Follow me on Twitter: @BenShelley_20 Follow HockeyBuzz Sharks Twitter: @HB_Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are set to lose a player to the Seattle Kraken in tomorrow’s expansion draft but without many notable players available, it's still up in the air as to who could be selected.
The only slight surprise with the Sharks’ protected list was that Ryan Donato was left unprotected, in favour of Jonathan Dahlen. The other main roster players exposed from the Sharks were Dylan Gambrell, Matt Nieto, Radim Simek and Martin Jones, with Christian Jaros, Nicolas Meloche and Alex True as other potential options for Seattle. From Seattle's perspective though, who would be the best player to select?
We can assume the Kraken will stay away from Jones, while Simek is unlikely to be selected as well, based on the value he brings compared to what he’s being paid. Given Matt Nieto is nearing 30 years old and is only a bottom-six forward, he’s also unlikely to be taken.
I think there’s a chance Seattle could take one of the prospects but when you compare their value against the likes of Donato or Gambrell, who are full-time NHL players at the same age or only slightly older, it seems less likely that any of Jaros, Meloche or True get taken.
This leaves Donato and Gambrell as the two most likely options for the Kraken. Donato scored 20 points in 50 games in his first season with the Sharks, while Gambrell had 12 points in 49 games this season.
To me, Donato is the best player available. Both players have had their ups and downs and I’m not sure that I’d bank on either becoming a long-term fit with Seattle but looking strictly at who has the highest upside, the Kraken should probably go with Donato.
Who knows if that’s what will actually happen and honestly, I think it could go either way, but regardless, it seems highly likely that it’ll be either Donato or Gambrell who gets selected by Kraken.
***NOTE: We've launched a HockeyBuzz Sharks Twitter account! For anyone interested, you can follow @HB_Sharks for updates on articles, Sharks news, etc.***
OTHER ARTICLES FROM JULY Should the Sharks look to trade Tomas Hertl? Who will the Sharks lose in the Expansion Draft? Breaking down the Sharks’ cap situation Looking into a potential rebuild for the Sharks Revisiting the Erik Karlsson trade three years later Should the Sharks look to take Jesper Wallstedt at seventh overall? Sharks are reportedly shopping Kevin Labanc and others Should the Sharks buy out Martin Jones’ contract? Sharks re-sign Josef Korenar Sharks re-sign Dylan Gambrell Sharks are reportedly looking to add a third-line center Sharks acquire goaltender Adin Hill from Coyotes Sharks’ protected list revealed, Ryan Donato left exposed Analyzing the Adin Hill trade