Seattle Kraken: Tri-City Americans alumni who could come back to the PNW

Welcome to part four of our series looking at players with ties to the Pacific Northwest who could come “home” in the Seattle Kraken 2021 Expansion Draft. Today we look at former members of the Tri-City Americans.

No one knows yet who NHL teams will or will not expose to the Seattle Kraken in next year’s expansion draft. After the Stanley Cup Playoffs, free agency, arbitration, and 2020 NHL Entry Draft, all of which should be wrapped up by November, will make the picture much clearer. Of course, those dates may still change due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s a good rule of thumb at this point.

Draft Rules

Here 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 are 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 previous 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.

Seattle Kraken General manager Ron Francis would love to acquire any of Michael Rasmussen, C, Detroit; Jusso Valimaki, D, Calgary; or Morgan Geekie, C, Carolina. Unfortunately, all three will be second-year players and ineligible for the expansion draft.

There are several former Tri-City players, in and around the NHL, who are worth more than a cursory glance come expansion time.

Next: Page 2 – Goalies

Chris Driedger, G, Florida Panthers

Chris Driedger was a third-round draft choice of the Senators in 2012. He completed his WHL career with eight regular-season shutouts and a trip to the 2011-12 Top Prospects Game. Since then, Driedger has kicked around various organizations as a third goalie.

From 2014-2016 he made three relief appearances for Ottawa. It wasn’t until November 30, 2019, as part of the Florida Panthers, that he made his first NHL career start. Driedger saved all 27 shots in a 3-0 shutout victory over Nashville. That performance was part of an outstanding rookie campaign for Florida. He started 11 games, won 7, and had a stingy 2.06 Goals Against Average (GAA) with a .938 Save Percentage (SV%).

Eric Comrie, G, Winnipeg Jets

Eric Comrie is another in a long line of potential NHL goalies with an abundance of talent but could never seize their opportunity. Selected by Winnipeg in 2013 (2nd round, 59th overall), he was part of a very deep Jets goaltending group. When the position was finally whittled down, Connor Hellebuyck beat out Comrie in 2015, and their careers have gone in opposite directions ever since.

After jumping around to the Coyotes and Red Wings, he returned to the Winnipeg organization in 2019.  So far, Comrie has only played eight NHL games with a .868 SV%.

Assistant coaching candidate – Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals

Olaf Kolzig played almost the entirety of his 14 NHL seasons with the Capitals. He won both a Vezina Trophy (1999-2000) and King Clancy Trophy (2005-06) during his career. After his playing days ended, Kolzig transitioned to coaching.

He is currently one of the most respected goalie coaches in the league. It would be a significant coup for the Seattle Kraken to lure him back to the Pacific Northwest.

Everybody loves Olie the Goalie.

Next: Page 3 – Outside shot

Brandon Carlo, D, Boston Bruins

Whether or not defenseman Brandon Carlo is available or not depends on another event. Will the B’s resign power-play quarterback and pending free agent Torey Krug? The odds are against it, but this year’s free agency will shake out like a massive game of musical chairs. Don’t completely count out a return.

If Krug does come back, then it becomes a three-man battle for the other two protected slots between Carlo, Jakub Zboril, and Charlie McAvoy. Keep in mind, Carlo will be a restricted free agent in 2021. With a flat cap, someone will get priced out of the mix.

Carlo joined Tri-City at the age of 16. He played so well as a WHL rookie that he was selected to take part in the 2015 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.  That same year, Carlo represented Team USA at the International U-18 Tournament, where he picked up a Silver Medal.

The Colorado Springs native represented his country twice at the World Junior Championships. Selected 37th overall in 2015 by the Bruins, Carlo is a regular on Boston’s top defense pairing.

He has played 297 NHL games with 51 points and a plus/minus of 57. If puck possession is a big deal to the Seattle Kraken, Carlo has played in four NHL season. Both his Corsi and Fenwick ratings were over 50 percent in each.

Next: Page 4 – Would-be Face of the Franchise

Carey Price, G, Montreal Canadiens

Hockey fans reading this will think there is no chance in Hades that Montreal would expose Carey Price to Seattle in the expansion draft. His name is on the rumor mill for more than one reason. First and foremost, the 33-year-old netminder carries a $10.5M cap hit through the 2025-26 season. Second, the Canadiens just traded for Jake Allen, who could take over the reins if Price leaves. Finally, the Kraken need a face for their franchise. They want Price to be the Pacific Northwest version of Vegas’ Marc-Andre Fleury.

Price was selected 5th overall in 2005 by the Canadiens. He played two more years with Tri-City where he earned both the Del Wilson Trophy for top goaltender in the WHL and CHL’s Goaltender of the Year. The British Columbia native has been among the NHL’s elite goaltenders since he made his debut in 2007. So far, Price played in 682 NHL games posting a record of 348-250-74, with a 2.49 GAA, .917 SV%, and 48 shutouts. In 2015 Price became the only person to ever win the Lindsey (NHL MVP by NHLPA), Jennings, Vezina, and Hart (NHL MVP by writers) in the same season.

Price isn’t the same goalie he was in his prime. Then again 90 percent of his prime is better than 90 percent of goalies currently in the league. If there is someone Kraken ownership wants to put on every billboard within a 200-mile radius of Climate Pledge Arena, it’s Carey Price.

We conclude our series later in the week with Seattle Thunderbirds alumni.

Pages: 1 2 3 4