Seattle Kraken: Alexander Volkov should be top target from Tampa
The Seattle Kraken ought to keep a very close eye on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Alexander Volkov.
It might be a while before the Seattle Kraken pick their team, but it’s never too early to start thinking about expansion draft targets. Next offseason, the Kraken will get a very unique opportunity. They’ll get to start a team from scratch. The Kraken will get to select someone from every team except the Vegas Golden Knights.
One of the teams the Kraken could take advantage of is the Tampa Bay Lightning. Many teams will be up against the salary cap ceiling next offseason and the Lightning will likely be among them. The Golden Knights took advantage of teams like them at the 2018 expansion draft, most notably the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild.
Don’t be surprised if the Kraken follow suit. Washington native Tyler Johnson would be a good first team captain, no? Even if the Kraken decide to take him, why not get a free asset or too for doing so? Johnson’s a quality player, but they’d love to get his $5 million cap hit through 2024 off the books. Seattle should ask them for a young player as an incentive to take Johnson. That young player should be Alexander Volkov.
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What To Know About Volkov
Volkov is the kind of young player the Kraken should be targeting. He’s NHL ready and he has a track of producing at each level. Volkov was drafted in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft by the Lightning as an overager. Most players are 18 (or very close to it) when they’re selected. Volkov was 20 years old.
Tampa liked what they saw from him and got him to North America the year after they drafted him. Volkov has spent the past three seasons with the Syracuse Crunch, who are the AHL affiliate of the Lightning. In each of those seasons, he’s been among their most productive players.
Volkov’s 23 goals led the Crunch and his 45 points were fourth on the team during his rookie season. He also added six points in seven playoff games. In his second season, Volkov again scored 23 goals and saw a slight increase in points to 48. Just like in his rookie season, he was among the team leaders in both categories.
On paper, his 2019-20 season saw him decline a bit, as he put up nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points in 46 games. However, Volkov had roughly the same points per game rate that he had in his first two AHL seasons. Also, he missed AHL time due to injuries and a brief cup of coffee in the NHL.
Next season will be a key one for Volkov. He’s no longer exempt from waivers, so the Lightning will most likely keep him on their roster. Volkov has nothing else to prove in the AHL and he’s proven he’s NHL ready, even if it isn’t in a premier role yet.
In 2017, the Golden Knights managed to get Alex Tuch from the Minnesota Wild. He wound up being a huge part of their Stanley Cup run in 2018 and has since emerged as a crucial player for them. Volkov could be Seattle’s Tuch.
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I see Volkov being an effective third-line forward. He has skill and grit, and he knows how to effectively use both. Those kinds of players are valuable. Look at how much the Lightning gave up for Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow at the 2020 trade deadline. Volkov could become that kind of player.