Seattle Kraken; Expansion draft hits and misses
The Good ones
Ron Francis got some high-quality pickups. The players here will be major contributors dor the Seattle Kraken.
Boston Bruins
Jeremy Lauzon, D – Hit.
This was a nice pickup. Jeremy Lauzon plays a physical game and makes life tough for opposing forwards. He’s defensively responsible and has some offensive upside. Lauzon played 41 games for Boston last year and was often on the first pair. Despite missing a month with a hand injury, he finished with 98 hits, 53 blocks, 8 points, and most importantly, was +8.
Dallas Stars
Jamie Oleksiak, D – Hit.
He was of several free-agent signings Seattle made before the draft. A big tough defender, Jamie Oleksiak is 6-7, 255 pounds. He might not score many points, but his main job is to stop others from scoring, which he does very well. I wonder if Francis could have signed Oleksiak after the draft and flipped Ben Bishop to a team in need of goaltending like Edmonton.
Florida Panthers
Chris Driedger, G – Hit.
If Francis wasn’t going after a big name like Bishop, Price, or Holtby, Chris Driedger was a good choice. He’s been rock solid the past two seasons, posting a combined .929 save percentage for Florida. The Kraken signed their number one goalie to a reasonable three-year, $10.5M contract. This is a win.
Edmonton Oilers
Adam Larsson, D – Big Hit.
Originally, I wanted Francis to sign Tyson Barrie away from the Oilers. A big reason was that I didn’t think Adam Larsson would take almost the same money he turned down from Edmonton to sign with the Seattle Kraken.
Larsson is a solid defenseman. His game has improved substantially since he broke in with New Jersey in 2011 as the fourth overall draft pick. A solid player in his own end, Larsson will help stabilize the Kraken’s young puck movers.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Brandon Tanev, RW – Hit.
Throw out the creepy headshot; every team needs a hard-working, leave it all on the ice forward like Brandon Tanev. He hits everything in sight. Over the last three seasons, Tanev recorded 661 hits in 180 games. Those with seats near the ice will quickly get used to the sound of him crunching opponents into the boards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgA8IdjeJoY
St. Louis Blues
Vince Dunn, D – HIT.
A fantastic pick. Vince Dunn is just now scratching the surface of his offensive potential. He’s not the biggest guy out there at 6-0, 205-pounds, but he can move the puck. Look for Dunn to quarterback the power-play unit. It’s not unreasonable for him to get 40 points, plus per season, if he has some decent talent around him.
Vancouver Canucks
Kole Lind, LW – HIT.
Of all the prospects the Seattle Kraken drafted, Kole Lind is among the top two or three. It was a mild surprise that Vancouver didn’t find a way to protect him. Injuries slowed him last season, but he scored 44 points in 61 AHL games the year before. Lind seems poised for a breakout in 2021-22. He projects as a top-six wing who can set up scoring chances for his linemates.
Washington Capitals
Vitek Vanecek, G – BIG HIT.
There are very few goalie prospects who are better than Vitek Vanecek. Unfortunately for him, Washington teammate Ilya Samsonov was one of them leaving Vanecek as a backup. When Samsonov was injured, the Czech netminder stepped in a performed well.
Winnipeg Jets
Mason Appleton, RW/C – HIT
Mason Appleton is an opportunity waiting to happen. In Winnipeg, he was buried behind Blake Wheeler, Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Connor, and Andrew Copp. A fast skater and adept passer, Appleton makes good decisions on the ice. He and Lind are future top-six wings, and sooner rather than later. This pick was among Seattle’s best.
The @SeattleKraken Expansion Draft pick that made Dave Reid's ears perk up? Mason Appleton. pic.twitter.com/obQLeWN4Zr
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) July 22, 2021