The NHL is expanding to 32 teams beginning with the 2021-22 season, as the Seattle Kraken will join the Pacific Division. This sets up a natural regional rivalry with the Vancouver Canucks and brings the sport back to the city whose Metropolitans were the first team awarded the Stanley Cup in 1917.
While the hirings on the management and coaching side continue — and construction on Climate Pledge Arena continues, with a mid-October opening date still the goal — the roster of players remains to be determined as well. The next step in that process is the expansion draft.
If you aren’t entirely caught up, we’ve got you covered, with intel on how the franchise came to be, broadcast details on the expansion draft itself, rules and restrictions for the Kraken and the other NHL teams, and insights into what kind of players could land with Seattle for its inaugural season.
Who are the Seattle Kraken?
Wyshynski: After over two decades of failed attempts to bring an NHL team to Seattle, momentum started to pick up around 2012, with construction of a new arena being the key component.
In summer 2013, the Phoenix Coyotes nearly relocated to Seattle before the Glendale City Council in Arizona approved a new arena lease. In 2015, three ownership groups discussed submitting bids for an NHL expansion team but none did, as Las Vegas was the lone expansion franchise approved by the league.
Then, in 2017, the NHL announced it was considering a bid from Seattle with a $650 million expansion fee — $150 million more than Vegas paid. Rather than build a new arena — something that torpedoed other bids — an ownership group led by majority owner David Bonderman and minority owners Jerry Bruckheimer and David Wright worked with Oak View Group on a proposal for a privately financed renovation of Key Arena, the former home of the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics, to house an NHL team.
Kaplan: The expansion draft will be held on July 21, 5 p.m. PDT/8 p.m. EDT in Seattle, and broadcast on ESPN2. Teams’ protected lists are due on Saturday, and those lists will be announced on Sunday.
Wyshynski: The Kraken are drafting under the same rules that the Vegas Golden Knights benefitted from in 2017. They have the same positional and salary cap roster requirements; the other 30 teams in the expansion draft have the same protection limitations that could hand over the eighth-best forward, fourth-best defenseman or second-best goalie to the Kraken.
That includes a provision that could help the Kraken in landing a significant player seeking a max contract. For the Vegas draft, the NHLPA negotiated a “no loss of status or rights” provision in which players who are claimed in the expansion draft or acquired in a trade prior to the conclusion of the expansion draft would be eligible to sign an eight-year max contract with the Golden Knights prior to free agency. The same provision, with slightly altered dates due to the late end of the 2021 season, is in place for the Kraken in this expansion draft.
Why is Vegas exempt from the expansion draft?
Kaplan: The Golden Knights do not have to give up a player in the expansion draft, a deal owner Bill Foley struck with the NHL in their original franchise agreement in 2016. The only downside for Vegas? Foley doesn’t get a cut of Seattle’s $650 million expansion fee, which equates to a $21.67 million check for the other 30 teams.
This was a typical practice for the NHL in the frenzied 1990s, when the league added nine teams over course of the decade. For example, when the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets held a joint expansion draft in 2000, they didn’t select players from the Atlanta Thrashers (who joined in 1999) or Nashville Predators (1998), as they were the two new kids on the block still finding their way.
What are the rules for teams protecting players?
Wyshynski: The 30 teams in the expansion draft can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie; or they can protect eight skaters and one goaltender. All first-year and second-year NHL players, and all unsigned draft picks, are exempt from the expansion draft, and won’t count toward a team’s protection total.
There are minimum requirements for players exposed in the expansion draft. There must be at least two forwards and one defenseman exposed who are under contract for the 2021-22 season who played at least 40 games last season or 70 games over the last two seasons; and one goalie exposed who is under contract for the 2021-22 season or will be a restricted free agent this offseason — as long as that pending RFA goalie has received his qualifying offer this summer.
One important thing to remember for these requirements: Players who have “potential career-ending injuries” that have missed more than 60 straight games — or have a confirmed career-threatening injury — can’t be used to satisfy a team’s player exposure requirement unless the NHL signs off on it.
How do no-trade and no-movement clauses play into this?
Kaplan: If a player has a no-trade clause, he can be exposed. If a player has a no-movement clause, he must be protected — unless he agrees to waive it for the purpose of being exposed. There’s already an example of at least one player doing this: Calgary Flames veteran forward Milan Lucic.
The 32-year-old, who has two years remaining on his seven-year contract, said he loves it in Calgary and wants to stay with the Flames, but agreed to waive his no-movement clause so that the team can prioritize protecting other players.
Tuesday was the deadline for teams to ask players to waive their no-movement clauses, for the sole purpose of being exposed in the expansion draft (like Lucic). Players have until July 16 to make that decision.
So, Kekalainen made a side deal with Vegas GM George McPhee. The Golden Knights agreed to pick William Karlsson in exchange for a first-round pick, a second-round pick and taking on the expensive contract of David Clarkson. Karlsson glowed up in Vegas, transforming from a six- to 43-goal scorer, thanks in part to a more featured role. The Blue Jackets have not handed out any no-movement clauses since.
Do the Kraken have to take a certain amount of each position?
Wyshynski: Seattle will select one player from each team — besides Vegas — with the requirements being that they must take at least 14 forwards, nine defenseman and three goalies. It must choose a minimum of 20 players under contract for the 2021-22 regular season, ones who have “an aggregate expansion draft value that is between 60%-100%” of the $81.5 million salary cap ceiling.
The Kraken are restricted from buying out players selected in the expansion draft until summer 2022.
What are the rules regarding Seattle signing a free agent before the draft?
Kaplan: From Sunday to July 21, the Kraken have an exclusive negotiating window with any pending free agents not protected by the other 30 teams. If Seattle signs one of these players, it counts as their selection from that club. And if Seattle signs that player to a deal before free agency begins on July 28, then the Kraken can offer an eight-year max extension. After that, Seattle can only give out seven-year deals this summer.
What kind of players should Kraken fans expect on the roster from the draft?
Wyshynski: Under the same draft rules, the Golden Knights selected seven centers, six left wings, two right wings, 13 defensemen and three goalies. The imbalance shouldn’t be a surprise, considering that every team was theoretically giving up their No. 4 defenseman. In fact, all six defenseman on their opening night roster in 2017-18 were selected in the expansion draft, as was their starting goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury. It would be a surprise if the Kraken didn’t draft a veteran netminder, considering how many intriguing options will be available.
The kinds of players the Kraken select will be guided by three things: Who is available in the player pool; the mandatory requirements for their roster; and the philosophy of the front office. Seattle has been emphatic in its dedication to data analysis, so expect several “analytics darlings” to join the team via the draft.
However, head coach Hakstol told ESPN to also expect the Kraken to draft players that are in the image of the way GM Ron Francis competed as a player. “He places a ton of value on players that can think the game. Intelligent players. The pace of the game is a really big aspect. But most importantly, the competitiveness,” said Hakstol.
Oshie has long been speculated to be the Kraken’s face of the franchise in Year 1, but the 34-year-old wants to stay in D.C.
“I signed an eight-year deal here because this is where I wanted to spend the rest of my career and retire here,” Oshie said during his end-of-season media availability. The winger is under contract with Washington through 2024-25. Capitals GM Brian MacLellan may have put some of the speculation to bed in May, calling Oshie “a big part of our organization.”
“It would hurt our team and our organization if we lost him in the expansion draft,” MacLellan said. “I don’t know if we’ve made any decisions fully on that but ideally, we’d like to keep him around.”
It’s likely the Lightning will expose Johnson, whom they twice put on waivers last season. But no other team had interest in helping Tampa Bay shed Johnson’s $5 million salary, and it’s unclear if the Kraken will either.
Have the other teams learned anything from the 2017 expansion draft?
Wyshynski: Yes, they learned that the NHL has stacked the deck against them because an expansion ownership group spent hundreds of millions of dollars to join the league. So they’ve done their best to get their rosters in order ahead of this draft. They’ve opened the lines of communication with GM Francis well ahead of the expansion lists being submitted to try to make trades.
As Nashville Predators GM David Poile said recently, “It may not guarantee that we do anything with them, but … if I could make a deal that I liked with him, I would probably prefer that.”
If these teams have learned anything, hopefully it’s not to overreact to potential player losses. Among the treasure that Vegas acquired after agreeing not to draft certain unprotected players from teams: Defenseman Shea Theodore, wingers Reilly Smith and Alex Tuch and three first-round picks.
How good will the Kraken be in their first season?
Kaplan: The Golden Knights opened their first season with 500-1 odds to win the Stanley Cup, then made it to the Stanley Cup Final, rewriting expectations for expansion franchises across sports. Before Vegas, of the 64 expansion teams among the four major U.S. sports leagues since 1960, no team posted a winning record in its first season.
Kraken management has been careful not to assign a timeline to success. As Francis told me shortly after he was hired two years ago: “I think if you go back and listen to the comments that Vegas had leading up to the expansion draft, their plan was to draft and develop well and be patient in the process. I think George [McPhee] and Kelly [McCrimmon] did a fantastic job. They had an unbelievable first season, and the franchise has been in good position ever since. So hopefully we can draft some good players in the expansion draft, and draft some good players in the amateur draft, and take the time to develop those guys.”
Sounds like someone who is trying not to overpromise, only over-deliver.
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
ATLANTA — Ronald Acuña Jr. won’t participate in the Home Run Derby, replaced Friday by Atlanta teammate and fellow All-Star Matt Olson.
Acuña is a starting outfielder for the National League and still is expected to play in the All-Star Game on his home field. Olson is a reserve infielder.
Instead of Acuña, Olson will try to become the first Atlanta player to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night. He could become the fourth to win at home. The All-Star Game is Tuesday night.
Olson competed in the 2021 Derby while with the Athletics. He was eliminated in the first round. The 31-year-old entered the weekend with 17 homers this season.
NEW YORK — Robbed an inning earlier, Cody Bellinger wasn’t sure his first three-homer game had been swiped away again.
“I didn’t know at first,” he said. “For that third one to finally get over feels pretty good.”
Bellinger hit three two-run homers against his former team and was denied a fourth by a spectacular catch, leading the Yankees to an 11-0 rout of the Chicago Cubs on Friday night.
Aaron Judge made a trio of outstanding grabs in right field for the Yankees, who have won five straight games following a a six-game losing streak.
Bellinger, whose dad Clay played for the Yankees from 1999 to 2001, is a two-time All-Star and 2019 NL MVP.
He spent 2023 and 2024 with the Cubs, hitting .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games last year while missing time because of a broken right rib. The Cubs traded him to New York in December with $52.5 million remaining on his contract and agreed to pay the Yankees $5 million.
He homered in a three-run third off Chris Flexen and in the fifth against Caleb Thielbar for this 18th multihomer game. Bellinger nearly went deep in the seventh but was robbed by Kyle Tucker on a drive above the right-field wall.
“I was watching it. He timed it up perfect, so I was a little sick about it, honestly,” Bellinger said. “But it was a good catch.”
“Boys were giving me a hard time after he robbed it. Boonie was giving me hard time,” Bellinger added.
A four-time All-Star and a Gold Glove winner, Tucker snatched the ball as a fan tried for it, the spectator clasping both sides of the outfielder’s glove.
“I caught the ball and he caught my glove, so I figured even if I dropped it they’d probably look at it and get it overturned,” Tucker said. “I’ve probably had some encounters with me trying to go into the stands and catching a ball and me hitting someone’s hand or whatever but I don’t know if anyone’s ever actually kind of caught my glove while doing it.”
Bellinger homered in the eighth off Jordan Wicks, just above the red glove of leaping center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and into the dark glove of a kid in the front row.
“The fan just beat to the spot,” Crow-Armstrong said. “He just had a better chance of catching it higher than I did.”
Bellinger, who had rounded first, watched and then smiled when he saw he had hit No. 3.
“Glad the fan caught it before PCA could grab it,” said Bellinger, who met the boy after and got the ball back. “I’ve seen PCA rob so many homers. He’s a freak athlete out there.”
Bellinger is batting .406 over a career-high 16-game hitting streak, raising his average to .285 with 16 homers and 54 RBIs.
He had spoken with his Cubs ex-teammates during batting practice.
“No, no, no revenge,” he said. “Honestly, ultimately it was just fun to be out there. I saw a bunch of guys I hadn’t seen in a while and I shared a bunch of good memories with them for these past two years.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr. and manager Aaron Boone encouraged Bellinger to emerge from the dugout for a curtain call.
“He was a little reluctant, but then the Bell-lin-ger” over the dugout got pretty loud. So I think he succumbed to it,” Boone said. “Belly’s loved being here and loved playing here in a meaningful place to him, going back to his childhood.”
Bellinger turns 30 on Sunday and can opt out of the final season of his contract this fall. With long balls and wide smiles, he seems to have found a home in the Yankees clubhouse.
He tried not to make much of getting the three homers against the Cubs, but Bellinger’s teammates could sense the significance.
“It’s always good to go against your old teammates that you spend a lot of time with, you know, you respect,” Boone said. “To perform right away against them I’m sure probably is a little cherry on top for him.”