Seattle Kraken Projected Expansion Draft Roster

OwnersBox Fantasy Sports
July 20 2021
Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft
By: Andrew Boyer

The protection lists are in, and the expansion draft will take place on Wednesday, July 21st at 8:00pm! This article will highlight a mock expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken franchise, including players considered at each pick and analysis on some of the more interesting selections.

Here is the projected depth chart after my mock draft:

(Credit: CapFriendly)

This team gives the Kraken tons of cap space and flexibility moving into the future. The team has leadership in Giordano, Bailey, and Voracek and youth and upside throughout the depth chart.

Anaheim Ducks

Notably, the Ducks have exposed team captain and franchise legend Ryan Getzlaf, as well as veteran forwards Danton Heinen and Adam Henrique and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. The Ducks have quietly built a very deep prospect pipeline, and a few of the intriguing defenseman RFA prospects have been left exposed for the Kraken: Josh Mahura, Haydn Fleury, and Jacob Larsson.

Fortunately for the Ducks, the Kraken can only choose one player, and I believe that player will be center Adam Henrique; as the expansion draft pool is thin at center, Henrique can bring experience and a veteran presence up the middle in the Kraken’s top 6.

Projected Selection: Adam Henrique ($5,825,000 x 3)

Arizona Coyotes

Players considered: Michael Bunting, Ilya Lyubushkin, Christian Fischer

Projected Selection: Christian Fischer ($1,000,000 x 1)

Boston Bruins

Players considered: Tuuka Rask (UFA), Taylor Hall (UFA), Jakub Zboril, Connor Clifton, Jeremy Lauzon

Projected Selection: Connor Clifton, D ($725,000 x 1)

Buffalo Sabres

Players considered: Jeff Skinner, Colin Miller, Jake McCabe, William Borgen

Projected Selection: William Borgen, D (RFA)

Calgary Flames

Mark Giordano will almost certainly be the selection from the Flames for the Kraken, bringing a leadership presence to the Kraken serving to create a good culture on the ice and off the ice in the locker room.

Projected Selection: Mark Giordano, D (6,750,000 x 1)

Carolina Hurricanes

Kraken GM Ron Francis is the former general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes where he drafted Jake Bean in the 1st round in 2016. Bean is a developing blue liner on the rise who may break out in Seattle with a larger role.

Players considered: Dougie Hamilton (UFA), Jake Gardiner, Jake Bean

Projected Selection: Jake Bean, D (RFA)

Chicago Blackhawks

Players considered: Adam Gaudette (RFA), Ryan Carpenter, Nikita Zadorov, Malcolm Subban

Projected Selection: Nikita Zadorov, D (RFA)

Colorado Avalanche

Erik Johnson waived his no trade clause, but the $6,000,000 a year salary would be a lot for the Kraken to swallow. Either Joonas Donskoi or J.T. Compher offers secondary scoring at a team-friendly price for the Kraken to slot into the second line of their depth chart, but I believe the Kraken will choose the consistent production on the wing from Donskoi.

Projected Selection: Joonas Donskoi, RW ($3,900,000 x 2)

Columbus Blue Jackets

Max Domi is interesting, but his contract at $5,300,000 per year may be too rich for the Kraken to take a chance on a bounce back for the former Canadiens’ star. I foresee the Kraken choosing Kevin Stenlund as an inexpensive option that can provide energy to the bottom 6.

Projected Selection: Kevin Stenlund, RW ($1,050,000 x 1)

Dallas Stars

Players considered: Adam Mascherin, Julius Honka

Projected Selection: Adam Mascherin, C (RFA)

Detroit Red Wings

Surprisingly, Seattle has a few options on the Red Wings. Troy Stecher stands out among the Red Wings list of exposed players as a big-body right-shot defender on an inexpensive contract with the potential to continue to develop as a defender.

Players considered: Troy Stecher, Evgeny Svechnikov, Vladislav Namestnikov, Christian Djoos

Projected Selection: Troy Stecher, D ($1,700,000 x 1)

Edmonton Oilers

Surprisingly the Oilers chose not to protect prospect Tyler Benson, deciding to protect Josh Archibald and Zack Kassian instead. The other considerations here for the Kraken would be penalty kill specialist Jujhar Khaira, maybe taking a chance on the underwhelming Dominik Kahun, or the injured Oscar Klefbom, or even taking a run at signing UFA Adam Larsson. The selection will likely be Tyler Benson because he has the potential to step in as a bottom six scoring winger for the Kraken.

Projected Selection: Tyler Benson, LW (RFA)

Florida Panthers

The Kraken are rumoured to have signed Florida UFA goalie Chris Driedger to a 3-year, $10,500,000 contract, solidifying their selection of the goalie from the Panthers.

Projected Selection: Chris Driedger, G ($3,500,000 x 3)

Los Angeles Kings

Players considered: Blake Lizotte, Brendan Lemieux, Carl Grundstrom, Kale Clague

Projected Selection: Blake Lizotte, C ($800,000 x 1)

Minnesota Wild

Kaapo Kahkonen will provide the Wild with a high-upside young backup to pair with newly signed goaltender Chis Driedger.

Projected Selection: Kaapo Kahkonen, G ($725,000 x 1)

Montreal Canadiens

At 34 years-old and $10,500,000/year, Carey Price is too expensive with too much of an injury-risk for the Kraken to select. Cale Fleury is a high upside defensive prospect that can provide depth on the blue line for the Kraken.

Players considered: Carey Price, Cale Fleury, Jonathan Drouin, Brett Kulak, Phillip Danault (UFA)

Projected Selection: Cale Fleury, D (RFA)

Nashville Predators

Nashville surprised the hockey world by protecting Tanner Jeannot and Alexandre Carrier and leaving Ryan Johansen, Matt Duchene, Calle Jarnkrok, Colton Sissons, and Rocco Grimaldi exposed. Johansen and Duchene’s contracts will be too pricy for the Kraken to absorb, leaving Jarnkrok or Sissons as the likely pick. Jarnkrok comes with much less term commitment than Sissons, making Jarnkork the projected selection from Nashville’s pool of talented forwards.

Projected Selection: Calle Jarnkrok, LW/C ($2,000,000 x 1)

New Jersey Devils

Players considered: P.K. Subban, Andreas Johnsson, Nick Merkley

Projected Selection: Andreas Johnsson, LW ($3,400,000 x 2)

New York Islanders

In my opinion, Josh Bailey is the best asset left exposed in the expansion draft. At only $5,000,000 a year, Josh Bailey can provide leadership, playoff experience, and first line scoring for the Kraken to build around. Jordan Eberle offers similar benefits to Josh Bailey, but with a less of a full-rounded game and at a more expensive contract. Former top prospect and RFA Kiefer Bellows has somewhat underwhelmed on Long Island, but may excel given a second chance with the Kraken if Kraken were to go with a more inexpensive route.

Projected Selection: Josh Bailey, RW ($5,000,000 x 3)

New York Rangers

Players considered: Julien Gauthier, Tony DeAngelo, Colin Blackwell

Projected Selection: Julien Gauthier, RW ($775,000 x 1)

Ottawa Senators

Players considered: Chris Tierney, Joey Daccord, Jack Kopacka

Projected Selection: Joey Daccord, G ($750,000 x 2)

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers are definitely losing a good player to the Kraken. So many great options exposed on the Flyers, including James Van Riemsdyk, Jakub Voracek, German Rubstov, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Robert Hagg. Jakub Voracek stands out as a first line and powerplay producer for the Kraken, who can form a veteran leadership core with Giordano and Bailey.

Projected Selection: Jakub Voracek, RW ($8,250,000 x 3)

Pittsburgh Penguins

Players considered: Zach Aston-Reese, Marcus Pettersson, Casey DeSmith

Projected Selection: Marcus Pettersson, D ($4,025,175 x 4)

San Jose Sharks

Players considered: Ryan Donato, Dylan Gambrell

Projected Selection: Dylan Grambrell, C ($1,100,000 x 1)

St. Louis Blues

While Vladimir Tarasenko offers rare 40 goal upside, his $7,500,000/year contract would be tough for the Kraken to swallow – because of the salary cap, I think it comes down to if the Kraken want Van Riemsdyk or Voracek from the Flyers or Tarasenko from the Blues. Vince Dunn is a better low cost option than any option on the Flyers leading me to believe the Kraken will choose Vince Dunn from the Blues, and then one of Voracek or Van Riemsdyk from the Flyers. Vince Dunn offers the Kraken a promising young defender to slot in on the left side of the second or third pairing.

Projected Selection: Vince Dunn, D (RFA)

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning’s depth lead them to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, but unfortunately depth is not a strength in expansion drafts. The Lightning chose to protect 4 defenders and 4 forwards instead of 7 forwards and 3 defenders, leaving forwards Yanni Gourde, Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn exposed. I think this selection comes down to Yanni Gourde or Ondrej Palat, but Gourde is the younger option and comes with 3 more years of team control than Palat at the same price, so I project the Kraken select Gourde to play a top 6 role for years to come.

Projected Selection: Yanni Gourde, C ($5,166,666 x 4)

Toronto Maple Leafs

Players considered: Alexander Kerfoot, Jared McCann

Projected Selection: Alexander Kerfoot, C ($3,500,000 x 2)

Vancouver Canucks

Players considered: Braden Holtby, Cole Lind, Zack MacEwen, Madison Bowey

Projected Selection: Zack MacEwen, C ($825,000 x 1)

Washington Capitals

Between Vitek Vanecek and the Wild’s Kaapo Kahkonen, the Kraken will be betting on  one of the two to break out and claim the second spot in the goaltending tandem with Chis Driedger.

Players considered: Brenden Dillion, Justin Schultz, Vitek Vanecek

Projected Selection: Vitek Vanecek, G ($716,667 x 1)

Winnipeg Jets

The Jets were unable to protect right-handed defenseman Dylan DeMelo, choosing to protect defenseman Logan Stanley instead. If the Kraken choose Kevin Shattenkirk from the Ducks instead of Adam Henrique, I could see forward Mason Appleton being the pick here, but my money is on the Kraken taking the two-way defender Dylan DeMelo at his great contract of 3 years at $3,000,000.

Projected Selection: Dylan DeMelo, D ($3,000,000 x 3)

If you enjoyed this article, check out my article where I complete a NHL Mock Draft!

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