Finally, the Seattle Kraken will have some faces to go with the name.
The NHL’s newest team will select a player from 30 of the 31 teams around the league — the Vegas Golden Knights are exempt after they entered in 2017 — in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft on Wednesday night (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), needing at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies.
Seattle will pick from lists of players that teams did not protect — choosing to shield seven forwards, three defensemen, and a goalie or eight skaters and a goalie from the Kraken — where they will have to satisfy a number of requirements:
- 20 players must be under contract for the 2021-22 regular season
- Seattle’s roster must be between 60-100 % of last season’s upper limit for the salary cap ($81.5 million)
It leaves the Kraken with the opportunity to build a roster that could very well contend for the playoffs in their expansion season given the bevy of top-tier talent that will be available.
As Seattle prepares to make its picks, we tried to mock up just how the Kraken’s roster will look after Wednesday night ensuring they meet all requirements:
Seattle Kraken predicted picks by team
Anaheim Ducks: Haydn Fleury, D
- Signed through: 2022
- Career stats: 179 games, 5 goals, 19 assists, -6 rating
- Projection: Bottom-six defenseman
Arizona Coyotes: Michael Bunting, LW
- Signed through: UFA
- Career stats: 26 games, 11 G, 3 A
- Projection: Extra forward
Boston Bruins: Connor Clifton, D
- Signed through: 2023
- Career stats: 94 games, 3 G, 7 A, +19
- Projection: 2nd-pair defenseman
Buffalo Sabres: William Borgen, D
- Signed through: RFA
- Career stats: 14 games, 0 pts., -9
- Projection: Extra defenseman
Calgary Flames: Mark Giordano, D
- Signed through: 2022
- Career stats: 949 games, 143 G, 366 A, +101, 2019 Norris Trophy winner
- Projection: 1st-pair defenseman
Carolina Hurricanes: Jake Bean, D
- Signed through: RFA
- Career stats: 44 games, 1 G, 11 A, -2
- Projection: Bottom-pair defenseman
Chicago Blackhawks: Adam Gaudette, C
- Signed through: RFA
- Career stats: 160 games, 22 G, 34 A
- Projection: Extra forward
Colorado Avalanche: Joonas Donskoi, RW
- Signed through: 2023
- Career stats: 399 games, 78 G, 108 A
- Projection: Middle-six winger
Columbus Blue Jackets: Max Domi, C
- Signed through: 2022
- Career stats: 429 G, 90 G, 185 A
- Projection: Middle-six center
Dallas Stars: Adam Mascherin, C
- Signed through: RFA
- Career stats: N/A
- Projection: Extra forward
Detroit Red Wings: Troy Stecher, D
- Signed through: 2022
- Career stats: 330 games, 14 G, 72 A, -17
- Projection: Bottom-pair defenseman
Edmonton Oilers: Tyler Benson, LW
- Signed through: RFA
- Career stats: 7 games, 0 G, 1 A
- Projection: Extra forward
Florida Panthers: Chris Driedger, G
- Signed through: UFA
- Career stats: 21-9-4, 2.09 GAA, .929 SV%
- Projection: Battle for No. 1 role
Los Angeles Kings: Kale Clague, D
- Signed through: RFA
- Career stats: 22 games, 0 G, 6 A, -9
- Projection: Extra defenseman
Minnesota Wild: Kaapo Kahkonen, G
- Signed through: 2022
- Career stats: 19-9-1, 2.90 GAA, .904 SV%
- Projection: Back-up goalie
Montreal Canadiens: Brett Kulak, D
- Signed through: 2022
- Career stats: 260 games, 10 G, 33 A, +6
- Projection: Bottom-pair defenseman
Nashville Predators: Calle Jarnkrok, LW
- Signed through: 2022
- Career stats: 508 games, 94 G, 117 A
- Projection: Middle-six winger
New Jersey Devils: Andreas Johnsson, LW
- Signed through: 2023
- Career stats: 175 games, 35 G, 43 A
- Projection: Middle-six winger
New York Islanders: Jordan Eberle
- Signed through: 2024
- Career stats: 779 games, 241 G, 310 A
- Projection: Middle-six winger
New York Rangers: Colin Blackwell, C/RW
- Signed through: 2022
- Career stats: 80 games, 15 G, 17 A
- Projection: 4th-line winger
Ottawa Senators: Chris Tierney, C
- Signed through: 2022
- Career stats: 491 G, 67 G, 141 A
- Projection: 4th-line center
Philadelphia Flyers: James van Riemsdyk, LW
- Signed through: 2023
- Career stats: 797 games, 264 G, 260 A
- Projection: 1st-line winger
Pittsburgh Penguins: Marcus Pettersson, D
- Signed through: 2025
- Career stats: 222 games, 7 G, 53 A, +39
- Projection: 2nd-pair defenseman
San Jose Sharks: Dylan Gambrell, C
- Signed through: 2022
- Career stats: 110 games, 10 G, 13 A
- Projection: Extra forward
St. Louis Blues: Vladimir Tarasenko, RW
- Signed through: 2023
- Career stats: 531 games, 218 G, 224 A
- Projection: 1st-line winger
Tampa Bay Lightning: Yanni Gourde, C
- Signed through: 2025
- Career stats: 310 games, 80 G, 107 A
- Projection: 1st-line center
Toronto Maple Leafs: Alexander Kerfoot, C
- Signed through: 2023
- Career stats: 278 games, 51 G, 85 A
- Projection: Middle-six center
Vancouver Canucks: Braden Holtby, G
- Signed through: 2022
- Career stats: 289-133-49, 2.58 GAA, .915 SV%, 2016 Vezina winner
- Projection: Battle for No. 1 role
Washington Capitals: Conor Sheary, LW
- Signed through: 2023
- Career stats: 378 games, 86 G, 86 A
- Projection: 4th-line winger
Winnipeg Jets: Dylan DeMelo, D
- Signed through: 2024
- Career stats: 321 games, 7 G, 66 A, +14
- Projection: 1st-pair defenseman
Roster, requirement breakdown
- 30 draft picks (30 required)
- 17 forwards (14 required)
- 10 defensemen (9 required)
- 3 goalies (3 required)
- 22 2021-22 contracts (20 required)
- $80.2 million cap hit ($81.5 million maximum)
Prospective lines
James van Riemsdyk – Yanni Gourde – Vladimir Tarasenko
Calle Jarnkrok – Max Domi – Jordan Eberle
Andreas Johnsson – Alexander Kerfoot – Joonas Donskoi
Conor Sheary – Dylan Gambrell – Colin Blackwell
Defense
Giordano – DeMelo
Pettersson – Clifton
Kulak – Fleury
Goalie
Braden Holtby
