An important draft for the future of the Kraken

After a difficult first season, the Seattle Kraken should have a brighter future in the National Hockey League.

An important draft for the future of the Kraken

After a difficult first season, the Seattle Kraken should have a brighter future in the National Hockey League. The team is counting in particular on the current draft, which is being held in Montreal, to build its future.

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Friday could be a particularly interesting day for the Kraken, who hold four second-round picks (35th, 49th, 60th and 64th). In addition to its own selection, the formation of Seattle has those who belonged to the Nashville Predators, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers.

Former forward Robert Kron is the Kraken's director of scouting, while Mike Dawson is among the scouts who scouted Ontario Junior League and Junior Hockey League prospects, among others. major in Quebec. It was obviously important for them to see the young people at work on many occasions to evaluate them.

"I don't think there's a specific number of times you have to see a player, but it can be five to 15 times, depending on the athlete," Kron said on the Kraken website. Then, with all that, there is the technology that is available. We have the videos, if needed, to dig deeper.”

Beniers: a promising player

Already, in 2021, the Kraken had been able to build via the draft by selecting forward Matty Beniers in second place, behind defender Owen Power, called for his part by the Buffalo Sabers.

Beniers, only 19 years old, has already taken part in 10 games with the Kraken, last season, collecting nine points in the process. With the University of Michigan, the forward scored 43 points, including 20 goals, in 37 games. Defenseman Ryker Evans, who played the past four seasons with the Regina Pats in the JHL West, was picked in the second round (35th overall) in the 2021 draft. He will be one to watch after having garnered 61 points in 63 games last season, in the same formation as the hopeful Connor Bedard, who will be of the next vintage.

A depth to build

This time in 2022, the Kraken had the fourth overall pick on Thursday night, but second-round picks could represent the depth of the team a few years from now.

The Kraken ended their first season with a 27-49-6 record in 2021-22, finishing last in the Pacific Division. This record will certainly improve and perhaps quite quickly if the club makes wise choices on Friday in the repechage.

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