Seattle Kraken sets first roster, will open season at Vegas

SEATTLE (AP) – What the Seattle Kraken’s draft expansion lacked in drama it made up for with quirks, production, and a huge party to celebrate one of the biggest moves in introducing the newest NHL team.

“I imagined it in a lot of different ways and that’s incredible,” said Seattle coach Dave Hakstol. “All the boats on the lake behind us, the scene on the other side of the stage. It is great.”

All unknowns about Seattle’s picks disappeared when all 30 names leaked on the shores of Lake Union hours before the pick was announced. It was one more celebratory night to unveil the core of a team that will debut in a matchup between the league’s newest teams in Vegas in mid-October and play their first home game against rivals Vancouver on October 23.

A selection was announced by an octopus from the Seattle Aquarium. Another was written on a fish thrown at the city’s iconic Pike Place Market. And there was an assembly line of Seattle sports stars attending, from Sue Bird to Marshawn Lynch.

Fans of all types of water equipment – paddleboards, kayaks, and boats of all sizes – caused a flotilla jam on Lake Union. There were giant inflatable squids, makeshift Stanley Cups, and when Gary Bettman showed up on the bank he was booed like all police officers.

“It proves you’re a real hockey fan,” Bettman said to the group on the water, which led to chants of “Gary, Gary, Gary!”

It was clear that flexibility in the salary cap was one of Seattle’s top priorities when drawing up its first roster. Of the 30 players selected, Seattle has pledged just $ 54 million out of a possible $ 81.5 million, without a few restricted free agents who will push the number to $ 60 million should they stay.

The side deals and trades that Vegas had used to fleece the league four years ago were absent this time around. Vegas announced 10 trades during its draft expansion; Seattle, zero.

“Last time (with Vegas) the teams paid a price to stay away from guys. This time they weren’t ready to do that because the GMs learned, ”said Ron Francis, Seattle general manager. “They wanted us to take bad money or bad contracts to keep someone exposed and for us (Cap Space) was the most valuable asset we had right now, especially in a potentially flat cap environment for an or two years. “

Defense was clearly a priority for Seattle, whether to build its own depth or to have the ability to flip players for other options. A few seem to stay, like Adam Larsson and Jamie Oleksiak, both unrestricted free agents who have signed long-term contracts with Seattle. Larsson was awarded a four-year contract for $ 16 million and Oleksiak received $ 23 million over five years.

Calgary veteran Mark Giordano was considered a possible option for the flip but seemed unlikely when he took the stage and donned the Kraken home shirt.

Giordano, 37, has the biggest cap hit of any player but could soon be wearing the captain’s “C” when they open their first season.

“Today feels a little different but it was crazy last day or so,” said Giordano. “This is the first time in my career that I’ve been drafted. Thank you to the Kraken and I’m happy to be here.”

As far as other players were selected, the Kraken got their goalkeeper in late blooming Chris Driedger and seasoned strikers Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann. Seattle brought in Tampa Bay striker Yanni Gourde but he will miss at least the first month of the season after shoulder surgery.

Seattle handed over high-profile goalkeeper Carey Price, who brought Montreal fresh to the Stanley Cup final, and instead chose to sign Driedger on a three-year $ 10.5 million deal. Price, 33, has a $ 10.5 million cap hit – annually – and a questionable injury history.

“When I somehow arranged myself, I had no idea who my goalkeeping partner would be,” said Driedger. “In this situation I just rely on myself. There will be competition everywhere in the NHL. “

Seattle also brought in goalkeepers Vitek Vanecek from Washington and Joey Daccord from Ottawa. Driedger and Vanecek together cost less than half the price.

Eberle, one of the few players at the event, called it a “new challenge”.

“You don’t get a lot of opportunities to join a new franchise,” said Eberle, who came from the New York Islanders. “Every time you have the opportunity to bring the Cup to a city that has never been there before, it’s very special.”

Seattle had already hosted the Stanley Cup in 1917 when the city’s team was the Metropolitans.

It’s up to Francis and the Kraken to try to bring it back, and the expansion strategy seemed to mimic the Golden Knights by hitting some off-the-board picks instead of taking big stars.

“I have great faith in Ron Francis’ ability to build a team,” said Dredger. “He knows what he is doing.”

Boston defender Jeremy Lauzon will go down in the record books as Seattle’s first draft expansion. Kole Lind from Vancouver was 30.

“A great list of guys here,” said Oleksiak of the squad. “It’s a new team team and it’s got a lot of opportunities for the guys and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

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AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno and John Wawrow contributed to this report.

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