2021 NHL expansion draft
Seattle Kraken selected 30 players in the 2021 expansion draft.
The 2021 NHL expansion draft took place on July 21, 2021, at Gas Works Park in Seattle, Washington. Its purpose was to stock the roster of the league’s newest team, the Seattle Kraken, for the 2021–22 season. The Kraken had been approved as an expansion franchise in 2018 and officially joined the NHL at the start of 2021. The draft followed the same rules as the 2017 expansion draft for the Vegas Golden Knights, with one key difference: Vegas was exempt from losing any players, a condition negotiated in exchange for forgoing a share of Seattle’s expansion fee. Thirty of the league’s 31 teams (all except the Golden Knights) submitted lists of protected players, and the Kraken selected one player from each of those 30 teams. Of the 30 players chosen, 25 ultimately played for the Kraken.
Before the draft, Seattle had a three-day window to sign unprotected free agents. During that period, they signed defensemen Adam Larsson and Jamie Oleksiak, and goaltender Chris Driedger. These signings counted as the Kraken’s selections from the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, and Florida Panthers, respectively.
The Kraken’s path to the draft began on December 4, 2017, when the NHL Board of Governors agreed to consider an expansion application from Seattle, setting the expansion fee at $650 million. On February 13, 2018, the Oak View Group submitted a formal application and paid a $10 million fee. The Board of Governors voted unanimously to approve the new team on December 4, 2018. In July 2019, the franchise hired Ron Francis as its first general manager, tasking him with overseeing hockey operations, including player personnel, coaching, scouting, and minor league affiliates. Francis later said he prioritized speed, character, and competitiveness when building the roster. The team name—Seattle Kraken—along with its colors, branding, and home jersey, was announced in July 2020. On April 30, 2021, the franchise paid the final installment of the $650 million expansion fee, officially becoming the NHL’s 32nd team. The Kraken signed their first player, Luke Henman, to a three-year entry-level contract on May 12. In June, they named Dave Hakstol as their inaugural head coach.
The draft rules mirrored those of the 2017 expansion draft. Each of the 30 other teams submitted their protected player lists on July 18.
Quick Facts
- Date
- July 21, 2021
- Location
- Gas Works Park; Seattle, Washington, U.S.
- League
- National Hockey League
- Expansion team
- Seattle Kraken
- Expansion season
- 2021–22
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
On December 4, 2017, the NHL Board of Governors agreed to consider an expansion application from Seattle for a new NHL team, with an expansion fee set at US$650 million. On February 13, 2018, the Oak View Group filed an application with the NHL for an expansion team and paid a $10 million application fee. On December 4, the NHL Board of Governors voted unanimously to approve the addition of Seattle's expansion team into the league. On July 18, 2019, the organization hired Ron Francis to serve as their general manager to initiate operations for the team. In July 2020, the franchise announced their team name—the Seattle Kraken—as well as their team colors, branding, and home jersey. On April 30, 2021, the franchise paid the final installment of the US$650 million expansion fee, officially making the Seattle Kraken the 32nd team of the NHL. On May 12, the Kraken signed their first player—Luke Henman—to a three-year, entry-level contract. In June, the Kraken named Dave Hakstol as their inaugural head coach.
Reader's Guide
The 2021 NHL expansion draft established the Seattle Kraken as the league's 32nd franchise, following the model of the 2017 expansion draft for the Vegas Golden Knights. The draft's rules required teams to protect a set number of players and expose others, with the Kraken selecting 30 players total. Prior to the draft, the Kraken had an exclusive three-day free agent signing period, in which they signed Adam Larsson, Jamie Oleksiak, and Chris Driedger, all of whom counted as selections. The draft took place at Gas Works Park in Seattle, with several Seattle sports figures and celebrities announcing picks. Of the 30 players selected, 25 ultimately played for the team. The draft's significance lies in its role in building the inaugural roster of a new NHL franchise, with the Kraken making subsequent trades involving some of the selected players. The event also marked the culmination of a multi-year expansion process that began with the NHL's consideration of Seattle in 2017 and included the payment of a US$650 million expansion fee.
Did You Know?
- Several Seattle sports figures announced draft picks, including Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, Marshawn Lynch, Sue Bird (via video conference), and Macklemore.
- On July 22, 2021, the Kraken made their first trade in team history, sending Tyler Pitlick to the Calgary Flames for a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL entry draft.
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