Expansion Kraken can ice powerhouse roster
Expect Seattle to be very good considering pool of talent available in draft, free agency
A Hart Trophy winner in net, a Norris Trophy winner as captain, and a top line that includes a player off each of the last three Stanley Cup-winning teams.
If you thought the Vegas Golden Knights' inaugural season was a one-time fluke of the stars aligning perfectly, think again.
The Seattle Kraken are going to be very good. How good?
Well, we'll have to wait until Wednesday night's expansion draft to see who GM Ron Francis selects to play for the NHL'S 32nd team. But based on the players who are available, as well as what's out there in free agency, don't be surprised if they challenge the Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division.
This is a team that potentially could have Carey Price, Mark Giordano, Vladimir Tarasenko and Yanni Gourde — and that's without taking into account the various trades that might already be in the works, or what's out there in free agency.
For all we know, Seattle could also end up with Zach Hyman, Dougie Hamilton and Gabriel Landeskog — not to mention the “misfit” types like Golden Knights William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault, who just needed an opportunity to show what they can do in the league.
With US$81.5 million to spend, here's a look at what Seattle's roster could look like:
FORWARDS Total salary: $40.575 million
Calle Jarnkrok, LW, Nashville (1 year, $2 million)
Yanni Gourde, C, Tampa Bay (4 years, $5.167 million)
Vladimir Tarasenko, RW,
St. Louis (2 years, $7.5 million)
James van Riemsdyk, LW, Philadelphia (2 years, $7 million)
Alex Kerfoot, C, Toronto (2 years, $3.5 million)
Joonas Donskoi, RW, Colorado (2 years, $3.9 million)
Zach Aston-reece, LW, Pittsburgh (RFA)
Colin Blackwell, C/RW,
N.Y. Rangers (1 year, $725,000)
Evgenii Dadonov, RW, Ottawa (2 years, $5 million)
Kieffer Bellows, LW,
N.Y. Islanders (RFA)
Cody Eakin, C, Buffalo
(1 year, $2.25 million)
Christian Fisher, RW, Arizona (1 year, $1 million)
Kevin Stenlund, C/RW, Columbus (1 year, $1.05 million)
Jonah Gadjovich, LW, Vancouver (1 year, $783,333)
Alexander Volkov, LW, Anaheim (1 year, $700,000)
Adam Mascherin, C/LW, Dallas (RFA)
Tyler Benson, LW, Edmonton (RFA)
On paper, a top line of Vladimir Tarasenko, Yanni Gourde and Calle Jarnkrok would be better than what the Golden Knights had in Karlsson, Marchessault and Reilly Smith. But it's the depth throughout the rest of the forward group that really sets Seattle apart.
Donskoi and van Riemsdyk each scored 17 goals last season, while Dadonov has scored 25 or more goals in three of the past four years.
The best part about this group of forwards is that, with the exception of Gourde, no one has a contract beyond the 2022-23 season.
With that being said, don't be surprised if Tarasenko gets flipped for an offer that Francis can't refuse and that the team uses the money saved to take a run at Hyman or Landeskog.
DEFENCEMEN Total salary: $12.45 million
Mark Giordano, Calgary (1 year, $6.75 million)
Dylan Demelo, Winnipeg (3 years, $3 million)
Jake Bean, Carolina (RFA) Ryan Donato, San Jose (RFA)
Troy Stecher, Detroit
(1 year, $1.7 million)
Nikita Zadorov, Chicago (RFA) Connor Clifton, Boston
(2 years, $1 million)
Kale Clague, Los Angeles (RFA) Nick Merkley, New Jersey (RFA)
The Kraken's defence could be their strength.
Giordano, who is two years removed from winning the
Norris Trophy, is the obvious centrepiece. Though the 37-yearold's offensive numbers have been declining in the past two years, he's still a No. 1 defenceman and the kind of leader an expansion team needs.
GOALTENDERS Total Salary: $11.2 million
Carey Price, Montreal
(5 years, $10.5 million)
Chris Driedger, Florida (UFA) Vitek Vanecek, Washington (1 year, $716,667)
According to multiple reports, the Kraken apparently have a three-year, $10.5-million contract in place for Driedger. But even with the 27-year-old locked up, it will be difficult for Seattle not to select Price, who happened to play junior hockey for the Tri-city Americans in nearby Kennewick, Wash.
Yeah, the salary is huge for a goalie who will be 34 years old next month. But forget all that.
If Seattle hopes to win a cup — or at least win a playoff round or two — then they need a goalie who can stand on his head and win games they shouldn't win. We all saw what he did for Montreal in the playoffs.
Who knows, maybe he can do the same for the Kraken.
After all, they should have the roster to get it done.