2021 NHL Expansion Draft: Seattle Kraken reveal clear identity, ethos with picks

It is clear that the Seattle Kraken are going to embody what makes their home city so great.

From Sue Bird to the Legion of Boom to those tough as nails Seattle Supersonic teams, the Seattle sports scene prides itself on being gritty and hard to play against, and the Seattle Kraken want to adopt that philosophy too.

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We’ve just wrapped up the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft and, while there are still many questions to be answered, the Kraken made it abundantly clear that they will play the game of hockey the right way on a night-to-night basis while building this franchise from the ground floor up.

General Manager Ron Francis has built a roster that will be hard to break down, with Mark Giordano, Jamie Oleksiak and Carson Soucy making up what will be an intimidating blueline unit, while forwards Brandon Tanev, Colin Blackwell, Yanni Gourde and Jared McCann will bring a bucketload of energy, grit, heart and soul.

Kurtis MacDermid was another big-bodied blueliner added to the mix, while Adam Larsson, who was signed to a four-year, $16 million deal, and Vince Dunn will ensure that the Kraken also have defensemen who can move the puck and provide offense.

Seattle Kraken are established a clear identity with their Expansion Draft picks

Just look at the below graphic and you will immediately understand that Seattle is building from the blueline out, and they are going to play a physical, intimidating brand of hockey with the ability to absolutely pummel the crap out of teams.

If you look at all the players selected by the Kraken though, it is clear that this team will be built very much in the image of Francis and Head Coach Dave Hakstol, and they are going to grind you down before delivering a knockout punch.

They took players who can certainly provide an offensive punch like top-six forward Jordan Eberle who was selected from the New York Islanders, and versatile forward Calle Jarnkrok who can be used in all situations.

Put simply; this Kraken team will work hard, they will play hard and they will very much play a brand of hockey that perfectly illustrates what the city of Seattle is all about, and you can see that this team will be loved by its fans.

Another interesting trend from the Expansion Draft was the long-build approach the front office clearly took when constructing this roster.

For instance, they took a number of young players with high upside, like Boston Bruins defenseman Jeremy Lauzon, Buffalo Sabres blueliner Will Borgen, Carolina Hurricanes forward Morgan Geekie, Washington Capitals goalie Vitek Vanecek and San Jose Sharks prospect Alexander True.

By selecting those players, the Kraken are stating their intentions to build this organization from the ground floor up and carefully construct a team that can enjoy sustainable success both now and in the future, rather than just for the short-term.

Don’t forget, either, that Seattle also holds the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, so they will an opportunity on Friday to add a legit young game-changer to their franchise, one that could perhaps make an immediate impact in the NHL.

While it is still early days, it doesn’t appear as though Francis and Seattle will be as aggressive as the Golden Knights were during their inaugural year and beyond, but they have certainly taken the same approach when it comes to building a team around unpolished gems and players with a point to prove, with a handful of veterans thrown in to provide leadership and guidance.

Of course, by going down the road they did and not selecting some of the big names left exposed, the Kraken will have a boatload of cap space to play with come Free Agency, and it is entirely possible that they go out and make a big splash by acquiring a big name Free Agent or exploring the trade market for a star.

However, whatever they do in the coming days and weeks, the Seattle Kraken have already established an identity that will be built on playing a tough brand of hockey while building through the Draft and nurturing and developing prospects and young studs, in addition to stockpiling cap space that can be used down the road.

And that isn’t a bad approach to take.