Fansided

3 best players the Seattle Kraken can pick in the expansion draft

By Brad Berreman

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 13: Mark Giordano #5 of the Calgary Flames skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on April 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Flames defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 13: Mark Giordano #5 of the Calgary Flames skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on April 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Flames defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Credit: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Credit: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images /

68. LW. Philadelphia Flyers. 2.. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. James van Riemsdyk. player

Off another solidly productive season (43 points; 17 goals, 26 assists in 56 games), van Riemsdyk was left unprotected for the expansion draft by the Flyers. As the Kraken look for scoring depth among a naturally broad group of forwards to choose from, van Riemsdyk’s power play prowess (10 goals this past season) may stand out.

van Riemsdyk has two years left on his contract, with a $7 million cap hit each year. Another unprotected big-name forward, Vladimir Tarasenko, has a $7.5 million cap hit over the same span. The difference is van Riemsdyk has been healthy over the last couple seasons, while Tarasenko has not been amid multiple shoulder surgeries. So if it comes down to choosing between them, with the financials nearly equal, van Riemsdyk has no durability concerns coming in right off the bat.

van Riemsdyk has scored at least 40 points in seven of the last eight seasons (0.71 points per game over that span), with the exception the 2015-16 campaign where he only played 40 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Over a full normal season, assuming continued health, he can still be booked for 20-25 goals and close to 50 points.

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