It sure is fun imagining former Tri-City American Carey Price tending goal for the Seattle Kraken when the NHL comes to Seattle for good next season. Right, Montreal leaving him unprotected is just a between-the-pipes dream, but still, more on that below.

Seattle Kraken
Seattle Kraken
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To recap, here are the rules that are in place when the Seattle Kraken make their selections in the NHL Expansion Draft some time in early-to-mid-summer of 2021.

All teams except the Las Vegas Golden Knights, who are exempt, have two options for protecting players.

  • Option 1: Protect seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie.
  • Option 2: Protect eight skaters, in any combination of forwards or defensemen, and one goalie.

At least one defenseman, two forwards, (who played at least 40 games in the prior year or 70 games in the two previous years), and one goalie that are under contract (goalies can be restricted free agents as well).

First and second-year players, in addition to unsigned draft choices, are exempt. Many young players are ineligible because they have not had enough games in the NHL in the last two years.

That means Centers Michael Rasmussen and Morgan Geekie, of the Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes respectively, along with Calgary Flames Defenseman Jusso Valimaki, will not be eligible for the draft as all three will be second-year players.

Goaltenders Eric Comrie and Chris Driedger of the Winnipeg Jets and Florida Panthers respectively are potentially in the plans of the club's GM Ron Francis. Oh, and speaking of legendary Americans goalkeeps, our good friend, Olaf Kolzig, would be a fine, fine Kraken koac, er, coach.

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Actually, Carey Price becoming the Kraken netminder might not be too far fetched as this piece illustrates.

Brandon Carlo, a restricted free agent in 2021, might look real good on the Kraken D, and things are very much up in the air roster wise with the Boston Bruins right now.

In the interim, the NHL's Final Four in 2020 are the New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and Las Vegas Golden Knights.

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