Seattle Kraken: Portland Winterhawks alumni who could come back to the PNW

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Aug 24, 2020
Seattle Kraken
Derrick Poulliot, Portland Winterhawks, Seattle Kraken.
Seattle Kraken

Adin Hill, Arizona Coyotes, Seattle Kraken.

This is part one of our series looking at players with ties to the Pacific Northwest who could come “home” in the Seattle Kraken 2021 Expansion Draft. We start with the Portland Winterhawks.

No one knows yet who will or will not be exposed to the Seattle Kraken in next year’s expansion draft. Fans can get a better read on the situation after the Stanley Cup Playoffs, free agency, arbitration, and 2020 NHL Entry Draft. All of which should be wrapped up by November. Of course, dates may still change due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Draft Rules

This is a brief recap of the rules in place when the Seattle Kraken make their selections in the Expansion Draft some time in early-to-mid-summer of 2021.

  • All teams except Vegas, who is exempt, have two options for protecting players.
  • Option 1: Protect seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie.
  • Option 2: Protect eight skaters, in any combination of forwards or defensemen, and one goalie.
  • At least one defenseman, two forwards, (who played at least 40 games in the prior year or 70 games in the two prior years), and one goalie that are under contract (goalies can be restricted free agents as well).
  • First and second-year players in addition to unsigned draft choices are exempt. Many young players are ineligible because they have not had enough games in the NHL in the last two years.

Portland has been successful in putting players into the NHL. Unfortunately for the Seattle Kraken, there isn’t much of a chance that the following players are left unprotected by their current teams.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, forward, Columbus Blue Jackets.

Nino Niederreiter, forward, Carolina Hurricanes.

Matt Dumba, defenseman, Minnesota Wild.

Henri Jokiharju, defenseman, Buffalo Sabres.

Ryan Johansen, forward, Nashville Predators.

Seth Jones, defenseman, Columbus Blue Jackets.

There are several Winterhawks Alumni who could be available to the Seattle Kraken next summer, either in the expansion draft, or as unrestricted free agents.

Next: Page 2 – Forwards

Pages: 1 2 3

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