Starting an NHL franchise from scratch? You’re going to want to first find a top-line center who can score, drive the play, and make those around him better. The Seattle Kraken are hoping to find someone to fill that role right away in next summer’s Expansion Draft. But the need for a star center goes beyond just the team’s inaugural season. With so much focus on the Expansion Draft, it’s easy to forget that that will quickly be followed by the NHL Entry Draft. The Seattle Kraken hope to find their star center for the long term in that Entry Draft, and Kent Johnson could be their man.
Johnson will be on the Kraken radar as the season progresses towards Draft day as offensive threat and dynamic scorer. The University of Michigan freshman recorded four assists in his first collegiate game and eight points through the Wolverines first six contests.
It’s a great start for Johnson and comes after a monster junior season in 2019-2020 with the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL where his 101 points in 52 games led the league by an impressive 30 points.
I know I'm supposed to be focused on 2020, but get excited for North Van-native, Kent Johnson in '21.
Johnson’s scoring prowess in Trail was noticed, and the 18-year-old showed up on last month’s NHL Central Scouting initial watch list as an ‘A’ ranked skater. That rating projects Johnson as at least a first-round pick, but other NHL Draft prognosticators rate him as a potential top-ten pick in 2021.
The 2021 NHL Draft will be the first for Seattle, and the Kraken will get the same odds in the lottery as the third-worst team this upcoming season. This means they will end up with a pick somewhere within the top six overall selections. By comparison, Vegas had the sixth overall pick in its first Draft.
Kent Johnson will be in the mix when the Seattle Kraken pick.
“He has high-end stick skills and creativity,” one NHL scout says about Johnson. “Great offensive instincts and for a young forward in the BCHL, had an impact every shift. I have seen his offensive flair only a few times in my 18 years of scouting.”
Johnson Dominated the BCHL
On his way to leading the BCHL in points, Johnson scored 41 times to go with 60 assists. His rookie campaign the season before was also efficient as he scored 20 goals that year.
While the BCHL is considered a small step down from major-junior leagues like the Western Hockey League, it is filled with high-end prospects, and Johnson’s numbers should not be discounted. Alex Newhook led the league with 101 points for the Victoria Grizzlies the season prior.
Newhook would go on to be a first-round Draft pick in 2019 by the Colorado Avalanche, and Johnson will be the next first-rounder to come out of the BCHL.
“I think the BCHL was a great league for me,” Johnson, who is listed at 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, said during Michigan’s media day. “Nice and close to home as a 16-year-old. Just to get my feet wet. My coach was really good and helped me improve my offensive game. (It gave me) more confidence and I worked on my offensive skills and tactics. Just being on the ice on so many offensive situations. A lot of work on goal scoring. There’s nothing like doing it in a game so that league was good for me.”
Johnson was coached in Trail by Jeff Tambellini, a veteran of 242 NHL games and a former first-round NHL Draft pick himself. Tambellini, who now scouts for the Tampa Bay Lightning, helped Johnson hone his already high hockey IQ and skills, giving him the freedom to cash in on his creativity.
That creativity included multiple lacrosse style goals Johnson scored with Trail.
“I think just like any other skill, it’s just practice,” Johnson said of the lacrosse goals. “I did it first in a roller hockey league I play in and that gave me the confidence to do it in an actual game.”
Johnson played in every situation for Tambellini and 14 of his goals came on the Smoke Eaters power play. He ended the season with 39 points on the manpower advantage, along with one short-handed goal. He’s already become a staple on Michigan’s power play unit this season.
From Port Moody to Ann Arbor
Johnson grew up in Port Moody, British Columbia and found the NCAA route an easy choice after his Bantam team took a trip to Penn State.
“I thought the Big 10 and college hockey was really cool,” Johnson said. “My brother went through that so I’ve always liked college hockey.”
Johnson’s older brother Kyle came up through the same Burnaby Winter Club that Kent did as a youth and also played in the BCHL. He is now in his third season at Yale. Kent Johnson says the two brothers are close, albeit competitive, and Kyle had a big influence on his game and the decision to play college hockey.
The younger Johnson’s interest in the NCAA route was well known, and that led to WHL teams staying away from him during the 2017 Bantam Draft. The Everett Silvertips took a flier with a 10th-round pick just in case the high-scoring center changed his mind.
Johnson honored his commitment to Michigan and is part of an impressive freshman class of Wolverines. Along with Johnson, Michigan defenseman Owen Power and center Matthew Beniers are also ‘A’ ranked prospects, according to NHL Central Scouting.
Like most players, Johnson was unable to get the ice time he’s used to during the quarantine. Knowing that he was making a big jump in competition, Johnson said he spent a lot of time shooting pucks in his garage this summer and feels that he has improved his wrist shot and backhand as a result. His stick skills and shot were already a strong part of his game, and he’s been showing off the improved tools early on this season.
The Seattle Kraken will have to find ways to get live viewings of Kent Johnson and other Draft prospects. NHL scouts are not allowed at Michigan home games due to Covid protocols but there will be chances to see Johnson on the road or on television. If the Kraken are impressed with what they see, he could hear his name called as the first ever Seattle pick.
Michigan is must-see television this season, and you can watch Kent Johnson and his fellow highly-rated prospects for yourself this week as the Wolverines take on Penn State.
Owners of the longest current playoff drought in the NHL, the Buffalo Sabres appear to be on the verge of a breakthrough season that might also benefit the Seattle Kraken in the Expansion Draft.
The Sabres finished just three points behind – and played two games fewer than – the play-in bound Montreal Canadiens when last season was halted because of COVID-19.
During the offseason they landed the most coveted free agent forward, former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, with a one-year, $8 million deal. Combined with franchise cornerstone center Jack Eichel (36 goals and 78 points in 68 games), newly added veteran centers Eric Staal and Cody Eakin, and budding talent in the organization (ranked No. 5 by The Athletic), Buffalo should be a playoff contender.
If the Sabres do indeed make the postseason for the first time in 10 years it would mean more options for the Kraken’s Expansion Draft. Identifying the Sabres’ best players destined to be protected is a mostly straightforward exercise, as spelled out below. But to reach the playoffs, Eichel, Hall, young star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, et al. will need members of their supporting cast to step up. And that will surely mean more attractive players from which the Kraken will have to choose.
Assumptions
Buffalo and Seattle face a Taylor Hall dilemma up until 2021 Expansion Draft day.
If Buffalo re-signs him before then, he’ll naturally be protected. Considering all the uncertainty about 2020-21, the flat cap, and sagging hockey-related revenues, don’t bet on Hall re-signing during the season. He shrewdly grabbed that one-year deal with an eye on hitting it big on a long-term deal with his next contract, and he’s going to see how he fits in with Buffalo.
Sound Of Hockey’s John Barr previously threw down the possibility of the Kraken taking Hall despite his looming unrestricted free agency. If he’s out there unprotected, the Kraken need to be ready with creative contract offers to dazzle Hall and his agent. Seattle will have an exclusive 48-hour window to negotiate with pending unrestricted free agents prior to the Expansion Draft. That’s a tight time frame to reach a deal on a career-defining contract, but no team will be in better position than the Kraken to put something like that together.
Of course, Buffalo might try to unload Hall close to the trade deadline if the playoffs seem out of reach.
Offseason Sabres Wildcards
Buffalo has $3.496 million in cap space and 21 of 23 roster spots taken, according to CapFriendly.com. More offseason free agent moves are not likely, but then again few people expected Hall to sign with the Sabres.
Sabres Protected List
Forwards
Jack Eichel (Lock)
Sam Reinhart (Lock)
Victor Olofsson (Lock)
Jeff Skinner (Lock, NMC)
Casey Mittlestadt
Tage Thompson
Rasmus Asplund
Mittlestadt, the eighth overall pick in 2017, hasn’t lived up to expectations in two pro seasons, including half of last year in the minors.
Coming off a season-ending shoulder injury, Thompson, 23, is a 6-6, 215-pound right winger who still has to prove he can stick in the NHL.
If Hall re-signs, he’d replace Asplund, 22, on the protected list. But at least Asplund has been playing recently. He just completed his loan to Vasteras IK in Sweden’s second tier pro league, scoring four goals and nine points in 14 games.
Defense
Rasmus Dahlin (Lock)
Rasmus Ristolainen (Lock)
Henri Jokiharju
Goalie
Jonas Johansson
Third-stringer Johansson, 25, should push for some NHL playing time after going 14-4-3 with a 2.28 GAA and .921 save percentage last season at AHL Rochester. He was recently loaned to the Krefeld Penguins in Germany’s top hockey league, the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
Top Kraken Expansion Draft Players
Forwards
Taylor Hall
Cody Eakin
Zemgus Girgensons
As mentioned above, Hall is an option to pursue if he’s a pending unrestricted free agent.
Third-line center Eakin has been through this before. The Vegas Golden Knights selected him from the Dallas Stars in the 2017 Expansion Draft. He spent two-and-a-half seasons there, scoring 37 goals and 41 assists in 199 games before being traded to the Winnipeg Jets in February.
Girgensons is also a third-liner who can kill penalties but has reached 30 points in a season just once in eight years in the NHL.
Defense
Colin Miller
Brandon Montour
Jake McCabe
Will Borgen
Jokiharju, 21, is a near-lock to be protected, leaving McCabe, 27, Miller, 28, Montour, 26 and Borgen, 23, as the best remaining blue line options available to the Kraken.
If Hall is out of the picture, we see it coming down to one of three defensemen: Jokiharju, Montour or Miller.
Miller was taken by the Golden Knights in the Expansion Draft and had a career year in Vegas’ debut season with 10 goals and 41 points. He played well last season when he was paired with Dahlin, so he could ride the young Swede’s coattails to a bounce back from one goal and 11 points in 51 games.
Montour will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason, so the Kraken might consider using the 48-hour window to negotiate with him if he improves from a down season (five goals, 18 points). Head coach Ralph Krueger clearly favored Montour over others, as he ranked second in ice time per game among Sabres defensemen in 2019-20. His puck possession skills give him an edge as he finished near the top of the NHL in zone entries per 60 minutes, according to Die By The Blade.
If the Kraken want a stay-at-home defender, McCabe or Borgen will be options. McCabe (6-1, 204 pounds) plays a shut-down role and doesn’t offer much offensive production. After two seasons in the AHL, Borgen (6-3,198 pounds) could make a push for a roster spot in 2020-21.
Goalie
Linus Ullmark
Goaltending is Buffalo’s weakest link, and Linus Ullmark, 27, hasn’t exactly seized No. 1 role. He and Carter Hutton will be unrestricted free agents after this season, so the Sabres recently signed Dustin Tokarski, 31, to a two-year deal to ensure they’ll have a live body under contract to leave exposed in the Expansion Draft. Nothing to see here from Seattle’s standpoint, unless Buffalo makes Johansson available.
Side Deal Scenarios
Kraken general manager Ron Francis knows Jeff Skinner well from when they were both in Carolina. Could the former Hurricanes GM be convinced to take Skinner if he waives his no-movement clause? Bear with us for a moment.
Skinner, 28, has a hefty contract worth an average annual value of $9 million through 2026-27. He didn’t come close to deserving that much in the first year of the deal, notching 14 goals, 23 points, minus-22 and a paltry 7.7 shooting percentage in 59 games last season.
That’s a lot of money to be on the hook for until Skinner is 35, so the Sabres would have to offer a mighty amazing sweetener in the form of a quality player or valuable prospect. It’s a type of move that would impact his longevity in Seattle, so Francis would have to be absolutely sure Skinner can bounce back and show he deserves to be among the current top 25 highest-paid players in the league. Selecting Skinner alone would be foolish, but Buffalo dangling a top forward prospect such as Dylan Cozens would be tantalizing.
Other Kraken Expansion Draft Notes
Another interesting layer of intrigue is Francis’ former Hurricanes teammate Kevyn Adams taking over as Buffalo’s GM in June. On the surface, before any games have been played under his tenure, Adams has done a nice job at reshaping the Sabres. Can the wily veteran Francis outfox the rookie GM when the Kraken decide which Buffalo player to take at draft time?
Discuss that and other Buffalo scenarios below.
Previous Sound of Hockey Expansion Draft team previews
Jim Wilkie is a longtime Northwest journalist, former NHL editor and NHL Insider writer for ESPN.com, a onetime GSHL All-Star, and SJHA hockey dad. Follow him on Twitter @jimwilkie.
The hockey news has been dominated over the past month with cancellations of seasons, teams, and tournaments. But, there was good news this week as the NWHL announced it will conduct an abbreviated season starting in late January, and the games will be played entirely in a bubble.
The six NWHL clubs are heading to one of the most iconic hockey locations in the United States for its bubble, starting on January 23rd, to play a five-game schedule. That will determine the four playoff teams who will duke it out for a chance to advance to the Isobel Cup Final, which will be played on February 5th.
All games in the NWHL bubble will be played at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, NY — the same rink where the US Olympic team made us all believe in miracles during an upset of the Soviet hockey team on the way to gold in 1980.
A game schedule is still to be released. The same is true for broadcast information, and hopefully the NWHL can find a partner to carry these games because a two-week run to the Isobel Cup is must-watch television.
A big issue for the NWHL has always been its ability to pay players a livable wage. This challenge still very much exists, but the league has made it clear that despite the very short duration of this campaign, the players will receive what they normally receive for a full season.
Here is the full statement on this topic, which definitely sounds like a step in the right direction for the NWHL.
“All of the professional players who signed contracts this year for the NWHL season will be compensated in full, despite the condensed game schedule. Players were given the opportunity to opt-out of the tournament and still receive their complete salaries. At this date, more than 95 percent of the players have committed to the competition, giving each team a full playing roster for Lake Placid – the site of the iconic “Miracle on Ice” by the U.S. Olympic Team in 1980. Following local and national health guidelines, NWHL teams began voluntary workouts in September and started official practices and workouts in October.“
Fred Sasakamoose played 11 NHL games for the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1953-1954 season. He didn’t register a single point over that time but is a revered hockey legend because of the barriers he burst through.
A member of the Cree nation, Sasakamoose was the first Indigenous player to make it to the NHL. He overcame many obstacles along the way and served as an inspiration to Canadian First Nation youth for the rest of his life. Sasakamoose would later return to his Saskatchewan, Ahtahkakoop reserve where he would use hockey to inspire Indigenous youth throughout Canada.
Young Indigenous players today are aware of Sasakamoose and his journey, and he is considered a legend in that community. His passing won’t change his status.
After 725 NHL games, Johnny Boychuk called it a career this week. Boychuk played with the Islanders over the past six seasons after a stint in Boston that saw him win a Stanley Cup.
Boychuk’s retirement was due to a scary eye injury just prior to the NHL’s pause. On the play, Boychuk was struck by the skate blade belonging to Montreal Canadiens Artturi Lehkonen. He was able to return for the NHL’s postseason, but only played three total games due to yet another upper body injury.
Johnny Boychuk gets emotional when talking about his time with the Islanders:
"There's been so many good memories that it's just tough to process everything at one time" pic.twitter.com/YOuNpVdjsv
Liked by every team he played for, Boychuk’s retirement solicited a number of responses from his former teammates. Anders Lee summed it up pretty well.
Anyone who knows JB knows he is one of a kind in every way. He is a selfless teammate, who never backed down, shot every rimmed puck, has a heart of gold, and touch of moderns top customer. But above all he is always there for you.I’m lucky you call you my friend, Love you Beezy pic.twitter.com/qhS8Kkkm5g
The University of Wisconsin swept Penn State this past week and Montreal prospect, Cole Caufield, was front and center. The 2019 first-round pick sparked the Badgers to the sweep with a hat trick in the second game.
You need more proof that Caufield is good? How about the four-goal, eight-point start he has over Wisconsin’s first six games? That’s decent.
Michigan Dresses Cones and Loses, Boston College Wins
After a 4-0-0 start following sweeps of Arizona State and Wisconsin, Michigan took its first loss of the season against Notre Dame on Friday. The 3-2 loss at famed Yost Arena came after the Fighting Irish jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second period. The Wolverines fought back, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
The loss doesn’t discount the fact that the Wolverines are the real deal this season, buoyed largely by their young stars. Sportsnet lists three of Michigan’s players as potential top-ten picks in next year’s NHL Entry Draft.
If you’re reading this on Saturday, you can watch the second game of Michigan’s series with Notre Dame on Big Ten Network at 4PM Pacific. There may not be fans in attendance, but Michigan faithful will still find a way to harass the opposing netminder.
Boston College finally opened its season with high hopes on Friday, carrying a pre-season ranking of second in the country. The Eagles skated to a 4-3 win over seventh-rated UMass, thanks to three combined goals from Minnesota Wild prospects Jack McBain (2) and Matt Boldy (1), and one from Mike Hardman.
BC is starting the season without its best offensive player – Colorado Avalanche prospect, Alex Newhook – who is taking part in Team Canada’s World Junior Championship selection camp.
Spicy Sauce
Speaking of Boston College, check out this sauce from Willow Corson over on the women’s side. Hannah Bilka received this exquisite dish and made no mistake in depositing it in the back of the net in BC’s season-opening 4-1 win over UNH last weekend.
It was very unnecessary by BC’s social media person to leave in Bilka’s fall at the end of the video, though.
Seattle Kraken Aim to Help Washington State Ice Rinks
On Wednesday, the Seattle Kraken launched a fundraising campaign to help out Washington State ice rinks impacted by the global pandemic. It should be no surprise that a lot of the local hockey rinks have been hard hit by the economic impacts of Covid, and the hockey community certainly feels the strain as well.
The Kraken are offering up an autographed jersey signed by general manager Ron Francis for $1500. If you think that price is a little steep for your blood, you can also donate in smaller amounts.
Our local rinks are the heartbeat of hockey in WA and, like so many in our community, have felt the impact of COVID-19.
It’s the holiday season, so hoop dee doo and dickory dock. Don’t forget to purchase some socks. Welcome to the Seattle Hockey Shopping Guide, presented by the very good people at Sound Of Hockey.
If you’re reading this, it means you did not get trampled trying to get your hands on the same off-brand TV that is available for purchase all year round at your local Wal-Mart, so kudos to you! Although having said that, with Covid raging across America, getting trampled at a Wal-Mart was probably a bit less likely on the 2020 version of Black Friday, so with that in mind, your kudos have been revoked.
BUT! You get those kudos back again because you’re here reading this definitive guide to holiday shopping for the hockey fan in your life, regardless of if they are the most seasoned of puck watchers/players or just picking up the game for the first time.
This Seattle hockey shopping guide may not be the result of hours of scientifically crafted market research, but rest assured that the writer of this article knows a thing or two about receiving hockey gifts. He also knows which hockey gifts he would like to receive this year, so if you’re looking for something special to get him, you can choose pretty much anything from the list below. (Well, you can get him anything except the baby robe. The author of this article would have no use for a baby-sized robe.)
For the Young Hockey Player (or Young-At-Heart Hockey Player)
Mini hockey, knee hockey, mini sticks, whatever you want to call it, it’s great. Like all things in hockey, though, the technology has improved dramatically in the last twenty years.
Gone are the days of the little plastic paddles, emblazoned with team logos, that more closely resembled fly swatters more than they did useful pieces of hockey equipment. Here are the days of the perfect replica one-piece composite sticks designed for peak knee-hockey performance.
The version we’ve chosen here is a Bauer-branded stick, but every popular stick manufacturer sells these for about the same price.
**A quick personal story from the author** I coached a squirt team in Coney Island, New York one season. We did a few out-of-town tournaments, and knee hockey was omni-present at the hotels amongst the kids. When they hit their curfew, we coaches would send the kids to bed, but make them leave behind their knee-hockey sticks. Then it was parents versus coaches in a no-holds-barred fight to the mini-hockey death that resulted in bruised knuckles, rug burns on every inch of our respective bodies, and multiple calls from the front desk asking us to keep it down at 4AM. I’m telling you, knee hockey is for everyone.
For the Passionate Hockey Player
From HockeySauceKit.com, it’s the Original Sauce Hockey Game! It’s basically cornhole with sticks and pucks.
The beauty of this game is that not only is it extremely fun and can be played anywhere, but it also improves your ability to handle the puck and drop it on your teammate’s stick from afar. This is the most costly item in our guide, but we think it’s worth the pennies and your hockey player will love it.
When the receiver of this gift gets back on the ice, he or she will be serving up the spiciest of sauce.
From office décor to pajama pants, this website has it all, so a new-found love of the Seattle Kraken can always be put on display.
As far as what specifically to buy off the site, well, let’s just say that if you buy your new lover of all things Kraken *anything* with a Kraken logo on it, they will like it, because their logos are incredible.
Oatmeal Crewneck Sweatshirt – Who doesn’t love a good crewneck? Plus, the off color on this one is a nice touch.
Kraken Scarf – **A quick personal story from the author**I once received a scarf as a gift, and thought, “That’s silly. I never wear scarves.” Then I wore it, and I’ve been a scarf man ever since. The scarf is the thing that everyone needs but nobody knows they need it. A classic “Don’t knock it ’til you try it” scenario.
For the Brand-New Hockey Fan
THE PERSONALIZED BABY KRAKEN ROBE! As long as we’re at the Fanatics site anyway, we wanted to make sure you knew about this insanely cute robe for the newest of hockey fans out there. The infant in your family will not look more adorable than he or she does when he or she gets out of the bath and throws on this cuddly little number.
**A quick personal story from the author** My wife and I bought this as a baby gift for our friends who are new parents, and we can confirm that said baby looks incredibly cute when wearing this robe.
For the Next Cammi Granato
The NWHL has had an interesting couple of years, but there is some fantastic hockey that gets played in that league. They’re also going to be playing their upcoming season in a super-short bubble format at the end of January in Lake Placid. So, here’s a great opportunity for the hockey fan in your life to rep his or her favorite women’s team.
Four of the six member teams – the Buffalo Beauts, Metropolitan Riveters, Connecticut Whale, and Minnesota Whitecaps – are now selling shirseys of all their players, and they are awesome.
Help the next Cammi Granato in your life find a role model. At $25, you can’t go wrong here.
For the Old Hoser
Those that know will know. Basically, if you have a hockey lover in your life that has played or watched the game with any kind of consistency since… say… the 90’s, you can pretty much buy them anything off the Koho Pro Shop site and they will think you’re the coolest.
Koho, Jofa, and Heaton (Heaton made goalie gear only) are all defunct equipment manufacturers that once outfitted everyone who was anyone in the NHL from Peter Forsberg to Martin Brodeur.
By the way, if you have a goalie in your life, they will love you forever if you buy them this hat.
For the Student of the Game
Why not consider gifting a good book?
**A quick personal note from the author** I haven’t read a hockey-specific book in a LONG time, so I enlisted the help of John Barr and Andy Eide on this one.
It’s a fun read that will take you through the most bizarre stories rarely told in the NHL. There are so many comedic nuggets in this league’s history, it is your duty to read this book and share with the masses. You will read about earmuffs, how the Black Hawks became the Blackhawks, the true humorous origins of the NHL, and many many more stories that you will be telling for years. – John Barr
Whether you’re new to the game or a lifelong fan, ‘Hockey Plays and Strategies’ is for you. It dives into explaining the swirling chaos on the ice, which will change the way you watch the game.
The two authors are experienced hockey guys and each has a Northwest connection. Ryan Walter scored 54 goals for the inaugural Seattle Breakers club in 1977 and would go on to play 1000 NHL games. Mike Johnston serves as head coach, general manager, and president of the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, and has turned them into one of the most consistent junior franchises in North American hockey. – Andy Eide
For All Hockey Fans Everywhere
SOUND OF HOCKEY MERCH! The Seattle hockey shopping guide obviously would not be complete if we didn’t include our beautiful new threads, available now in the SOH store.
What’s not to like? Seattle references, shopping local, cool style, and the shirts are super soft and comfortable. It’s win-win-win all the way around!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING from the Sound Of Hockey Podcast!
The Sound Of Hockey Podcast guys are back with another great episode and a great guest, seventeen-year-old Conner Roulette of the Seattle Thunderbirds. Conner was recently listed as an “A” prospect on NHL Central Scouting’s list for the 2021 Entry Draft and has an interesting story to tell. With Conner, the guys talk about his clever goal song, his experience as an indigenous player in the hockey community, and much more.
Also in this episode, John, Andy, and Darren discuss the latest NHL news – signings, rumors, return to play, etc. – and they chat about whether or not Connor McDavid’s new house should be getting as much scrutiny as it has been receiving online. Oh, and Adam Gaudette kicked his new wife in the head (by accident).
Goalie Gear Corner is special this week, as the guys break down Darren’s new goalie mask! See photos below, or watch the video that Darren made here.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I want to dole out some gratefulness to people and organizations in the hockey world that have had a positive impact on my life this past year. So, here I am, giving thanks for hockey.
The Arrival of Post-Hockey-Playing-Days Kevin Bieksa
A lot of people know about the antics and shenanigans of Kevin Bieksa during his playing days, but 2020 marked the arrival of post-playing-career Bieksa. His coming out party started in mid-February where he delivered an absolutely perfect roast of Daniel and Henrik Sedin during their jersey retirement night. Later that year, Bieksa would be added to the CBC Hockey Night in Canada staff for the NHL Playoffs. He brought his witty humor every night with an excellent blend of insight during every HNIC broadcast to make the intermission shows must-watch television.
Let’s hope we see more Bieksa in 2021.
The NHL & NHLPA for Giving Us Hockey When We Needed It the Most
I know I am not going out on a limb to say 2020 has been a rough one. The last nine months have been really difficult and very stressful on our mental health. I also know hockey is not the most important thing in the world, but it is still important to a lot of us.
Despite all the challenges, the NHL and NHLPA found a way to put together a safe and well-thought-out plan for playoff hockey when a lot of us needed the distraction. Bubble hockey gave us days with 12+ hours of hockey when we were starving for something to get excited about. It did not have the normal suspense and excitement that packed arena playoff hockey games give us, but it was refreshing just to watch the game we love again.
Chatting about moments virtually with hockey friends, we found ourselves reconnecting with the sport. Hockey provided a much-needed boost to our mental health at a time where it was tough to feel optimistic about the world.
Seattle Kraken
I wouldn’t be giving thanks for hockey if I didn’t mention the Seattle Kraken organization. Not only are you putting together an incredible product that is going to be the perfect addition to the Seattle sports scene, but you’ve been a great partner along the way.
I particularly want to mention all the amazing guests from your organization that you have allowed us to interview on the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. Every single one has provided fascinating stories and engaging conversations, and some of them have been downright inspiring… I’m looking at you, Jonny Greco!
Ricky Olczyk (Episode #83)
Stu Barnes (#89)
John Goodwin (#90)
Tod Leiweke (#98)
Everett Fitzhugh (#99)
Lance Lopes (#100)
Jonny Greco (#102)
Namita Nandakumar and Dani Chu (#109)
Andrew Allen (#110)
One of the coolest things about doing this podcast is surprising the hockey fans and listeners of the pod with these amazing guests.
It is a team effort to make this happen, and the Kraken staff has been so helpful in lining these guests up for the listeners. If you missed any of these great interviews, you can check them out in the Sound Of Hockey Archives.
All the Great Hockey Organizations Out There
While we are talking about the podcast, I would also like to thank the organizations that have assisted and/or provided some of our other great guests. We are truly humbled by the support we have received from the broader hockey community. We’ve had some incredible guests this year, and it would not have been possible without the trust and support of these hockey organizations: USA Hockey (Hilary Knight #71), College Hockey, Inc (Mike Snee #77), Tampa Bay Lightning (Jason Berger #79), San Jose Sharks (Alexander True #82), Portland Winterhawks (Seth Jarvis #106), Everett Silvertips (Gage Goncalves #106), Seattle Thunderbirds (Matthew Rempe #107 & Connor Roulette #113), and Calgary Flames (Derek Ryan #112).
The NHLtoSeattle and Sound Of Hockey Communities
Giving thanks to the hockey community really means giving thanks to you.
I’ve met some of you over the years and have interacted with a ton of you online. It is so awesome to hear your feedback of the content we’ve posted or what you think about the latest podcast, or who you think the Kraken should take from the New Jersey Devils in the Expansion Draft. Your feedback and interactions motivate us to keep going and to continue to deliver great content.
Thank you so much for being part of this movement. You deserve a stick tap, and I will never forget that you are a big part of why this endeavor has been so successful.
All the Contributors
Finally, I want to thank the great contributors we brought on, Jim Wilkie and Josh Horton. Both have been outstanding additions and have a commitment to producing quality content that we at Sound Of Hockey can be proud of. Brian Liesse flies under the radar but has shared his great photos for years. I am forever grateful for his contributions that raise the level of the site in a way I never thought possible.
Another huge thank you to Andy Eide and Darren Brown. None of this happens without Andy and Darren. I love their commitment and value their friendship so, so much.
And of course, I need to call out “my editor,” AM, for her love and support of this crazy idea I came up with ~10 years ago. She never questioned my commitment to the cause and has been a pillar of support through all the ups and downs of this journey. It would have meant nothing if she were not part of the ride.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, I did it. I got a brand new goalie mask custom painted, and I’m so excited to share it with you.
The best way I could think to show it off was with this very special and very personal video version of everyone’s favorite Sound Of Hockey Podcast segment, Goalie Gear Corner.
The Devils have some intriguing pieces for the Seattle Kraken in their upcoming Expansion Draft.
New Jersey was one of the “winners” of the 2019 offseason after making a few splashy trades and signings and re-shaping the look of its roster. It followed that up, though, by winning very few games in what ended up being a complete trainwreck of a season.
Despite trading for P.K. Subban and Nikita Gusev from Nashville and Vegas, respectively, signing power forward Wayne Simmonds to a one-year contract, and drafting Jack Hughes first overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, the Devils were putrid last season.
New Jersey finished with 72 points, good for last in the Metropolitan Division and second-to-last in the entire Eastern Conference ahead of only Ottawa’s 64 points. It shipped out star winger Taylor Hall and center Blake Coleman at the deadline in a fire sale and sacked both general manager Ray Shero and head coach John Hynes midseason. Subban’s production steeply declined and Hughes did not make the impact many expected him to make as a rookie.
The season could not have gone any worse.
The Devils have made a few somewhat off-the-radar acquisitions this offseason, including acquiring Andreas Johnsson in a deal with Toronto and trading for former Everett Silvertip Ryan Murray, who was previously with Columbus.
The Devils’ situation heading into the upcoming season is still dire, but there are some unknowns surrounding New Jersey that Kraken fans should consider prior to the Seattle Expansion Draft.
Assumptions
New Jersey, like many other franchises at the bottom of the standings, is clutching to its young and upcoming players and deep prospect pool. That pool was ranked second overall on prospect analyst Corey Pronman’s 2020-2021 NHL organizational rankings in the The Athletic. Unfortunately for Seattle, Hughes, Gusev, and Jesper Boqvist are exempt from the Expansion Draft, and the Devils most likely won’t be willing to trade one of their top prospects in a side deal.
For this exercise we’re assuming the Devils will re-sign winger Kyle Palmieri and the newly acquired Murray, both of whom are unrestricted free agents this offseason.
We are also assuming that father time will continue to hamper Subban’s career and he doesn’t return to form as a top-level defenseman in 2020-2021.
New Jersey is projected to have $17 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly.com, so it could sign more pieces yet this offseason or acquire players during the season in trades. But rebuilding teams aren’t usually willing to commit to the amount of money and term required to land impact players, and it shouldn’t be expected for New Jersey to do so.
Protected List
New Jersey took the eight total skaters approach in 2017 during the Vegas Expansion Draft, and it’s possible that it could do that again for Seattle. This is contingent on what happens with Palmieri and how general manager Tom Fitzgerald views his crop of defensemen.
Fitzgerald, who was promoted from assistant general manager after Shero’s midseason firing, has been in the Devils organization since 2015 and has played a part in building this roster.
For now, we will assume the Devils protect the more commonly chosen seven forwards and three defensemen for the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft.
Forwards
The only immediate difference makers the Devils possess at forward will almost certainly be protected or exempt. Former first overall pick Nico Hischier and 22-year-old Jesper Bratt are locks to be protected, along with Palmieri if he’s re-signed.
Young centers Pavel Zacha, 23, and Micheal McLeod, 22, are strong candidates for protection, especially if New Jersey decides to keep seven forwards. Same with Johnsson, 25, who is under contract through 2022-2023 and Nick Merkley, one of the cornerstones of the trade return from Arizona for Hall.
Janne Kuokkanen could be the odd man out, and he’s an intriguing option for Seattle. The 22-year-old center tallied 33 points and 15 goals for Binghamton, the Devils’ American Hockey League affiliate, in 2019-2020 and comes with second-round pedigree. If Seattle wanted a young piece from the Devils, this may be a good fit.
Miles Wood, 25, is a depth guy Seattle could target. Nathan Bastian, 22, is a former second-round pick that Seattle might consider if his next season in the AHL goes well. Same with Yegor Sharangovich, 22, who has scored 10 goals in the KHL – Russia’s top league that is considered one of the world’s best – and could see his stock rise as well.
Protected:
Jesper Bratt (lock)
Nico Hischier (lock)
Kyle Palmieri (lock, if re-signed)
Nick Merkley
Pavel Zacha
Andreas Johnsson
Michael McLeod
Defensemen
Will Butcher, 25, and Damon Severson, 26, are relatively young defensemen with term that are almost guaranteed to be protected.
Where it gets interesting is what New Jersey will do with Subban and Murray.
Subban, 31, is coming off the worst season of his career with 18 points in 68 games for the Devils and carries a brutal $9 million cap hit through the 2021-2022 season. It’s very possible the Devils will leave Subban, who is a magnetic and electrifying presence on the ice at his peak, unprotected and dare Seattle to take on his huge salary.
Murray, 27, is a former No. 2 overall draft pick that is still in his prime, but struggled mightily with staying healthy in his time with the Blue Jackets. He is an unrestricted free agent after this season, so what New Jersey does with his contract will be telling.
New Jersey could leave one of the four aforementioned blueliners unprotected with the thought that top prospects Ty Smith, a first-round pick in 2018 who played his junior hockey with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs, and Kevin Bahl, a bruising 6-foot-7, 240-pound rearguard that was the other big piece of the Hall trade, are ready to graduate to the NHL this year. Both are exempt from the Expansion Draft.
Connor Carrick, 26, is another player Seattle could look toward. Although he’s not nearly as exciting as Murray or Subban, he’s a solid depth piece. Carrick would be a free agent, so Seattle would have to take advantage of its 48-hour UFA negotiating window and determine if they could sign him before selecting him from New Jersey.
The Kraken could also consider Colton White, 23, who is expected to contend for a spot in New Jersey’s blueline corps this season. Or it could take a flyer on Josh Jacobs, 24, a former second-round pick that has yet to stick in the NHL, though there will likely be better options available than Jacobs.
Protected:
Damon Severson
Will Butcher
Ryan Murray
Goalie
Mackenzie Blackwood, New Jersey’s upstart 23-year-old goalie, is a sure bet for protection, which leaves Corey Crawford, 35, who will make $3.9 million in 2021-2022. The former Blackhawks goalie could be a candidate for Seattle to select if it wants a veteran netminder on the roster. But there will be younger veteran alternatives to Crawford, which makes him a long shot to be taken by the Kraken.
Evan Cormier, 23, is a young goalie that the Kraken could select in order to add organizational depth in net.
Top Expansion Draft Targets
Forwards:
Janne Kuokkanen
Miles Wood
Nathan Bastian
Yegor Sharangovich
Defensemen:
P.K. Subban
Connor Carrick (UFA – Would Need to Be Signed)
Josh Jacobs
Colton White
Goaltender:
Corey Crawford
Overall Thoughts
Despite being in the NHL’s basement last season, New Jersey contains a ton of interesting options for Seattle in the 2021 Expansion Draft. Still, there are only a few – like Subban or Murray – that could be part of the Kraken’s inaugural nucleus.
Outside of that, Seattle has plenty of options for a young player still with potential, such as Kuokkanen or Sharangovich, or a depth piece to fill out the lineup, like Wood or Carrick.
There are several different directions Seattle can go here but with no obvious slam dunk pick. It may just come down to what Seattle needs most from New Jersey after some of the other chips fall.
Side Deal Scenarios
There is a chance New Jersey incentivizes Seattle into taking Subban’s monster $9 million cap hit, especially if things go even more sour for the former Norris Trophy winner in 2020. But with the Devils not lacking cap space – at least right now – there may be no need.
Subban’s contract is up after the 2021-2022 season. If New Jersey’s young core arrives sooner than some expect, it might behoove the Devils to rid themselves of his albatross contract to ensure Seattle doesn’t take someone like Kuokkanen, McLeod, Merkley, Sharangovich, Bastian, or Wood.
Believe it or not, it’s only been four years since the Anaheim Ducks played in the Western Conference Finals. Since then, the franchise experienced a first-round playoff exit followed by two complete misses of the postseason. Now, the Ducks find themselves in the purgatory of a roster with aging, high-priced veterans mixed with a handful of prospects whose ultimate value has yet to be discovered. An added challenge for the Ducks will be the Seattle Expansion Draft.
General manager Bob Murray has a difficult task ahead of him in rebuilding. Those veterans are expensive, and he’ll have a tough time moving them due to a flat cap plus the six modified no-trade clauses on his payroll. It’s a combination that will limit how much cap space he can free up while adding picks at the trade deadline.
Will that entice Murray and the Ducks to expose a veteran to the Kraken in the Seattle Expansion Draft?
Assumptions
Ducks legend Ryan Getzlaf is scheduled to be a free agent after the upcoming season and technically would not need to be protected. However, it’s likely that the 35-year-old center will be re-signed by Anaheim and that could come during the upcoming season. For this exercise, we’ll assume that he extends with Anaheim and is protected.
Roster Wildcards
With no cap space, the Ducks roster is set by default. Along with Getzlaf, veteran forward David Backes is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Protected List
Forwards
If Murray feels he needs to shed a high salary, he could dangle a player like Adam Henrique in front of Seattle by unprotecting the veteran. The 30-year-old has four years left on his contract that carries a $5.8 million cap hit with it. This is a long shot as Henrique is coming off his best season in Anaheim since being traded from New Jersey in 2017. He potted 26 goals on 43 points and was a positive possession player (52% Corsi for).
It’s more likely, though, that the Ducks veteran forwards will be protected along with young players like Sam Steel and Troy Terry. The seventh forward will come down to one of a handful of other young players, depending on how they fare with Anaheim this year.
Max Jones is one of the players looking to play his way into the protection conversation. A former first-round pick, Jones has two pro seasons under his belt. He’s 22-years-old and stuck around for 59 games with the Ducks last season. Jones, a left wing, has played in 89 NHL games over the past two years in total and is scratching the surface. If he breaks through, he’ll find himself protected.
Anaheim has been high on 21-year-old Isac Lundestrom as well. The Swede has potential but needs to show he can score more consistently to earn protection. He spent most of last season with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls (43 games), scoring 21 points. Lundestrom is currently on loan in Sweden where he’s started with five goals and 11 points in his first 12 games, which is an encouraging sign.
The Ducks picked up Sonny Milano, 24, and Danton Heinen, 25, in separate deals at last season’s trade deadline. The pair each played in nine games with Anaheim, and are young with upside. Milano came to the Ducks from the Columbus Blue Jackets, and while he has yet to be a big scorer in the NHL, he’s two seasons removed from a 27-game AHL stint with Cleveland where he picked up 24 points in 27 games.
Expect one of these four to be the seventh protected forward, and for this exercise let’s assume it’s Jones due to his age and NHL experience. This could easily change by season’s end.
Projected to Be Protected From Seattle Expansion Draft
Ryan Getzlaf
Adam Henrique
Jakob Silfverberg
Rickard Rakell
Troy Terry
Sam Steel
Max Jones
Defense
Cam Fowler is the Ducks’ most expensive defenseman but is their best and is under contract through the 2026 season at $6.5 million a year. While that’s a big contract, Anaheim will not expose a 28-year-old defenseman who is productive and in his prime years.
The Ducks may be willing to expose Josh Manson and his $4.1 million contract. The 29-year-old had what looked like a breakout season in 2017-2018 where he picked up 37 points in 80 games, but that apparently was an anomaly. In the two campaigns since, he’s managed a combined total of 27 points and has revealed himself to be an average defenseman.
Manson becomes further expendable with the free agency addition of Kevin Shattenkirk this offseason. A couple of years older than Manson, Shattenkirk is cheaper at $3.9 million and is still a productive defenseman with a longer track record.
Projected to Be Protected From Seattle Expansion Draft
Cam Fowler
Hampus Lindholm
Kevin Shattenkirk
Goalie
John Gibson is the man for the Ducks and will be their number one goalie for the foreseeable future. The most interesting Ducks goalie prospect, Lukas Dostal, is not eligible for the Seattle Expansion Draft, leaving the Kraken with slim pickings from Anaheim’s goaltending options.
Murray does have to expose an eligible goalie for the Seattle Expansion Draft, though. Anthony Stolarz projects to be Gibson’s back-up but is scheduled to be a UFA after this season. The Ducks could re-sign Stolarz and expose him without fear of losing him.
Top Expansion Candidates for the Seattle Expansion Draft
Forwards
Sonny Milano
Danton Heinen
Isac Lundestrom
Defense
Josh Manson
Josh Mahura
Brendan Guhle
Anaheim Ducks players, their contract info, and career stats.
Thoughts
The Kraken have some good talent to choose from the Ducks in the Seattle Expansion Draft. Manson is not an offensive threat, but he was an alternate captain with Anaheim and can provide veteran leadership. His contract also comes in handy, as it will help the Kraken reach the cap floor.
If Ron Francis wants to go younger, Mahura is an interesting player. Mahura, 22, has yet to establish himself as a regular NHLer but was a big-time scorer from the blue line in junior and is coming off an AHL season in San Diego where he scored 21 points in 44 games. He’s less of a sure NHLer than Manson, but Mahura has potential.
Brendan Guhle, 23, is right alongside Mahura as a young, offensive defenseman. Guhle has yet to prove he belongs in the NHL. He’s had looks and is with his second organization after starting with the Buffalo Sabres. The productive AHL seasons are there, and if the Kraken feel they can harvest NHL-level skill, he is worth the pick.
Up front, if Lundestrom is left unprotected he could be an intriguing pick here as well. Again, it may depend on what he shows this coming season.
Side Deal Scenarios
Murray and the Ducks pulled off one of the more scrutinized side deals during the Vegas Expansion Draft. They famously sent defenseman Shea Theodore – who wasn’t eligible to be drafted – to the Golden Knights with the agreement that Vegas would take Clayton Stoner. Theodore, a former Seattle Thunderbird, has since turned out to be one of the top young defensemen in the league.
Did that experience burn Murray? He has no cap room and a couple of high contracts on his books, so he may feel he doesn’t have a choice but to try something like that again.
The NHL return to play date is still up in the air, and now the league has a conflict with the NHLPA over salaries.
Due to the pandemic limiting income for the league owners, the NHL approached the players’ union looking to change the agreement struck in the CBA this past summer. That agreement contained an even 50-50 split in hockey-generated revenue. Now, the owners are asking the players for help to allow the NHL to get more cash in the coffers before it can return to play.
Two ideas were presented but neither option was received with open arms. One was to defer salaries this year and increase escrow. The second was to defer salary and institute a rising escrow over the last three years of the CBA.
So far, these offers have not been received well and will add one more layer in planning for the NHL return to play plans, which the league still hopes will come on January 1st. Needless to say, stay tuned.
Bottom line, more discussion ahead for both the NHLPA internally (whether or not they're ultimately willing to tweak salary deferral and if so, what do they get in return?); and more NHL/NHLPA discussion. The clock is ticking.
The Florida Panthers made history this week by hiring Brett Peterson as their new assistant general manager. He’s believed to be the first Black AGM in the NHL and represents another small but important step for a league that has historically struggled to provide an inclusive environment.
Peterson was a defenseman at Boston College and later became a player agent, representing the likes of Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask.
There are also rumblings out there that Joel Ward is expected to be hired as an assistant coach for the Henderson Silver Knights, the new AHL affiliate for Vegas. Ward just officially retired from his playing career in April, so it’s a quick jump behind the bench for the well-respected player.
Report: Joel Ward expected to be named assistant coach of the Henderson Silver Knights https://t.co/pf1hGdvZL5
News of the hirings of Peterson and Ward came a few days after the Miami Marlins also broke a barrier by hiring Kim Ng as their general manager, making her the first woman to hold that role in Major League Baseball history. That led to speculation about who the first woman to lead a team in the NHL might be, and the Seattle Kraken have two women on staff who could be in the running in Alexandra Mandryky and Cammi Granato.
No Passport, No Pass for Braden Holtby
Braden Holtby signed a two-year deal with Vancouver at the opening of NHL Free Agency, a deal that the Canucks clearly structured in a way that will allow them to expose him to Seattle in next year’s Expansion Draft.
So, the potential Kraken goalie now needs to get across the U.S./Canada border to get to his new home in British Columbia. This shouldn’t have been an issue, except a slight hiccup was unshelled (get it?) when it was time for Holtby to make the trip.
Apparently, the Holtby family includes two tortoises named Honey and Maple. Those tortoises require export papers filed with the U.S. and import papers filed with Canada. The Holtbys completed one of those steps, but not the other, leaving Braden and the tortoises stranded at the border.
Braden’s wife, Brandi, sent out a call for help on Twitter.
No, we didn’t know we needed an export permit (we did do the import permit for the Canadian side) so now Braden is stuck at the border with two tortoises 🙈
After several days of worry and speculation, the Holtby tortoise drama is over as Brandi Holtby announced that the family has been reunited.
Welcome to Canada, Honey and Maple! 🇨🇦 Huge shout out to @USFWS for working so hard for us! Thank you for everyone’s concern.. NOW you may laugh at the image of Braden being stuck at the border with a tortoise under each arm. 🐢👨🏽🌾🐢
There continue to be COVID-related cancellations in the hockey world. This week the minor-pro ECHL announced that its entire North Division has decided to not play until the 2021-2022 season. The decision will displace over 150 players from the Adirondack Thunder, Brampton Beast, Maine Mariners, Newfoundland Growlers, Reading Royals, and Worcester Railers.
All these players are now free agents and will have to scramble to try to find a team to play for this coming season.
The remaining 13 ECHL clubs are set to start a preseason schedule on December 4th, and the regular season is targeted for a December 11th start date. The North Division expects to be back in action next season.
Sharks Officially in the Water
Starting a new NCAA Division I hockey program is no easy task. It’s even tougher to do during a global pandemic with little time to find players. But that’s exactly what the Long Island University Sharks set out to do this year.
Becoming a reality in April, the team began looking for players and managed to recruit nine transfers to help fill their roster. LIU hired a 29-year-old coach in Brett Riley and quickly prepared for its first NCAA campaign.
At Holy Cross on Thursday, the Sharks opened their season and program in their stunning new uniforms.
LIU squeaked out a 3-2 overtime win on a breakaway goal from Christian Rajic, giving the fledgling team a perfect all-time win percentage of 1.000, at least until it plays its second game on Sunday.
Go Sharks, Go!
Also, in case you feel like re-watching the best parts of last night (and trust us, we know that feel), highlights are 👇https://t.co/ewDIekvmVX
