Some very curious picks then that I don't understand at all.
- TheMessiah94

Would love to hear the rationale behind these picks. I get wanting more draft picks, but man...

So Seattle really drafted that team with no side trades? I guess they don’t want to win? Bold strategy
- TPC

Lebrun just tweeted that any trades will be announced after the 1:00 trade freeze is lifted tomorrow.
- TheMessiah94

Ahh, okay.

This makes no sense at all!
- Fenrir

Francis says, “we saw what Vegas did and dont think it worked out at all for them.”

Really expected Gaut to be selected over Blackwell since Francis drafted him. Maybe his stock has fallen and he's not as good a player as once expected.
Good luck to Blackwell, hope he does well out west.
Sorry TJ

Francis says, “we saw what Vegas did and dont think it worked out at all for them.”
- aecliptic

Um, yeah.
We don't want to be competitive out of the gate for the first few years. We want to have a slow burn.

Would love to hear the rationale behind these picks. I get wanting more draft picks, but man...
- Fenrir

Keep in mind that the team that Vegas took in the expansion draft was really a shell of the team they iced in the first game. There were lots of deals that brought in guys like Reilly Smith and Shea Theodore. Given the picks by Seattle I would imagine a lot of similar trades happened, plus the trades to come. They have a ton of cap space and in the flat cap environment cap space is the most valuable asset out there.

Francis says, “we saw what Vegas did and dont think it worked out at all for them.”
- aecliptic

Making the Stanley cup final the first year of existence and the playoffs every year so far isn’t good enough? Lol

Chris Johnston

It doesn't sound like #SeaKraken have too much in the drawer for when the NHL's roster freeze lifts at 1 p.m. ET tomorrow.

They'll be busy in the days/weeks ahead, but only one or two moves expected right out of the gate.

Keep in mind that the team that Vegas took in the expansion draft was really a shell of the team they iced in the first game. There were lots of deals that brought in guys like Reilly Smith and Shea Theodore. Given the picks by Seattle I would imagine a lot of similar trades happened, plus the trades to come. They have a ton of cap space and in the flat cap environment cap space is the most valuable asset out there.
- SkjeiStadium

Saw they took on a few dead contracts too. Imagine this will shake out tomorrow after 1.

So Seattle really drafted that team with no side trades? I guess they don’t want to win? Bold strategy
- TPC

With the flat cap, Francis is putting a premium on having flexibility. His team will be hard working and play with a chip on its shoulder. All that extra cap room will be used to make hockey trades and sign FAs over the course of the next few years.

With the flat cap, Francis is putting a premium on having flexibility. His team will be hard working and play with a chip on its shoulder. All that extra cap room will be used to make hockey trades and sign FAs over the course of the next few years.
- rrentz

With the way hockey is now with the cap it takes away from the players. All everyone discusses is contracts and the cap. Really wish they would move to a soft cap

#SeaKraken made no trades with any teams prior to the expansion draft
- airjan23

Ron Francis was likely first upset due to teams not agreeing to his excessive asking price of a 1st & 3rd Rounder as was rumored he was demanding by some sources, in exchange for him to not select a specific player from them they didn't want to lose, due to their inability to protect that specific player.

But Francis was also upset, including possibly with some of those same teams who exposed a high salaried player they didn't mind losing; to the point that he bypassed them & other better quality name players many insiders expected he would have selected, to choose instead lower priced level talent, including some unknown ones of even lesser talent as sort of his revenge.

Maybe Francis is going to be active in free agency for high quality talent that wasn't made available for him during the Expansion Draft even if being a potential free agent. That in contrast to FA's who were left unprotected, (like Goodrow by the Rangers), whereby Francis would have risked losing the selection from that team, had that team's FA didn't sign with Seattle if Francis selected him.

With the flat cap, Francis is putting a premium on having flexibility. His team will be hard working and play with a chip on its shoulder. All that extra cap room will be used to make hockey trades and sign FAs over the course of the next few years.
- rrentz

But If the team blows will top FAs want to sign there? Money talks for some players but I am curious

With the flat cap, Francis is putting a premium on having flexibility. His team will be hard working and play with a chip on its shoulder. All that extra cap room will be used to make hockey trades and sign FAs over the course of the next few years.
- rrentz

I’m sure there’s a plan but I can’t freaking tell what it is

Making the Stanley cup final the first year of existence and the playoffs every year so far isn’t good enough? Lol
- TPC

That line, and his selections today may change people's thinking of Ron Francis's stature level as a GM.

Ron Francis was likely first upset due to teams not agreeing to his excessive asking price of a 1st & 3rd Rounder as was rumored he was demanding by some sources in exchange for him to not select a specific player from them they didn't want to lose, due to their inability to protect that specific player.

But Francis was also upset, including possibly with some of those same teams who exposed a high salaried player they didn't mind losing; to the point that he bypassed them & other better quality name players many insiders expected he would have selected, to choose instead lower priced & some unknown ones of lesser talent as sort of his revenge.

Maybe Francis is going to be active in free agency for high quality talent that wasn't made available for him during the Expansion Draft even if being a potential free agent. That in contrast to FA's who were left unprotected, (like Goodrow by the Rangers), whereby Francis would have risked losing the selection from that team, had that team's FA didn't sign with Seattle if Francis selected him.
- RangerSaver

You spelled Tony D wrong.

Ron Francis was likely first upset due to teams not agreeing to his excessive asking price of a 1st & 3rd Rounder as was rumored he was demanding by some sources in exchange for him to not select a specific player from them they didn't want to lose, due to their inability to protect that specific player.

But Francis was also upset, including possibly with some of those same teams who exposed a high salaried player they didn't mind losing; to the point that he bypassed them & other better quality name players many insiders expected he would have selected, to choose instead lower priced & some unknown ones of lesser talent as sort of his revenge.

Maybe Francis is going to be active in free agency for high quality talent that wasn't made available for him during the Expansion Draft even if being a potential free agent. That in contrast to FA's who were left unprotected, (like Goodrow by the Rangers), whereby Francis would have risked losing the selection from that team, had that team's FA didn't sign with Seattle if Francis selected him.
- RangerSaver

First of all if Francis made deals they will be announced tomorrow, so saying that he didn't make any is not true as of right now. Also I don't think this was any sort of revenge. He simply looked at the environment in the league and saw that cap space was at a premium and focused on acquiring good contracts. He has the unique opportunity to start a team with 0 bad contracts. Looking at the assets that teams like Arizona can accumulate just by taking on bad contracts it makes a lot of sense to do what Francis is doing.

How do draft picks work for expansion teams? Do they get 1 pick in every round (1st-7th)? Just wondering what they have available to trade besides the players they just got in the draft.

You spelled Tony D wrong.
- Fenrir

Goodrow was one player the Rangers didn't protect despite just acquiring the initial sole right to sign him as a UFA through a low cost trade, due to him being their #1 offseason target for toughness & grit +. But they didn't protect him to the surprise of some, for the reason I mentioned that Francis could have risked had he selected him, but would be unable to sign him.

You are correct in that Francis could have instead selected Tony D. had he wanted to, but didn't because of reasons the entire hockey world is aware of with Tony D., who made his own life harder through unnecessary means deployed which he should have long before then, learned how to avoid again.

With the way hockey is now with the cap it takes away from the players. All everyone discusses is contracts and the cap. Really wish they would move to a soft cap
- nyrangers2

With the soft cap, the "rich" teams would gladly pay a luxury taxes and it would have the same effect on smaller marker teams as no cap

Ron Francis was likely first upset due to teams not agreeing to his excessive asking price of a 1st & 3rd Rounder as was rumored he was demanding by some sources, in exchange for him to not select a specific player from them they didn't want to lose, due to their inability to protect that specific player.

But Francis was also upset, including possibly with some of those same teams who exposed a high salaried player they didn't mind losing; to the point that he bypassed them & other better quality name players many insiders expected he would have selected, to choose instead lower priced level talent, including some unknown ones of even lesser talent as sort of his revenge.

Maybe Francis is going to be active in free agency for high quality talent that wasn't made available for him during the Expansion Draft even if being a potential free agent. That in contrast to FA's who were left unprotected, (like Goodrow by the Rangers), whereby Francis would have risked losing the selection from that team, had that team's FA didn't sign with Seattle if Francis selected him.
- RangerSaver

GMs learned from the last expansion. Francis probably overplayed his hand. Give him credit for not grabbing the high priced players that weren't protected. He didn't take the bait.

new blog up

Ron Francis was likely first upset due to teams not agreeing to his excessive asking price of a 1st & 3rd Rounder as was rumored he was demanding by some sources, in exchange for him to not select a specific player from them they didn't want to lose, due to their inability to protect that specific player.

But Francis was also upset, including possibly with some of those same teams who exposed a high salaried player they didn't mind losing; to the point that he bypassed them & other better quality name players many insiders expected he would have selected, to choose instead lower priced level talent, including some unknown ones of even lesser talent as sort of his revenge.

Maybe Francis is going to be active in free agency for high quality talent that wasn't made available for him during the Expansion Draft even if being a potential free agent. That in contrast to FA's who were left unprotected, (like Goodrow by the Rangers), whereby Francis would have risked losing the selection from that team, had that team's FA didn't sign with Seattle if Francis selected him.
- RangerSaver

GMs learned from the last expansion. Francis probably overplayed his hand. Give him credit for not grabbing the high priced players that weren't protected. He didn't take the bait... Yet

Still much of the Silly Season remaining.

First of all if Francis made deals they will be announced tomorrow, so saying that he didn't make any is not true as of right now. Also I don't think this was any sort of revenge. He simply looked at the environment in the league and saw that cap space was at a premium and focused on acquiring good contracts. He has the unique opportunity to start a team with 0 bad contracts. Looking at the assets that teams like Arizona can accumulate just by taking on bad contracts it makes a lot of sense to do what Francis is doing.
- SkjeiStadium

I didn't catch the update directly myself, but replied with my comment to Jan's initial comment of it posted with his words in part that "Seattle made no trades prior to the Expansion Draft."

Jan nor I never stated that Seattle did not make any trade since the START of the Expansion Draft.

We all already heard of a likely trade agreed upon during early afternoon which was first reported by Rick Carpiniello, simultaneously as leaks from NHL insiders were made known of Seattle's picks to be announced beginning about 7 to 8 hours later.

That trade had Seattle's "rumored" chosen pick from Calgary of Giordano, along with their "rumored" chosen pick from the Rangers of Blackwell; both coming here in exchange for some package when announced tomorrow. However, later word by some insiders have that trade not to take place now. We all have to wait until at least 1:00 pm then to see so.

As far as what I labeled to be sort of like a "revenge," those are the facts. The rumors from NHL insiders were out there a week ago, of Francis wanting a 1st & 3rd rounder ahead of the Exp. draft occurring, in order for a team to not have a player they couldn't protect be selected by Francis. Call it instead if better for you, like I also did there, with him being "UPSET" that no team went for his "game" played there of "PAY UP & YOU SHALL RETAIN THAT PLAYER."