Zak MacMillan

"CBJ"

Harrisburg, PA • United States • 23 Years Old • Male

What's Kraken - Who Makes Sense for Seattle on Columbus

With Columbus' rough stretch going on, let's venture into the expansion draft in July 2021. The Blue Jackets are in a much better predicament than 2017 came. Let's rewind:

The Columbus Blue Jackets dealt:
2017 1st Round Draft Pick (#24 -> LW Kristian Vesalainen)
2019 2nd Round Draft Pick (#50 -> LW Samuel Fageno)
RW David Clarkson (LTIR)

To Vegas Golden Knights
Draft Considerations (promise to claim C William Karlsson)

Columbus left players like LD Ryan Murray and RW Josh Anderson exposed, worrying if they will lose a quality player, they coughed up a bottom-six forward in Columbus with potential. Now, Karlsson has been the Golden Knights' number one center after bringing the club a 40 goal season and a Stanley Cup appearance in their inaugural season, and a 2020 Western Conference appearance in the playoff bubble in Edmonton.

The 2021 Expansion Draft has a lot of expiring contracts and rookies that will be left off for Columbus. Here is a list of pending UFAs and RFAs in that order, followed by rookies.

Exempted Players

UFAs
LW Nick Foligno
RD David Savard
C Riley Nash
LD Michael Del Zotto
RW Mikhail Grigorenko
C Zac Dalpe
LW Stefan Matteau
C Ryan MacInnis
C Brandon Dubinsky (LTIR)
RD Adam Clendenning
LD Gavin Bayreuther

RFA
RW Patrik Laine
C Alexandre Texier
C Kevin Stenlund
G Cam Johnson
RW Cliff Pu
RW Kole Sherwood
C Calvin Thurkauf
G Veini Vehvilainen

Exempted
G Elvis Merzlikins
C Emil Bemstrom
C Alexandre Texier
C Liam Foudy
RW Trey Fix-Wolansky
RW Daniel Zaar
LD Tim Berni
LD Jacob Christinasen
RD Andrew Peeke
G Veini Vehvilainen
G Daniil Tarasov

Columbus has the choice to select either 7 forwards and 3 defensemen or 4 forwards and 4 defensemen. If 7 the choice seems easy, as Cam Atkinson, Gustav Nyquist, Max Domi, Boone Jenner, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Jack Roslovic being 6 easy choices. If it comes to a seventh forward, there is the option to select a pending free agent, ensuring the prevention of a departure, or selecting winger Eric Robinson. On the defense, there is Seth Jones and Zach Werenski that are locks. The final option comes to Savard, Kukan, or Gavrikov. Of the choices between Gavrikov or Kukan, Gavrikov is a top four, and the better selection over Kuks.

7/3/1:
RW Cam Atkinson
RW Oliver Bjorkstrand
RW Gustav Nyqvist
C Max Domi
C Boone Jenner
C Jack Roslovic
LW Eric Robinson

LD Zach Werenski
RD Seth Jones
LD Vladislav Gavrikov

G Jonas Korpisalo

Exposed: LD Dean Kukan, LW Nick Foligno (UFA), RD David Savard (UFA), RW Patrik Laine (RFA), C Mikhail Grigorenko (UFA), LD Michael Del Zotto (UFA)

For 4 and 4, theres Jones, Werenski, Gavrikov and Kukan to protect, where offensively there is Atkinson and Bjorkstrand to be locks. If it comes to the final two, risk Nyqvist as he hasn't played this season and let the scrunity come over Domi as he has had a rough season, and protect Jenner and the hometown Roslovic.

4/4/1:
RW Cam Atkinson
RW Oliver Bjorkstrand
C Boone Jenner
C Jack Roslovic

LD Zach Werenski
RD Seth Jones
LD Vladislav Gavrikov
LD Dean Kukan

G Jonas Korpisalo

Exposed: RW Gustav Nyqvist, C Max Domi, LW Eric Robinson, LW Nick Foligno (UFA), RD David Savard (UFA), RW Patrik Laine (RFA), LD Michael Del Zotto (UFA)

If Seattle goes with 4/4/1 outlook, take Domi and hope he recovers strongly in the expansion city; but with the 7/3/1, select Kukan as that'll be the best talent on the Columbus market.

What are your thoughts on the Columbus outlook for the Seattle Kraken 2021 NHL Expansion Draft? More to come...

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