2021 NHL Expansion Draft: Projected Pacific Division Picks
Ahead of the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft on Wednesday, we’ll be going team-by-team for each division and drafting the projected future Seattle Kraken roster based off of the protected lists released on Sunday. The main strategy in the drafting process was to find young players on cheap, short-term contracts. UFA players were generally avoided and the picks were made with the expectation that about about a third of the roster will be flipped for entry draft picks and prospects.
Only one of the six Pacific teams Seattle will pick from (Vegas is exempt from the draft) was a playoff team last year. I’ve filled out a big chunk of the bottom-six forward group from this division, but there was also a couple of key defencemen available. Taking Mark Giordano’s contract goes against my strategy of taking young players on cheap deals, but he’s still highly productive and is only a one year commitment.
Make sure to check out the early odds on next year’s Stanley Cup, the odds on which Canadian team will be the next Cup winner and NHL Entry Draft props.
Projected Pacific Division Picks
Anaheim Ducks – Haydn Fleury, 25 (LD/RD)
This will be the second time Ron Francis has a chance to draft Fleury, after taking him seventh overall in 2014 when he was with Carolina. Fleury’s a young defender with a lot of upside and a cheap contract. Anaheim wasn’t the right fit for him and I see him reestablishing himself with the Kraken.
Calgary Flames – Mark Giordano, 37 (LD)
Giordano is an older player with a higher cap hit ($6.75 million), but he’s only two years removed from a Norris Trophy season. He still averages over 22 minutes per night and the Kraken would only be locked into him for one year. Giordano is a great veteran leader to establish the culture of the Kraken franchise in their inaugural season.
Edmonton Oilers – Jujhar Khaira, 26 (C/LW)
Khaira is an experienced depth piece who can slot in wherever you need him in the bottom-six. Last season he seemed to find his place in the league. I’m expecting him to only get better.
LA Kings – Austin Wagner, 24 (RW/LW)
Don’t judge Wagner off of last season as he was stuck on a terrible L.A. team. This is a young player who hasn’t reached his potential yet. He might be a bit of a project, but his upside is too good to pass on.
San Jose Sharks – Matt Nieto, 28 (LW/RW)
Nieto is a great option as a cheap veteran and you know exactly what you’re going to get from him. He’s a grinding shutdown forward who is signed for less than $1.0 million over the next two years. Nieto should anchor the third or fourth line.
Vancouver Canucks – Zack MacEwen, 25 (C/RW)
MacEwen is coming off his first full NHL season and brings size (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) and toughness. He only has 55 career NHL games under his belt, but he’s the hard-nosed blue-collar worker the Kraken will need. With a bigger opportunity in Seattle, I see MacEwen carving out a permanent spot for himself in the bottom-six.
Vegas Golden Knights – Exempt
How the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft works?
Seattle will draft one player from every team except for the Golden Knights. Vegas is exempt because of their own expansion agreement in 2017. At least 20 players need to be under contract for next season with a salary cap hit between $48.9 million and $81.5 million. They need to select a minimum of 14 forwards, nine defencemen and three goalies. The Kraken cannot buyout any players out until next summer. First and second years pro players as well as unsigned draft picks are exempt.
Projected Atlantic Division Picks and Analysis