By: Jack Fenty
Today I answer the question every hockey fan has and will be pondering for months leading up to the 2021 NHL expansion draft for the 32nd NHL club, Seattle Kraken. The league’s 13th ever expansion draft is scheduled to take place in June of 2021. The date may change because of a pushed-back NHL season, but there will eventually be a draft. Which players will be on the roster?
Before we get to drafting the players, we have to review the rules…
How Expansion Draft Works
- All 31 teams must protect seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie from their roster OR 8 skaters and 1 goalie
When a player is “protected” they cannot be drafted by Seattle
- The Kraken will select one player from each team
- The Kraken must select AT LEAST 14 forwards, 9 defensemen, & 3 goalies
- The Kraken must stay under the league’s salary cap, $81.5M
- Players who have No Move Clauses (NMC) MUST be protected
- The Vegas Golden Knights DO NOT participate in the draft
- 20 players selected must be under contract for the 2021-22 season
- It is risky to pick a player that is a n upcoming unrestricted free agent
*The selections made today are subject to change pending signings, trades, and which players teams decide to protect. To decide which players each team is protecting I used Cap Friendly’s Seattle Kraken Mock Draft.
Anaheim Ducks
Protected: C Adam Henrique, F Jakob Silfverberg, F Rickard Rakell, F Danton Heinen, C Troy Terry, C Sam Steel, F Sam Steel, D Cam Fowler, D Hampus Lindholm, D Josh Manson, G John Gibson
Seattle Kraken select: Kevin Shattenkirk (RD)
Arizona Coyotes
Protected: F Clayton Keller, F Phil Kessel (NMC), F Nick Schmaltz, F Lawson Crouse, F Christian Fischer, C Christian Dvorak, F Conor Garland, D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (NMC), D Jakob Chychrun, D Kyle Capobianco, G Darcy Kuemper
Seattle Kraken select: John Hayden (C)
Boston Bruins
Protected: C Patrice Bergeron (NMC), F David Pastrnak, F Brad Marchand (NMC), C Charlie Coyle (NMC), F Ondrej Kase, F Craig Smith, F Jake DeBrusk, D Charlie McAvoy, D Matt Grzelcyk, D Brandon Carlo, G Tuukka Rask
Seattle Kraken select: F Anders Bjork (LW)
Buffalo Sabres
Protected: C Jack Eichel, F Taylor Hall, F Jeff Skinner (NMC), F Sam Reinhart, F Victor Olofsson, F Tage Thompson, C Casey Mittelstadt, D Rasmus Ristolainen, D Henri Jokiharju, D Rasmus Dahlin, G Linus Ullmark
Seattle Kraken select: Colin Miller (RD)
Calgary Flames
Protected: F Matthew Tkachuk, F Johnny Gaudreau, C Sean Monahan, C Mikael Backlund, F Milan Lucic (NMC), F Elias Lindholm, F Andrew Mangiapane, D Mark Giordano, D Noah Hanifin, D Rasmus Andersson, G Jacob Markstrom (NMC)
Seattle Kraken select: Tyler Parson (G)
Carolina Hurricanes
Protected: C Sebastian Aho, C Jordan Staal (NMC), F Teuvo Teravainen, C Vincent Trocheck, F Warren Foegele, F Andrei Svechnikov, F Nino Niederreiter, D Dougie Hamilton, D Jaccob Slavin, D Brett Pesce, G Petr Mrazek
Seattle Kraken select: Brady Skjei (LD)
Chicago Blackhawks
Protected: F Patrick Kane (NMC), C Jonathan Toews (NMC), F Alex DeBrincat, F Mattias Janmark, C Lucas Wallmark, F Alexander Nylander, C Dylan Strome, D Brent Seabrook (NMC), D Duncan Keith (NMC), D Nikita Zadorov, G Collin Delia
Seattle Kraken select: Calvin de Haan (LD/RD)
Colorado Avalanche
Protected: F Mikko Rantanen, C Nathan MacKinnon, F Gabriel Landeskog, F Brandon Saad, F Andre Burakovsky, C Nazem Kadri, F J.T. Compher, D Erik Johnson (NMC), D Samuel Girard, D Cale Makar, G Philipp Grubauer
Seattle Kraken select: Devon Toews (LD)
Columbus Blue Jackets
Protected: F Cam Atkinson, F Gustav Nyquist, F Nick Foligno, C Max Domi, C Boone Jenner, F Oliver Bjorkstrand, C Pierre-Luc Dubois, D Seth Jones, D Zach Werenski, D Vladislav Gavrikov, G Joonas Korpisalo
Seattle Kraken select: Cliff Pu (RW)
Dallas Stars
Protected: C Tyler Seguin (NMC), F Jamie Benn (NMC), F Alexander Radulov (NMC), C Radek Faksa, C Roope Hintz, F Denis Gurianov, C Jason Dickinson, D Esa Lindell, D John Klingberg, D Miro Heiskanen, G Ben Bishop (NMC)
Seattle Kraken select: Joe Pavelski (RW)
Detroit Red Wings
Protected: C Dylan Larkin, F Anthony Mantha, F Tyler Bertuzzi, F Robby Fabbri, F Vladislav Namestnikov, F Michael Rasmussen, F Evgeny Svechnikov, D Troy Stecher, D Dennis Cholowski, D Filip Hronek, G Thomas Greiss
Seattle Kraken selected: Gustav Lindstrom (RD)
Edmonton Oilers
Protected: C Connor McDavid, C Leon Draisaitl, C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, F Zack Kassian, F Jesse Puljujarvi, F Dominik Kahun, F Kailer Yamamoto, D Darnell Nurse, D Oscar Klefbom, D Ethan Bear, G Mikko Koskinen
Seattle Kraken select: Kyle Turris (C)
Florida Panthers
Protected: F Jonathan Huberdeau (NMC), C Aleksander Barkov, F Patric Hornqvist, F Brett Connolly, F Frank Vatrano, C Alexander Wennberg, F Noel Acciari, D Aaron Ekblad, D Keith Yandle (NMC), D Mackenzie Weegar, G Sergei Bobrovsky (NMC)
Seattle Kraken select: Carter Verhaeghe (C)
Los Angeles Kings
Protected: C Anze Kopitar, F Alex Iafallo, C Adrian Kempe, F Austin Wagner, C Blake Lizotte, C Lias Andersson, F Carl Grundstrom, D Drew Doughty (NMC), D Olli Maatta, D Sean Walker, G Cal Peterson
Seattle Kraken select: Kale Clague (LD)
Minnesota Wild
Protected: F Zach Parise (NMC), F Mats Zuccarello (NMC), F Kevin Fiala, F Jordan Greenway, D Jared Spurgeon, D Ryan Sutter (NMC), D Matt Dumba (NMC), D Jonas Brodin (NMC), G Kaapo Kähkönen
Seattle Kraken select: Victor Rask (C)
Montreal Canadiens
Protected: F Jonathan Drouin, F Josh Anderson, F Tomas Tatar, F Tyler Toffoli, F Brendan Gallagher (NMC), C Phillip Denault, C Jesperi Kotkaniemi, D Shea Weber, D Jeff Petry (NMC), D Joel Edmundson, G Carey Price (NMC)
Seattle Kraken selected: Victor Mete (LD/RD)
Nashville Predators
Protected: C Matt Duchene, C Ryan Johansen, F Filip Forsberg, F Viktor Arvidsson, D Roman Jose (NMC), D Ryan Ellis, D Mattias Ekholm, D Dante Fabbro, G Juuse Sarros
Seattle Kraken select: Colton Sissons (RW)
New Jersey Devils
Protected: C Nico Hischier, F Kyle Palmieri, F Andreas Johansson, F Miles Wood, F Pavel Zacha, C Nick Merkley, F Jesper Bratt, D Ryan Murray, D Damon Severson, D Will Butcher, G Mackenzie Blackwood
Seattle Kraken select: David Quenneville (RD)
New York Islanders
Protected: F Anders Lee, C Brock Nelson, F Jordan Eberle, C J.G. Pageau, F Josh Bailey, F Anthony Beauvillier, C Mathew Barzal, D Nick Leddy, D Adam Pelech, D Ryan Pulock, G Semyon Varlamov
Seattle Kraken select: Kieffer Bellows (C)
New York Rangers
Protected: F Artemi Panarin (NMC), F Chris Kreider (NMC), C Mika Zibanejad, C Ryan Strome, F Pavel Buchnevich, F Brendan Lemieux, C Filip Chytil, D Jacob Trouba (NMC), D Tony Deangelo, D Ryan Lindgren, G Alexandar Georgiev
Seattle Kraken select: Anthony Greco (RW)
Ottawa Senators
Protected: F Evgeni Dadonov, F Colin White, F Connor Brown, F Chris Tierney, F Brady Tkachuk, C Logan Brown, C Drake Batherson, D Thomas Chabot, D Nikita Zaitsev, D Maxime Lajoie, G Matt Murray
Seattle Kraken select: Austin Watson (RW)
Philadelphia Flyers
Protected: F Claude Giroux (NMC), F Jakub Voracek, C Kevin Hayes (NMC), F Travis Konecny, C Sean Couturier, F Oskar Lindblom, C Nolan Patrick, D Ivan Provorov, D Travis Sanheim, D Philippe Myers, G Carter Hart
Seattle Kraken select: James van Riemsdyk (LW)
Pittsburgh Penguins
Protected: C Evgeni Malkin (NMC), C Sidney Crosby (NMC), F Jake Guentzel, F Jason Zucker, F Bryan Rust, F Kasperi Kapanen, F Jared McCann, D Kris Letang (NMC), D Brian Dumoulin, D Marcus Pettersson, G Tristan Jarry
Seattle Kraken select: Casey DeSmith (G)
San Jose Sharks
Protected: C Logan Couture, F Evander Kane, F Timo Meier, C Tomas Hertl, F Kevin Leblanc, F Ryan Donato, F Marcus Sorensen, D Erik Karlsson (NMC), D Brent Burns, D Marc-Edouard Vlasic, G Martin Jones
Seattle Kraken select: Stefan Noesen (RW)
St. Louis Blues
Protected: F Vladimir Tarasenko, C Ryan O’Reilly, C Brayden Schenn, F Jaden Schwartz, F David Perron, F Sammy Blais, F Robert Thomas, D Torey Krug, D Colton Parayko, D Vince Dunn, G Jordan Binnington
Seattle Kraken select: Oskar Sundqvist (C)
Tampa Bay Lightning
Protected: F Nikita Kucherov (NMC), C Steven Stamkos (NMC), C Brayden Point, F Ondrej Palat, F Yanni Gourde, C Blake Coleman, F Anthony Cirelli, D Victor Hedman (NMC), D Ryan McDonough, D Mikhail Sergachev, G Andrei Vasilevsky
Seattle Kraken select: Alex Killorn (LW)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Protected: C Auston Matthews, C John Tavares (NMC), F Mitch Marner, F William Nylander, C Alexander Kerfoot, F Zach Hyman, F Pierre Engvall, D Jake Muzzin, D Morgan Rielly, D T.J. Brodie, G Frederik Andersen
Seattle Kraken select: Joey Anderson (RW)
Vancouver Canucks
Protected: F Brock Boeser, C Bo Horvat, F J.T. Miller, F Tanner Pearson, F Jake Virtanen, C Adam Gaudette, C Elias Pettersson, D Tyler Myers, D Nate Schmidt, D Olli Juolevi, G Thatcher Demko
Seattle Kraken select: Braden Holtby (G)
Washington Capitals
Protected: F Alex Ovechkin, C Niklas Backstrom (NMC), C Evgeny Kuznetsov, F T.J. Oshie, F Tom Wilson, C Lars Eller, F Jakub Vrana, D John Carlson, D Dmitry Orlov, D Brenden Dillon, G Ilya Samsonov
Seattle Kraken select: Garnet Hathaway (LW)
Winnipeg Jets
Protected: F Blake Wheeler (NMC), F Kyle Connor, F Patrik Laine, C Paul Stastny, C Mark Scheifele, F Nikolaj Ehlers, F Jack Roslovic, D Josh Morrisey, D Neal Pionk, D Dylan DeMelo, G Connor Helleybuck
Seattle Kraken select: Bryan Little (C)
Projected Lineup
Killorn – Little – Pavelski
JVR – Rask – Bjork
J. Hayden – Turris – Sissons
Hathaway – Sundqvist – Watson
DEFENSE
Toews – Miller
Skjei – de Haan
Mete – Shattenkirk
GOALIES
Holtby
DeSmith
Roster Breakdown
Salary: $76.4M / $81.5M
Let me tell ya…It’s not easy to build a roster from scratch. The team I have created has a solid balance of both veteran and young players. The vets in Pavelski, Killorn, Rask, Shattenkirk and Holtby will help push the young-guns, Bjork, Bellows, Mente and Parsons into the next great NHL players.
One thing about this roster is clear; the D core is rock-solid. Former New York Ranger and soon to be former Carolina Hurricane, Brady Skjei, and Devon Toews have the potential to be star defensemen. The bottom two lines on the offensive side need some work, I’m being honest. With $5M in cap space, the Kraken should be able to plug a few holes through free-agency if necessary. Lastly, I love the goalie situation for Seattle. You have your Marc-Andre Fleury for Vegas in Holtby, a solid backup in DeSmith and hopefully your future netminder with Tyler Parsons.
3 Comments
July 21st: Kraken
July 23-24: NHL
you could see some wheeling and dealing. where Seattle gets assets for not selecting a certain player. for example, i could see Boston give up some assets for seattle to take john moore instead of bjork. these kinda of deals help teams with their cap. since it is probably going to be a flat cap in 2021-2022.
Only 7 forwards can be protect in the upcoming daft and that means Washington has a problem with the way that Sprong and Hathaway have played it seems they could be candidates to be protected from the Seattle Kraken draft next year. Some think Oshie being 34 with a 5 million plus salary for 4 more years should be exposed to the expansion team. But Oshie’s level of play is top line and he brings a skill set few forwards 10 years younger even bring in high energy, tenacity, agility and a natural scoring ability. But the team needs cap room to resign Ovechkin – Vrana and their young goalie Samsonov as well as Sprong. I’d say they would be wise to get something for Orlov and his 5 million plus salary in a trade this year, as he seems expendable given the Capitals young high end depth at left side defender. And then try to offer draft picks and Panik to the Kraken. But we will see. Its a sad thing to loose a quality forward but that may be what happens to the Capitals in the upcoming draft.