Toronto Maple Leafs: Predicting the Entire Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft
By Jeff Borsuk
The Toronto Maple Leafs and the rest of the league have submitted their protection lists. We can now predict how the Settle Kraken expansion draft will go.
All 30 of the teams subjected to Wednesday’s expansion draft (Vegas Golden Knights are exempt) are holding their collective breath this week waiting to see which member of their roster they’re going to lose. The Toronto Maple Leafs are certain to see a valuable player pulled to join the Kraken.
At this time, we don’t know if the Leafs will make a side deal with Seattle’s GM Ron Francis but we do know that they have chosen to protect eight skaters and one goalie. They decided on this option instead of protecting seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie.
We will break down which players each team protected and predict who the Kraken will draft, including off the Leafs.
Anaheim Ducks
All Protection Lists from Capfriendly.com
the Anaheim Ducks have chosen to protect:
Forwards
Jakob Silfverberg
Rickard Rakell
Troy Terry
Nicolas Deslauriers
Isac Lundeström
Sam Steel
Max Jones
Defense
Cam Fowler
Hampus Lindholm
Josh Manson
Goaltender
John Gibson
Prediction: The Kraken will select Sonny Milano. This is a value pick for Francis. Not only does he get a player with just a $1.7 million AAV but, he gets a young player with a high ceiling. Milano, who was the 16th overall pick of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft is just 25 years old. Given the right opportunity, Milano could develop into an important part of Seattle’s offense.
Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes have chosen to protect:
Forwards
Keller, Clayton Keller
Phil Kessel
Nick Schmaltz
Christian Dvorak
Lawson Crouse
Johan Larsson
Conor Garland
Defense
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jakob Chychrun
Kyle Capobianco
Goaltender
Darcy Kuemper
Prediction: The Kraken will select Christian Fischer. This pick likely changed for Francis when Arizona sent goaltender Adin Hill in a trade to the San Jose Sharks. Instead of finding someone to mind their crease, Seattle will look to add a bottom-six forward. Fischer is a former second-round draft pick and only 24 years old. He will be paid $1 million next year before becoming a restricted free agent (RFA) next offseason.