Seattle Kraken mock draft: Who will be selected in Expansion Draft?

Atlantic

Boston Bruins- LW Nick Ritchie

This is probably the pick I changed the most over the course of this draft. Boston has some good options on defense with Connor Clifton, Jeremy Lauzon, and Jakub Zboril, as well as on offense with Ritchie and Ondrej Kase. Ritchie got the nod here because like Van Reimsdyk, somebody needs to score. Ritchie can bang in a good number of goals a year, and is a great net front option on the power play.

Buffalo Sabres- C Zemgus Girgensons

It should come without surprise that the Sabres don’t have the most attractive options, but they do have something that Seattle is going to need badly in this draft, a center. Girgensons has spent his entire career in Buffalo, and as we’ve seen plenty of times before, players who get a fresh start out of there can often turn things around. In a bottom six role, Girgensons could provide some solid value for Kraken, even though he missed all of last season with a hamstring injury.

Detroit Red Wings- D Troy Stetcher

Stetcher is a surprisingly solid option exposed by the barren Red Wings, and should be an easy pick for Seattle to work into their defense next season. Stetcher will plug in beautifully into a bottom pair or even second pair role for a cheap price, and the fact that he’s a right shot defenseman makes it all the better.

Florida Panthers- G Chris Dreidger

This is just about the only guarantee we have so far right now, as Seattle is closing in on a three year contract with the 27 year old goaltender, according to Elliote Friedman. No matter his role with Seattle, whether as starter or support for Carey Price, Driedger is a solid gamble with a combined .932 save percentage over his last two seasons.

Montreal Canadiens- D Brett Kulak

Yeah yeah I know, not taking Price is no fun. Montreal is taking a huge gamble with leaving Carey Price exposed and I would absolutely love the chaos of Seattle taking him, but with the bloated contract and injury rumors circulating, it has the potential to be an immense disaster for a brand new team. With younger and cheaper goalies available, it’s a tough risk to take if they go that route.

As for Kulak, he’s not as intriguing as picking Price or even Jonathan Drouin, but his cap hit is far more reasonable and his underlying metrics suggest he can be a strong bottom pair defenseman for the Kraken without the huge risk of tying a massive cap hit around their necks.

Ottawa Senators- D Joshua Brown

Ottawa doesn’t have a lot to pick from, but Joshua Brown can be an attractive option as a depth defenseman for the Kraken. Just don’t put your expectations too high, not every pick can be a home run.

Tampa Bay Lightning- C Yanni Gourde

This is a slam dunk for the Kraken. Tampa Bay just doesn’t have the protection spots to protect all the important pieces from their Stanley Cup runs, and Gourde is the highlight of that list. Gourde can very easily plug in as the top line center for the Kraken this coming season, and is signed at a reasonable rate for the next four seasons as the team continues to build.

Toronto Maple Leafs- LW Jared McCann

Though the Leafs just acquired McCann from Pittsburgh out of Pittsburgh preparing to lose him for nothing, Toronto left him unprotected in favor of protecting four defenseman. Can’t say I understand it, but Seattle should certainly jump at the chance to add the 25 year old McCann to their top six on either the wing or at center. His two way ability and reasonable asset will be a much appreciated asset to a new team.