Brewin Flames Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 Written By Ian Kennedy.... After watching how the Vegas Golden Knights handled expansion, the Seattle Kraken took the slow and steady path, looking more like the expansion clubs of old. They struggled from start to finish, but have managed to acquire a dearth of draft picks. This year that will include the fourth overall pick and four picks in the second round. The crown jewel in Seattle’s organization is 2021 second overall selection Matty Beniers. Behind Beniers, there is far less certainty in the Kraken’s depth charts. They’ll look to address much of that at the draft. Top prospects Matty Beniers, Seattle took an interesting gamble burning a year of Bernier’s entry-level contract to insert him into the final 10 games of a losing campaign, in which he recorded nine points. His resume this season includes representing the USA at the Olympics, leading the Big 10 in scoring and being named a First Team All-American with Michigan. Next year, Beniers will immediately be tasked with a top-six role where his intelligence will make him an early Calder Trophy contender. Pickard Signature Platinum Monogrammed 5 Piece China Set Ryker Evans, When the Seattle Kraken selected Evans 35th overall in 2021, many thought the team had made a blunder in their first draft reaching for the left-shot defenseman well ahead of his ranking. This season, however, Evans looked like a high-end offensive defender, and once he adds strength, he could make Seattle’s scouting staff look like they knew his potential all along. Evans likes to jump into, and sometimes lead, the rush, which propelled the blueliner to 61 points in 63 games with the WHL's Regina Pats this year. He will head to the AHL next season where his all-around game will be challenged. Ryan Winterton, Selected 67th overall by Seattle last year, Winterton missed all of 2020-21 campaign due to the pandemic and then started this year shelved by a shoulder injury. Upon his return, however, Winterton quickly shook off the rust scoring more than a point per game in the regular season and playoffs for the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs. He’s a prospect a few seasons out from his NHL debut, but Winterton is trending in the right direction. One to watch In need of depth in their prospect pool, Seattle dipped into the European free agent market signing 21-year-old defender Peetro Seppälä. A member of Finland’s U18 and world junior roster in recent years, Seppälä is not an unknown, but he didn’t show well at international tournaments. Now 6-foot-2 and with two seasons of Liiga play under his belt, Seppälä jumped from eight points in 39 games as a rookie, to 29 points in 57 games this year. If he fares well early next season in the AHL, Seppälä could earn his first NHL action. Or, if things don’t go as planned, he could be a one-and-done trial. Ready to step in While Beniers is the logical choice and will certainly be in Seattle next season carving out his reputation as a star in the making, it’s a pair of affordable depth options Seattle will likely pencil in to bottom-six roles to begin the season. Kole Lind and Alex True have paid their dues in the AHL and are ready for a full-time opportunity. Lind had an extended stint in Seattle this year, giving him the edge in this race, but True will be in the fight for a fourth-line position as well. Needs at the draft Everything. Seattle’s prospect pool is shallow after only a single draft. The team needs to stock up on picks and hope that a few hit. The Kraken select fourth at the draft which could put them in a prime position to address organizational depth on the blueline. Evans is their top defensive prospect, but the team does not have a future cornerstone on the back end. That could change should the team use their pick to select Czechian David Jiricek or Slovak Simon Nemec. Different players in what they offer, both are projected as future top-pairing defenders. When GM Ron Francis steps to the microphone in July, don’t be surprised to see one of these European prospects announced. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
After watching how the Vegas Golden Knights handled expansion, the Seattle Kraken took the slow and steady path, looking more like the expansion clubs of old. They struggled from start to finish, but have managed to acquire a dearth of draft picks. This year that will include the fourth overall pick and four picks in the second round. The crown jewel in Seattle’s organization is 2021 second overall selection Matty Beniers. Behind Beniers, there is far less certainty in the Kraken’s depth charts. They’ll look to address much of that at the draft. Top prospects Matty Beniers, Seattle took an interesting gamble burning a year of Bernier’s entry-level contract to insert him into the final 10 games of a losing campaign, in which he recorded nine points. His resume this season includes representing the USA at the Olympics, leading the Big 10 in scoring and being named a First Team All-American with Michigan. Next year, Beniers will immediately be tasked with a top-six role where his intelligence will make him an early Calder Trophy contender. Pickard Signature Platinum Monogrammed 5 Piece China Set Ryker Evans, When the Seattle Kraken selected Evans 35th overall in 2021, many thought the team had made a blunder in their first draft reaching for the left-shot defenseman well ahead of his ranking. This season, however, Evans looked like a high-end offensive defender, and once he adds strength, he could make Seattle’s scouting staff look like they knew his potential all along. Evans likes to jump into, and sometimes lead, the rush, which propelled the blueliner to 61 points in 63 games with the WHL's Regina Pats this year. He will head to the AHL next season where his all-around game will be challenged. Ryan Winterton, Selected 67th overall by Seattle last year, Winterton missed all of 2020-21 campaign due to the pandemic and then started this year shelved by a shoulder injury. Upon his return, however, Winterton quickly shook off the rust scoring more than a point per game in the regular season and playoffs for the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs. He’s a prospect a few seasons out from his NHL debut, but Winterton is trending in the right direction. One to watch In need of depth in their prospect pool, Seattle dipped into the European free agent market signing 21-year-old defender Peetro Seppälä. A member of Finland’s U18 and world junior roster in recent years, Seppälä is not an unknown, but he didn’t show well at international tournaments. Now 6-foot-2 and with two seasons of Liiga play under his belt, Seppälä jumped from eight points in 39 games as a rookie, to 29 points in 57 games this year. If he fares well early next season in the AHL, Seppälä could earn his first NHL action. Or, if things don’t go as planned, he could be a one-and-done trial. Ready to step in While Beniers is the logical choice and will certainly be in Seattle next season carving out his reputation as a star in the making, it’s a pair of affordable depth options Seattle will likely pencil in to bottom-six roles to begin the season. Kole Lind and Alex True have paid their dues in the AHL and are ready for a full-time opportunity. Lind had an extended stint in Seattle this year, giving him the edge in this race, but True will be in the fight for a fourth-line position as well. Needs at the draft Everything. Seattle’s prospect pool is shallow after only a single draft. The team needs to stock up on picks and hope that a few hit. The Kraken select fourth at the draft which could put them in a prime position to address organizational depth on the blueline. Evans is their top defensive prospect, but the team does not have a future cornerstone on the back end. That could change should the team use their pick to select Czechian David Jiricek or Slovak Simon Nemec. Different players in what they offer, both are projected as future top-pairing defenders. When GM Ron Francis steps to the microphone in July, don’t be surprised to see one of these European prospects announced.
Brewin Flames Posted June 10 Author Share Posted June 10 (edited) Seattle Kraken Draft History at hockeydb.com 1st Round (4th overall) 2nd Round (35th overall) 2nd Round (49th overall) 2nd Round (58th overall) 2nd Round (61st overall) 3rd Round (68th overall) 4th Round (100th overall) 4th Round (117th overall) 4th Round (123rd overall) 5th Round (132nd overall) 6th Round (164th overall) 7th Round (196th overall) Edited Friday at 05:12 PM by Brewin Flames Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Lando Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 This team unless they make a gigantic mistake in the first round should definitely get one of the two top defensemen or Matthew Savoie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireDillabaugh Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 (edited) If Nemec is still there at 4, and they don't take him, they're idiots. But, I would love for that to happen. Because that would mean he's there at 5, and the bonehead Fletcher should even be able to realize he'll be the BPA if he's still there at 5. Edited June 17 by FireDillabaugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropicalFruitGirl26 Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 Heh...Mr. Ian Kennedy will have to review some of his vocabulary as "dearth of draft picks" doesn't really apply to the Kraken (I think 'abundance' or even 'surfeit' if he wanted to get fancy, was what he was looking for!) At any rate, yes, Seattle did indeed take the 'slow and steady' route in expansion development, and Ron Francis will have to have a good draft either via picks or using his "dearth" of picks as currency to get an established good player or two. Ron Francis as GM should worry Seattle fans however. Very good player, but still questionable executive. He seems to have the defensive part of the equation down when it comes to drafting and developing, but not so sure he has the offensive part of it. His former Carolina Hurricanes were always pretty decent to good defensively, but always lacked scoring. Also, and it is probably unfair to compare, if you wanna put him up against that other expansion GM George McPhee, well, the two couldn't be more different. Francis, for better or worse, seems to play things "safer", while Mr. McPhee is highly aggressive, proactive, and a major league negotiator judging by his past transactions. I'm rooting for Francis and the Kraken to do well in this draft because from all accounts I've read or been told, he is a good human being, really does try his best to give to his teams the best HE thinks he can give them, and I really would like to see the Kraken be more than just an NHL doormat in the Pacific. Some future star player pickups in the draft or via trade using picks would be in order as it seems Seattle already has the secondary type guys in there. Oh, and hey....former TB Lightning Yanni Gourde, 30, is a top flight secondary/support type guy....something a McPhee would do would be to maybe try moving him for two players that fill needs in other areas. Would Francis have that kind of foresight? Probably the same with Jordan Eberle (32) or Jaden Schwartz (29). Pretty sure some contenders out there would give Francis the young players he would like for any of those three to add onto their own team for Cup runs. We will see soon enough what the Kraken do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.