Seattle Kraken Sets First Roster, Will Open Season at Vegas

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Kraken have set their initial roster. The NHL's newest expansion team unveiled all 30 picks at a ceremony near Lake Union with Commissioner Gary Bettman in attendance. Seattle took Calgary captain Mark Giordano and New York Islanders winger Jordan Eberle among their picks.  It was a celebratory night. The team will make its debut at Vegas in mid-October in a matchup of the NHL's two newest teams. The Kraken will play their first home game on Oct. 23 against rival Vancouver.

In the weeks leading up to the expansion draft, the Kraken were speculated to be ready to take Montreal goalie Carey Price, who was left unprotected by the franchise. However, they did not, but they did end up taking another former Tri-City American, Morgan Geekie who skated at Toyota Center just a few years ago.

The Kraken will be playing their home pre-season games away from Climate Pledge Arena while it's being finished. They will have games in Kent (Seattle), Spokane and Everett.  However, no pre-season game at Toyota Center.

But that's in large part because the team is only playing six pre-season contests. 3 'home' and 3 on the road, and Tri-City was left on the outside.