How the Seattle Kraken might look, maybe
A lot can happen between now and Wednesday's expansion draft, but now that we know who is available and who is protected, we're getting a clearer idea of the expansion team's potential roster
The Seattle Kraken are not going to be the Las Vegas Golden Knights 2.0 and, if we haven’t already, we should all stop expecting them to be that now that the protected and exposed lists have come out. Like Vegas four years ago, the Kraken have the makings of a pretty darn good team. Unlike four years ago, there will be fewer GMs who will allow Ron Francis to manipulate the process and take them to the cleaners the way George McPhee did.
So now that we know who’s available, let’s take a real crack at the Seattle Kraken expansion draft. Here’s one of roughly 1.2 million ways things could go in the next couple of days, depending upon how many deals there are in the works. Some players we have on this list are pending unrestricted and restricted free agents. In that case, we projected what their salary cap hit might be next season:
ANAHIEM
Haydn Fleury, D: There’s a reason why Carolina traded Fleury last season and there’s a reason why Anaheim has left him exposed. But this is a 25-year-old kid. Sometimes it takes a while for these elite junior guys to figure it out.
Cap hit: $1.3 million
ARIZONA
Michael Bunting, LW: Speaking of figuring it out, Bunting may have done that just in time to become an unrestricted free agent. The dude had 10 goals in 21 games in Arizona last season and is looking for a one-way deal. Seattle can probably get him for a little less by providing the lure of full-time NHL employment.
Projected cap hit: $1 million
BOSTON
Nick Ritchie, LW: He’s an RFA with arbitration rights who has Robby Fabbri and Jared McCann as comparables. He scored 15 goals last season and provides a physical presence.
Projected cap hit: $2.5 million
BUFFALO
Will Borgen, D: The Sabres wanted to keep him, but ultimately left him exposed, so perhaps there’s a side deal on the way? In any event, Seattle gets a righty who also gives them some defensive depth.
Projected cap hit: $1 million
CALGARY
Mark Giordano, D: “Ladies and gentlemen, meet your Seattle Kraken captain. He’ll be the face of the franchise and unbelievable in the community. And he’s still got some game. We’ll probably sign him to a series of one-year deals until he retires and joins the front office. Or, if we really suck hard in Season 1, we’ll just deal him at the trade deadline for futures.”
Projected cap hit: $6.75 million
CAROLINA
Jake Bean, D: Another young, highly touted defenseman who has taken a little longer to figure things out than most expected, Bean gives them a mobile, talented and (probably) inexpensive guy with some upside potential.
Projected cap hit: $1.5 million
CHICAGO
Nikita Zadorov, D: A veteran guy who gives you some snarl on the back end? Sign us up.
Projected cap hit: $3.5 million
COLORADO
Joonas Donskoi, RW: Yeah, you could try to swing for the fences and talk to Gabriel Landeskog, but I’ll believe he’s leaving the Avs when I see it. Donskoi provides an underrated amount of talent for a really reasonable price.
Cap hit: $3.9 million
COLUMBUS
Max Domi, C: It hasn’t worked out in three places already, so yeah, there are some red flags. But expansion is all about redemption, and there’s an excellent redemption story to be written here.
Cap hit: $5.3 million
DALLAS
Joel Hanley, D: This guy is as solid as they come as a person, and he’s a late bloomer who can play in your bottom pair cheaply.
Cap hit: $750,000
DETROIT
Troy Stetcher, D: Another serviceable guy who comes at a reasonable price. He was terrific for Canada at the World Championship.
Cap hit: $1.7 million
EDMONTON
Tyler Benson, LW: Either him or Cooper Marody. Both of them were excellent in the American Hockey League this past season and are ready to play in the NHL. Benson has potential and all he’s looking for is a one-way deal.
Projected cap hit: $850,000
FLORIDA
Chris Driedger, G: Is he an No. 1 goalie in waiting or the next Scott Darling? The Kraken are almost certainly going to find out. And Seattle might be able to get him a little cheaper than other teams because he knows he’ll get an opportunity there.
Projected cap hit: $3 million
LOS ANGELES
Blake Lizotte, C/W: The Kings love his work ethic and determination. He’s the perfect fit for an expansion team. And he’s only 23.
Cap hit: $800,000.
MINNESOTA
Kaapo Kahkonen, G: He picked up 16 wins with the Wild this past season. He’s cheap and he hasn’t even hit that magic age of 25, when goalies seem to either figure it out or prove they aren’t good enough to play in the NHL.
Cap hit: $725,000
MONTREAL
Brett Kulak, D: The Kraken should want nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with all or part of Carey Price’s contract. Kulak would be a safe pick who could definitely play in the Seattle’s third pairing.
Cap hit: $1.85 million
NASHVILLE
Calle Jarnkrok, LW: The guy is good for at least 10 goals and season and might hit 20 in the right place. He also kills penalties.
Cap hit: $2 million
NEW JERSEY
Scott Wedgewood, G: Not a lot to choose from and apparently Seattle is not allowed to pass. Wedgewood could give them some cheap insurance in goal.
Cap hit: $825,000
N.Y. ISLANDERS
Jordan Eberle, RW: Depending upon how concerned you are with how well his contract is going to age over the next three seasons, Eberle is a great choice. He has been really productive the past couple of seasons and would be a go-to offensive guy for the Kraken.
Cap hit: $5.5 million
N.Y. RANGERS
Colin Blackwell, LW: And there’s your third-line left winger. Right there. A late bloomer who established himself as an NHLer this past season in his late 20s.
Cap hit: $725,000
OTTAWA
Chris Tierney, C: It’s hard to believe Tierney is only 27. He’s useful and versatile and can kill penalties.
Cap hit: $3.5 million
PHILADELPHIA
James van Riemsdyk, LW: His cap hit will likely make him the Kraken’s highest-paid player, but he’s coming off a great year and has every chance to continue his scoring ways in a top-line role with Seattle.
Cap hit: $7 million
PITTSBURGH
Jason Zucker, LW: Let’s not overthink this. The guy can score 20 goals in his sleep.
Cap hit: $5.5 million
ST. LOUIS
Vince Dunn, D: It was surprising he wasn’t dealt before the expansion draft. He has really good potential as an offensive defenseman and he could bloom into a star in Seattle.
Projected cap hit: $2.5 million
SAN JOSE
Ryan Donato, C: He was much better in Minnesota than he was in San Jose, but at 25 years old, he’s got potential.
Projected cap hit: $2 million
TAMPA BAY
Tyler Johnson, C: If there’s not a side deal already in place, there is going to be one. There has to be. The Lightning spent a decade building their defense corps to what it is, so from that standpoint, protecting playoff standout Ryan McDonagh makes sense. But the smart money suggests GM Julien BriseBois will do anything and everything to keep Ondrej Palat. So instead of getting Palat or Yanni Gourde, the Kraken could get Johnson, a first-rounder and Mathieu Joseph (and maybe more if the Lightning really get in a bind).
Cap hit: $5 million
TORONTO
Alex Kerfoot, C: There’s no way the Leafs trade for Jared McCann, then leave him unprotected in the expansion draft, unless there’s a side deal in place. Kerfoot could be the Kraken’s No. 1 center when all is said and done.
Cap hit: $3.5 million
VANCOUVER
Zack MacEwen, RW: Young. Tough. Cheap.
Cap hit: $825,000
WASHINGTON
Vitek Vanecek, G: This guy could be your goaltender of the future.
Cap hit: $716,667
WINNIPEG
Dylan DeMelo, D: Mason Appleton would have been a great option, but DeMelo gives them another right shot on the blueline. He’s reliable and reasonably priced.
Cap hit: $3 million
Thanks for clarifying that Tyler Johnson is the one in the middle in the first picture. Cracked me up.