yale02:24 – Corey’s Unconventional Path: Europe to the NHL04:10 – Why the Big Ice in Finland Changed Everything06:14 – More Practice, Less Games: Europe’s Athlete-Centered Model08:09 – Raising Kids in Swedish & Finnish Hockey Systems09:00 – The 2002 Swedish Hockey Summit: A Turning Point10:54 – Prioritizing Fun Over Winning: The Swedish Approach13:20 – Why Sweden Doesn’t Cut Kids Early14:35 – Can Canada Adopt This Model?15:37 – Gear for All: How Sweden Gets Kids Into Hockey16:02 – Why Europeans Produce More Multi-Sport Athletes18:52 – Ice Time Culture Shock: Why Summer Sports Matter20:23 – Small Ice, Big Impact: Smart Progression by Age23:05 – Resistance to Small-Ice Models in Canada25:09 – Fun as a Systematic Development Priority26:26 – Fitness in Youth Hockey: Canada vs. Sweden27:04 – Corey’s “If I Ran Hockey Canada” Vision28:52 – Educating Parents: The Missing Link30:14 – Pressure, Parenting & the Car Ride Home31:10 – Creativity vs. Joystick Coaching33:01 – Humor, Mistakes & Psychological Safety in Youth Sport35:19 – Tryouts: Helping Kids Handle Stress37:27 – What Tryouts Really Teach Kids38:22 – Corey’s Role with the Seattle Kraken40:00 – Bringing European Lessons into NHL Player Development41:24 – Why the Kraken Organization Stands Out42:35 – Final Reflections & Coaching Culture Shifts44:00 – Curling, Soccer & Learning Through Mistakes46:03 – Balancing Correction with Confidence46:53 – Wrap-up & ThanksFrom grassroots to greatness, hosts Emma Miskew and Ryan Steeves dive into the world of youth and competitive sports, on and off the ice. With honest, insightful conversations, they explore coaching, performance, mental health, parenting, and the real-life stories that shape athletes at every level.Whether you're a coach, athlete, parent, or passionate fan, Ringside brings you closer to the moments that matter—from the first team practice to the world stage.