How Seattle Kraken GM Ron Francis can change the NHL and profit in the process.
Wednesday, the Seattle Kraken finally select their team in the expansion draft. If done right, they can totally upset the NHL apple cart and come out ahead.
With all due respect to other Seattle Kraken mock expansion drafts floating around the internet and those against skewed position totals, they aren’t looking at the big picture. Many fail to consider scenarios that can both reshape the NHL as well as land the Kraken a considerable amount of trade and draft capital.
Like every other business in existence, the NHL operates within the confines of supply and demand. Seattle is in a great place to take advantage of high-demand positions and redistribute talent across the league. In doing so, they net themselves some huge profits along the way.
There are two high-demand positions in particular that can be exploited, goaltending and defense. According to the expansion rules, the Seattle Kraken must select 14 forwards, 9 defensemen, and 3 goalies. That makes up 26 of their 30 picks. Logic dictates that they should draft as many d-men and netminders as possible and flip them because those are the positions in short supply. So it’s more like 14, 10, 6.
Additionally, there is no salary cap in the offseason. The Kraken could technically go over it while in the process of making deals.
Goalies
The area of shortest supply and highest demand is goalies. Some teams need number ones, some backups, while others need to restock their organization. By selecting six, Francis has a strong poker hand.
Among teams who could use a starter are Boston, Detroit, Edmonton. Teams with a moderate need include San Jose, Ottawa, Carolina, and Buffalo. Those teams can either gain some cost certainty or buy time for their prospects to develop.
On the supply side of this equation are some unprotected veteran number ones who would benefit from a change of scenery. While Boston is weighing a decision between resigning aging goalies Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak or turning the whole thing over to Daniel Vladar, they could try Option C and pick up someone like Braden Holtby (Canucks) or Matt Murray (Senators). There is no guaranty Linus Ullmark resigns with Buffalo. Ben Bishop (Stars) would be a nice stopgap until Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is ready to be the Sabres 1A.
Defensemen
After goalies, the second biggest area of need is defensemen. Just looking at how salaries for reliable second and third pair d-men shows the value NHL teams place on the position. Once again, the Seattle Kraken is again in a unique position to take advantage.
Whether it’s for an established top-four like Jake Gardiner (Canes) and Mark Giordano (Flames), or a cost-effective bottom-four guy such as Josh Brown (Senators) and Radim Simek (Sharks), there are deals to be made. The right ones could bring back hefty rewards.
Instead of loading up on high-priced forwards in the expansion draft, the Seattle Kraken can play “Let’s Make a Deal” with the other 31 teams and load up on picks and young talent. Additionally, they could clear enough space under the cap to be big players when free agency opens in earnest.
Pacific Northwest Sports has been on top of the Seattle Expansion Draft for as long as anyone. Before player selections are announced, we will put out our seventh and final mock draft.