Introduction
Welcome back! You can find part one of this NHL Expansion mock draft right here. Let’s continue with…
New York Rangers
Options: C. Blackwell, D. Gauthier, T. DeAngelo
My Pick:
From the Rangers, the Kraken should select Colin Blackwell. Unless the Kraken want to go youth with Julian Gautier, or take a big risk with Tony DeAngelo, Blackwell’s the choice. He’s making almost the league minimum for another season and had a career year last season.
St. Louis Blues
Options: Z. Sanford, V. Dunn, V. Tarasenko
My Pick:
While Sanford and Dunn are both solid young options, Tarasenko is a player that you can’t pass up on. Plus, there have been a lot of reports about how Seattle could be looking to select and flip him.
Winnipeg Jets
Options: M. Appleton, D. DeMelo, N. Beaulieu
My Pick:
From the Jets, the pick is Dylan DeMelo. DeMelo is a really solid defensive defenseman who can play in the bottom four. He’s a player that Seattle has been linked to taking recently.
Nashville Predators
Options: C. Jarnkrok, M. Duchene, R. Johansen
My Pick:
From the Predators, the Kraken should select Calle Jarnkrok. Jarnkrok is a defensive forward who can also put the puck in the back of the net. He’s the perfect third line winger that any team would want.
New York Islanders
Options: J. Eberle, J. Bailey, A. Greene
My Pick:
From the Islanders, the pick is Jordan Eberle. Eberle is a versatile forward who has improved defensively in recent years under the guidance of head coach Barry Trotz. He’s making $5,000,000 per year for the next three seasons, which is a great contract for a player of his caliber. This should be an easy pick for Seattle.
Edmonton Oilers
Options: J. Neal, A. Chiasson, D. Shore
My Pick:
From the Oilers, the Kraken should pick bottom-six, penalty-killing forward Devin Shore. Shore was good defensively this season with the Oilers, but isn’t anything special. He’s just here to save cap space.
Boston Bruins
Options: O. Kase, C. Clifton, B. Ritchie
My Pick:
From the Bruins, the pick is Connor Clifton. The 26-year old defenseman has been a reliable blue-liner for a few years now, especially in his own end. He would be a solid bottom-four pickup for the Kraken.
Minnesota Wild
Options: M. Shaw, N. Bjugstad, V. Rask
My Pick:
From Minnesota, the pick is Mason Shaw. Shaw is an interesting young center with some middle-six upside. If he is picked, don’t expect him to play this season, but possibly the next one.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Options: O. Palat, Y. Gourde, C. Foote
My Pick:
From the Lightning, Seattle should pick defenseman Cal Foote, brother of the Devils’ Nolan Foote, Cal is a dynamic two-way defenseman who hasn’t gotten a lot of time for a loaded Tampa defense. He’s another young player that could be useful down the road for the Kraken.
Washington Capitals
Options: C. Sheary, B. Dillon, N. Jensen
My Pick:
From the Capitals, the pick is Connor Sheary. Sheary is a solid two-way forward that can also score. He’s only making $1,500,000 per year for two more seasons which is really solid value for him.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Options: J. McCann, A. Kerfoot, T. Dermott
My Pick:
From Toronto, the Kraken should select newly acquired forward Jared McCann. The whole reason McCann was traded to Toronto was to stop Seattle from getting both McCann and Kerfoot. I guess it worked, but the Kraken are still getting a darn good player in McCann.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Options: J. Zucker, M. Pettersson, C. Ruhwedel
My Pick:
From the Penguins, the Kraken should take Chad Ruhwedel. This is another pick with salary heavily in mind, but Ruhwedel has been solid for a few years now in Pittsburgh. Especially in his own end.
Florida Panthers
Options: F. Vatrano, N. Acciari, C. Driedger
My Pick:
From the Panthers, Seattle is going to take goaltender Chris Driedger. This was a pretty easy one considering it’s been leaked that he already has a contract extension in place for when he gets selected. If he ends up being the starter then the Kraken are getting a very solid hockey player.
Carolina Hurricanes
Options: N. Niederreitier, J. Bean, B. McGinn
My Pick:
From the Hurricanes, Seattle should take young defender Jake Bean. This is another one that was leaked ahead of time, but it’s one that makes sense. Bean is an offensive dynamo on the blue-line that could be good for a long time for the Kraken.
Colorado Avalanche
Options: J. MacDonald, J. Compher, J. Donskoi
My Pick:
From Colorado, the Kraken should select defenseman Jacob MacDonald. A product of the Devils’ system, MacDonald played his first season fulltime in the NHL this past year and was fantastic in sheltered minutes.
Conclusion
Now that all of our picks are in, we just have to wait and see Seattle’s. Above you can find the team that was built via the above and part one of the mock draft earlier today.
It is worth seeing in mind, there are likely to be side-deals that prevent Seattle from taking certain players. And some players may find themselves flipped and picked right after the draft. So, even if these are the exact picks, this will not be the exact team Seattle ices on day one. Still, this is lined up to be an exciting expansion draft that will make the Kraken a great team right out of the gate.