The lists of available and protected players for the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft presented by Upper Deck, which takes place Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, SN NOW), were released by the NHL on Sunday, and Seattle has until 10 a.m. ET the day of the draft to submit its selections.
The Kraken must choose one player from each of the 30 participating teams (the Vegas Golden Knights are exempt), including at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies. Additionally, at least 20 of their selections must already be under contract for next season with an aggregate value that is between 60 to 100 percent of the $81.5 million NHL salary cap.
As the hockey world awaits Seattle’s picks, NHL.com staff writers Dan Rosen, Tom Gulitti and Pete Jensen conducted their own mock expansion draft using all the rules the Kraken must follow.
Here are their selections, which came in at approximately $71 million, followed by an explanation for each position:
GOALIES (4)
Dustin Tokarski, Buffalo Sabres; Malcolm Subban, Chicago Blackhawks; Kaapo Kahkonen, Minnesota Wild; Braden Holtby, Vancouver Canucks
Holtby would more than likely enter training camp as the No. 1 goalie, but the door would be open for Kahkonen to become the starter at some point in the season.
No matter who would emerge as the No. 1, the rotation would give Seattle a veteran with Stanley Cup Playoff experience and an up-and-comer.
Holtby, who turns 32 on Sept. 16 and won the Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018, had a tough first season with Vancouver, going 7-11-3 with a 3.67 goals-against average and an .889 save percentage. But the Canucks struggled defensively, allowing 3.34 goals per game (26th in NHL), so it’s possible Holtby could regain his form.
Kahkonen, who turns 25 on Aug. 16, was 16-8-0 with a 2.88 goals-against average, a .902 save percentage and two shutouts as a rookie with Minnesota this season.
Either way, this would be quality goaltending for a little more than $5 million next season (Holtby at $4.3 million, Kahkonen at $750,000), which allows the Kraken to spend wisely elsewhere too.
Subban would be No. 3 on Seattle’s depth chart and a tradeable commodity. Tokarski could start in the American Hockey League and be called up as needed.
FORWARDS (16)
Christian Fischer, Arizona Coyotes; Joonas Donskoi, Colorado Avalanche; Blake Comeau, Dallas Stars; Devin Shore, Edmonton Oilers; Frank Vatrano, Florida Panthers; Austin Wagner, Los Angeles Kings; Ryan Johansen, Nashville Predators; Nathan Bastian, New Jersey Devils; Josh Bailey, New York Islanders; Colin Blackwell, New York Rangers; Evgenii Dadonov, Ottawa Senators; Brandon Tanev, Pittsburgh Penguins; Dylan Gambrell, San Jose Sharks; Yanni Gourde, Tampa Bay Lightning; Alexander Kerfoot, Toronto Maple Leafs; Mason Appleton, Winnipeg Jets
Having depth at center is a good way for any team to start, and that will be a strength for the Kraken with Johansen, Gourde, Kerfoot and Gambrell.
Selecting Johansen means picking up the remaining four years on his contract ($8 million average annual value), but there is value in having a true No. 1 center in his prime (Johansen turns 29 on July 31) to build the offense around. Johansen also might benefit from a change of scenery. After scoring 64 points (14 goals, 50 assists) in 80 games in 2018-19, he dipped to 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 68 games last season and 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 48 games this season.
Gourde would thrive in a bigger role with Seattle after scoring 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists) in 56 games as Tampa Bay’s third-line center this season, and he brings invaluable experience from winning the Stanley Cup in each of the past two seasons. Kerfoot and Gambrell slot in perfectly behind him.
Seattle isn’t as deep at wing, but it has good options for its top two lines with Vatrano (18 goals this season), Donskoi (17 goals this season), Dadonov (three seasons with at least 25 goals) and Bailey (35 points this season). The Kraken will also have some forwards beginning to tap their potential such as Appleton (set NHL career highs with 12 goals, 13 assists and 25 points this season) and Blackwell (also set NHL career highs with 12 goals, 10 assists and 22 points), and grit and experience from Tanev and Comeau.
DEFENSEMEN (10)
Haydn Fleury, Anaheim Ducks; Connor Clifton, Boston Bruins; Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames; Jake Bean, Carolina Hurricanes; Gabriel Carlsson, Columbus Blue Jackets; Dennis Cholowski, Detroit Red Wings; Brett Kulak, Montreal Canadiens; Justin Braun, Philadelphia Flyers; Vince Dunn, St. Louis Blues; Brenden Dillon, Washington Capitals
Two potential gems for Seattle in this mock expansion draft are Dunn, a strong all-around defenseman who won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019, and Bean, who has a much higher ceiling after scratching the surface this season for the Hurricanes. Dunn was limited to 43 games this season because of injury but averaged an NHL career-high 0.47 points per game. Bean scored 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in 42 games as a rookie despite playing mostly on the third defense pair.
Giordano, who has one season remaining on his contract ($6.75 million AAV), could bounce back with a change of scenery. He has scored 57 points (14 goals, 43 assists) the past two seasons after scoring an NHL career-high 74 (17 goals, 57 assists) in 2018-19, when he won the Norris Trophy voted as the best defenseman in the NHL. Not only that, as Flames captain the past eight seasons, he would provide instant leadership to the Kraken.
Braun (100 games) and Dillon (75) would add NHL playoff experience to Seattle’s second and third pairs. Cholowski, the No. 20 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, and Fleury, the No. 7 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, would join Bean as potential long-term investments.
The French league’s legal commission has ordered Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé the 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages that he claims he’s entitled to, the league said Thursday.
The league confirmed the decision to The Associated Press without more details, a day after the France superstar rejected a mediation offer by the commission in his dispute with his former club.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former football star Reggie Bush was at his Encino home Tuesday night when three male suspects attempted to break in, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
“Everyone is safe,” Bush said in a text message to the newspaper.
The Los Angeles Police Dept. told the Times that a resident of the house reported hearing a window break and broken glass was found outside. Police said nothing was stolen and that three male suspects dressed in black were seen leaving the scene.
Bush starred at Southern California and in the NFL. The former running back was reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner this year. He forfeited it in 2010 after USC was hit with sanctions partly related to Bush’s dealings with two aspiring sports marketers.
VANCOUVER – A fresh face has been gracing the B.C. Lions‘ highlight reels in recent weeks.
Midway through his second CFL campaign, wide receiver Ayden Eberhardt has contributed touchdowns in two consecutive games.
The 26-year-old wide receiver from Loveland, Colo., was the lone B.C. player to reel in a passing major in his team’s 37-23 victory over the league-leading Montreal Alouettes last Friday. The week before, he notched his first CFL touchdown in the Lions’ win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been really good,” Eberhardt said of his recent play. “At the end of the day, the biggest stat to me is if we win. But who doesn’t love scoring?”
He’ll look to add to the tally Friday when the Leos (7-6) host the Toronto Argonauts.
Eberhardt signed with B.C. as a free agent in January 2023 and spent much of last season on the practice squad before cementing a role on the roster this year.
The six-foot-two, 195-pound University of Wyoming product has earned more opportunities in his second season, said Lions’ head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell.
“He’s a super hard worker and very smart. He understands, has high football IQ, as we call it,” Campbell said.
The fact that Eberhardt can play virtually every receiving position helps.
“He could literally go into a game and we could throw him into a spot and he’d know exactly what he’s doing,” the coach said. “That allows him to play fast and earn the quarterback’s trust. And you see him making plays.”
Eberhardt credited his teammates, coaches and the rest of the Lions’ staff with helping him prepare for any situation he might face. They’ve all spent time teaching him the ins and outs of the Canadian game, or go over the playbook and run routes after practice, he said.
“I’ve played every single position on our offence in a game in the last two years, which is kind of crazy. But I love playing football,” he said. “I want to play any position that the team needs me to play.”
While B.C.’s lineup is studded with stars like running back William Stanback — who has a CFL-high 938 rushing yards — and wide receiver Justin McInnis — who leads the league in both receiving yards (1,074) and receiving TDs (seven) — versatility has been a critical part of the team’s back-to-back wins.
“I think we’ve got a lot of talented guys who deserve to get the ball and make big plays when they have the ball in their hands. So it’s really my job to get them the ball as much as possible,” said quarterback Nathan Rourke.
“I think that makes it easy when you can lean on those guys and, really, we’re in a situation where anyone can have a big game. And I think that’s a good place to be.”
Even with a talented lineup, the Lions face a tough test against an eager Argos side.
Toronto lost its second straight game Saturday when it dropped a 41-27 decision to Ottawa.
“We’ll have our hands full,” Rourke said. “We’ll have to adjust on the fly to whatever their game plan is. And no doubt, they’ll be ready to go so we’ll have to be as well.”
The two sides have already met once this season when the Argos handed the Lions a 35-27 loss in Toronto back on June 9.
A win on Friday would vault B.C. to the top of the West Division standings, over the 7-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are on a bye week.
Collecting that victory isn’t assured, though, even with Toronto coming in on a two-game skid, Campbell said.
“They’ve hit a little bit of a rut, but they’re a really good team,” he said. “They’re very athletic. And you can really see (quarterback Chad Kelly’s) got zip on the ball. When you see him in there, he can make all the throws. So we’re expecting their best shot.”
TORONTO ARGONAUTS (6-6) AT B.C. LIONS (7-6)
Friday, B.C. Place
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Lions boast a 4-1 home record this season, including a 38-12 victory over the Redblacks at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C., on Aug. 31. The Argos have struggled outside of BMO Field and hold a 1-5 away record. Trips to the West Coast haven’t been easy for Toronto in recent years — since 2003, the club is 4-14 in road games against B.C.
CENTURION: B.C. defensive back Garry Peters is set to appear in his 100th consecutive game. The 32-year-old from Conyers, Ga., is a two-time CFL all-star who has amassed 381 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles and 16 interceptions over seven seasons. “Just being on the field with the guys every day, running around, talking trash back and forth, it keeps me young,” Peters said. “It makes me feel good, and my body doesn’t really feel it. I’ve been blessed to be able to play 100 straight.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
