The Seattle Kraken are joining the NHL for the 2021-22 season and will play in the Pacific Division. The front office and coaching staff have taken shape, and Climate Pledge Arena is on track to be ready, but the team needs players.
The Kraken will select one player each from 30 NHL teams, as the Vegas Golden Knights are exempt from this draft -- they just entered the league in 2017. The selections will be revealed beginning on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET during a 90-minute special on ESPN2.
Teams could have protected seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie, or they could have protected eight skaters and a goalie if they felt the need to protect a fourth defenseman -- something the Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs opted to do.