Here's Who The Kraken Selected in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft
The NHL's 32nd team will begin play next season, and the Seattle Kraken's selections in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft are complete.
The first player announced by the Kraken was Jeremy Lauzon, a defenseman from the Boston Bruins.
The selections were revealed in alphabetical order by team, and then by division — going from the Atlantic Division to the Metropolitan, Central and Pacific. The league's newest club had to submit its selections of 30 players to the NHL by 10 a.m. Wednesday for the draft later that evening.
Starting with the last player announced, here's who was selected with their descriptions from NHL.com:
Kole Lind, F, Vancouver Canucks
"The 22-year-old played his first seven NHL games this season and did not score a point but scored eight points (five goals, three assists) in eight games for Utica of the American Hockey League," NHL.com states. "A second-round pick (No. 33) by Vancouver in the 2017 NHL Draft, Lind can become a restricted free agent July 28."
Alexander True, F, San Jose Sharks
"The 24-year-old, who can become a restricted free agent July 28, had one assist in seven games this season. He has five assists in 19 NHL games, all with San Jose. He signed with the Sharks as a free agent July 18, 2018."
Kurtis MacDermid, D, Los Angeles Kings
"The 27-year-old scored four points (two goals, two assists) in 28 games this season, spending time on the taxi squad. Signed by Los Angeles as a free agent on Sept 12, 2012, MacDermid has scored 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 118 NHL games. He has one season remaining on a two-year contract he signed with Los Angeles on April 10, 2020."
Adam Larsson, D, Edmonton Oilers
"Larsson, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 28, scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 56 games this season, ranking second in the NHL in blocked shots (128) behind Alec Martinez of the Vegas Golden Knights (168) and 10th in hits (166)." the league said. "The 28-year-old had two assists in four Stanley Cup Playoff games. Selected by the New Jersey Devils with the No. 4 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, Larsson has scored 137 points (25 goals, 112 assists) in 603-regular season games with the Oilers and Devils, and nine points (three goals, six assists) in 24 playoff games."
Mark Giordano, D, Calgary Flames
"The 37-year-old scored 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 56 games this season. Giordano, who has been the Flames captain the past eight seasons, has scored 509 points (143 goals, 366 assists) in 949 regular-season games since signing with Calgary as a free agent July 6, 2004. He has played all 15 of his NHL seasons with the Flames. Giordano has one season remaining on a six-year contract he signed Aug. 25, 2015. He has scored seven points (one goal, six assists) in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games."
Haydn Fleury, D, Anaheim Ducks
"Fleury, whose brother Cale was the Kraken's pick from the Montreal Canadiens, scored four points (three goals, one assist) in 47 games with the Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes this season, including three points (two goals, one assist) in 12 games after he was acquired by Anaheim in a trade April 12. The 25-year-old has scored 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in 179 regular-season games with the Ducks and Hurricanes and two goals in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Selected by Carolina at No. 7 in the 2014 NHL Draft, he has one season remaining on a two-year contract he signed Oct. 27, 2020."
Mason Appleton, F, Winnipeg Jets
"The 25-year-old set NHL career highs in goals (12), assists (13), points (25) and games played (56) this season, and scored three points (one goal, two assists) in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games. Selected by Winnipeg in the sixth round (No. 168) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Appleton has scored 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) in 138 regular-season games and three points in nine playoff games. Appleton has one season remaining on a two-year contract he agreed to Oct. 9, 2020."
Vince Dunn, D, St. Louis Blues
"The 24-year-old, who can become a restricted free agent July 28, scored 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 43 games this season. He did not play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs because of an upper-body injury. Selected by the Blues in the second round (No. 56) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Dunn has scored 102 points (32 goals, 70 assists) in 267 regular-season games and 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 29 playoff games. He won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019."
Calle Jarnkrok, F, Nashville Predators
"Jarnkrok scored 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 49 regular-season games this season and had one assist in five Stanley Cup Playoff games. Selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (No. 51) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Jarnkrok has scored 211 points (94 goals, 117 assists) in 508 regular-season games and 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 63 postseason games, all with the Predators. The 29-year-old has one season remaining on a six-year contract he signed with Nashville on July 27, 2016."
Carson Soucy, D, Minnesota Wild
'The 26-year-old set NHL career highs in assists (16) and points (17) in 50 regular-season games this season but did not have a point in four Stanley Cup Playoff games. He has two seasons remaining on a three-year contract he signed with Minnesota on Oct. 5, 2020. Selected by the Wild in the fifth round (No. 137) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Soucy has scored 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists) in 108 regular-season games and no points in 12 playoff games."
Jamie Oleksiak, D, Dallas Stars
"Oleksiak, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 28, had 148 hits and 88 blocked shots this season and scored 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 56 games. The 28-year-old, who was selected by Dallas in the first round (No. 14) of the 2011 NHL Draft, has scored 72 points (24 goals, 48 assists) in 369 regular-season games with the Stars and Penguins, and 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 43 Stanley Cup Playoff games."
Joonas Donskoi, F, Colorado Avalanche
"Donskoi scored an NHL career-high 17 goals and 31 points in 51 regular-season games this season, and five points (three goals, two assists) in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Selected by the Florida Panthers in the fourth round (No. 99) of the 2010 NHL Draft, the 29-year-old has scored 186 points (78 goals, 108 assists) in 399 regular-season games with the Avalanche and San Jose Sharks, and 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in 69 playoff games. Donskoi has two seasons remaining on a four-year contract he agreed to with the Avalanche on July 1, 2019."
John Quenneville, F, Chicago Blackhawks
"The 25-year-old was on the taxi squad and did not play in the NHL this season. He scored two points (one goal, one assist) in 16 games with Rockford of the American Hockey League. Selected by the New Jersey Devils in the first round (No. 30) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Quenneville has scored five points (two goals, three assists) in 42 NHL games with the Devils and Blackhawks. He can become an unrestricted free agent July 28."
Tyler Pitlick, F, Arizona Coyotes
"The 29-year-old scored 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 38 games this season. Selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round (No. 31) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Pitlick has scored 84 points (47 goals, 37 assists) in 286 regular-season games for the Oilers, Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers and Coyotes, and three points (two goals, one assist) in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He has one season remaining on a two-year contract he signed with Arizona on Oct. 9, 2020."
Vitek Vanecek, G, Washington Capitals
"The 25-year-old was 21-10-4 with a 2.69 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and five shutouts in 37 games (36 starts) this season, his first the NHL, and led rookies in wins. He played in one Stanley Cup Playoff game before he was injured and missed the remainder of the postseason. Selected by Washington in the second round (No. 39) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Vanecek has one season remaining on a three-year contract he signed with Washington on July 1, 2019."
Brandon Tanev, F, Pittsburgh Penguins
"The physical forward was limited to 32 games this season because of injury, scoring 16 points (seven goals, nine assists), but led the Penguins in hits (139). Signed by the Winnipeg Jets as a free agent March 20, 2016, Tanev has scored 92 points (42 goals, 50 assists) in 295 regular-season games with the Penguins and Jets, and 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 32 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He also ranks fourth in the NHL in hits (849) since the 2017-18 season. The 29-year-old has four seasons remaining on a six-year contract he agreed to with Pittsburgh on July 1, 2019."
Carsen Twarynski, F, Philadelphia Flyers
"The 23-year-old, who can become a restricted free agent July 28, did not score a point in seven NHL games this season, spending time on the taxi squad. He did not score a point in two games with Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League. Selected by Philadelphia in the third round (No. 82) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Twarynski has scored one goal in 22 NHL games."
Colin Blackwell, F, New York Rangers
"The 28-year-old had NHL career highs in goals (12), assists (10), points (22) and games played (47) this season. Selected by the San Jose Sharks in the seventh round (No. 194) of the 2011 NHL Draft, Blackwell has scored 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in 80 NHL games with the Predators and Rangers. He has one season remaining on a two-year contract he signed with New York on Oct. 9, 2020."
Jordan Eberle, F, New York Islanders
"Eberle scored 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) in 55 regular-season games with the Islanders this season and 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games. The 31-year-old has scored at least 20 goals six times in his 11 NHL seasons. Selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round (No. 22) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Eberle has scored 551 points (241 goals, 310 assists) in 779 regular-season games and 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in 62 playoff games with the Islanders and Oilers. He has three seasons remaining on a five-year contract he signed with New York on June 14, 2019."
Nathan Bastian, F, New Jersey Devils
"The 23-year-old played 41 games for New Jersey this season, scoring 10 points (three goals, seven assists). Bastian has scored 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 48 NHL games since being selected by the Devils in the second round (No. 41) of the 2016 NHL Draft. He signed a two-year contract June 15."
Gavin Bayreuther, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
"The 27-year-old, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 28, scored one goal in nine NHL games this season and 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 14 games with Cleveland of the American Hockey League. Signed as a free agent by the Dallas Stars on March 15, 2017, Bayreuther has scored six points (three goals, three assists) in 28 NHL games with the Blue Jackets and Stars."
Morgan Geekie, F, Carolina Hurricanes
"The 23-year-old scored nine points (three goals, six assists) in 36 regular-season games this season and did not score a point in three Stanley Cup Playoff games. He signed a one-year, two-way contract July 16. Selected by Carolina in the third round (No. 67) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Geekie has scored 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 38 regular-season games and one assist in 11 playoff games."
Jared McCann, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
"McCann, who was traded to the Maple Leafs by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday for forward prospect Filip Hallander and a seventh-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, scored 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) in 43 games this season and had one assist in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. Selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round (No. 24) of the 2014 NHL Draft, McCann has scored 155 points (66 goals, 89 assists) in 353 regular-season games with the Penguins, Florida Panthers and Canucks, and has three assists in 12 postseason games. The 25-year-old has one season remaining on a two-year contract he signed with Pittsburgh on Sept. 18, 2020."
Yanni Gourde, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
"The 29-year-old helped the Lightning win the Stanley Cup for the second straight season, scoring seven points (six goals, one assist) in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Gourde, who scored 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists) in 56 regular-season games, has four seasons remaining on a six-year contract he signed with Tampa Bay on Nov. 2, 2018. Signed by the Lightning as a free agent March 10, 2014, Gourde has scored 187 points (80 goals, 107 assists) in 310 regular-season games and 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists) in 69 playoff games."
Joey Daccord, G, Ottawa Senators
"Daccord was 1-3-1 with a 3.27 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in eight games (six starts) this season. Selected by Ottawa in the seventh round (No. 199) of the 2015 NHL Draft, the 24-year-old is 1-4-1 with a 3.50 GAA and .894 save percentage in nine NHL games (seven starts). Daccord has two seasons remaining on a three-year contract he signed with the Senators on Oct. 17, 2020."
Cale Fleury, D, Montreal Canadiens
"The 22-year-old, who can become a restricted free agent July 28, spent time on the taxi squad but did not play in the NHL this season, when he had six assists in 22 games with Laval of the American Hockey League. Selected by Montreal in the third round (No. 87) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Fleury has scored one goal in 41 NHL games."
Chris Driedger, G, Florida Panthers
"Driedger, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 28, was 14-6-3 with a 2.07 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and three shutouts in 23 regular-season games (all starts) this season. Selected by the Ottawa Senators in the third round (No. 76) of the 2012 NHL Draft, the 27-year-old is 21-9-4 with a 2.09 GAA, .929 save percentage and four shutouts in 38 games (34 starts) with the Panthers and Senators, and 0-1 with a 3.70 GAA and .871 save percentage in three Stanley Cup Playoff games (all this season)."
Dennis Cholowski, D, Detroit Red Wings
"The 23-year-old, who can become a restricted free agent July 28, scored three points (one goal, two assists) in 16 games this season. He split time between the active roster, taxi squad and American Hockey League, where he scored 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 13 games with Grand Rapids. Selected by Detroit in the first round (No. 20) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Cholowski has scored 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 104 NHL games."
Will Borgen, D, Buffalo Sabres
"The 24-year-old has no points in 14 NHL games, including 10 games this season, when he spent time on the taxi squad. Borgen, who was selected by Buffalo in the fourth round (No. 92) of the 2015 NHL Draft, can become a restricted free agent July 28."
Jeremy Lauzon, D, Boston Bruins
"The 24-year-old scored eight points (one goal, seven assists) in an NHL career-high 41 games this season and did not score a point in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games. He has one season remaining on a two-year contract he signed Feb. 14, 2020. Selected by Boston in the second round (No. 52) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Lauzon has scored 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 76 regular-season games and has not scored a point in 13 playoff games."
All the league’s existing clubs — with the exception of Vegas — submitted their protected lists on Sunday, and Seattle was able to select one player from each eligible team for a total of 30 that includes at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies.
Seattle was made aware of the expansion draft-eligible players who would be available to them on Sunday when the league approved and distributed the 30 lists of available and protected players.
The Kraken then had an exclusive window to interview, negotiate and sign any pending free agent who was exposed to them in the expansion draft from 10 a.m. ET Sunday until they submitted their picks Wednesday, the league said. Any free agent signed in that window counted as the Kraken selection from that player's former team.
Seattle's selections must account for 60% to 100% of the NHL salary cap, which will remain $81.5 million for next season. The other 31 teams remain in a roster freeze and signing/waivers moratorium until 1 p.m. ET Thursday.
The 2021 NHL Draft will begin Friday, and the first contract buyout period ends July 27 at 5 p.m., while the deadline for teams to sign their pending unrestricted free agents to the maximum eight-year contract is 11:59 p.m. the same day.
The free agent market opens July 28, which is also when teams can start signing players to a contract extension that would begin in 2022-23, the league said.
OutKick previously reported the Kraken made its first big move last month when the team announced that Dave Hakstol will be the first head coach.
Photo courtesy of an NHL news release.
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