Seattle Kraken: Entry Draft could net goalie of the future
Ed Stein
|
The NHL Entry Draft takes place on July 23. It’s a good year for the Seattle Kraken to select a franchise goalie.
June 2 is the NHL Draft Lottery. That’s when Seattle Kraken will find out where they pick in the first round of this year’s entry draft. Slotted as the third team, the Kraken has a 10.5 percent chance of getting the number one overall choice but will select no later than fifth overall. Either with their pick or trading for another first-rounder, Seattle can get a franchise goalie.
Selecting a goalie early in the draft is sometimes a dicey proposition. That position is both the hardest to develop and to predict future success. The rewards, however, can be franchise-altering. This year there are two goalies the Seattle Kraken should look at in the first round.
Jesper Wallstedt
Swedish goaltender Jesper Wallstedt has “franchise goalie” written all over him. At 6-3, 205-pounds, he has good size and may still grow. His technique is solid, and Wallstedt has the ability to be a stopper, keeping his team in games when they aren’t playing well.
Wallstedt is already succeeding against top international competition. Last season, the 18-year-old played for Lulea FC in the Swedish Elite League, which is the second or third best hockey league in the world.
How good is he? NHL Central Scouting rated him as the number one European goalie in this draft class. The teen netminder was 12-10 with a 2.35 Goals Against Average (GAA), good for fifth in SHL, .908 Save Percentage (SV%), and a pair of shutouts in 22 games. Again, Wallstedt is 18 and playing against grown men. If he’s that good now, imagine what Wallstedt could be like when he’s 25 and in his prime.
Wallstedt has the potential to be a franchise goaltender in the NHL. Almost every attribute he has screams dominant, elite, Vezina Trophy caliber netminder. In a few years, we will be talking about him in the same breath as Andrei Vasilevsky, Connor Hellebuyck, and the like. – Ben Kerr, Last Word on Hockey.
Sebastian Cossa
At 6-7, 210 pounds, 19-year-old Sebastian Cossa takes up a big chunk of real estate. Cossa will fill out and be even more of a wall in front of the pipes as he matures.
Pacific Northwest area fans may have seen him the last few seasons as he plays for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. He’s been stellar for the Oil Kings this season with a 1.57 GAA and .941 SV%.
Not only is Cossa big, but he is also athletic. Scouts like his solid fundamentals, especially how he squares up to shooters. Cossa may not be as heralded as Wallstedt, but he’s the potential to be a long-time number one goalie in the NHL. He’s likely to go mid-to-late first round, which is something for Seattle Kraken GM Ron Francis to consider when making trades.
“He’s got very good net coverage while in his stance or when dropping in the butterfly, and he doesn’t leave a lot of room for shooters. When in butterfly he seals the ice and five-hole with a good leg extension to protect the low corners. His confidence in his ability shows in his play. He’s got a good NHL upside.” – Al Jensen, NHL Central Scouting.
Seattle doesn’t have to draft a goalie early. There are plenty of goaltenders drafted in later rounds that went on to phenomenal success in the NHL, such as Tim Thomas, Ed Belfour, Pekka Rinne, and Ed Belfour. The difference is this year; two prospects graded as high-end, number one NHL goalies.
Related Story: Kraken Mock Expansion Draft 5.0
Do you think the Seattle Kraken should select a goalie in the first round? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.