With the Seattle Kraken making their final payment a few weeks ago, the team is now free to make trades and sign players. Using the 'Seattle Expansion Draft Simulator' on www.capfriendly.com can be a little overwhelming, so I thought I would make an attempt at each team and what players would be protected and what players might make up the initial Seattle roster. Of course, there will be some trades from teams wanting Seattle to pick certain players for draft picks and/or other players.

The Seattle Kraken will be a welcome addition to the Wild West!

Forwards

Jason Zucker – Pittsburgh (29 years old) ($5.5 million AAV/2 years then UFA). Zucker struggled a little this season with nine goals and 18 points (0.47 pts/game) in 38 games with the Penguins. He has one goal in four games in the playoffs so far and should be good for 20-25 goals in an 82-game schedule for the next year or two. I've exposed him in the expansion draft as I don't think the Penguins will choose him over Jared McCann or Brandon Tanev.

Alexander Kerfoot – Toronto (26) ($3.5/2/UFA). The Leafs need to expose two forwards that meet the requirements and one is Pierre Engvall and the other comes down to Kerfoot or William Nylander and that is a pretty easy choice in the end. This a potential trade for the Kraken as the Leafs won't want to part with Kerfoot or Justin Holl on defense. Kerfoot is a very dependable, hard-working 3rd liner that could get 12-18 goals and 35-40 points.

Marcus Foligno – Minnesota (29) ($3.1/3/UFA). This came down to protecting Matt Dumba or Foligno and even though Foligno had decent production in 39 games with 26 points, he is not the player Dumba is. He's a physical third-line player that should be good for 10-15 goals and 25-35 points in a season. Another potential trade for the Kraken as the Wild will not want to lose him.

Miles Wood – New Jersey (25) ($2.75/1/RFA). The Devils need to leave two of Nico Hischier, Andreas Johnsson, Jesper Bratt, Pavel Zacha and Wood. It comes down to Johnsson and Wood for me even though Wood had 17 goals this season in 55 games (25-goal pace), Hischier, Bratt and Zacha are the easier choices. An emerging theme for most forwards listed here will be that they are mostly 2nd and 3rd line players.

Luke Kunin – Nashville (23) ($2.3/1/RFA). This pick comes down to Calle Jarnkrok or Kunin and I think that the Kraken will go with the younger player with more offensive upside as they are going to have plenty of third-line players already.

Alexander Volkov – Anaheim (23) ($0.75/1/RFA). Volkov came to Anaheim from Tampa Bay and played the last 18 games with the Ducks this season and had four goals and eight points. There is a chance that Anaheim saw enough from him to protect, but it is doubtful. He has potential but his window is closing at 23-years old.

Anders Bjork – Buffalo (24) ($1.6/2/RFA). I don't think Bjork will be protected by the Sabres over the likes of Tage Thompson or Rasmus Asplund, so should be a solid 3rd or 4th line player for the Kraken.

Josh Archibald – Edmonton (28) ($1.5/1/UFA) Archibald is a hitting machine who had 192 hits in 52 games with the Oilers this season. He's also quite capable of chipping in with 10-12 goals and 25-30 points each season but his offensive ceiling is limited. 

Trevor Moore – Los Angeles (26) (RFA). The former Maple Leaf had a decent season this year with 10 goals and 23 points in 56 games, his first full season in the NHL.

Mason Appleton – Winnipeg (25) ($0.9/1/RFA). Appleton had his finest season yet in his career with 12 goals and 25 points in 56 games. He is another 3rd line player that can add depth to the Kraken.

Nolan Patrick – Philadelphia (22) (RFA). The Flyers’ choice comes down to Patrick or Scott Laughton and I think they will choose Laughton as there are so many question marks about Patrick's health and play. This is another trade opportunity for the Kraken as the Flyers won't want to part with either player. Patrick had four goals and nine points in 52 games this season and was minus 30 even though he had a decent Corsi and did generate scoring chances.

Joe Pavelski – Dallas (36) ($7.0/1/UFA). I think the Kraken choose Pavelski or at least get some value from the Stars to not choose him as it is probably the last place he would want to go in what is more than likely one of his last seasons in the league. If he does go to Seattle, then they get a veteran player that can provide some offense.

Colin Blackwell – NY Rangers (28) ($0.725/1/UFA). Blackwell had a decent season with the Rangers and had 12 goals and 22 points in 47 games. He's a cost-effective third or fourth-line player that will provide good play for the next year or two.

Kole Lind – Vancouver (22) (RFA). Having watched the Canucks a lot this season, I think they are going to protect Matthew Highmore over Lind as Highmore is much further along than Lind in being an NHL player and I don't think the offensive difference between the two outweighs the value over Highmore. Lind is 22 and I don't think he showed enough in his six games to warrant protection.

Alex True – San Jose (23) (RFA). I think the Sharks will expose both Logan Couture and Evander Kane so that they can protect Rudolfs Balcers and Jonathan Dahlen. The Kraken probably won't take either long-term contract unless they are enticed with some value in return, so that leaves 23-year old True as a possible pick up.

Matthew Phillips – Calgary (23) (RFA). With Milan Lucic waiving his no-movement clause, it allows the Flames to protect one of Andrew Mangiapane or Mikael Backlund and I believe they will protect Mangiapane. I don't think the Kraken will want Backlund at 32-years of age with three years remaining on a contract at $5.35 million AAV. Once again, Seattle could leverage this and pick Backlund and hope for some other value in return.

Eric Robinson – Columbus (25) ($0.975/1/UFA). The Blue Jackets could leave Max Domi or Gustav Nyquist unprotected but more than likely will protect Domi, so that leaves Robinson and Kevin Stenlund as the best candidates for Seattle to add to their roster. Robinson is another physical third or fourth liner that has decent analytics.

Defense

Cal Foote – Tampa Bay (22) (RFA). The Lightning might protect Foote and leave Ryan McDonagh exposed as Foote has a lot of potential. Losing McDonagh would leave a large hole on their backend in the short term, but losing Foote will hurt in the long term. I don't see the Lightning leaving Erik Cernak exposed as if they do the Kraken will surely take him or require value in return. This is a win-win for Seattle no matter what.

Nick Leddy – NY Islanders (30) ($5.5/1/UFA). This pick comes down to Leddy or Scott Mayfield and I think the Islanders will choose Mayfield as they have him signed for about $4 million less and one more season than Leddy. Leddy would be a good addition to the Kraken who has some offensive potential and can run a power play.

Ryan Graves – Colorado ($3.16/2/UFA). It will be interesting to see if Erik Johnson waives his NMC to allow the Avalanche to protect Devon Toews and/or Ryan Graves. As it stands, I think the Avalanche will protect Toews, Cale Makar, Samuel Girard and Johnson, leaving Graves unprotected. To protect the four defensemen, the team will have to leave Nazem Kadri and Tyson Jost unprotected. Like the Lightning and their roster, the Kraken will only benefit from the Avalanche. 

Vince Dunn – St. Louis (24) (RFA). Dunn is 24 years old now and has been in the NHL for four seasons now. He played a career-high of 19:15/game this season, but still struggles away from the puck. His offensive potential is there and the Kraken could be the team to give him the reigns to flourish.

Troy Stecher – Detroit (27) ($1.7/1/UFA). The difference between the Red Wings and the Lightning or Avalanche is evident when you look at the players that are available to Seattle. It is slim pickings in Detroit and Stecher would provide the team with a dependable bottom pairing defenseman that doesn't break the bank.

Connor Clifton – Boston (26) ($1.0/2/UFA). Clifton was a healthy scratch a few times this season with Boston but has performed well at times. He plays a very physical style for a smaller defenseman and would be a good addition for the Kraken.

Jake Bean – Carolina (22) (RFA). The most intriguing players from the Hurricanes that could be available are Jesper Fast, Nino Niederreiter, Brady Skjei and Jake Bean. If available, Bean is the easy choice for Seattle as he is only 22-years old and has the offensive potential of Vince Dunn.

Riley Stillman – Chicago (23) ($1.35/3/RFA). Chicago could leave the likes of Adam Gaudette or Brandon Hagel exposed but Stillman would provide cost certainty over the next three seasons while remaining a restricted free agent at the end.

Gustav Forsling – Florida (24) (RFA). Two years ago, I said that Forsling wasn't a good enough player to not provide an offensive component to his game and that he would be out of the NHL if he didn't find that soon. Last season he proved me right as he was out of the NHL. The funny thing is he came back with Florida this season and is a much better player than he ever was and has proven me wrong. His OZ starts are only 42% but he has a CF% at 52.8 and his net expected goals at ES was 5.48 during the regular season with Florida. He has also provided some offense with five goals and 17 points in 43 games. He would be an intriguing addition to Seattle. 

Goalies

Darcy Kuemper – Arizona (31) ($4.5/1/UFA). After two seasons in a row of Goals saved above average of 26.61 and 16.27, Kuemper struggled this season and was minus 0.68 in an injury-plagued season where he only played 27 games. This after a season where he only played 29 games. I do think the Coyotes will protect Adin Hill who is 26 years old and that the Kraken would be wise to pick Kuemper if available.

Jake Allen – Montreal (30) ($2.875/2/UFA). I think that Seattle will go with two veteran goalies in year one with a little cost certainty. Allen provides that for the next two seasons along with Kuemper who is signed for one more year.

Filip Gustavsson – Ottawa (22) (RFA). If the Senators elect to protect Gustavsson over Matt Murray (they probably should), then I don't think Seattle moves on Murray, but if Gustavsson is available they will pounce. Gustavsson was impressive in nine games this season with five wins, a 93.3 save percentage and 6.37 GSAA.

Vitek Vanecek – Washington (25) ($0.716/1/RFA). Vanecek played fairly well when Ilya Samsonov went down with an injury. He had 21 wins in 37 games but was just average as his GSAA was minus 0.15 and his save percentage was 90.8. He has potential that I'm sure the Kraken would love to have under their umbrella.

I assume the Kraken won't want to be saddled with longer-term contracts and diminishing returns on older, more expensive players. This is the area where the Vegas Golden Knights flourished as teams lined up to give them great value to take some of those contracts with younger prospects and draft picks. I don't think Seattle will do quite as well, but there will be some deals made that will benefit them over the players you see listed above.

The other areas that I don't think the Kraken will even touch are players that are somewhat controversial or have/had issues off the ice (Jake Virtanen, Austin Watson, Tony D'Angelo etc.).

We will have weekly leaders back against next week when a few more games have been played in the playoffs.

Thank you very much for reading and if you have any comments or suggestions please message me or follow me on Twitter @gampbler15.