Introducing the Seattle Kraken – or a mock version of one – ahead of the expansion draft

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
July 20, 2021

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TAMPA – The idea of building a team from scratch serves as a dream job for anybody to ever hold a the job of a general manager.

Very few have actually been able to fulfill that dream, even in the age of expansion in the National Hockey League which has seen the league grow from 21 teams in 1990 to what is about to be 32 teams when the Seattle Kraken fill out a roster on Wednesday night when the expansion draft results are announced starting at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

For three-plus days, Seattle GM Ron Francis and his staff pored over the list of players who were made available to their team and the list of the 30 selected players will be sent to the league on Wednesday morning to ensure the list is compliant.

But thanks to the wonderful tools available via PuckPedia.com and CapFriendly we can provide our own view of how things could play out if we were the general manager starting a team from scratch. And with so much available talent, the Kraken have a chance to be a competitive team in the Pacific Division, assuming Francis can select the right players.

So let’s take a look on what the team might look like after selecting 15 forwards, 12 defensemen and three goaltenders.

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I’ll go team-by-team on the selections, but the final tally of players selected pushed the Kraken right up against the $81.5 million salary cap threshold. And, on paper, it looks like a competitive team, but would it hold up to the standards set forth by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017-18?

That will be debated from now until opening night around October 12. Until then, let’s have some fun.

ANAHEIM

Defenseman – Haydn Fleury: The seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft is too enticing to pass up off the Ducks’ roster. Though the 6-foot-3, 205-pound blue liner has not lived up to the expectations to this point after three-plus seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes before he was dealt at the deadline to Anaheim. But there is still potential upside there.

Cap Hit: $1.3 million

Contract status: Restricted free agent in 2022.

ARIZONA

Forward – Christian Fischer: The offensive numbers have slipped since a high of 33 points his rookie season, but the 32nd overall pick in 2015 has a solid two-way game and he can skate. At 24, there is still room for Fischer to grow as a two-way forward.

Cap Hit: $1.0 million

Contract status: Restricted free agent in 2022.

BOSTON

Forward – Nick Ritchie: A power forward plays in a bottom six role, but versatile enough to spot in for a top nine slot. He set a career high with 15 goals last season in just 56 games and is capable of being a physical force as well.

Cap Hit: $1.498 million

Contract status: Restricted free agent

BUFFALO

Defenseman – Colin Miller: A player who has been here before, chosen by Vegas in 2017 off the Boston Bruins and that experience doesn’t hurt to have around for another expansion team. A right-handed shot, Miller put up good offensive numbers for the Knights with 70 points in 147 games with Vegas before being dealt to Buffalo before the 2019-20 season where, like many who land in Buffalo these days, his numbers took a dive.

Cap Hit: $3.875 million

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2022.

CALGARY

Defenseman – Oliver Kylington: Can never have enough young defenseman and Kylington is still someone who can provide some upside. A second round pick in 2015 by Calgary, he has 95 games of NHL experience under his belt and can provide depth in a worst-case scenario and a young blue liner who can grow with an expanded role in the best-case scenario.

Cap Hit: $787,500

Contract Status: Restricted free agent

CAROLINA

Defenseman – Jake Bean: While it’s tempting to select Nino Niedereitter, watching Bean take a step forward for the Hurricanes this season makes this an easy pick. Factor in that Francis was a member of the Hurricanes’ front office when Bean was selected with the 13th overall pick in 2016 and this feels like a near lock selection.

Cap Hit: $863,333

Contract status: Restricted free agent

CHICAGO

Defenseman – Nikita Zadorov: A big presence on the back end at 6-foot-6, Zadorov is a physical force that opposing teams need to be aware of when he’s on the ice. The 16th overall pick in 2013 might be on his third team since entering the league full time in 2015, but at 26 he’s experienced enough to take on a top four role.

Cap Hit: $3.2 million

Contract status: Restricted free agent

COLORADO

Forward – J.T. Compher: A consistent 30-point producer for the Avalanche, Compher is the perfect top nine forward who can do a little bit of everything on the ice. And, for a “team of misfits” he can play in any role that’s asked of him.

Cap Hit: $3.5 million

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2023

COLUMBUS

Forward – Max Domi: Some question marks here with Domi on his third team since entering the league and he’s coming off a poor season with the Blue Jackets with only nine goals and 24 points in 54 games. But just two seasons ago with Montreal he had 72 points and he’s shown top two center potential at various points in his career, that makes this an enticing selection.

Cap Hit: $5.3 million

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2022

DALLAS

Forward – Nicholas Caamano: A younger winger who has steadily climb the Stars’ depth chart and is on the verge of a regular role in a bottom nine spot. A fifth-round pick in 2016, Caamano can continue to grow his game with the expansion Kraken.

Cap Hit: $738,333

Contract status: Restricted free agent

DETROIT

Defenseman – Dennis Cholowski: Another first round pick with pedigree as the 20th overall pick of the Red Wings in 2016, Cholowski has shown signs of becoming a regular but finding a high level of play has been a task for anybody putting on a Detroit jersey these days. Perhaps latching on to an expansion team opens up his game.

Cap Hit:$894,166

Contract status: Restricted free agent

EDMONTON

Forward – Dominik Kahun: A perfect plugger throughout his career to this point, Kahun is the type of lead-by-example performer to help establish a team identity.

Cap Hit: $975,000

Contract status: Restricted free agent

FLORIDA

Goaltender – Chris Driedger: Not the route I personally would have gone, but we already know the Kraken have all but wrapped up Driedger with a three-year contract that should be announced as soon as this selection is announced on Wednesday.

Cap Hit: $850,000

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent

LOS ANGELES

Forward – Blake Lizotte: Young centers are a commodity and Lizotte fills this role with two years and 105 games of NHL experience under his belt at the age of 23. Undrafted out of St. Cloud St., Lizotte jumped straight to the NHL out of college.

Cap Hit: $925,000

Contract status: Restricted free agent in 2022

MINNESOTA

Defenseman – Carson Soucy: A big, mobile blue liner, Soucy emerged unexpectedly in early 2019 to become a reliable two-way defender in a low pairing role. At 26, he’s still trending upwards with three seasons under his belt.

Cap Hit: $2.75 million

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2023

MONTREAL

Goaltender – Carey Price: How can you not select a future Hall of Fame netminder coming off a fantastic playoff run? Sure, the contract situation offers moments of pause and the “leaked” injury news the day after word circulated he waived his no-move clause has forced Seattle to dig deeper into the situation. And ultimately, if Price calls up Francis and says don’t pick me, it changes the Kraken’s approach here, but otherwise, ownership his signed off on the idea.

Cap Hit: $10.5 million

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2026.

NASHVILLE

Forward – Calle Jarnkrok: A consistent middle six presence on the Predators, Jarnkrok has scored between 10-16 goals and 26-35 points for the past six seasons. Another player who can help Seattle establish an identity of hard forecheckers who are hard to play against.

Cap Hit: $2 million

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2022

NEW JERSEY

Defenseman – Will Butcher: Just four years ago Butcher was a Calder Trophy candidate and first-team All Rookie performer after a 44-point season. While his offensive numbers have tailed off, he’s still a reliable presence while averaging 19 minutes per game.

Cap Hit: $3.73 million

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2022.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Forward – Jordan Eberle: The Kraken need somebody who can score in a top line role and Eberle fits that role. A six-time, 20-goal scorer, Eberle is capable of hitting those numbers again on a team presumably with a little more fluidity to their game than the Islanders have played the past three seasons.

Cap Hit: $5.5 million

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2024.

NEW YORK RANGERS

Forward – Colin Blackwell: A late bloomer, Blackwell enjoyed a breakthrough as a 27-year old with a 12-goal, 22-point season with the Rangers.

Cap Hit: $725,000

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2022

OTTAWA

Forward – Evgeni Dadanov: Like Eberle, somebody needs to provide some consistent offense and Dadanov provides that with three consecutive 20-goal seasons with the Panthers before joining Ottawa last season.

Cap Hit: $5 million

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2020

PHILADELPHIA

Defenseman – Shayne Gostisbehere: A classic puck-moving defenseman, Ghost needs a change of scenery to try to find his game again after some down years. And if he finds the level that saw a 65-point campaign just three years ago, he can be a big acquisition for the Kraken.

Cap Hit: $4.5 million

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2023.

PITTSBURGH

Forward – Jason Zucker: While he hasn’t added the offensive punch the Pens hoped for when acquiring him from Minnesota, he is still on the south side of 30 and could easily rekindle the 20-goal form he showed during his time with the Wild. And, again, the Kraken need somebody to score some goals.

Cap Hit: $5.5 million

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2023.

SAN JOSE

Forward – Matt Nieto Another versatile plugger who does a little bit of everything well while not standing out in any area in particular. But an identity is easy to see emerging on the lower lines.

Cap Hit: $700,000

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2023.

ST. LOUIS

Defenseman – Vince Dunn: Though there are concerns of getting Dunn signed to a new deal, this is a pretty easy pick for Seattle to take the 24-year old who has played his way into a top four role for the Blues while hitting the 20-point mark in all four of his seasons to date.

Cap Hit: $1.875 million

Contract status: Restricted free agent.

TAMPA BAY

Forward – Tyler Johnson: OK, so I am assuming there is some sort of a deal in place to have Seattle chose one of the few NHL players from the state of Washington. But it’s not as if Johnson is just a charity case, he showed in the playoffs that he can still play at a very effective level if he’s playing at center and he can step in as a top two center on the Kraken.

Cap Hit: $5 million

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2024.

TORONTO

Forward – Alex Kerfoot: No, this is not because a fish made the pick from Pike’s Place, but rather his solid two-way game the Leafs needed when he came over from the Colorado Avalanche two seasons ago. His performance in the playoffs doesn’t hurt, either.

Cap Hit: $3.5 million

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent in 2023.

VANCOUVER

Defenseman – Madison Bowey: The Canucks just didn’t have any enticing options on the available list, but a right handed defenseman is never a bad choice. A second round pick by Washington in 2013, Bowey provides organizational depth the Kraken are going to need.

WASHINGTON

Goaltender – Vitek Vanecek: He was unexpectedly thrown into the mix in net for the Capitals and showed he is capable of handling NHL duties after a 21-10 record with Washington on the season posting a .906 save percentage and 2.69 goals against average.

WINNIPEG

Defenseman – Dylan DeMelo: Not a lot to debate when it comes to the options the Jets provided as DeMelo offers a steady, if not spectacular, style of game. And did I mention he’s a right-handed shot? He’s a right-handed shot.

So there you have it, a crack at the Kraken roster and it’s a sure bet all 30 picks will be correct. Or, well, at least three of them will be, any way.

Not sure if there will be as many side deals as we saw with Vegas in 2017 as general managers saw how that helped build up the Golden Knights into a Stanley Cup finalist in their first campaign, but there will be a few.

The biggest storyline to follow centers around Price, who can be an instant stabilizer in net for an expansion team that has a chance to compete in a weaker Pacific Division where Vegas is the cream of the crop with a lot of question marks behind that.

Below is my conversation with Dan Lucas that aired, in part, on Newschannel 8 on Tuesday night.

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