The Seattle Kraken is a professional esports team that competes in the North American Overwatch League. They have been given the task of projecting how they will pick their 30 players for the 2019 season.

The Seattle Kraken expansion draft is the upcoming expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken. This will be their first ever chance to pick up players.

On Wednesday night, the Seattle Kraken will extend their tentacles and choose players from 30 teams in the NHL expansion draft, which will begin at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Except for the Vegas Golden Knights, who were excluded from the draft due to their status as a 2017 expansion club, every team submitted protected player lists to the NHL on Saturday. Twenty-seven clubs chose to protect seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie, while the Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Toronto Maple Leafs chose to protect eight players and one goalkeeper. These were the same guidelines that the Golden Knights used to build their roster.

The Kraken must meet specific quotas in their draft, much as the teams must reveal certain necessary players. At least 14 attackers, nine defensemen, and three goalkeepers are required. Seattle must choose a minimum of 20 under contract players for the 2021-22 regular season, with “an aggregate expansion draft value of between 60% and 100%” of the $81.5 million salary cap maximum.

Keeping in mind that we don’t have access to all of the backroom agreements that guarantee certain players aren’t chosen by the Kraken — or that certain players are — here are our best predictions for who Seattle will choose in the expansion draft.

What-it-means-for-teams-players-revenue-and-fans

Kaplan’s team

1616764305_949_NHL-trade-tiers-by-position

31 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $5.825 million 45 GP | 12 G | 9 A | 45 GP | 12 G | 9 A | 45 GP | 12 G | 9 A | 45 GP | 12

Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

Age: 25 | Cap hit for 2020-21: $737,500 Stats for 2020-21: 21 GP | 10 G | 3 A

1626779714_110_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

Age: 26 | $1 million cap hit in 2020-21 Stats for 2020-21: 44 GP | 1 G | 6 A

1626779714_947_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

30 years old | $2.25 million in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 46 GP | 3 G | 4 A

1626779714_720_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

37 years old | $6.75 million in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 56 GP | 9 G | 17 A

1626779715_234_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

23 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $863,333 Stats for 2020-21: 42 GP | 1 G | 11 A

1626779715_32_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

30 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $4.55 million Stats for 2020-21: 44 GP | 1 G | 9 A

1626779715_642_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

Age: 26 | $3.5 million cap hit in 2020-21 Stats for 2020-21: 48 GP | 10 G | 8 A

1626779716_551_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

26 years old | $5.3 million in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 54 GP | 9 G | 15 A

1617223597_437_1-31-poll-plus-the-biggest-concern-for-every-team

23 years old | $775,000 in 2020-21 cap hit (AHL) stats for 2020-21: 37 GP | 18 G | 16 A

1626779717_279_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

27 years old | $1.7 million in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 44 GP | 3 G | 8 A

1626779717_769_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

23 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $803,333 7 GP | 0 G | 1 A in 2020-21

1626779717_785_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

27 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $850,000 2020-21 stats: 23 games played | 14 wins | 2.07 goals against average |.927 save percentage

1626779718_986_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

23 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $761,666 Stats for 2020-21: 18 GP | 0 G | 6 A

1626779718_882_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

24 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $725,000 2020-21 stats: 24 games played | 16 wins | 2.88 goals against average |.902 save percentage

1626779718_949_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

26 years old | $5.5 million in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 44 GP | 2 G | 21 A

1616764310_376_NHL-trade-tiers-by-position

Age: 29 | $2 million cap hit in 2020-21 Stats for 2020-21: 49 GP | 13 G | 15 A

1626779719_202_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

Age: 24 | Cap hit for 2020-21: $874,125 Stats for 2020-21: 27 GP | 2 G | 8 A

1626779720_954_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

Age: 31 | Cap hit for 2020-21: $5 million Stats for 2020-21: 54 GP | 8 G | 27 A

1626779720_474_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

28 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $725,000 Stats for 2020-21: 47 GP | 12 G | 10 A

1626779720_494_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

32 years old | $5 million cap hit in 2020-21 Stats for 2020-21: 55 GP | 13 G | 7 A

1626779721_982_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

32 years old | $7 million cap hit in 2020-21 Stats for 2020-21: 56 GP | 17 G | 26 A

1626779721_118_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

29 years old | $1.25 million in 2020-21 cap hit 2020-21 stats: 20 games played | 11 wins | 2.54 goals against average |.912 save percentage

1626779721_199_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

25 years old | $1.9 million in 2020-21 cap hit 50 GP | 6 G | 14 A in 2020-21

1616764312_823_NHL-trade-tiers-by-position

24 years old | $1.875 million in 2020-21 cap hit 43 GP | 6 G | 14 A in 2020-21

1626779722_648_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

29 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $5.167 million Stats for 2020-21: 56 GP | 17 G | 19 A

1626779722_25_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

Age: 24 | Cap hit for 2020-21: $874,125 Stats for 2020-21: 51 GP | 2 G | 4 A

1617223598_623_1-31-poll-plus-the-biggest-concern-for-every-team

22 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $783,333 (AHL) stats for 2020-21: 19 GP | 15 G | 3 A

1626779723_537_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

30 years old | $3.9 million in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 56 GP | 2 G | 17 A

1626779723_298_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

Age: 28 | $3 million cap hit in 2020-21 Stats for 2020-21: 52 GP | 0 G | 9 A


How I constructed my team: Welcome to the world of the flat salary cap, where there are many more quality players available than Seattle should have. If I’m GM Ron Francis, I’ll spend up to the cap if ownership is okay with it. Next season, the Pacific Division should be wide open, with the Golden Knights as the lone early favorite to make the playoffs.

2 Related

As much as I like chaos, choosing Carey Price is a little too much for me. Too much danger with his ailments (his visit with a specialist falls just when the Kraken must submit their roster), and too much term and cap cost for a player with that much mileage. Instead, Chris Driedger, Casey DeSmith, and Kaapo Kahkonen provide Seattle with the opportunity to win games right away. I anticipate Driedger to start on Day 1, with DeSmith or Kahkonen as possible trade targets.

Under Dave Hakstol, James van Riemsdyk produced some of his finest hockey. He’s the kind of veteran who, like Adam Henrique, will benefit from a change of scenery after stalling out on an uncompetitive Ducks squad.

On Day 1, Mark Giordano, a long-serving captain in Calgary, is the leader. His contract will expire at the end of next season, giving this club some freedom.

In reality, Giordano would be one of eight unrestricted free agents following the first season, allowing the Kraken to try their hand at winning for the first time before re-evaluating the market in summer 2022.

Yanni Gourde and Dylan DeMelo are the most straightforward choices on this list. I’m really pleased with the group of young defenders I was able to put together. While the Blues selected Vince Dunn, it’s not out of the question that Seattle selects Vladimir Tarasenko and trades him to another club (Philadelphia?) for draft choices, young players, and/or prospects.

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George McPhee, the former general manager of the Golden Knights, talks about how other NHL clubs may approach the forthcoming Seattle Kraken expansion draft.

What-it-means-for-teams-players-revenue-and-fans

Wyshynski’s Team

1626779724_500_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

23 years old | $700,000 in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 18 GP | 4 G | 4 A

1626779724_31_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

Age: 24 | $1 million cap hit in 2020-21 Stats for 2020-21: 52 GP | 3 G | 8 A

1626779725_346_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

24 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $850,000 Stats for 2020-21: 41 GP | 1 G | 7 A

1626779725_997_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

24 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $864,166 10 GP | 0 G | 0 A in 2020-21

1626779714_720_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

37 years old | $6.75 million in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 56 GP | 9 G | 17 A

1626779715_234_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

23 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $863,333 Stats for 2020-21: 42 GP | 1 G | 11 A

1626779725_703_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

26 years old | $3.2 million in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 55 GP | 1 G | 7 A

1626779726_420_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

29 years old | $3.9 million in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 51 GP | 17 G | 14 A

1626779726_712_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

Age: 24 | Cap hit for 2020-21: $874,125 Stats for 2020-21: 32 GP | 5 G | 5 A

1617223597_437_1-31-poll-plus-the-biggest-concern-for-every-team

23 years old | $775,000 in 2020-21 cap hit (AHL) stats for 2020-21: 37 GP | 18 G | 16 A

1626779717_279_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

27 years old | $1.7 million in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 44 GP | 3 G | 8 A

1626779726_434_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

26 years old | $975,000 in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 48 GP | 9 G | 6 A

1626779717_785_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

27 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $850,000 2020-21 stats: 23 games played | 14 wins | 2.07 goals against average |.927 save percentage

1626779718_986_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

23 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $761,666 Stats for 2020-21: 18 GP | 0 G | 6 A

1626779727_722_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

26 years old | $2.75 million in 2020-21 cap hit 50 GP | 1 G | 16 A in 2020-21

1626779727_952_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

33 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $10.5 million 2020-21 stats: 25 games played | 12 wins | 2.64 goals against average |.901 save percentage

1616764310_376_NHL-trade-tiers-by-position

Age: LW | $2 million cap hit in 2020-21 Stats for 2020-21: 49 GP | 13 G | 15 A

1626779728_315_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

23 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $714,166 Stats for 2020-21: 41 GP | 3 G | 7 A

1626779728_708_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

31 years old | $5.5 million in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 55 GP | 16 G | 17 A

1626779720_474_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

28 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $725,000 Stats for 2020-21: 47 GP | 12 G | 10 A

1626779720_494_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

32 years old | $5 million cap hit in 2020-21 Stats for 2020-21: 55 GP | 13 G | 7 A

1626779721_982_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

32 years old | $7 million cap hit in 2020-21 Stats for 2020-21: 56 GP | 17 G | 26 A

1626779728_686_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

Age: 26 | $1 million cap hit in 2020-21 45 GP | 9 G | 6 A | 45 GP | 9 G | 6 A | 45 GP | 9 G | 6 A | 45 GP | 9

1626779729_882_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

24 years old | $700,000 in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 49 GP | 5 G | 7 A

1626779729_681_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

29 years old | $7.5 million in 2020-21 cap hit Stats for 2020-21: 24 GP | 4 G | 10 A

1626779722_648_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

29 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $5.167 million Stats for 2020-21: 56 GP | 17 G | 19 A

1626779730_365_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

25 years old | $2.94 million in 2020-21 cap hit 43 GP | 14 G | 18 A in 2020-21

1617223598_623_1-31-poll-plus-the-biggest-concern-for-every-team

22 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $783,333 (AHL) stats for 2020-21: 19 GP | 15 G | 3 A

1626779730_543_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

25 years old | Cap hit for 2020-21: $716,667 2020-21 stats: 37 games played, 21 wins, 2.69 goals against average, and.908 save percentage

1626779723_298_Projecting-all-30-players-the-Seattle-Kraken-will-pick

Age: 28 | $3 million cap hit in 2020-21 Stats for 2020-21: 52 GP | 0 G | 9 A


I believe they do it. That’s how I created my team. Carey Price, I believe, will be chosen by the Seattle Kraken. I believe the chance to have him as their Marc-Andre Fleury is too alluring, given his strong connections to the area and the pull of fame.

True, General Manager Ron Francis places a priority on cap space. Price takes up $10.5 million of it through 2025-26, and when you add in Chris Driedger’s $3.5 million, you’ve got 17 percent of your cap in goal. That isn’t ideal. However, rather than being shoehorned into an existing cap structure, the Kraken are a club built from the ground up around that financial promise.

Is this something I’d do? No. I pass on Price and instead choose defender Cale Fleury from the Montreal Canadiens, as well as two seasons of Jonathan Quick from the Los Angeles Kings to pair alongside Driedger. Is this something Ron Francis does? Yes, I believe the man whose previous club clung to Cam Ward for much longer than it should have, will go with the most well-known commodity in goal, assuming Price’s health is in good shape.

1626289570_260_Schedule-format-rules-players-available

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I also believe they selected Vladimir Tarasenko with the intention of selling him to another club. What’s to stop you? He’s a valuable player, and the Kraken may be more interested in the offers that aren’t appealing to the Blues. His no-trade condition is the sole snag, since it clearly restricts his market.

Aside from those huge contracts, this is a talented squad with just three players signed beyond 2022-23: Jordan Eberle (who I prefer over Josh Bailey), Yanni Gourde (the easiest pick in the draft), and Dylan DeMelo, a rock-solid right-side defender.

Part of the difficulty is reconciling who I believe old-schoolers like Francis, Jason Botterill, and Norm Maciver want to select with who Seattle’s excellent analytics department, headed by Alexandra Mandrycky and Namita Nandakumar, want to draft. According to what I’ve heard, they’re on a level playing field in this procedure. So, in my mock draft, I have a couple of great veterans in James van Riemsdyk and Mark Giordano, as well as a couple of fancy-stats darlings in Jaonas Donskoi and Jared McCann. This is a lineup that can score on the wings and defend effectively, but it’s a bit of a doughnut in the center, similar to Vegas in Year 1. It’s also a team with a number of “William Karlsson types,” or 23-25-year-old players like Alexander Volkov and Adam Mascherin, who may break out under the proper conditions.

Keep in mind that we have no knowledge of the side transactions, which is an important aspect of this. We don’t anticipate the 30 general managers in the expansion draft to be as panicked as they were in 2017, when Shea Theodore and Alex Tuch were among the players dispatched to Vegas to dissuade them from making certain picks. The opportunity to acquire Mark Stone, Tomas Tatar, Max Pacioretty, and Robin Lehner with those futures was essentially what created the Knights beyond Year 1: the ability to buy those futures.

For the Kraken, it’s all about winning. That, and getting Carey Price “for nothing,” at least in terms of money.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will Seattle Kraken choose players?

Seattle Kraken will randomly choose players to join the game.

How many players can Seattle Kraken take from each team?

The Seattle Kraken can take up to 5 players from each team.

What pick does Seattle Kraken have 2021?

The Seattle Kraken has a 2021 first-round pick.

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