The expansion draft will allow the Seattle Kraken, the NHL’s new expansion team, to build their roster in just a few days. The Kraken will choose a player from each of 30 teams (the Vegas Golden Knights will be exempt). Ron Francis and his colleagues will then extrapolate from that list ahead of the next season.
While there were some surprises with players who weren’t protected by their teams, the majority of those who are available for the Kraken to take are the ones that were expected. There are some big-name players, but it is difficult to build a new team. This involves signings, free agents and trades, as well as the salary cap.
Let me be transparent: My first attempt at an expansion draft was not good. I was reckless; I didn’t think about salaries or the length of contracts. My first roster exceeded the $81.5 million cap! My roster was also full of players who were set to become UFAs. Some tweaks were made to my finances and I was able swap out some pending free players for those with longer contracts. This gave me more stability and leverage in any trades I could execute.
Here’s what I came up:
Although it’s not a perfect roster, I am happy with the majority of it.
Carey Price is in some doubt about his health. But, is it really hurt? Is it a hip injury? Is it a hip injury? – He’s the type of player you can’t ignore. It’s tempting to expose him in draft.NotTake him. Jonathan Quick is the other big-name goaltender. Quick can step in for Price if Price is injured and has to miss significant time. Malcolm Subban would make a great backup in the NHL and AHL.
P.K. is a subject I feel the same way about. Subban is as important to me as Price. You can’t refuse him. Although his $9 million price tag may seem high, he would be an excellent face for the franchise. You can add other D powerhouses like Jake Gardiner and Erik Johnson to your roster, as well as younger players like Will Borgen or Darren Raddysh.
There are many pieces, but I began with Jason Zucker from Pittsburgh. He is the highest-paid forward on the roster, but he’s a solid building block. You can add pieces such as Blake Comeau, Conor Sheary and Noel Acciari to the mix, along with Mathieu Joseph, a two-time Stanley Cup winner. You can also add Richard Panik, Nick Bjugstad, and Ondrej Kase to the roster.
The fact that the Kraken selected players Wednesday night does not mean they will be preparing for Seattle when the season begins. Francis will be able to trade some of his pieces with other players, but will need to allow himself enough flexibility.
