The NHL’s 32nd team now features a complement of players. The Seattle Kraken took an exciting step toward the ice this fall by selecting 30 players in Wednesday night’s expansion draft. One player each was selected from 30 of 31 NHL teams – the Vegas Golden Knights, who just completed their fourth season after joining the NHL in 2017, were exempt from losing a player. The Kraken was required to pick a minimum of 14 forwards, nine defenseman, and three goalies.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was (briefly) booed as he began the night’s proceedings, before turning hosting duties over to ESPN’s Chris Fowler. Among the guest selectors for picks were Seattle SuperSonics champion coach Lenny Wilkens, rapper Macklemore, Storm star and Olympian Sue Bird, former Sounders star Brad Evans, hockey legend Cammi Granato, Sonics legends Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, Seahawks great Marshawn Lynch, and current star Bobby Wagner, and Mariners player Kyle Lewis. Seattle’s home opener was also announced during the broadcast: Oct. 23 vs. the Vancouver Canucks.
