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After the establishment of the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, the world caught view of how good an expansion team could be in this day and age. No other expansion team ever in any sport was as good as the Golden Knights were in their first season. Now the world of hockey has their eyes set on Seattle and their new ice hockey team, the Seattle Kraken.
As dope as their name, jerseys and logo are, the team they will draft should hopefully be as dope and well-constructed as the previous expansion team.
To explain the expansion draft and how it works, the Kraken will be choosing one player from every team in the NHL. These players usually have a contract that is expiring soon or was not that beneficial for the team that player is playing for, maybe they are on the older side or maybe that player just did not find their stride with the team and would be better off going somewhere else.
Of course, the Kraken will still have their draft picks, can sign player all around the world and trade players as they please. The expansion draft is a good time for the Kraken and could be detrimental to others. So, who are the biggest names that can be selected in the expansion draft?
Between goaltender Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens and right winger Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues, the Kraken should be sharp on the offensive and defensive side of the puck. Both players are looking to move out of their respective cities so Seattle would be a great spot to continue their careers.
Another option at goaltender if the Kraken choose to go another rout would be Braden Holtby of the Vancouver Canucks, who will be their across-the-border rivals. Holtby split his career with the Canucks and the Washington Capitals, including winning the Stanley Cup with the team in 2018. He has built a reputation for himself to be a great, solid goalie while with the Capitals. While his save percentage did dip a bit with the Canucks, it would be the Kraken’s next best option at that position.
Among other bright stars in the league, player like Mark Giordano, P.K. Subban and James van Riemsdyk from Calgary, New Jersey and Philadelphia respectively can be on the move. Like with Price, Giordano has been with his team prior to the 2010s. He is a face to that franchise and a great defenseman that can help out and mentor the younger players coming to the team.
Same with Subban. The former Norris Trophy winner has two more years on his contract and while his tenure with the Devils was short, it is necessary for him to be on the move again for New Jersey. While the team is in the middle of a rebuild, having Subban on the team to instruct newer defenseman was crucial for those players and their development. Subban will have a similar role with the Kraken alongside Giordano.
For van Riemsdyk, The Flyers left winger was a great addition when Philadelphia signed him as a free agent, but the team has not been as good as of late. Moving from him could give younger players a chance to how off their skills while giving the Flyers more cap space to sign other players in free agency.
That is the other big component to the expansion draft. While there are plenty of unprotected players that can be selected by the Kraken, they must be aware of the contracts they are going to be picking up. While they can select all the big named players like previously mentioned, there are going to be a lot of younger players with smaller contracts selected as well.
Look at Sebastian Aho of the New York Islanders for this spot. A young defenseman who has mainly seen minor league play can make his big break with the Kraken at the professional level or be a useful back up to whoever the pick up in either draft.
This years expansion draft should give the Kraken a really good lineup for years to come. If they play anywhere like the Golden Knights in their first season, then Seattle will have another championship to celebrate.
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