This is what THN did for a Seattle mock draft. I wanted to see what it looked like put together properly.
Notes (from THN):
- Oshie named captain
- Preds may add sweetener to take RyJo
- Khudobin will likely be swapped before the season starts
- They reckon TyJo is also likely to end up part of the Kraken, with Tampa compensating Seattle for taking him of course
- Holtby, Tierney, and de Haan are listed as potential trade chips as well (all have 1 year remaining on their deals before becoming UFAs)
My thoughts: Actually a pretty solid roster. Iirc I had like 13 of the exact same picks in my mock draft, and a few guys selected here I made trades to protect (e.g. Appleton, Skjei, Joseph inherently by giving up assets to take TyJo) but otherwise likely would have selected too. LTIR is where I put guys that will probably immediately be on the block, and get dealt before the season starts (like Emelin and Methot for Vegas). D and G are the areas where Seattle should be able to find the most talent, and if they can either get paid to not select those players or flip them to desperate teams immediately post-expansion draft, they’ll be able to find some nice value. I’m surprised by the Soucy selection, I woulda thought Minnesota would lose one of Dumba, Greenway, or Talbot, all of whom are more valuable than a 3rd pair D that probably wouldn’t even crack the Kraken lineup (I have him as the 7/8 guy here, even with de Haan on the block). The forwards don’t look too shabby with RyJo and Oshie on the top line, it’s definitely a by committee group that should really focus on trying to win games by the strength of their defense, but there are some solid puck movers on the back end (Dunn, Shattenkirk) and maybe they get some Vegas-esque performances from guys like Benson, Joseph, or Appleton. Johnsson bouncing back would help as well. D is obviously excellent, I think the pairings are pretty solid, there’s a decent puck mover and decent defensive guy on each pair. Obviously lacks starpower but it’s got enough depth that they probably don’t need to make any changes here. Same thing in net, Allen’s still a good goalie and Hill is a promising youngster, that should be a good tandem. They have around 19mil in cap space (assuming the 3 guys on LTIR get dealt) so they should be able to add a couple of forwards. If they do add TyJo, I honestly think they might try him in the bottom six to give guys like Joseph and Appleton a shot to show their upside, and have him mentor some of the younger guys while still having the ability to move up the lineup if the kids crash and burn out of the gate. I’d imagine they’d like to bring in a top 6 forward in free agency as well (they have the budget to go after a guy like Hall, Nuge, Hyman, or Saad if they reach free agency, or they could go with a more budget pick with bounce back potential like Schwartz or Tatar).
Well I protected Oshie in my expansion draft lol. I guess the logic is they’d like to lose his cap hit and “protect” Vanecek by leaving a more appealing asset exposed?
Djoos has signed in the National League, kind of waste to select him. Who did they have as Pens 7th protected F? McCann could be protected. No chance they take Howden.
I just can't see them taking Holtby. Guy has had back to back seasons where he was well below league average. Taking him and that cap hit allows cross border rival Vancouver to make a quicker turnaround.
Djoos has signed in the National League, kind of waste to select him. Who did they have as Pens 7th protected F? McCann could be protected. No chance they take Howden.
They didn’t reveal their full protection lists. I would assume they protected like Carter and Zucker as the last two forwards (Sid/Geno/Guentz/Rust/Kappy go without saying).
As for the Rangers, it’s not like there’s anybody appealing to select from. Your options are basically Howden or whichever of Blackwell/Gauthier isn’t protected. Now I’d probably go with the latter (iirc I went with Gauthier in mine) but idk maybe they think Howden still has some upside left, and he can play centre which is gonna be rare this expansion draft.
As for Djoos, this article may have been submitted prior to him signing overseas. I know it was post-U18s because they have the stats from all 7 games for the prospects they preview, but there were a few days between the gold medal game and Djoos signing so maybe they went to publication in that time frame. I think I selected Namestnikov, but if Detroit decides to protect him maybe Seattle just takes a depth guy like Svechnikov or something, whoever gets left exposed isn’t likely to be that high end anyway tbh.
Djoos has signed in the National League, kind of waste to select him. Who did they have as Pens 7th protected F? McCann could be protected. No chance they take Howden.
But I've been ASSURED by an ardent Rangers fan that Howden is more valuable than Max Jones!!
I just can't see them taking Holtby. Guy has had back to back seasons where he was well below league average. Taking him and that cap hit allows cross border rival Vancouver to make a quicker turnaround.
True, but Vancouver isn’t exactly leaving much else exposed. I think in my mock draft I took Gadjovich, who is okay, but maybe Seattle can set up a deal prior to the expansion draft where they select Holtby and swap him to a team like Edmonton or Pittsburgh for a pick, and they deem that asset more valuable than Gadjovich or whoever else is available.
Quoting: MatthewsIsJesus
I bet the Leafs protect Kerfoot and let Holl go
Does that not screw the Leafs by giving them a hole in the top 4 on the right side, again? I believe Muzzin hard carries Holl as much as the next guy, but at least he’s serviceable in that role and cheap. You’re not gonna find another 2RD for 2mil or less. Bogo shouldn’t be higher than the 3rd pair and Liljegren isn’t ready for those kind of minutes yet, especially if that’s just expected and he gets thrown into the fire with no Plan B. Besides, the Leafs don’t exactly have a 6th and 7th forward worth protecting (Engvall? Brooks? Anderson? Petan? The Leafs literally sign like 5 guys per year to league min that could fill in on the 4th line, none of those guys are special, they’re all expendable and replaceable imo).
True, but Vancouver isn’t exactly leaving much else exposed. I think in my mock draft I took Gadjovich, who is okay, but maybe Seattle can set up a deal prior to the expansion draft where they select Holtby and swap him to a team like Edmonton or Pittsburgh for a pick, and they deem that asset more valuable than Gadjovich or whoever else is available.
Yeah, I just think he's a cap dump. He hasn't even been worth half of his salary so far. Honestly, I'd take Zack MacEwan. Assuming that Gallant ends up as their coach, he's the perfect type of player for a bottom 6/13th forward role on that team.
I don't see why they wouldn't take JVR. He would be their best LWer on the above team and they have the cap space to easily do it.
He’s an option, but they probably don’t want to be plucking too many high contract guys for free. The only guys making north of 5mil here are Skjei (who will likely be their #1 D), Oshie (local boy, likely captain), and RyJo (who they probably receive compensation to take). It might be better asset management to take NAK and bank on him still having some upside, and then using the remaining cap room to snag a guy like Saad, Nuge, or Tatar. If Philly is willing to compensate them a bit to take JVR I’m sure they’d be willing to explore that option more though.
Quoting: OldNYIfan
Really nice post, especially accompanied by your thoughts. Great job! Very informative and insightful.
Thanks! I appreciate the kind words. I’m really pumped for the expansion draft, so many possibilities. I used to live in the Seattle area so the Kraken are probably gonna be my 3rd team lol, I’d like to see them do well out of the gate. Vegas set some high expectations but the Kraken should still be able to ice a decent roster with some smart, high-upside picks.
Both GM and Oshie have been quoted as having no intent or interest in him being Seattle bound. There are numerous ways the Capitals can get their cap down. Sounds like Kuznetzov's days are numbered, and dare I say that maybe Ovi can sign for less as he tries to win another cup and go for the record books. I swear the Oshie to Seattle rumor only persists because it would be a fun "home town" reunion story for everyone!
He’s an option, but they probably don’t want to be plucking too many high contract guys for free. The only guys making north of 5mil here are Skjei (who will likely be their #1 D), Oshie (local boy, likely captain), and RyJo (who they probably receive compensation to take). It might be better asset management to take NAK and bank on him still having some upside, and then using the remaining cap room to snag a guy like Saad, Nuge, or Tatar. If Philly is willing to compensate them a bit to take JVR I’m sure they’d be willing to explore that option more though.
Thanks! I appreciate the kind words. I’m really pumped for the expansion draft, so many possibilities. I used to live in the Seattle area so the Kraken are probably gonna be my 3rd team lol, I’d like to see them do well out of the gate. Vegas set some high expectations but the Kraken should still be able to ice a decent roster with some smart, high-upside picks.
I can guarantee NAK has no upside. He’s a 4th liner that’s all.
Thanks! I appreciate the kind words. I’m really pumped for the expansion draft, so many possibilities. I used to live in the Seattle area so the Kraken are probably gonna be my 3rd team lol, I’d like to see them do well out of the gate. Vegas set some high expectations but the Kraken should still be able to ice a decent roster with some smart, high-upside picks.
Your comment about Kerfoot and Holl above (#11) is particularly accurate. I think Toronto would actually LIKE to have Seattle take Kerfoot. It makes more room for them to bolster their bottom 6 and, as you point out, keeps an inexpensive RD on the roster. Plus, they'd do better even if they have to sign Casey Cizikas or Alex Wennberg at the same cost, because they are better centremen.
Toronto's problem, to me, isn't that they have 4 guys costing $40 million but that they have 7 guys costing $55 million. And most of the posts I see trying to "improve" the Maple Leafs involve signing big-ticket guys like Hamilton or Hall or Saad or even Hyman (who I think is too expensive anywhere north of $4.25 million).
Well I protected Oshie in my expansion draft lol. I guess the logic is they’d like to lose his cap hit and “protect” Vanecek by leaving a more appealing asset exposed?
Oshie is my favorite capital and he's the heart and soul of that team, losing him probably sends them in the wrong direction IMO.
Oshie is my favorite capital and he's the heart and soul of that team, losing him probably sends them in the wrong direction IMO.
Keeping him sends them into cap hell or an awkward situation where they're selling low on Kuznetsov at the wrong time tho... pragmatism > sentimentality
I just can't see them taking Holtby. Guy has had back to back seasons where he was well below league average. Taking him and that cap hit allows cross border rival Vancouver to make a quicker turnaround.
Keeping him sends them into cap hell or an awkward situation where they're selling low on Kuznetsov at the wrong time tho... pragmatism > sentimentality
Yea, im just thinking you don't want to become Toronto where you don't have a player to motivate you, I don't believe they could have won the cup without oshie guy carried the energy and positivity of that team, I'd sell low on Kuznetsov before losing Oshie, that's just how I view that team though.
Your comment about Kerfoot and Holl above (#11) is particularly accurate. I think Toronto would actually LIKE to have Seattle take Kerfoot. It makes more room for them to bolster their bottom 6 and, as you point out, keeps an inexpensive RD on the roster. Plus, they'd do better even if they have to sign Casey Cizikas or Alex Wennberg at the same cost, because they are better centremen.
Toronto's problem, to me, isn't that they have 4 guys costing $40 million but that they have 7 guys costing $55 million. And most of the posts I see trying to "improve" the Maple Leafs involve signing big-ticket guys like Hamilton or Hall or Saad or even Hyman (who I think is too expensive anywhere north of $4.25 million).
I agree, I actually think the Leafs best cup chance might be 22-23 if they let Rielly walk and Sandin’s on a bridge. He should be a top 4 D by then, Liljegren should be an NHL regular, and they’ll have a little cap room to grab another middle six forward for depth. I don’t think they have a chance at Hamilton any way you slice it tbh, he’ll cost 9+ to get him to Toronto. Saad they probably get outbid on, he’s just kept scoring goals this year, including in the playoffs. I agree on Hyman, I think I have him at 4.5 on a Leafs thread I’m working on and that’s the absolute maximum I’d give him, which is probably still an overpay. If he leaves the Leafs though, someone’s gonna give him 5.5+ and they’re gonna regret it when they realize he’s just good when he’s not with one of the league’s best snipers and one of the league’s best playmakers lol. Wennberg is a decent target if they can get him for 3 or less. Same with Granlund, who they’ve gone after before.
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