As the clock struck 1 PM, an NHL roster freeze, prohibiting signings and trades for the Expansion Draft, was officially lifted.
The news came in both fast and furious.
Vitek Vanecek took to Instagram on Thursday to say his own goodbyes to the city and organization that helped him reach his dream of playing in the NHL. Vanecek was selected in the Expansion Draft by the Seattle Kraken.
Earlier in the morning, Vanecek received an outpouring of messages from his former teammates, some of which he replied to on his Instagram Story.
Vitek Vanecek, the Capitals starting goaltender last season, was tragically snatched up by the Seattle Kraken in the Expansion Draft on Wednesday. Vitek will form a battery in net with Chris Driedger (FLA) and Joey Daccord (OTT).
During the night, tributes poured in from Vitek’s former (sigh) Capitals’ teammates.
By Ian Oland 7 days ago
Evgeny Kuznetsov was suspended for disciplinary reasons by the Capitals during the 2020-21 regular season, part of some rule-breaking that caused Washington to be fined $100k, and contracted coronavirus twice. Those antics, combined with his struggles to return to his previous form in 2018, resulted in reports in May that the Capitals were looking to deal Kuzy over the offseason.
“I think we’re always open to trading people if it makes sense for what’s going on if it makes our team better,” Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said after the season. “I don’t think anybody’s off the table. We’re not going to trade Ovi or Backy, those types of people, but you have to be open on anything. So we would talk to anybody about any player.”
During an appearance on TSN1260’s Jason Gregor Show, Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff reported that the New York Rangers, who are aggressively remaking their team under new GM Chris Drury, had shown interest in acquiring Kuznetsov as well as fellow star center Jack Eichel.
But Seravalli hedged that a Caps-Rangers deal wasn’t close, surmising that there hasn’t been “a ton” of interest in general on Kuznetsov.
By Ian Oland 1 week ago
There were no surprises in the first half of the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, as the Seattle Kraken proceeded to draft its first roster in franchise history, mostly because nearly every one of the Kraken’s picks leaked several hours prior.
But midway through the program, ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler had a slip of the tongue heard ’round the hockey world. Fowler announced that Seattle’s next pick would be coming from…the Carolina Panthers.
Oops.
By Elizabeth Kong 1 week ago
On December 4, 2018, the NHL’s Board of Governors officially announced the approval of Seattle’s expansion bid to become the league’s 32nd team. Now, over two and a half years later, the Seattle Kraken are finally drafting their first roster in franchise history.
Despite nearly every team’s drafted pick leaking to the public ahead of the televised Expansion Draft on ESPN2, the broadcast still had some surprises – from botches of names to picks made by sea creatures.
By Elizabeth Kong and Ian Oland 1 week ago
The Seattle Kraken will make their inaugural roster official during the Expansion Draft on Wednesday night.
For hockey fans who want to support the team or just simply love good design, the Kraken have added a bunch of new merch to the NHL Store ahead of the draft.
Lost in all the chaos of the Seattle Kraken’s Expansion Draft day, the Hershey Bears announced their home opener for the 2021-22 season.
The chocolate and white will take on the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate of both the Florida Panthers and Seattle Kraken, on Saturday, October 16 at 7 PM.
The Seattle Kraken submitted their picks for the Expansion Draft at 10:30 AM. Since then, their selections have been leaking out via Twitter.
For Capitals fans, the biggest news of the day was that goaltender Vitek Vanecek was picked by Seattle over other notables like Nick Jensen, Brenden Dillon, and Conor Sheary.
Meanwhile, Carey Price, who was the most intriguing possible pick of the draft, is staying put in Montreal.
By Ian Oland 1 week ago
The Seattle Kraken submitted their Expansion Draft list at 10 AM and all the names are slowly leaking out.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli is reporting that the Capitals will lose goaltender Vitek Vanecek to the Kraken. Vanecek will join Chris Driedger (Florida UFA) and Joey Daccord (Ottawa) in net. Seattle ultimately passed on picking superstar Carey Price from the Montreal Canadiens.
By Ian Oland 1 week ago
