It’s time, it’s time, it’s Vader Seattle Kraken time! The league’s 32nd franchise gets off the ground tonight, making their expansion picks from 30 NHL teams as they begin the process to stock their club.
While most of the picks have been spoiled (don’t click here unless you want to see who the Penguins are going to lose, even though you, smart internet reader, probably already know), there’s still some drama.
Several of Seattle’s picks suggest there are side-deals in place for them to receive extra compensation, and that’s where the fun is. These extra deals are how four years ago the Vegas Golden Knights stocked up on key players like Shea Theodore, Alex Tuch, Reilly Smith and a bevy of first and second round picks that enabled them to make future deals down the line to acquire even more talent like Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty.