Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft 2.0 – If We Knew Then What We Know Now

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Feb 10, 2022
Seattle Kraken
Seattle Kraken.

Boston Bruins

Current Pick: Jeremy Lauzon, D – 24-years-old. 37 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 pts. $850K – RFA at the end of the 2022 season.

Kraken Draft 2.0: Sean Kuraly, C – 29-years-old. 44 GP, 8 G, 8 A, 16 pts. $2.5M expiring 2025. Signed with Columbus as a UFA.

Reasoning: Sean Kuraly is a hard-hitting depth forward who has playoff experience. He’s been with Boston since the B’s 2019 run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. His leadership experience would also be a plus, having been captain of his college team at Miami University. Every now and then, Kuraly jumps in with the offense when he is not throwing his body around.

Buffalo Sabres

Current Pick: Will Borgen, D – 25-years-old. 15 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 pts. $900K expiring in 2023.

Kraken Draft 2.0: Will Borgen, D.

Reasoning: In my opinion, the Kraken got this one right. There weren’t many solid options coming out of Buffalo, and grabbing Borgen at less than $1M allows for depth on defense. He’s a solid seventh defenseman who is still growing into his own. With Seattle, Borgen averages 14:30 minutes,1 block, and 2 hits per game. Last month he had his first NHL goal.

Detroit Red Wings

Current Pick: Dennis Cholowski, D – 23 yrs old. 7 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 pt. $900K – RFA at the end of the 2022 season. Claimed off waivers by Washington in October. ***The Kraken claimed him off waivers from Washington earlier this week.

Kraken Draft 2.0: Evgeny Svechnikov, LW – 25-years-old. 35 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 pts. $750K – RFA at the end of the 2022 season. Signed with Winnipeg as a UFA.

Reasoning: Svechnikov was a first round draft pick in 2015 and has proven to be a reliable scoring forward in the AHL, but never truly got a chance to grow in the Detroit organization. He helped the Grand Rapids Griffins win the Calder Cup in 2017. Detroit opted not to tender him a qualifying offer, allowing him to pursue free agency. As a result, he is now playing in his first full NHL season in Winnipeg and is displaying solid 3rd/4th line numbers. At 25, he still has room to grow.

Florida Panthers

Current Pick: Chris Driedger, G – 27-years-old. 12 GP, 3 W, 7 L, 3.18 GAA, .895 SV%. $3.5M, expiring in 2024.

Kraken Draft 2.0: Chris Driedger, G.

Reasoning: While Driedger is having a down season, it is important to look at the big picture – in 50 career starts, he has a 2.33 GAA and .921 SV%. These are solid numbers for a backup or fringe starter. He is currently adjusting to a new city, a new team, and new coaches. Give him time – he’ll come around. Driedger was easily the best option to come out of Florida.

Montreal Canadiens

Current Pick: Cale Fleury, D – 23-years-old. (AHL) 38 GP, 5 G, 15 A, 20 pts. $750K – RFA at the end of the 2022 season.

Kraken Draft 2.0: Corey Perry, RW – 36-years-old. 46 GP, 12 G, 11 A, 23 pts. $1M, expiring in 2023.

Reasoning: Perry provides proven scoring depth, being able to log offensive minutes on any line. He has scored 12 goals for the Tampa Bay Lightning, playing predominantly on the third line. While he is a far cry from producing the same numbers as his Hart trophy campaign in 2010 (50 goals, 48 assists, along with 104 penalty minutes), he is producing his best stats in the past 5 years.

His 167 playoff games, along with three trips to the Stanley Cup Final (winning the cup in 2006 with Anaheim), provide a vital intangible, experience to a young locker room. CP10 is the type of player that everyone loves to play with and hates to play against.

Ottawa Senators

Current Pick: Joey Daccord, G – 25 yrs old. (AHL) 16 GP, 8 W, 7 L, 1 OTL, 2.41 GAA, .917 SV%, 0 SO. $750K, expiring in 2023.

Kraken Draft 2.0: Vitaly Abramov, LW – 23 yrs old (currently playing in the KHL).

Reasoning: Abramov didn’t enjoy his time in Ottawa, which hindered his production and development. At AHL Belleville, he was a point per game player for two years. That came after Abramov absolutely destroyed the QMJHL the prior three seasons (98, 104, and 104 points).

He dressed in only four games for the Ottawa Senators over three years, scoring just one goal, and is now playing in the KHL. This season Abramov has 17 points and was just traded to CSKA Moscow. Joining a team like Seattle could provide him some motivation to progress further into a deep scoring threat.

Tampa Bay Lightning:

Current Pick: Yanni Gourde, C – 30-years-old. 38 GP, 10 G, 13 A, 23 pts. $5.16M, expires in 2025.

Kraken Draft 2.0: Alex Killorn, LW – 32-years-old. 46 GP, 15 G, 26 A, 41 pts. $4.45M, expires in 2023.

Reasoning: Killorn has a slightly lower cap hit while also being able to play up and down the lineup when needed. His point production has improved throughout his career, and he is on pace to break his single-season career highs. Killorn played a crucial role in Tampa Bay’s back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, while Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov were both injured.

Toronto Maple Leafs:

Current Pick: Jared McCann, LW – 25-years-old. 41 GP, 19 G, 11 A, 30 pts. $2.94M – RFA at the end of the 2022 season.

Kraken Draft 2.0: Frederik Andersen, G – 32-years-old. 31 GP, 24 W, 6 L, 1 OTL, 2.08 GAA, .927 SV%, 1 SO. Signed with Carolina for two years, $4..5M through 2023.

Reasoning: Andersen is a proven number one goalie. He played well and was Toronto’s starting goalie until the emergence of Jack Campbell and proved to be too expensive to be a backup goalie. Carolina signed him to a reasonable two-year contract, and it has paid off royally. Andersen is in the top 10 in every major goalie statistic this season. He would provide the Kraken with a short-term bonified #1 goalie until Ingram or Driedger is ready to take over.

Next: Page 4 – Re-Drafting the Central Division

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