Vancouver Canucks losing top prospect to the Seattle Kraken: reports

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — With the NHL’s expansion draft just hours away, speculation is building over who will the Canucks lose to the Seattle Kraken.

The Canucks will be forced to give up a player to allow the new Kraken team to build up its roster.

The stage is set. Your city. Your team.

Seattle, it’s time. pic.twitter.com/3VAGUuRXBf

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) July 21, 2021

Seattle’s NHL team was officially born April 30, becoming the league’s 32nd team for the 2021-2022 season.

The NHL says the Kraken will fall under the same rules as the Vegas Golden Knights did when they joined in 2017.

They can grab a total of 30 players from each team, 14 forwards, nine defensemen, and three goalies.

Sportsnet 650 host Caroline Frolic says there’s already a lot coming down but nothing is official until tonight.

There are reports that the Kraken have already selected three goalies before noon, and there’s rumours top prospect Kole Lind will be snatched from the Canucks.

The Kraken will reportedly select Kole Lind from the Canucks in the expansion draft.https://t.co/VdSqHjckwZ

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 21, 2021

 

So far, Canucks goalie Braden Holtby, remains a Canuck despite earlier whisperings that he would be stolen by Seattle.

B.C.’s own Carey Price, so far, remains property of the Montreal Canadiens. With reports indicating that the Kraken did not take him away from the Les Habitants (Habs).

But the future of many names on the Canucks roster is still unknown. They include Jay Beagle, Loui Erikkson, Matthew Highmore, Antoine Roussell, Jake Virtanen, and Madison Bowey.

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But fans will sleep easy knowing that Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, JT Miller, Nate Schmidt, and the newly acquired Jason Dickinson aren’t going anywhere, as they sit pretty on the ‘protection list.’ Each team was allowed to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie under certain conditions.

The BCLC says people are placing their wagers on which players will be lured away by the Kraken.

It's another busy week in the NHL offseason! Which #Canucks player could the Seattle Kraken select in the Expansion Draft? Who will the Canucks select with their first pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft?

Learn more here: https://t.co/wA4P3a5imx

19+

— BCLC (@BCLC) July 19, 2021

The betting favourite is prospect Kole Lind with (3.00 / +200) odds. Goaltender Braden Holtby (5.00 / +400) and Jonah Gadjovich (7.00 / +600) could also be of interest to Seattle, as could players such as Zack MacEwen (7.00 / +600) or Matthew Highmore (11.00 / +1000).

The BCLC says Wednesday’s excitement is a preview of the upcoming NHL draft, where the Canucks will be selecting in the top 10.

– With files from Jonathan Szekeres