Seattle Kraken: Too early mock expansion draft version 4.0
Defense
The way to build a good hockey team is from the net out. There is a premium in the NHL put on playing solid defense, especially in the playoffs. Overall, this group is steady, but there is some offensive upside.
The defensemen aren’t going to lose games for the team, but they aren’t likely to win many, either. There is good news; none of the group are over 26; they can grow as a unit. Additionally, there is a good mix of left and right-handed d-men.
Nathan Beaulieu – Winipeg, 28, 1-year, $1.75M
Christian Djoos – Detroit, 26, RFA
Dante Fabbro – Nashville, 22, RFA
Jacob Larsson – Anaheim, 23, 1-year, $1.20M
Scott Mayfield – New York Islanders, 28, 2-years, $1.45M
Kevan Miller – Boston, 33, EST 1-year, $1.25M
Andrej Sekera – Dallas, 34, 1-year, $1.50M
Jaccob Slavin – Carolina, 26, 4-years, $5.30M
Sami Vatanen – New Jersey, 1-year, $2.50M
Some of these defensemen will be dealt before the season starts. As always, there is a strong market for top-four D-men. Some of the selections could bring back a return of solid prospects for long-term development. Then again, Ron Francis could wait until the trade deadline and try to get more from a desperate team.
Pairings
- Slavin – Vatanen
- Mayfield – Beaulieu
- Sekera – Fabro
Miller or Larson becomes the seventh defenseman.
The top two D-men are Slavin and Vatanen. The Seattle Kraken can make a splash by drafting someone older and more expensive, such as Brent Burns (35, four-years, $8M). Why would Francis want to tie himself down for so long to an aging player?
Vatanen makes for an ideal first power-play quarterback. Eventually, Fabro will take over the role. As a matter of fact, out of all of the new Kraken players, Fabro may be the breakout star. He is reliable defensively and handles the puck well.