Expansion draft mega-thread!
(In all seriousness, if you don't want to geek out on Kraken team-building, mute this thread.)
1/38
(In all seriousness, if you don't want to geek out on Kraken team-building, mute this thread.)
1/38
First, our objectives:
- obviously, win as many games as possible over the next five seasons
- secondly, find players to flip for futures; we don't have a farm system yet and we're taking 30 NHL-ready pieces but only have room for 23 of them.
2/38
- obviously, win as many games as possible over the next five seasons
- secondly, find players to flip for futures; we don't have a farm system yet and we're taking 30 NHL-ready pieces but only have room for 23 of them.
2/38
We'll go through this team-by-team, but we'll start by trying to find our key Year 1 building blocks:
- Two centres
- Three scoring wingers
- Two anchor defencemen
- No. 1 G
3/38
- Two centres
- Three scoring wingers
- Two anchor defencemen
- No. 1 G
3/38
Pick 1: C Ryan Johansen, NSH.
He's overpaid, yes. He's also a 29-yo. 6'3" right-shot centre with a long track record of good possession and history on the PK. These pieces are hard to find; spend the money, even if it means passing on cheap & useful Calle Jarnkrok.
4/38
He's overpaid, yes. He's also a 29-yo. 6'3" right-shot centre with a long track record of good possession and history on the PK. These pieces are hard to find; spend the money, even if it means passing on cheap & useful Calle Jarnkrok.
4/38
Pick 2: C Yanni Gourde, TBL
Tampa is absurdly loaded with good players. Gourde was their 3rd most-used F in the playoffs. He's a two-way demon signed at reasonable money for ages. The only argument against this is how good other Bolts are, but we need the centres.
5/38
Tampa is absurdly loaded with good players. Gourde was their 3rd most-used F in the playoffs. He's a two-way demon signed at reasonable money for ages. The only argument against this is how good other Bolts are, but we need the centres.
5/38
Pick 3: LW Jason Zucker, PIT.
Pittsburgh has lots of options, and there's a case to pass on Zucker's money, but he's a quality two-way forward with real scoring chops. He's a great fit for either Johansen or Gourde in the top-six.
6/38
Pittsburgh has lots of options, and there's a case to pass on Zucker's money, but he's a quality two-way forward with real scoring chops. He's a great fit for either Johansen or Gourde in the top-six.
6/38
Pick 4: W Josh Bailey, NYI.
We're placing a priority on two-way talent and Bailey's a good 5v5 possession player, a PK'er and a PP option. His $5MM AAV contract isn't unreasonable and NYI's list is weak anyway.
7/38
We're placing a priority on two-way talent and Bailey's a good 5v5 possession player, a PK'er and a PP option. His $5MM AAV contract isn't unreasonable and NYI's list is weak anyway.
7/38
Pick 5: LW James van Riemsdyk, PHI.
We've focused on two-way types, but we need a power play shooter and pure goal-scorer. Philly's list has some other secondary pieces, but it's worth spending some money here. It was either this or Tarasenko (more on that shortly.)
8/38
We've focused on two-way types, but we need a power play shooter and pure goal-scorer. Philly's list has some other secondary pieces, but it's worth spending some money here. It was either this or Tarasenko (more on that shortly.)
8/38
Pick 6: LD Mark Giordano, CGY
Giordano's still a 5v5 possession machine, still a quality PKer, still good on the PP. He can provide leadership, big minutes and possibly be flipped for futures at the deadline. Gravy: this hurts a division rival.
9/38
Giordano's still a 5v5 possession machine, still a quality PKer, still good on the PP. He can provide leadership, big minutes and possibly be flipped for futures at the deadline. Gravy: this hurts a division rival.
9/38
Pick 7: LD Vince Dunn, STL
Tarasenko's tempting, but grabbing a key young D and sticking a spoke in a division rival's tires is too good to pass up. He's young, probably gets $3MM or so on his next deal, and is a long-term top-four piece.
10/38
Tarasenko's tempting, but grabbing a key young D and sticking a spoke in a division rival's tires is too good to pass up. He's young, probably gets $3MM or so on his next deal, and is a long-term top-four piece.
10/38
Pick 8: G Chris Driedger, FLA
Assuming reports on Carey Price's knee & hip are accurate, he's a non-starter. Normally we'd skip a pending UFA, but reports suggest that Driedger is game to sign in Seattle, so let's assume that's true. He's probably the best G option left.
11/38
Assuming reports on Carey Price's knee & hip are accurate, he's a non-starter. Normally we'd skip a pending UFA, but reports suggest that Driedger is game to sign in Seattle, so let's assume that's true. He's probably the best G option left.
11/38
We've got a skeleton of a team forming, with two forward pairs, a scorer for a sheltered 3rd line, two defensive mainstays and a starter in net:
We've already spent $40MM. Now it's time to fill out the top-9 F/ top-4 D and net, mostly with cheaper pieces.
12/38
We've already spent $40MM. Now it's time to fill out the top-9 F/ top-4 D and net, mostly with cheaper pieces.
12/38
Pick 9: W J.T. Compher, COL
It's a coin toss between Compher and Donskoi. Compher's younger, slightly cheaper, kills penalties and can fill in at centre as needed. He fits our focus on two-way players.
13/38
It's a coin toss between Compher and Donskoi. Compher's younger, slightly cheaper, kills penalties and can fill in at centre as needed. He fits our focus on two-way players.
13/38
Pick 10: RW Mason Appleton, WPG
For $900K we get a player who is big, mean, kills penalties, wins possession at 5v5 in tough minutes and scored at a 37-point pace last year. It's still hard to pass on Dylan DeMelo, especially since WPG is already hurting for D.
14/38
For $900K we get a player who is big, mean, kills penalties, wins possession at 5v5 in tough minutes and scored at a 37-point pace last year. It's still hard to pass on Dylan DeMelo, especially since WPG is already hurting for D.
14/38
Pick 11: RD Troy Stecher, DET
Weirdly, DET has not 1 but 2 useful pieces, with Stecher and F Vlad Namestnikov. Stecher's a harder piece to find, a defensively responsible RD who can handle tough minutes - and cheaply.
15/38
Weirdly, DET has not 1 but 2 useful pieces, with Stecher and F Vlad Namestnikov. Stecher's a harder piece to find, a defensively responsible RD who can handle tough minutes - and cheaply.
15/38
Pick 12: C/R Colin Blackwell, NYR
The Rangers didn't leave much exposed... except for a $725K centre/wing who can play both special teams and scored at a 38-point pace last year. He fits our two-way philosophy and is a great cap fit.
16/38
The Rangers didn't leave much exposed... except for a $725K centre/wing who can play both special teams and scored at a 38-point pace last year. He fits our two-way philosophy and is a great cap fit.
16/38
Pick 13: LW Jared McCann, TOR
Kerfoot, Dermott and McCann are the obvious choices. LD are plentiful, so nix Dermott. McCann's younger, bigger, cheaper and both scores and hits more than Kerfoot.
17/38
Kerfoot, Dermott and McCann are the obvious choices. LD are plentiful, so nix Dermott. McCann's younger, bigger, cheaper and both scores and hits more than Kerfoot.
17/38
Pick 14: G Vitek Vanecek, WSH
Washington has so many good options. Vanecek's 25, has a six-figure contract, and works great as either a cheap No. 1B or a trade chip. It is hard to pass on the good defencemen the Capitals have exposed.
18/38
Washington has so many good options. Vanecek's 25, has a six-figure contract, and works great as either a cheap No. 1B or a trade chip. It is hard to pass on the good defencemen the Capitals have exposed.
18/38
Pick 15: RD Connor Clifton, BOS
The Bruins have some decidedly useful parts, though the final choice probably comes down to one of their cheap D: Clifton, Lauzon and Zboril. Righties are harder to find and he's physical, if undersized.
19/38
The Bruins have some decidedly useful parts, though the final choice probably comes down to one of their cheap D: Clifton, Lauzon and Zboril. Righties are harder to find and he's physical, if undersized.
19/38
Pick 16: C/R Morgan Geekie, CAR
Look, I know I'm supposed to take Bean. Or Niederreiter. But I don't need an LD, and there are plenty of $5MM wingers. Geekie, a cheap 22-yo 6'2" right-shot C fills a team need, both short-term and long-term.
20/38
Look, I know I'm supposed to take Bean. Or Niederreiter. But I don't need an LD, and there are plenty of $5MM wingers. Geekie, a cheap 22-yo 6'2" right-shot C fills a team need, both short-term and long-term.
20/38
Pick 17: LD Carson Soucy, MIN
Boy it's hard to pass on Kaapo Kahkonen. Soucy is such a perfect fit for team need, though: a D-first defenceman with size and PK experience. He's not too pricey and he's signed for two years.
21/38
Boy it's hard to pass on Kaapo Kahkonen. Soucy is such a perfect fit for team need, though: a D-first defenceman with size and PK experience. He's not too pricey and he's signed for two years.
21/38
Pick 18: RD Colin Miller, BUF
There aren't enough RD on the board. Miller has decent size, averaged almost 20:00 per game for VGK successfully, and Buffalo doesn't have much else. He's worth a flyer, even at $3.88 MM.
22/38
There aren't enough RD on the board. Miller has decent size, averaged almost 20:00 per game for VGK successfully, and Buffalo doesn't have much else. He's worth a flyer, even at $3.88 MM.
22/38
At this point, we have three full lines and a 4th line C, along with six defencemen and two goalies.
The rest of the way, we're rounding out the roster courtesy of a bunch of teams that didn't expose very much at all.
We've spent just $59MM to mostly fill the roster.
23/38
The rest of the way, we're rounding out the roster courtesy of a bunch of teams that didn't expose very much at all.
We've spent just $59MM to mostly fill the roster.
23/38
Pick 19: LD Haydn Fleury, ANA
Fleury's the perfect piece to round out our defence corps. He can play either side, adds needed size/PK ability, and the Ducks aren't exposing much anyway.
24/38
Fleury's the perfect piece to round out our defence corps. He can play either side, adds needed size/PK ability, and the Ducks aren't exposing much anyway.
24/38
Pick 20: W Christian Fischer, ARI
Arizona has some decent depth options, but Fischer stands out. He's young, cheap, big, physical, kills penalties and has some scoring ability. A perfect fourth-line wing.
25/38
Arizona has some decent depth options, but Fischer stands out. He's young, cheap, big, physical, kills penalties and has some scoring ability. A perfect fourth-line wing.
25/38
Pick 21: LD Nikita Zadorov, CHI
This is a trade play. If de Haan fetches more, grab him instead. We have the cap room not to be scared of Zadorov's arb hearing, and big D always have value - and especially so this year. If we wanted a player, it would be Gaudette.
26/38
This is a trade play. If de Haan fetches more, grab him instead. We have the cap room not to be scared of Zadorov's arb hearing, and big D always have value - and especially so this year. If we wanted a player, it would be Gaudette.
26/38
Pick 22: C/R Kevin Stenlund, CBJ
Columbus has exposed nothing of real value save Max Domi - and it's going to be hard to flip him for assets when he starts the year hurt. Stenlund's the best of a weak lot.
27/38
Columbus has exposed nothing of real value save Max Domi - and it's going to be hard to flip him for assets when he starts the year hurt. Stenlund's the best of a weak lot.
27/38
Pick 23: LW Adam Mascherin, DAL
The Stars too have basically nothing exposed. If they want to pay us to take on Comeau's deal, great; otherwise a second-tier prospect is the best we can do.
28/38
The Stars too have basically nothing exposed. If they want to pay us to take on Comeau's deal, great; otherwise a second-tier prospect is the best we can do.
28/38
Pick 24: LW Tyler Benson, EDM
This would be a good place to extract extras in exchange for taking on salary - say a 50% retained Koskinen. Failing that, Benson or Lagesson is the best combination of upside/low cap hit.
29/38
This would be a good place to extract extras in exchange for taking on salary - say a 50% retained Koskinen. Failing that, Benson or Lagesson is the best combination of upside/low cap hit.
29/38
Pick 25: LD Kale Clague, LAK
The Kings have a bunch of handy fourth-line/spare defencemen types kicking around. There are a half-dozen roughly comparable players, so it probably makes sense to go with the most valuable trade option, whoever that might be.
30/38
The Kings have a bunch of handy fourth-line/spare defencemen types kicking around. There are a half-dozen roughly comparable players, so it probably makes sense to go with the most valuable trade option, whoever that might be.
30/38
Pick 26: LD Brett Kulak, MTL
Again, this is a trade play. With Price's injury status uncertain and with Drouin's status period uncertain, it comes down to Kulak or Cale Fleury. I'd imagine someone would offer a mid-round pick for Kulak.
31/38
Again, this is a trade play. With Price's injury status uncertain and with Drouin's status period uncertain, it comes down to Kulak or Cale Fleury. I'd imagine someone would offer a mid-round pick for Kulak.
31/38
Pick 27: RW Nathan Bastian, NJD
Andreas Johnsson has some actual upside, but costs too much coming off a terrible year. P.K. Subban would be a useful player but also costs way too much. With that in mind, it makes sense to grab a big end-of-roster type with some upside.
32/38
Andreas Johnsson has some actual upside, but costs too much coming off a terrible year. P.K. Subban would be a useful player but also costs way too much. With that in mind, it makes sense to grab a big end-of-roster type with some upside.
32/38
Pick 28: G Anton Forsberg, OTT
The Sens’ list abounds with overpriced vets and not-very-good prospects. The play here is to get them to pay for us to take on a bad contract, like Tierney or Dadonov. Failing that, there’s no harm in getting a No. 3 goalie for next season.
33/38
The Sens’ list abounds with overpriced vets and not-very-good prospects. The play here is to get them to pay for us to take on a bad contract, like Tierney or Dadonov. Failing that, there’s no harm in getting a No. 3 goalie for next season.
33/38
Pick 29: C Dylan Gambrell, SJS
Gambrell could play a depth role, or LD Radim Simek could be a trade chip. Given how difficult it’s going to be to move money, let’s go with the cheap right-shooting centre, and leave our division rival with another lower-case cap headache.
34/38
Gambrell could play a depth role, or LD Radim Simek could be a trade chip. Given how difficult it’s going to be to move money, let’s go with the cheap right-shooting centre, and leave our division rival with another lower-case cap headache.
34/38
Pick 30: LW Jonah Gadjovich, VAN
The Canucks have almost nothing useful exposed. They also have probably 5 bad contracts they’d like pay to move. Failing that, we’re taking a depth piece/fringe prospect.
35/38
The Canucks have almost nothing useful exposed. They also have probably 5 bad contracts they’d like pay to move. Failing that, we’re taking a depth piece/fringe prospect.
35/38
Projected roster:
- Zucker / Gourde / Bailey
- McCann / Johansen / Compher
- Van Riemsdyk / Blackwell / Appleton
- Fischer / Gambrell / Geekie
(Benson, Bastian)
- Giordano / Miller
- Dunn / Stecher
- Soucy / Clifton
(Fleury)
Driedger / Vanecek
(Forsberg)
36/38
- Zucker / Gourde / Bailey
- McCann / Johansen / Compher
- Van Riemsdyk / Blackwell / Appleton
- Fischer / Gambrell / Geekie
(Benson, Bastian)
- Giordano / Miller
- Dunn / Stecher
- Soucy / Clifton
(Fleury)
Driedger / Vanecek
(Forsberg)
36/38
Trade chips: Zadorov, Stenlund, Mascherin, Clague, Kulak, Gadjovich
Total cap hit: Roughly $68MM after signing Driedger, Dunn and Benson leaving $13.5MM to take on bad contracts in exchange for sweeteners and/or go after free agents.
37/38
Total cap hit: Roughly $68MM after signing Driedger, Dunn and Benson leaving $13.5MM to take on bad contracts in exchange for sweeteners and/or go after free agents.
37/38
It's a decent group. The top-six can play against anyone, the third line is well-suited to scoring against bottom-six opponents and the fourth line can eat defensive zone starts.
The defence is a little shaky and on the small side. The goaltending duo is reasonable.
38/38
The defence is a little shaky and on the small side. The goaltending duo is reasonable.
38/38
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