Seattle Kraken: Spokane Chiefs alumni who could come back to the Pacific Northwest
Michael Grabner, Arizona Coyotes.
Forwards
Michael Grabner, forward, Nashville Predators
At just 17-years old, he left his native Austria to play for the Chiefs. It’s a move that worked out well for him. Drafted 14th overall in 2006 by the Canucks, Michael Grabner just finished his 14th NHL season. He’s scored 276 points in 640 NHL games. At 33-years-old, Grabner isn’t the offensive threat he once was, but his outstanding defensive play and speed make him a weapon on the penalty kill.
Derek Ryan, forward, Calgary Flames
The Spokane native was a star for his home town Chiefs from 2003-07. Undrafted, Derek Ryan took an unusual route to the NHL; he spent four years at the University of Alberta, followed by some very successful seasons in Austria and Sweden. A reliable member of Calgary’s third line, Ryan has become a consistent 30-point per season player. Although he may be slightly built (5-11, 175-pounds), Ryan is a beast in the faceoff circle. In four-plus NHL seasons, Ryan won 55.7 percent of his draws to go along with 136 points
Tyler Johnson, forward, Tampa Bay Lightning
An undersized, overachiever, Tyler Johnson is cut from the same cloth as former Lightning great Martin St. Louis. On many teams, the 5-8 pivot is talented enough to be a first/second line scoring threat. The Bolts have consistently been deep down the middle for the past half-decade, relegating him a middle-six role. Even without many prime time minutes, Johnson averages .63 points-per-game over an eight-year career. To show how valuable he is in Tampa, the Bolts signed him to a seven-year, $35M contract before the 2017-18 season. With so many talented forwards in Tampa, Johnson could be available to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft.