Funny enough, the Seattle Kraken had their tentacles all over the come-and-gone NHL Trade Deadline.
Sure, there were the lets-go-win-a-Cup type trades, like Taylor Hall to Boston and Nick Foligno to Toronto, but there were also plenty of deals with a sprinkle — or in some cases a downpour — of Expansion Draft considerations.
Here’s how all the wheeling and dealing in the preceding days and on the day of Monday’s noon PT deadline may have impacted the Seattle Kraken in the Expansion Draft.
Anaheim Ducks
Players in: D Haydn Fleury; F Alexander Volkov
Players out: D Ben Hutton; D Jani Hakanpaa
The Ducks, despite sitting at the bottom of the standings, added some intriguing pieces rather than fully selling.
Fleury is a player many circled as a candidate for Seattle from Carolina, and his move to Anaheim might land him on the Ducks’ protected list. He may knock off someone like Kevin Shattenkirk, who may not be as intriguing as young defensemen Josh Mahura or Brendan Guhle.
Volkov, who was almost certainly going to be protected by Tampa Bay, might wiggle his way onto the Ducks’ Expansion list, too.
Overall, the Ducks’ pair of moves limited some of the options for Seattle — at least on the surface.
Boston Bruins
Players in: F Taylor Hall; F Curtis Lazar; D Mike Reilly
Players out: F Anders Bjork
Despite taking a big swing at acquiring Hall, the pending unrestricted free agent likely won’t be protected — unless the Bruins sign him to a contract extension, which seems unlikely.
Buffalo Sabres
Players in: F Anders Bjork
Players out: F Taylor Hall; F Curtis Lazar; D Brandon Montour; F Eric Staal
Losing Hall and Staal won’t impact the Sabres too much, considering both were set to be unrestricted free agents this summer and didn’t figure much into expansion. Montour was a player we identified as being an intriguing option in the Expansion Draft, but he’s no longer an option.
Bjork likely takes Lazar’s spot on our Sabres’ protected list.
Carolina Hurricanes
Players in: D Jani Hakanpaa
Players out: D Haydn Fleury
Losing Fluery as an option stings, but there’s still plenty of intriguing options in Carolina.
Calgary Flames
Players in: F Emil Heineman
Players out: F Sam Bennett; G David Rittich
The Flames’ fractured relationship with Bennett meant he wasn’t going to ever be protected, so the Kraken lose that “take-a-gamble-on-a-first-round-pedigree” option — Bennett still should be available, only on a team with more exciting choices in Florida.
Maybe Mark Giordano is destined to don a Seattle jersey after all?
Chicago Blackhawks
Players in: F Josh Dickinson; F Adam Gaudette; F Brett Connolly; F Henrik Borgstrom; D Riley Stillman; F Vinnie Hinostroza
Players out: D Madison Bowey; F Mattias Janmark; F Carl Soderberg; F Matthew Highmore; D Lucas Carlsson; F Lucas Wallmark; F Brad Morrison
The Blackhawks made a flurry of deals along the perimeters of their roster, where there are a few interesting developments.
Carlsson is someone we identified as being a young option for Seattle, so he probably isn’t in the mix anymore. But Stillman, who we had on our watch list for Florida, fills that void quite nicely.
Wallmark was projected for protection by Sound Of Hockey. It’s likely Gaudette, who has seen his struggles in Vancouver but still harbors plenty of upside, Borgstrom, or Connolly replaces him.
Chicago’s flurry of moves is a win for Seattle because there are now far more intriguing (and young) options than there were before.
Colorado Avalanche
Players in: F Carl Soderberg; G Devan Dubnyk; F Patrik Nemeth;
Players out: D Greg Pateryn
The Avalanche’s acquisitions of a veteran forward in Soderberg and a backup goalie in Dubnyk won’t shake the Expansion Draft tree.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Players in:
Players out: F Nick Foligno; D David Savard; F Riley Nash
The Blue Jackets made some huge organizational moves, acquiring a load of draft picks for their team captain and a top-four defenseman. But both Foligno and Savard were pending free agents and weren’t going to factor into the Expansion Draft, anyway.
Detroit Red Wings
Players in: F Jakub Vrana; F Richard Panik; F Hayden Verbeek
Players out: F Patrik Nemeth; F Anthony Mantha; D Jon Merrill
The Red Wings executed one of the most impressive pieces of business at the deadline in flipping Mantha for Vrana, Panik, and picks. Vrana will undoubtedly take Mantha’s spot on the Red Wings’ protected list, while Panik will probably be available for selection, though the 30-year-old winger hasn’t been all that productive this year, anyway.
Florida Panthers
Players in: F Sam Bennett; D Brandon Montour; D Lucas Carlsson; F Lucas Wallmark
Players out: F Emil Heineman; F Brett Connolly; F Henrik Borgstrom; D Riley Stillman; F Vinnie Hinostroza
The Panthers were plenty busy at the deadline, acquiring some depth pieces to complement a dangerous core, but it will be hard for any of the quartet to move someone off Florida’s projected protected list. All four, who were potential Expansion Draft targets on their previous teams, remain so with Florida; the only issue is that Seattle only has one selection via Florida.
It’s possible Bennett replaces Connolly on Florida’s protected list, but at the moment, players like Alexander Wennberg, Carter Verhaeghe, or Mason Marchment hold the inside track until we see Bennett’s fit with the Panthers.
Los Angeles Kings
Players in: D Christian Wolanin; F Brendan Lemieux
Players out: F Jeff Carter; F Michael Amadio
Brendan Lemieux is the player to note here. The 25-year-old was one of our targeted options for the Rangers and he’s very much in the mix for protection for the Kings. Someone like Austin Wagner, Blake Lizotte, or Carl Grundstrom may be bumped off if Lemieux jells with the Kings.
Although Carter is a big name, he carries little-to-no Expansion Draft significance at this point.
Wolanin was on Ottawa’s watch list, but it’s hard to know how he stacks up with the Kings’ list of potential targets right now.
Also of note, the Kings signed Alex Iafallo to a contract extension on Monday, all but ensuring his protection in the Expansion Draft.
Montreal Canadiens
Players in: F Eric Staal; D Jon Merrill; D Erik Gustafsson;
Players out: F Hayden Verbeek
Staal, Merrill, and Gustafsson are all nice pieces, but likely won’t figure into the Canadiens’ Expansion Draft picture.
Anyway, it’s Jake Allen or bust in Montreal — hop on the train before it’s too late!
Nashville Predators
Players in: D Erik Gudbranson
Players out: D Brandon Fortunato
Nashville’s trade deadlines actions aren’t as much highlighted by what it did do, but rather what it didn’t do.
Gudbranson is an intriguing pickup for Nashville, but he likely won’t affect the Predators’ protected list because Nashville already boasts a strong and deep defensive corp.
Mattias Ekholm was a popular name as the deadline approached, but he wasn’t dealt. Nor were Erik Haula or Mikael Granlund, who are also UFAs after this season.
In fact, Predators’ general manager David Poile may have tipped his hand at the Predators’ approach to the Seattle Expansion Draft.
With Ryan Ellis, Roman Josi, and Dante Fabbro all worthy of expansion protection, it would be shocking if the Predators didn’t go with a 4-4-1 approach.
New Jersey Devils
Players in: D Jonas Siegenthaler; F A.J. Greer; F Mason Jobst
Players out: D Dmirty Kulikov; F Kyle Palmieri; F Travis Zajac
Trading Palmieri answered one question about New Jersey, because we wondered if the Devils would re-sign the pending unrestricted free agent to a contract extension and protect him. One of Janne Kuokkanen, Miles Wood, or Yegor Sharangovich likely takes his spot.
Siegenthaler is an interesting pickup. PK Subban and his lofty contract always made him a candidate for exposure, and Siegenthaler, 23, could take his spot — as could Will Butcher, who has returned to regular action after starting the season mostly as a healthy scratch.
The Devils’ defensive corp is something to keep an eye on moving forward.
New York Islanders
Players in: F Kyle Palmieri; F Travis Zajac; D Braydon Coburn
Players out: F A.J. Greer; F Mason Jobst
With plenty of forwards worthy of protection and not a lot of cap space, it’s hard to see Palmieri on the Islanders’ protection list. Veterans Zajac and Coburn won’t figure into protection, either.
New York Rangers
Players in:
Players out: F Brendan Lemieux
Lemieux was likely unprotected in New York and his departure leaves one less option in a pretty uninspiring list of targets.
Ottawa Senators
Players in: F Michael Amadio; D Brandon Fortunato
Players out: D Mike Reilly; D Christian Wolanin; D Erik Gudbranson; D Braydon Coburn
Reilly was likely going to be protected by Ottawa, and Wolanin’s departure means that someone like Josh Brown likely fills his spot on the protection list.
It’s slim pickings in Ottawa, folks.
Philadelphia Flyers
Players in:
Players out: F Michael Raffl; D Erik Gustafsson
Raffl and Gustafsson don’t carry much Expansion Draft significance, but the Flyers signed forward Scott Laughton to a contract extension on Monday, meaning he could knock someone like Nicholas Aube-Kubel off their protected list.
San Jose Sharks
Players in: D Greg Pateryn; F Alexander Barabanov
Players out: G Devan Dubnyk; F Stefan Noesen; F Antti Suomela; D Fredrik Claesson
San Jose was the third team brokering many deadline deals and didn’t make any very impactful additions or subtractions, other than trading a goalie away and acquiring a young forward in Barabanov that’s not eligible for selection in the Expansion Draft.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Players in: D David Savard; D Fredrik Claesson
Players out: F Alexander Volkov
As discussed above in the Anaheim section, Volkov is no longer an option in Tampa Bay’s pool of potential targets — which is already very strong.
While Savard is a nice addition to Tampa’s defensive group, the UFA won’t figure into their protected list.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Players in: D Ben Hutton; G David Rittich; F Nick Foligno; F Stefan Noesen; F Riley Nash; F Antti Suomela
Players out: F Alexander Barabanov
Toronto was keen on adding a load of depth for what it hopes to be a long playoff run, but none of the players they nabbed at the deadline will figure into the Expansion Draft.
Vancouver Canucks
Players in: D Madison Bowey; F Matthew Highmore
Players out: F Adam Gaudette; D Jordie Benn
After Vancouver inked Tanner Pearson to a three-year deal on April 8, it appeared Gaudette’s spot on the Canucks’ protected list could be numbered. Vancouver confirmed that by trading him to Chicago.
Also of note, the Canucks’ addition of Bowey provided the defenseman for exposure that’s required under the Expansion Draft rules — prior to Bowey’s arrival, the Canucks only possessed three that fit that criteria and needed at least four.
Washington Capitals
Players in: F Anthony Mantha; F Michael Raffl
Players out: F Jakub Vrana; F Richard Panik; D Jonas Siegenthaler
The Capitals’ will fill in Vrana’s spot on their protected list with Mantha, but we had Panik listed as protected as well. Now that he’s gone, it’s possible the Capitals will keep Ovechkin protected — we outlined a wink-wink type of deal that would behoove both parties a few months back — or add TJ Oshie, whose big contract is an underlying issue for the cap-strapped Caps.
We also had Siegenthaler listed for protection. He’s likely replaced by Brendan Dillon, who signed a rather large contract extension with Washington in the offseason.
The Capitals still seem ripe for a side deal.
*The Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, and Arizona Coyotes didn’t make any trades near the deadline.
*The Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Winnipeg Jets made trades that carried no significance to the Seattle Expansion Draft.
*The Vegas Golden Knights are exempt from the Seattle Expansion Draft.
Sound Of Hockey will have additional versions of the Mock Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft in the coming weeks, so be sure to check back regularly!
Josh Horton is a freelance writer, former newspaper journalist, and former Western Hockey League writer for the Everett Herald and The Spokesman-Review (Spokane). He is NOT a juggler, nor is he a former professional baseball player. Follow him on Twitter @byjoshhorton.
Caps fan here – I definitely think if the Caps make a side deal they will want to protect whatever goalie they have to leave exposed; probably Vitek Vanecek. I would think they’d rather Seattle picked a LHD like Dillon or Schultz since among their thin prospect pool, LHD is the one position that is covered. I think they keep Oshie because they’re totally mortgaging the future to maximize the last couple years of the Ovie/Backstrom window, and I think Laviolette likes his 200 foot effort level (unclear to me if this is actually valuable).
Problem is with oshie, He’ll be 38 when that contract ends. His contract will still continue to be a problem. Washington has a goalie to re-sign, and about 4m in LTIR that they need to create space for.
I’m with you, but I don’t think they see it as a problem. He’s still producing and efforting, at least in the brain trust’s eyes. I think they’re looking at a teardown in 2022-23, and he think he’s a a part of their plans until then. As far as the LTIR/Samsonov resigning, MacLellan has pulled off some cap magic in the past, like the Orpik trade/buyout he did a couple years ago.
I am a diehardAvalanche fan. And since I live here in North Shoreline Wa I do like TJ OHSHIE. Remember TJ’s dad lives here in Lynwood. And with complications going on with TJ’s dad I do foresee him coming to Seattle. His contract is coming to a end as well I don’t see the Caps protecting OHSHIE. Now why am I even talking to you Krakheads anyway?!? Yeah I’ll see you Krakhead’s in your Krakhouse and I will definitely give u a Avalanche Welcoming with a L!
A couple things.
1.) We’re happy to have you here for the friendly competition, even if you remain an Avalanche fan when the Kraken arrive, but please do not use terms like Krakheads or Krakhouse on our site. You will need to come up with something less discriminatory to make fun of the Kraken if you want to continue commenting.
2.) We like Oshie as well and would love to see him play where he grew up, but his contract is an issue. He is 34 now and is signed through the 2024-25 season at a big cap hit. We aren’t totally discounting that it could happen, we think it’s unlikely.
Like stated the deadline clearly showed the influence of the Kraken.
I actually wasn’t too happy to see teams like Tampa, NYI and Washington handing out all those picks but I guess we’ll have to go for 2022 1st rounders which isn’t bad given the draft classes.
Though, I would only do maybe 3 – 5 of those deals to have teams compete for cap dumps.
BTW: Too bad Carolina traded Fleury because I think it could have them going 4-4-1(and protect someone like Jake Bean) after Staal waives his NMC.
Anyways, great article and keep up the work.