As the NHL confirmed yesterday, the Seattle Kraken have officially joined the league after making the final payment of their $650 million expansion fee, which allows them to make trades and sign free agents ahead of the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft on July 21.
The Kraken’s general manager Ron Francis has already been able to talk to his colleagues around the league and is now officially allowed to attend General Manager’s meetings. According to Francis, he and his staff have been actively looking at potential signings in all three major junior leagues as well as in Europe.