2024 NHL DRAFT: Seattle Kraken Options with 8th Pick
The NHL Draft Lottery took place this Tuesday, offering a refreshing diversion amidst the intensity of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This event holds significant importance on the NHL calendar as it allows teams that missed the playoffs or were eliminated early to strategize for the upcoming draft. The Seattle Kraken, in particular, find themselves in this position. As widely anticipated, Seattle secured the eighth pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. While not the most coveted position, they must make the most of it. Today, we explore some potential draft prospects who could potentially join the Kraken roster in the upcoming season.
What Do the Kraken Need?
First and foremost, the Kraken are in need of a new head coach following the recent dismissal of Dave Hakstol, but that’s a topic we’ll address in a future article. Regardless of who takes the helm in Seattle next season, the team’s strengths and weaknesses during the 2023-24 season were evident to all. Moreover, general manager Ron Francis is a knowledgeable hockey figure and fully capable of collaborating with his scouts to begin considering potential draft picks, particularly the team’s eighth overall selection.
Despite the uncertain coaching situation, we can assume what Seattle is likely seeking. The team’s struggles on offense have been extensively discussed here at The Hockey Writers. The Kraken, who missed the playoffs, ranked 29th in the NHL for goals scored, averaging a mere 2.61 per game.
They were just ahead of the Anaheim Ducks (2.49 goals per game) and behind the Washington Capitals (2.63). Their shot count ranked 25th in the league at 2,347 shots on target, with a shooting percentage of 9.1%, placing them 29th overall. Their most promising offensive aspect was their power play, operating at 20.7%, making them the 17th best in the league.
Spoiler alert: Seattle likely won’t be targeting a defenseman or a goalie with the eighth overall pick. While prospect Shane Wright showed promise in late-season games after being called up from the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, it’s not sufficient. Injuries to Jaden Schwartz and Vince Dunn further compounded the team’s challenges, highlighting clear deficiencies.
Another spoiler: With the eighth pick, the Kraken won’t have the opportunity to select Macklin Celebrini. That pleasure goes to the San Jose Sharks.
Who Might the Kraken Get?
To address that inquiry, one must examine the performance of teams with higher draft picks than the Kraken. The Chicago Blackhawks, Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Montreal Canadiens, Utah franchise, and Ottawa Senators all have priority selections before Seattle. Among them, the Blackhawks, Ducks, Blue Jackets, Canadiens, and Utah (formerly the Arizona Coyotes) struggle offensively, ranking in the bottom 10 for scoring.
However, the Senators showed some proficiency in scoring during the 2023-24 season. Despite this, it doesn’t necessarily mean that every team, except Ottawa, will prioritize selecting a forward. Chicago, Anaheim, and Columbus had notable defensive deficiencies, with Montreal not faring much better. However, reports suggest that Montreal possesses promising defensive talent.
According to our draft and prospects experts, aside from Celebrini, the top five prospects are Ivan Demidov, Sam Dickinson, Konsta Helenius, Cayden Lindstrom, and Anton Silayev. However, Dickinson and Silayev, being defense players, are disregarded for our purposes.
Whether any of the remaining prospects will still be available when the Kraken make their pick remains uncertain. Concerning Helenius, although talented, questions linger regarding his draft position due to his size. It’s questionable whether Francis would take that risk, depending on the perceived urgency of the situation.
Another factor to consider is Helenius’s versatility, as he can play center and right wing, which may not align perfectly with Seattle’s current needs. Aside from Jared McCann, who led the team in points, Seattle lacks a potent threat on the left side of the ice. Hence, the question arises: who are the left wingers aspiring to be selected in the top 10?
Who Else Is There?
“Among the top 16 contenders are Trevor Connelly, Cole Eiserman, and Tij Iginla, the latter being the son of NHL legend Jarome Iginla. It’s a reminder of the passage of time. Eiserman is favored for his powerful shot, though concerns linger about the progression of his overall game. Connelly is seen as a work in progress, similar to the situation with Shane Wright. Iginla has reportedly had multiple meetings with the Canadiens.
This leaves the Kraken with Helenius, Connelly, Eiserman, and Iginla as potential picks. Perhaps none of these players catch Seattle’s eye, or perhaps none will even be available. Tij Iginla’s lineage makes him an enticing choice, especially considering the buzz around his potential top 10 status, though Montreal may have their own plans. If not Iginla, Helenius might be the pick despite size and positional concerns, or Eiserman despite needing further development.
The final decisions will be made on June 28th in Las Vegas. Until then, all we can do is analyze endlessly. One can imagine the Kraken’s management and scouting team have been immersed in this since the draft order was set. It’s the exciting part of the year when hopes are high despite earlier disappointments. It’s spring, and optimism abounds.”