The week of the Kraken continues.
Following Wednesday’s franchise-building expansion draft, Seattle now takes part in its first of many annual NHL events — the entry draft.
The more traditional draft will see the Kraken add amateur prospects to its organization for the first time in franchise history. Seattle selects No. 2 overall in Friday’s first round, which starts at 5 p.m., and then third in each of the next six rounds starting at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Most draft pundits feel the Kraken’s first-round decision effectively comes down to two players — consensus No. 1 overall pick Owen Power, a defenseman from the University of Michigan, and his teammate, center Matthew Beniers. Here’s what to know about the decision.
Follow along with our live updates throughout the 2021 NHL entry draft for full coverage and analysis of the Kraken’s very first amateur draft class.
Jump to: Live updates » | Comments »
Draft times:
1st round: Friday, 5 p.m. PT
2nd-7th rounds: Saturday, 8 a.m. PT
TV/Radio/Stream:
ESPN2 (Friday), NHL Network (Saturday)
Kraken 2021 entry draft class
Here’s a look at each of the picks in the Kraken’s first amateur draft class in franchise history.
Related Kraken
No. 32: Nolan Allan, Chicago Blackhawks
Round 1, Pick 32: Nolan Allan, Chicago Blackhawks
Position: Defenseman
Height, weight: 6-2, 195
Amateur league, team: WHL, Prince Albert
No. 31: Logan Mailloux, Montreal Canadiens
Round 1, Pick 31: Logan Mailloux, Montreal Canadiens
Position: Defenseman
Height, weight: 6-3, 212
Amateur league, team: GOJHL, London
No. 30: Zach Dean, Vegas Golden Knights
Round 1, Pick 30: Zach Dean, Vegas Golden Knights
Position: Center
Height, weight: 6-0, 176
Amateur league, team: QMJHL, Gatineau
No. 29: Chase Stillman, New Jersey Devils
Round 1, Pick 29: Chase Stillman, New Jersey Devils
Position: Right wing
Height, weight: 6-1, 180
Amateur league, team: OHL, Sudbury
Freakin' pumped to add this winger to the family.
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) July 24, 2021
We've selected Chase Stillman 29th overall. pic.twitter.com/TLI0OtTaRd
No. 28: Oskar Olausson, Colorado Avalanche
Round 1, Pick 28: Oskar Olausson, Colorado Avalanche
Position: Right wing
Height, weight: 6-1, 180
Amateur league, team: Sweden, HV 71
With the 28th pick in the #NHLDraft, the newest Colorado Avalanche is….
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) July 24, 2021
Oskar Olausson!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/UiTfBNvEYW
No. 27: Zachary L'Heureux, Nashville Predators
Round 1, Pick 27: Zachary L'Heureux, Nashville Predators
Position: Left wing
Height, weight: 5-11, 196
Amateur league, team: QMJHL, Halifax
No. 26: Carson Lambos, Minnesota Wild
Round 1, Pick 26: Carson Lambos, Minnesota Wild
Position: Defenseman
Height, weight: 6-1, 197
Amateur league, team: WHL, Winnipeg
No. 25: Corson Ceulemans, Columbus Blue Jackets
Round 1, Pick 25: Corson Ceulemans, Columbus Blue Jackets
Position: Defenseman
Height, weight: 6-2, 198
Amateur league, team: AJHL, Brooks
No. 24: Mackie Samoskevich, Florida Panthers
Round 1, Pick 24: Mackie Samoskevich, Florida Panthers
Position: Right wing
Height, weight: 5-11, 191
Amateur league, team: USHL, Chicago
No. 23: Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars
Round 1, Pick 22: Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars
Position: Center
Height, weight: 6-1, 178
Amateur league, team: OHL, Windsor Spitfires
Welcome to #TexasHockey, Wyatt Johnston! pic.twitter.com/9KZwR6mW9i
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) July 24, 2021
No. 22: Xavier Bourgault, Edmonton Oilers
Round 1, Pick 22: Xavier Bourgault, Edmonton Oilers
Position: Center
Height, weight: 6-0, 172
Amateur league, team: QMJHL, Shawinigan Cataractes
With the 22nd-overall pick, the #Oilers select forward Xavier Bourgault from the Shawinigan Cataractes of the @QMJHL.#NHLDraft | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/zb27shGe6m
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) July 24, 2021
No. 21: Fabian Lysell, Boston Bruins
Round 1, Pick 21: Fabian Lysell, Boston Bruins
Position: Right wing
Height, weight: 5-10, 172
Amateur league, team: Sweden, Luleå HF
With the 21st pick in the 2021 #NHLDraft, the #NHLBruins select right wing Fabian Lysell.
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) July 24, 2021
Welcome to Boston, Fabian! pic.twitter.com/eAqmuHtSNh
No. 20: Jesper Wallstedt, Minneosta Wild
Round 1, Pick 20: Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild
Birthdate: Nov. 14, 2002
Birthplace: Vasteras, Sweden
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Left
Height, weight: 6-3, 212
Last team: Lulea HF/Swedish Hockey League
Notable: Made senior debut with Lulea HF in the SHL during the 2020-21 season, playing in 22 games. … Had a goals-against average of 2.23 and a save percentage of .908 while adding two shutouts. … Lulea HF went 12-10-0 with Wallstedt in goal. … Appeared in two playoff games during the 2020-21 season, going 0-1-0 with a 3.36 GAA and a .871 SV percentage.
Quotable: “I’ve always trusted myself and believed in myself. I have always known that I can get to where I am right now and get even further. Before this season, I have played three years in the under-20 league. I haven’t hurried up to play men’s hockey. I prepared as well as possible in Lulea to get ready for the SHL team, when at the time I felt that I was ready for it. When I go out there on the ice, it was just about winning the game for the team.” – Wallstedt, to The Athletic
No. 19: Fedor Svechkov, Nashville Predators
Round 1, Pick 19: Fedor Svechkov, Nashville Predators
Birthdate: April 5, 2003
Birthplace: Togliatti, Russia
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height, weight: 6-0, 179
Last team: HC Lada Togliatti/Supreme Hockey League (VHL)
Notable: Played 38 games for HC Lada Togliatti in the VHL, Russia’s second-tier hockey league during the 2020-21 season. … Scored five goals and assisted 10 to finish the season with 15 points. … Also played 15 games in the MHL, Russia’s junior league, for HC Ladia Togliatti during the 2020-21 season. … Will move up to the KHL, Russia’s premier hockey league next season with SKA St. Petersburg, where he signed a contract until 2023.
No. 18: Chaz Lucius, Winnipeg Jets
Round 1, Pick 18: Chaz Lucius, Winnipeg Jets
Birthdate: May 2, 2003
Birthplace: Grant, Minnesota
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
Height, weight: 6-1, 185
Last team: U.S. national U-18 team
Notable: Played in 13 games with the U.S. national U-18 team in 2020-21. … Registered 13 goals and seven assists for 20 total points. … Committed to Minnesota for the 2021-22 season but is draft-eligible. … Also spent time during the 2020-21 season with the U.S. national team development program juniors, where he played 12 games, scoring 13 goals and assisting five for 18 points.
Quotable: “My goal-scoring is definitely the top of the line in this draft, and I know it’s that. “And then I’ve also got puck protection skills. I’m 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, and I use that to get down low and get into tight areas to not only score from the top of the circles with my shot but also to score down low. And then with my passing abilities and with my transition game, I can find the open guy.” – Lucius, to The Athletic
No. 17: Zachary Bolduc, Blues
Round 1, Pick 17: Zachary Bolduc, St. Louis Blues
Birthdate: Feb. 24, 2003
Birthplace: Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height, weight: 6-1, 174
Last team: Rimouski Oceanic/Quebec Major Juniors Hockey League
Notable: Appeared in 27 games for Rimouski Oceanic in 2020-21. … Scored 10 goals and added 19 assists for 29 points. … Played in 55 games for Rimouski Oceanic in 2019-20, scoring 30 goals and assisting 22 for 52 points to earn QMJHL Rookie of the Year. … Coming off a lower-body injury which kept him out more than a month and a half this season.
Quotable: "The NHL player that I try to model my game after is Evgeni Kuznetsov from the Washington Capitals. The reason why I try to model my game after him is because he can play at center or on the wing. He can skate pretty well, too, and he has a pretty good shot." – Bolduc, to Sportsnet
No. 16: Brennan Othmann, NY Rangers
Round 1, Pick 16: Brennan Othmann, New York Rangers
Birthdate: Jan. 5, 2003
Birthplace: Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Position: Left wing
Shoots: Left
Height, weight: 6-0, 174
Last team: EHC Olten/National League
Notable: Played the 2020-21 season with EHC Olten in the Swiss National League on loan from the OHL’s Flint Firebirds. … Made 34 appearances for EHC Olten, racking up seven goals and nine assists for 16 points, also accruing 64 penalty minutes. … Spent the 2019-20 season with the Firebirds, making 55 appearances while scoring 16 and assisting 17. … Son of Gery Othmann and nephew of Robert Othmann, who both played professional hockey in Switzerland. … Eligible to play for Canada and Switzerland at the international level.
Quotable: “I know it’s going to take hard work and it’s going to be a grind play in a top-six role, but what I learned over in Switzerland is really going to make the transition a lot easier. It was a great decision. I have no regrets going.” -- Othmann, to The Athletic
No. 15: Sebastian Cossa, Detroit Red Wings
Round 1, Pick 15: Sebastian Cossa, Detroit Red Wings
Birthdate: Nov. 21, 2002
Birthplace: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Left
Height, weight: 6-6, 212
Last team: Edmonton Oil Kings/Western Hockey League
Notable: Played 19 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2020-21. … Had a goals-against average of 1.57, the lowest of his career, and a save percentage of .941, also a career best. … Added four shutouts as the Oil Kings went 17-1-1 in games Cossa played in. … His GAA and save percentage are Oil Kings franchise records. … Made WHL debut during 2019-20 season with the Oil Kings, playing 33 games with a 2.23 GAA and a .921 save percentage, with the Oil Kings going 21-6-3 before the season was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quotable: “I’m just confident with my game, the work I’ve put in. I don’t see anything stopping me from where I want to be.” – Cossa, to the Edmonton Sun
WATCH: Highlights of Kraken pick Matthew Beniers
Hey @SeattleKraken fans! Enjoy some Matthew Beniers highlights! #NHLDraft (🎥: @umichhockey) pic.twitter.com/YHmpqWMqER
— NHL (@NHL) July 24, 2021
No. 14: Isak Rosen, Buffalo Sabres
Round 1, Pick 14: Isak Rosen, Buffalo Sabres
Birthdate: March 15, 2003
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Position: Left wing/right wing
Shoots: Left
Height, weight: 5-11, 161
Last team: Leksands IF/Swedish Hockey League
Notable: Appeared in 22 games for Leksands IF in 2020-21. … Assisted once. … Played in 12 games for Leksands IF J20, scoring seven and assisting five on his way to 12 points. … During the 2019-20 season playing for Leksands IF J20, he played in 38 games, scoring 21 and assisting 14 goals. … Son of former Swedish hockey player Roger Rosen and nephew of former Swedish hockey player Johan Rosen.
No. 13: Matthew Coronato, Calgary Flames
Round 1, Pick 13: Matthew Coronato, Calgary Flames
Birthdate: Nov. 14, 2002
Birthplace: New York
Position: Left wing
Shoots: Right
Height, weight: 5-10, 183
Last team: Chicago Steel/U.S. Hockey League
Notable: Played 51 games with the Chicago Steel during the 2020-21 season. … Scored 48 goals and assisted 37 for 85 points on his way to being named the top forward in the USHL. … Committed to Harvard for 2021-22. … Played in eight playoff games with Chicago during the 2020-21 season, scoring nine and assisting four.
Quotable: “I think I understand and know that my work ethic is, if not the biggest part of my game, one of them. So going into every game, I’m mentally prepared, I’m mentally focused, as well as physically prepared. I know going into every night I want to be ready to go and ready to work every single shift.” – Coronato, to The Athletic
WATCH: Kraken GM Ron Francis calls Matthew Beniers
This will be a phone call @Matty_Beniers10 will remember for the rest of his life. pic.twitter.com/L6vZfnP5V8
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) July 24, 2021
No. 12: Cole Sillinger, Blue Jackets
Round 1, Pick 12: Cole Sillinger, Columbus Blue Jackets
Birthdate: May 16, 2003
Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height, weight: 6-0, 201
Last team: Sioux Falls Stampede/U.S. Hockey League
Notable: Played 34 games with the Sioux Falls Stampede in 2020-21. … Scored 24 goals and registered 22 assists. … Represents Canada at the international level. … Spent the 2019-20 season with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL, where he played 48 games, scoring 22 and assisting 31 to record 53 points, finishing the season at plus-19. … Son of former NHL player Mike Sillinger, and brothers Lukas and Owen play college hockey at Bemidji State.
Quotable: “I’d tell you that I would be a professional hockey player someday. I never really tried to look at any other career or anything I wanted to do. The things I do every day are towards that end goal.” – Sillinger, to The Athletic
No. 10: Tyler Boucher, Ottawa Senators
Round 1, Pick 10: Tyler Boucher, Ottawa Senators
Birthdate: Jan. 16, 2003
Birthplace: Haddonfield, New Jersey
Position: Left wing/right wing
Shoots: Right
Height, weight: 6-1, 201
Last team: U.S. national U-18 team
Notable: Appeared 12 times for the U.S. national U-18 Team in 2020-21. … Registered six goals and five assists for 11 points. … Committed to Boston University for the 2021-22 season. … Also spent time with the U.S. national U-17 Team and USNTDP Juniors. … Son of former NHL goaltender Brian Boucher.
Quotable: “I see myself as a guy who can play anywhere in the lineup. That’s what is kind of special about my game. I can play anywhere. I see myself as a top-six guy. I can be a first-line guy, or I can be anywhere in the lineup and still be effective in all spots.” – Boucher, to EP Rinkside
No. 9: Dylan Guenther, Arizona Coyotes
Round 1, Pick 9: Dylan Guenther, Arizona Coyotes
Birthdate: April 10, 2003
Birthplace: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Position: Left wing/right wing
Shoots: Right
Height, weight: 6-1, 181
Last team: Edmonton Oil Kings/Western Hockey League
Notable: Played 12 games for the Oil Kings in 2020-21. … Scored 12 goals and registered 12 assists for 24 points and finished the season at plus-19. … Spent part of the year on loan with the Sherwood Park Crusaders in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, scoring three and assisting two in four games.
Quotable: "Being a guy who creates offense, that's really my strength and my game, I think it's important to be able to do both. I think if I'm getting a shot off, or I'm shooting, I think being able to find open ice is really a huge part of that. I think when I have the puck on my stick, I'm obviously a threat to shoot and score still, but you can also make plays from that, which is also a big part of my game." – Guenther, to Sports Illustrated
No. 8: Brandt Clarke, Los Angeles Kings
Round 1, Pick 8: Brandt Clarke, Los Angeles Kings
Birthdate: Feb. 9, 2003
Birthplace: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Right
Height, weight: 6-2, 190
Last team: HC Nove Zamky/Slovak Extraliga
Notable: Played 26 games with HC Nove Zamky in Slovakia’s Slovak Extraliga in 2020-21 on loan from Ontario Hockey League team Barrie Colts. … Scored five goals and added 10 assists for HC Nove Zamky. … Played 57 games for the Barrie Colts in the OHL during the 2019-20 season, registering six goals and 32 assists for 38 points. … Also collected 38 penalty minutes during his season with the Colts. … Brother of New Jersey Devils prospect Graeme Clarke and women’s prospect Mackenzie Clarke.
Quotable: “Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve been able to move pretty good. In Slovakia I was playing against men, and I was able to get around them, I don’t want to say with ease, but I was able to keep up with them. I could burn some defenseman wide. People say my stride is unorthodox, and maybe it is orthodox, but I’m in the right spot all the time. I think the game ahead of the play. People say I’m on my inside edges a lot, but I feel like that just saves me an extra half-second. I just lift one foot, and I’m already ready to push one way and push the other way.” – Clarke, to The Athletic
No. 7: William Eklund, San Jose Sharks
Round 1, Pick 7: William Eklund, San Jose Sharks
Birthdate: Oct. 12, 2002
Birthplace: Haninge, Sweden
Position: Center/left wing
Shoots: Left
Height, weight: 5-10, 172
Last team: Djurgardens IF/Swedish Hockey League
Notable: Played in 40 games for Djurgardens IF in 2020-21. … Registered 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points. … Made senior debut in 2019-20 season, playing in 20 games and adding two assists. … Played in three playoff games for Djurgardens IF in 2020-21, contributing a goal and an assist. … Registered just two penalty minutes despite playing in 40 games. … Son of former player Christian Eklund and older brother of future prospect Victor Eklund.
Quotable: “There’s going to be times when you have injuries and have to work really hard, mentally and be mentally tough. You have to focus on the next thing to get back playing again.” – Eklund, to The Athletic
No. 6: Simon Edvinsson, Detroit Red Wings
Round 1, Pick 6: Simon Edvinsson, Detroit Red Wings
Birthdate: Feb. 5, 2003
Birthplace: Onsala, Sweden
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height, weight: 6-5, 207
Last team: Frolunda HC/Swedish Hockey League
Notable: Played 10 games for Frolunda HC in 2020-21, making his senior debut this season. … Notched one assist in 10 games for one point. … Played 14 games for the Frolunda HC U-20 team in the J20 Nationell, registering one goal and five assists for six points. … Spent part of the 2020-21 season on loan from Frolunda HC to Vasteras IK in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second division, where he played 14 games and had five assists.
Quotable: “I haven’t always had my hands. Whenever I’ve gone through my game to see what I can do to get more ice time since a young age, I’ve known that I’ve needed to be a good puck handler, and then I’ve literally worked on it every day to get comfortable with the puck and be strong at it.” – Edvinsson, to The Athletic
No. 5: Kent Johnson, Columbus Blue Jackets
Round 1, Pick 5: Kent Johnson, Columbus Blue Jackets
Birthdate: Oct. 18, 2002
Birthplace: Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height, weight: 6-1, 165
Last team: University of Michigan
Notable: Played 26 games with Michigan in 2020-21. … Scored nine goals and assisted 18 for 27 points to finish plus-16. … Named to Big Ten All-Freshman team and was an All-Big-Ten honorable-mention selection. … Ranked second in rookie scoring in the Big Ten, third nationally in rookie points per game. … Finished as Michigan’s second-highest scorer in 2020-21 season. … Brother Kyle Johnson plays for Yale.
Quotable: “There was definitely a time I didn’t believe I could be a first-round pick. When I was younger even, you know, other people dream of going first overall, and I guess I was just a little bit different. I guess a bit more realistic. I dreamed more about being the last pick of the seventh round. I believed I could make it to the NHL, I still do, but I didn’t know I’d have a chance to make it happen this quickly.” – Johnson, to The Athletic
No. 4: Luke Hughes, New Jersey Devils
Round 1, Pick 4: Luke Hughes, New Jersey Devils
Birthdate: Sep. 9, 2003
Birthplace: Canton, Michigan
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height, weight: 6 -2, 176
Last team: U.S. national U-18 team
Notable: Played in 38 games with the U.S. national U-18 team in 2020-21. … Registered six goals and 28 assists for 34 points. … Committed to Michigan for the 2021-22 season but is draft-eligible. … Finished the season plus-11. … Earned a silver medal at the 2020 USA World U17 Hockey Challenge but missed the 2021 World Championships due to injury. … Brother of Vancouver Canucks’ Quin Hughes and New Jersey Devils’ Jack Hughes, both first-round picks.
Quotable: “I think (Quinn and Jack) kind of taught me going into the year that you’ve got to be ready for everything, and you’ve got to stay level-minded. You can’t get too high or low going through the year. I think that really applies to me this year because with all the COVID implications and getting shut down and quarantined at numerous times throughout the year, I think you’ve got to stay level-headed. That was one big piece of advice they gave me throughout the draft year.” – Luke Hughes, to The Athletic
No. 3: Mason McTavish, Anaheim Ducks
Round 1, Pick 3: Mason McTavish, Anaheim Ducks
Birthdate: Jan. 30, 2003
Birthplace: Zurich, Switzerland
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height, weight: 6-2, 207
Last team: EHC Olten/National League
Notable: Spent 2020-21 with EHC Olten in the Swiss National League on loan from Peterborough Petes in the Ontario Hockey League. … Played in 13 games for EHC Olten, registering nine goals and two assists for 11 points. … Represents Canada at the International level. … Played 57 games for Peterborough in 2019-20, scoring 29 and assisting 13 for 42 points. … Son of former Canadian player Dale McTavish, brother of CCHL 2 player Darian McTavish
Quotable: “A lot of the guys were older and stronger than I’m used to, and I knew I had to be on my ‘A’ game. It’s their job at the end of the day. It’s not like junior where you just go to practice, lace them up and go home. If you have a bad practice, they’re not hesitant to just throw you in the stands the next game. It’s tough, but it brings the best out of everybody and I really enjoyed it. I love Switzerland. It’s a great place to play and live. Once you adjust you learn to appreciate it. It was special going over there.” McTavish, to The Athletic
No. 2: Matthew Beniers, Seattle Kraken
Kraken general manager Ron Francis was known throughout his Hall of Fame career for his unrelenting centerman play at both ends of the ice.
And on Friday the GM selected arguably the best two-way amateur center on the planet in Matthew Beniers, 18, with the No. 2 overall pick in the NHL entry draft. Beniers, a 6-foot-1, 174-pounder from Hingham, Massachusetts, centered the University of Michigan’s top line his recently-completed freshman season.
He also played for gold-medal-winning Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championship in January and again against NHL players at the IIHF World Championship in May. Beniers is considered close to NHL-ready, though he has spoken about leaning toward returning to Michigan for another season depending on what the drafting team wanted.
Though the Kraken stunned a few prognosticators with some of its picks in Wednesday’s NHL expansion draft, this time around the team took the player most figured it would go with — especially after the Buffalo Sabres took Beniers’ Michigan teammate and the consensus No. 1 overall choice, defenseman Owen Power.
What to know about Kraken's selection of Matthew Beniers
Round 1, Pick 2: Matthew Beniers, Seattle Kraken
BREAKING: Kraken selects Matthew Beniers at No. 2 overall with franchise's first entry-draft pick. https://t.co/1Eq3LI2pRe pic.twitter.com/wjljVuYhED
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) July 24, 2021
Birthdate: Nov. 5, 2002
Birthplace: Hingham, Massachusetts
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height, weight: 6-1, 174
Last team: University of Michigan
Notable: Played 24 games with Michigan. … Scored 10 goals and assisted on 14 for 24 points in his lone college season. … Named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and was an All-Big Ten honorable-mention selection. … Originally committed to Harvard but transferred after the Ivy League announced it would not play the 2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. … Played in 44 games for the U.S. national U-18 team “A” in the U.S. Development Program, where he registered 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points. … Won bronze medal with the U.S. at the 2021 World Championships. … Has indicated he may return to Michigan.
Quotable: “I would say either my hockey IQ or my ability to play in all situations. Just my ability to play defense, produce offensively, but also and play penalty kill, power play, kind of whatever they need, I can fill that role or whatever role they want me to fill.” – Beniers, to Sound of Hockey
No. 1: Owen Power, Buffalo Sabres
Round 1, Pick 1: Owen Power, Buffalo Sabres
Birthdate: Nov. 22, 2002
Birthplace: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Position: Defenseman
Shoots: Left
Height, weight: 6-5, 214
Last team: University of Michigan
Notable: Played in 26 games with Michigan. … Scored three goals and assisted on 13 for 16 points in his lone college season. … Recorded just six penalty minutes despite playing defense. … Spent 2019-20 season with Chicago Steel in USHL, where he won Defenseman of the Year, amassing 40 points in 45 games with 12 goals and 28 assists. … Won gold medal with Canada at the 2021 World Championships. … Named to Big Ten All-Freshman team, and All-Big-Ten second team. … Has indicated he will consider returning to Michigan for one more season.
Quotable: “Once the draft is over, no one really cares when you went in the draft. You have to put in the work to get a spot on the NHL team, then earn the right to be a top player in the NHL.” – Power, to ESPN
Coyotes trade Ekman-Larsson to Canucks as NHL trades heat up
The Arizona Coyotes pulled off a blockbuster trade in the hours leading up to the NHL draft, sending captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forward Conor Garland to the Vancouver Canucks for the No. 9 selection, a 2022 second-round pick, 2023 seventh-rounder and three veteran forwards.
It was the third major trade made before the first round began Friday night.
Sabres add 1st-round pick in trading Ristolainen to Flyers
The Buffalo Sabres launched their offseason overhaul Friday by trading veteran defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Buffalo acquired fifth-year defenseman Robert Hagg and the Flyers first-round pick, 14th overall, in a trade struck hours before the Sabres were scheduled to select first in the NHL draft. The acquired pick from Philadelphia is actually 13th in the draft order after the NHL stripped the Arizona Coyotes of their first-round pick, 11th overall, for testing players in violation of NHL combine policy.
Buffalo also acquired Philadelphia’s second-round pick in the 2023 draft.
Defense, offense or a mix of both? Who the Kraken might pick in the NHL entry draft
One draft is done, and a more traditional one is upcoming Friday for a Kraken team insisting the NHL players it has already taken won’t impact those amateur ones still to be selected.
With 30 NHL players chosen Wednesday by the Kraken in the expansion draft, the upcoming entry draft of amateur prospects sees general manager Ron Francis and his crew picking No. 2 overall in Friday’s 5 p.m. opening round and third in each of the next six rounds starting at 8 a.m. Saturday. Kraken amateur scouting director Robert Kron said the influx of defensive-oriented players chosen from NHL teams in the expansion draft has little bearing on amateur prospects the club will target.
“I don’t think it affects us at all going into the amateur draft,’’ Kron said. “I don’t think it makes any difference as to what we’re going to do.’’
Most draft pundits feel the Kraken’s first-round decision effectively comes down to two players — consensus No. 1 overall pick Owen Power, a defenseman from the University of Michigan, and his teammate, center Matthew Beniers.
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