Seattle Kraken: 4 players from each Round-Robin team to watch
Joonas Donskoi, Colorado Avalanche, (Photo by Quintin Soloviev, via Wikicommons)
West 2 – Colorado Avalanche
Colorado is an up and coming young team with a solid leadership core.
Joonas Donskoi, RW – Donskoi is a classic middle-six wing. He’ll play on the third line and step up on occasion to a scoring role. It’s hard to see the Kraken selecting Donskoi in the draft, with all the talent Colorado will have available. Then again, trades will happen, and the Avs have plenty to protect.
Tyson Jost, C – It’s hard to believe Colorado exposes 2016’s tenth overall pick in the expansion draft. He has struggled to make an impact in the league since arriving on the scene in 2017. In three full seasons, Jost hasn’t scored over 26 points in a season.
Nazem Kadri, C – Kadri is a three-time 50 point scorer. He’d be an excellent pickup for the Seattle Kraken. Colorado can use the money they save from Kadri’s $4.5M for the mega-extension captain Gabriel Landeskog will get next summer.
Nikita Zadorov, D – He’s young, he’s talented, and he’s on the same team as Erik Johnson, who has a no-movement clause, Cale Makar, and Samuel Girard. He played for $3.2M this season and is a pending restricted free agent. Zadorov might be priced-out at expansion draft time.
East 2 – Tampa Bay Lightning
There is no way the Bolts can protect all the quality players they have. Tampa is going to lose someone good.
Tyler Johnson, C – He’s a former 70-point scorer for the Lightning. On any other team, Johnson would be a guaranteed top-six forward. Tampa is so deep up front; they can utilize Johnson’s outstanding defensive ability.
Alex Killorn, C – Another talented forward, not utilized to his potential. Killorn could be left unprotected due to too many good players and not enough spots to protect him. Then again, he might be protected because he’s paid less than everyone else on this watch list.
Ryan McDonagh, D – There are three reasons why Ryan McDonagh will be left unprotected, Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, and Cal Foote. He’s a former New York Rangers captain and a certified on-ice leader. Unfortunately, McDonagh also 31-years-old and has an annual cap hit of $6.5M through 2026.
Brayden Point, C – Why in the world would a young high performer like Point be available in the expansion draft? Last season he scored 92 points, this season he has 64 points in 66 games. Brayden Point has a $6.5M cap hit through 2021–22. That’s an average annual value, his actual pay that final year is $9M.