Seattle Kraken: 2022 Top 5 Under 25
3. Jeremy Lauzon – D (24)
As much as I disliked the Seattle Kraken’s selection of Fleury from Montreal, I absolutely loved them drafting Jeremy Lauzon from Boston. He got solid skills and NHL size (6’1”, 205-pounds). More importantly, he plays with an edge. Something that every team needs.
Lauzon has some offensive skills. But people who expect him to be a 25-30 point per season scorer will be disappointed. It’s just not his bread and butter. For those wanting a physical defenseman who isn’t afraid to hit or clear the crease of opponents, this is their guy.
With the Bruins last season, he did well in a role as the stay-at-home counterpart to Boston’s more offensively aggressive defensemen. He and Charlie McAvoy had some decent chemistry.
It’s fair to say the Seattle Kraken struggle in their own zone. Lauzon deserves his share of the blame with his penchant for inopportune penalties.
"They took your best young defenseman and I don't know how anyone could feel good about that."
Mike Felger is 'not cool' with the Bruins losing Jeremy Lauzon in the expansion draft to the Seattle Kraken. pic.twitter.com/dEXOcFfUAv
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) July 22, 2021
2. Morgan Geekie – C (23)
One of the reasons Francis drafted Morgan Geekie was his familiarity with what the center can do for their time together in Carolina. The 23-year-old is definitely an NHL player. What his role will be is still very much up in the air.
Geekie is just about the only center Seattle has that can win more than half of his faceoffs. He’s got some basic offensive upside and can contribute to the offense. Then again, Geekie is responsible in his own zone and plays solid defense.
Taking the glass-half-full approach, the Seattle Kraken have a useful player they can use on both ends of the ice. Additionally, Geekie is versatile enough for coach Dave Hakstol to use up and down the lineup.