| GhostRiver/kraken | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Date(s) | July 21, 2021 |
| Time | 8 p.m. (ET) / 5 p.m. (PT) |
| Location | Gas Works Park (Seattle, Washington) |
| Network(s) | |
| Sponsored by | Upper Deck |
| Overview | |
| 30 total selections | |
| League | National Hockey League |
| Expansion teams | Seattle Kraken |
| Expansion season | 2021–22 |
The 2021 NHL Expansion Draft was held on July 21, 2021, at Gas Works Park in Seattle. The National Hockey League (NHL) conducted the expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken to build their roster prior to the team's debut during the 2021–22 NHL season.
Background edit
Professional ice hockey in Seattle began with the Seattle Metropolitans in 1915 and continued through 1975 with the Seattle Totems.[1] While Totems owner Vince Abbey was awarded a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise in Seattle as part of a 1974 expansion, he failed to make a required payment, and the league rescinded the offer. Another attempt at a Seattle expansion team, headed by Bill MacFarland in 1990, failed when Bill Ackerley withdrew his support.[2] Further complicating expansion efforts was a 1994-95 rebuild of the KeyArena, which left the playing surface too small to meet NHL standards.[3]
Hopes for a Seattle team resurfaced in December 2017, when the Seattle City Council approved a memorandum of understanding for a $600 million renovation of KeyArena.[4] The renovations took place over three years, during which the stadium, renamed Climate Pledge Arena, nearly doubled its square footage.[5] That month, the NHL announced that it would accept an expansion application from Seattle, with considerations based on a season ticket deposit drive to gauge interest.[6] The Oak View Group filed its application in February 2018, with the understanding that the team would begin play once arena renovations were complete.[7] and the league approved the franchise on December 4, 2018, with the season to begin during the 2021-22 season.[8]
Procedure edit
The Seattle Kraken followed the same procedure that the Vegas Golden Knights had during the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft.[9] Seattle had to select one player from every NHL team except the Golden Knights, who agreed to forfeit their share of the NHL's expansion fee in exchange for a draft exemption.[10] The Kraken had an exclusive window from July 18 to 21 to interview and sign pending free agents. If they signed a player during this span, that player would be counted as their old team's draft pick.[9] Of these 30 selections, at least 14 had to be forwards, nine defensemen, and three goaltenders. At least two-thirds of Seattle's draft picks were required to have a contract for the 2021-22 season, and the total salary of selected players had to add up to between 60 and 100 percent of the previous season's $81.5 million salary cap.[9][11]
Protected players edit
Teams were required to submit their list of protected players to the NHL by 5 p.m. (ET) on July 17, 2021,[12] and the league announced the list of protected players the following day.[13] Once teams submitted their protection lists, all NHL rosters were frozen until 1 p.m. (ET) on July 22.[14]
Players whose names are listed in italics were protected for contractual reasons.[15]
Eastern Conference edit
Western Conference edit
Results edit
The Kraken were required to submit their draft picks to the NHL by 10 a.m. (ET) on July 21, and the results were announced at 8 p.m. that evening.[16] The draft took place at Gas Works Park in Seattle, with free tickets available to the public.[17] Draft picks were announced in alphabetical order of the player's previous team. Selections from the Atlantic Division were first, followed by the Metropolitan and Central, and ending with the Pacific Division.[18][19]
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NHL All-Star |
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Aftermath edit
The Kraken made no trades for "expansion draft considerations", in which assets were exchanged to ensure that Seattle would select or avoid selecting a certain unprotected player.[20] Some expansion players were traded in the days following the draft. Tyler Pitlick went to the Calgary Flames on July 22 in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.[21] On July 27, the Kraken traded Kurtis MacDermid to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.[22] The next day, Seattle returned goaltender Vítek Vaněček to the Washington Capitals, receiving a second-round pick in 2023 that Washington had acquired from the Winnipeg Jets.[23] Two players taken in the expansion draft were pending unrestricted free agents who did not sign with Seattle. Gavin Bayreuther re-signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets on a two-year contract,[24] while John Quenneville joined the ZSC Lions of the Swiss National League.[25]
UFA signings
Draft analysis
References edit
- ^ "Mets, Eskimos, Ironmen, Totems: Seattle's hockey history is richer than you think". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. October 23, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Baker, Scott (December 2, 2018). "More than the Metropolitans: Beforre NHL arrives, a comprehensive Seattle hockey history". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Andriesen, David (January 31, 2007). "Will the puck stop here?". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (December 4, 2017). "NHL? NBA? A look at what could happen now that Seattle approved KeyArena renovation". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Bishop, Greg (April 21, 2023). "How The Kraken Quickly Turned Seattle Into a Hockey Town". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ "Bettman says NHL will consider Seattle expansion bid". USA Today. Associated Press. December 7, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ "Seattle applies for NHL expansion team". National Hockey League. February 13, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ "National Hockey League approves expansion team in Seattle". National Hockey League. Seattle Kraken. December 4, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Kraken 2021 NHL Expansion Draft rules same as Golden Knights followed". National Hockey League. July 20, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
- ^ Granger, Jesse (December 5, 2018). "Exempt from Seattle's expansion draft, Vegas can manipulate that to its benefit". The Athletic. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
- ^ Gulitti, Tom (July 10, 2020). "NHL, NHLPA ratify CBA extension through 2025-26 season". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Spiegel, Jackie (July 18, 2021). "NHL Expansion Draft 2021: Full list of players protected by all 30 teams". The Sporting News. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ "NHL announces protected list for 2021 NHL Expansion Draft". National Hockey League. NHL Public Relations. July 18, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ Myers, Tracey (July 18, 2021). "Kraken excited to begin process of building roster with Expansion Draft". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Douglas, Kayla (July 18, 2021). "Protected lists revealed for Kraken expansion draft". theScore. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ Rosen, Dan (July 21, 2021). "Seattle Kraken to hold 2021 NHL Expansion Draft". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (July 13, 2021). "NHL to hold Kraken expansion draft at Gas Works Park with fans in attendance". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Rosen, Dan (July 21, 2021). "NHL Expansion Draft selection tracker for Kraken". National Hockey League. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ "Seattle Kraken expansion draft live results: Players selected from 30 NHL teams". ESPN. July 21, 2021. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ Larkin, Matt (July 22, 2021). "Winners and Losers of the Kraken Expansion Draft". The Hockey News. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (July 22, 2021). "Kraken makes first franchise trade, sending forward Tyler Pitlick to Calgary for fourth-round draft pick". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Chambers, Mike (July 27, 2021). "Avalanche acquires hulking defenseman Kurtis MacDermid from Seattle Kraken". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Pell, Samantha (July 28, 2021). "A week after losing Vitek Vanecek to Seattle, Capitals reacquire goalie from Kraken". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Hedger, Brian (September 30, 2021). "Selected by Kraken, Bayreuther thrilled with Blue Jackets return: 'I just feel home here'". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ "ZSC Lions testen John Quenneville" (in German). ZSC Lions. August 10, 2021. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2023.