The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle. The Kraken compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division and began play during the league's 2021–22 season.[1] Since their creation, the Kraken have participated in four drafts and selected 36 players.[2]
The NHL entry draft is held each off-season, allowing teams to select players who have turned 18 years old by September 15 in the year the draft is held. The draft order is determined by the previous season's order of finish, with non-playoff teams drafting first, followed by the teams that made the playoffs, the draft order itself determined by the regular season standings.[3] The NHL holds a weighted lottery for the 16 non-playoff teams, allowing any of the top 11 teams to win the first overall pick. The team with the fewest points has the best chance of winning the lottery, with each successive team given a lower chance of moving up in the draft.[4]
The Kraken's first-ever draft pick was Matty Beniers, taken second overall in the 2021 NHL entry draft.[5][6] After the 2022–23 season, Beniers won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the League’s best rookie after accumulating 24 goals and 33 assists in 80 games.[7] The Kraken's second overall pick in 2021 was the highest they have ever drafted. Only four of the Kraken's draft picks have gone on to play with the Kraken: Beniers, Ryker Evans, Ryan Winterton, and Shane Wright.[8][9]
- ^ "Seattle Kraken hockey team statistics and history at HockeyDB.com". HockeyDB. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ "NHL Records - Seattle Kraken Draft History". NHL Records. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ "NHL FAQ – Hockey Operations Guidelines". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ "How does the NHL draft lottery work? Everything you need to know". ESPN. May 7, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ Cotsonika, Nicholas J. (July 24, 2021). "Beniers becomes first pick in Kraken history at No. 2 in 2021 NHL Draft". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (July 23, 2021). "Kraken makes Michigan center Matty Beniers the first NHL entry draft pick in franchise history". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ Walsh, Erin (June 26, 2023). "Kraken's Matty Beniers Wins 2022–23 NHL Calder Memorial Trophy". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ Condor, Bob (May 31, 2024). "Crossing Over: Scouting 'Top Half' of Draft". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ Tamurian, Niko (April 14, 2024). "The start of something special: Shane Wright sets the stage for next year and beyond". KOMO. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
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