Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft
In all my time in the Pacific Northwest, I’ve never been to Seattle’s Gas Works Park until Wednesday. And now, thanks to our newest hockey team, it’s on the list of my favorite city attractions. After 16 months of the COVID pandemic, around 4,000 attendees safely experienced a first-class outdoor social event. The stage was elaborate, the beer garden was full, and the swag was plentiful. This was another “mission accomplished” for a new franchise that truly listens to its fan base. Todd Humphrey is the Seattle Kraken Senior VP of Digital & Fan Experience and noticed my NHL Seattle hat and Totems polo right away.
With fellow goalie Travis Moore at the Expansion Draft. (Photo by Jonathan West)
For the first time in 11 years, I didn’t have to travel away from home to cover an NHL event! So I welcomed old media friends like NHL Network Radio’s Dennis Bernstein while making new ones like The Athletic’s Ryan S. Clark. Stu Vitue and ROOT Sports had a great waterfront studio setup, while Chris Daniels and KING 5 lead the local TV coverage. Geoff Baker from the Seattle Times was on my press row, and Ian Furness with 950 KJR-AM was broadcasting in the grassy slope to the left of the stage. And the NHL Media Zoom calls had the best interview setup in the park.
Left Wing Brandon Tanev of the Seattle Kraken. (Photo by Jonathan West)
Also in attendance or watching remotely were many who make up our local hockey community. Hockey bar and pro shop owners surviving a global health crisis. Youth and adult players who travel 70-100 miles daily to play this game around the Puget Sound. People like Travis Moore with Seattle Junior Hockey Association, Paul Kim keeping the Seattle Metropolitans trademark local, and Andy Cole, who runs the largest local adult hockey league. This day was all about local beauties taking in a hockey milestone.
Jahan Vasishth attended the draft as a Seattle Thunderbirds season ticket holder from Redmond, Washington. I first met him during the 2020 Hockey Challenge, benefitting Ronald McDonald House to help families be close during life-saving treatments.
“I absolutely had a blast and made it on TV a bunch a times, according to my mother! I’m hopeful for a great team. I loved the whole atmosphere with the fans screaming and hooting and hollering after every Kraken pick. Too bad some of the big-name guests didn’t stick around afterward. I would’ve loved to get photos with Bobby Wagner, Sean Kemp, Gary Payton, and Macklemore.”
Hockey buddies representing coast to coast. (Photo from Jahan Vasishth)
Liberte Sparrow originally is from the Emerald City, but now lives on Bainbridge Island. After a long break from playing hockey, she made a comeback in April’s Pacific Northwest Draft weekend and now is a regular at multiple adult tournaments.
“Gas Works Park is down the street from my childhood home, and I remember my folks taking me there as a child. Sometimes the hydroplanes would practice on the lake, and you could hear them from our house. I begged my parents to buy one of the houseboats on the lake! My fav moment was how the Kraken included super-creative ‘reveals’ of the draft picks, done from historic places in Seattle like Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, etc. Also, I loved the famous Seattle personalities and sports figures that were a part of the whole production. Very embedded and deeply tied to our city and my hometown!”
Andrew Black is a transplant from Ontario who now lives in Seattle. He isn’t giving up on the Maple Leafs but attended the draft as a local youth hockey developer. Next weekend he will play in the Bellingham Brew Cup with his team, the Fighting Narwhals.
“My favorite part was how they were able to get six players to attend the draft in person while wearing the new jerseys! Especially when Jamie Oleksiak came out and put that (tooth-missing) smile of his to work…was just fantastic. With the picks? Obviously, the team has a plan they want to stick to, but the Kraken has so much cap space, so they can sign nearly anyone! They have some work to do, but I think they drafted a young team and could be physical, which any West Coast team needs. Speed and size.”
Andrew Black with an epic hockey beard! (Photo by Jonathan West)
Jackie Soo is also a Canadian transplant, but has lived in Seattle since 2003. She is also very active with the Hockey Challenge around her busy personal training and road race schedules.
“Haha, I think yesterday I was disowned by all my friends in Pittsburgh! But I grew up in Calgary and will be interested to hear what my folks think of Giordano leaving. I thought the draft event was held at a very beautiful location—perfect for showing off Seattle! Loved the stage with the giant Kraken tentacle and how people with boats and kayaks could also ‘sailgate.’ Despite leaks of drafted players in the morning, my favorite parts were how some of the players were announced. I loved when the octopus Licorice at the Seattle Aquarium was part of the reveal! Announcing a draft pick atop Mount Rainer was pretty unique too. I love mascots and hoped the team would reveal our fearless spirit leader as well. The event made it very real that we’re getting an NHL team!”
Jackie Soo and her hockey friends catching rays on the lawn. (Photo by Jonathan West)
Travis Werchau is a transplant from North Dakota now in Vancouver, Washington. Through a Kraken fan group, he won tickets to the first-ever Seattle game in Vegas this fall! The season schedule just came out yesterday, so it’s time to plan for opening night on the road.
“Now I just have to figure out whose jersey I’m going to get! I’m excited to see what we do in free agency with all that cap space. Could get some nice pickups! I like seeing the Kraken pick up Donskoi, Dunn, Tanev, Soucy, and Giordano. I think I would have taken Bishop, but actually, I really like our goaltender crew.”
Jason Altieri is an Upstate New York native and now lives north of Lake Washington in Kenmore. He was the winning captain in Tacoma’s PNW Draft earlier this year and plays for The Birds in the Kraken Hockey League.
“My favorite part of the Kraken expansion draft was being with the fans, their reactions to the picks, and the excitement around it. I thought it was well done and a cool experience. Sure wish the picks weren’t leaked in the morning, with no suspense left for the afternoon. I really like the Tanev pick, and I think he’ll fit well in the bottom six as a good energy guy. I think he will quickly be a fan favorite.”
Jeannette Hall is a Las Vegas native but now calls Washington State home with her mom. She’s a talented artist who has done work for NHL players along with designing goalie masks.
“I’m really impressed how the Kraken went out of their way with the event set up, along with a spectacular location of Seattle and the waterfront. I enjoyed gazing out to the water watching all kinds of boats and watercrafts sailing around the park. It was definitely perfect theme for the Kraken from a nautical and steampunk industrial aspect.”
Jeannette Hall sporting a new Kraken hat with fan group friends. (Photo by Jonathan West)
Andie Holsten is a partial Kraken season ticket holder who lives in Mukilteo. She was watching the draft over 2400 miles away along the Maryland shore.
“I’m happy. The NHL Network was my pre-show but finally found ESPN2 to tune in for the 4th pick. I want to be able to say, “In Ron, we trust,” just like I say In Pete & John we trust.” Now I need to figure out who goes on my official sweater. I like the Kraken picking Tanev, Gourde, and Vanecek from the Capitals. A lot of names I wasn’t familiar with since I don’t follow hockey like I used to when I lived on the east coast. But I also felt a connection to all the players that showed up in person!”
David Mosbach is from Phoenix but has lived in Seattle for quite a few years. He sets up adult hockey tournaments in his free time, including a 24-hour hockey marathon to raise money for charity.
“I thought it was fun. Walking up and seeing the fans waiting in line. I told my friend this is probably what going to a game is going to feel like. It finally felt real. The production was kinda cheesy, and I wish the picks weren’t leaked. That said, I’m pretty happy with the team. I think other than Vegas, all the other teams in the Pacific division have questions. So we can compete. I think we will be physical, and the new fans will like that.”
A giant puck for memorable pics at Gas Works Park. (Photo by Jeannette Hall)
Leif O’Leary is a frequent visitor of the Angry Beaver Hockey Bar, Judkins Park roller hockey games, and on-ice skates around the Sound. He took to his paddleboard on Wednesday to check out the action, and then played a game 40 minutes later!
“The vibe was cool, but we couldn’t see or hear anything. We all expected the big screen to be at Gas Works instead of on the other side of Lake Union.”
Leif O’Leary and his teammates taking to the water for the Seattle Draft. (Photo from Jonathan West)
Craig West is the radio play-by-play announcer for the Tri-City Americans and previously with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League. He also plays goalie whenever he can, in events all over the West Coast.
“I was at Sam’s Saloon in Kennewick, and the entire bar broke into cheers hearing both Morgan and Chris get picked. Geekie had an unreal career with Tri-City. I go way back with his dad, Craig. In 1993-94 he was dealt to Spokane from Brandon. And I knew him well as I was the practice goalie along with my broadcast duties. When his son Morgan got called up from Charlotte, he was the first star while beating Pittsburgh with two goals and one assist that night. After his next game, the NHL shut down for COVID. Rough break. Driedger was a great kid. Big and raw goalie talent. Got into a numbers situation here with Eric Comrie and Evan Sarthou before going to the Hitmen for better exposure. Came into his own last season in Florida. Great choice by Seattle.”
The University of Washington has a ice hockey club team dating back to 1999. Playing in the ACHA Pac-8 Conference, they shared Olympicview Arena with the Seattle Junior Totems before now moving to the Kraken Community Iceplex this fall.
We really enjoyed the whole energy of everyone at the event. It definitely showed that Kraken fans are going to be some of the best in the NHL. The setting of the draft was a great choice too. Gasworks with clear skies and a bunch of boats in the water was a perfect way to do that. Tod Leiweke was just walking around and came over and chatted with us. That was really cool and shows the ownership group is really knowledgeable about their audience.”
Husky Hockey representing at the Expansion Draft. (Photo by Jonathan West)
The resulting player pool of the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft included many picks from the bargain bin. And it continues to be a work in progress with the NHL Entry Draft starting today. I still hoped to see proven veterans like Carey Price in one of those new sweaters, and taking him would still leave $20 million in available cap space! But there are still 81 days to reveal the opening night roster mystery- just like the mythical Kraken itself from the depths. 29 players are now here, but the biggest draft result was bringing in our PNW hockey community of thousands. ⚓