What Can the Kraken Do With the Fourth Overall Draft Pick?

Following the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery, it's time to look at the potential options the Seattle Kraken have with the fourth overall pick. rnOn Tuesday May 10, 2022 the NHL hosted the 27th annual Draft Lottery. While the system has changed slightly since the first one in 1995 it has stayed the same at its core. The Seattle Kraken entered the Draft Lottery sitting at 30th place and the third best odds (11.5%) at the first overall pick. Ultimately, the Montreal Canadiens would win the first overall pick and Seattle would end up falling one spot to the fourth pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.rnrnWhile it may not be the three spot most thought they would end up with, picking within the top five is still good. GM Ron Francis has picked in the top-five twice in his managerial career. Once with Carolina in 2015 selecting Noah Hanifin, and once with Seattle in 2021 selecting Matty Beniers. While Hanifin didn't come into his own until this season posting career numbers, he is still a solid defenceman. While the jury may still be out on Matty Beniers, it appears he could be a franchise talent going forward. That being said Francis has done a great job addressing his teams concerns within the first round and that should continue with this year's draft.rnrnSo what exactly are the needs of the Seattle Kraken? As the Kraken don't have the pipeline of most NHL teams, it would be easy to say, everything needs to be addressed. However it's not that easy, that's what the later rounds are for, filling out your AHL roster and potentially finding some gems throughout. The hope of a top five pick is that they'll jump right into the roster and help out immediately. So what would help Seattle out the most right away?rnrnThe biggest hole that needs to be filled is on the back end. The defence lost a big piece when captain Mark Giordano was traded to Toronto at the deadline. Looking at the Kraken depth chart they could go with either a right or left shot D as both sides need to be worked on if they want to be successful going forward. And while on paper Philipp Grubauer's season may not have been impressive, it's important to take into account that the defence in front of him wasn't up to par. It would behoove the Kraken to get a strong defenceman to help shore up the defensive side of the puck. With all that being said, what can GM Ron Francis do with the fourth overall pick?rnrn[nextslide teaser="Trade%20for%20UFA%2FRFA%20Rights" /]rnrn rn Trade for UFA/RFA Rights rnStarting with the least likely of the options is the chance that Francis takes the pick and puts it as a part of a package deal that would acquire the Kraken the rights to a pending restricted or unrestricted free agent (RFA/UFA).rnrnhttps://twitter.com/TSNSimmer/status/1010929090382254092rnrnWhile it wouldn't be unheard of for a GM to flip a pick for an NHL ready player who can join the team immediately, it wouldn't be wise for a growing franchise. The UFA market is unusually strong this year with plenty of talent not yet handed an extension by their current club. For example, Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg hasn't been signed yet with many speculating that he will test free agency. If Seattle was to use the pick for the rights to a player it would only make sense to go with an RFA who doesn't have the same options as a UFA who can go wherever they want.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Pick%20Swap" /]rnrn rn Pick Swap rnOne thing Francis could do is a pick swap, or a package deal that would move the Kraken down further in the draft. The team could use the pick to acquire a later first round pick and an NHL-ready player. The most famous example of a first round pick swap comes in 1999:rnrnhttps://twitter.com/JasonBeck82/status/1408797412676620289rnrnThe Sedins would go on to be key pieces of the Canucks and were the only 1,000 point scorers of the 1999 Draft. While it worked out for Canucks GM Brian Burke, he had to pay a hefty price that a new franchise simply can't afford to pay. Unless Francis feels he can get the player he wants later on in the first round it is highly unlikely that he will make a pick swap. Seattle already has 34 picks over the next three years, which makes it unlikely he'll go out and try and get more picks.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Make%20a%20Pick" /]rnrn rn Make a Pick rnThe most likely scenario for Francis and the Kraken is that they keep the pick and use it as intended. The 2022 Draft has a lot of potential and while they may not have the first overall pick that doesn't mean they won't get a solid player. Almost every draft list and prediction has Shane Wright going first overall but after that it's pretty open. However, with the World Juniors and Championships yet to be played, it could totally shake up the rankings as they are now. While the NHL's Central Scouting report will not change before the draft, that doesn't mean that the Kraken's internal scouting report will stay the same.rnrnUnfortunately, the World Juniors were postponed from December/January of 2021-22 to August of 2022. Now, games will be played too late for them to have a significant impact on draft stock. However, when it comes to those who are projected to go within the top five, some have made the roster for the World Championships or even played in the Beijing Olympics. This will give Kraken scouts one last chance to see what these players have when competing against some of the best the World has to offer.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/SeattleKraken/status/1524182416373420032rnrnThe Draft is always an exciting time of year, and is even more so for a new franchise. It will be interesting to see what Francis does in the coming months leading up to the 2022 NHL Draft. Things start to heat up around the draft and this year should be no different. Kraken fans should be excited at the prospects available this year and what they could bring to the Kraken roster. The 2022 NHL Draft takes place in Montreal at the Bell Centre from July 7 to July 8.rnrn[story_link_next description="What%E2%80%99s%20Next%20for%20the%20Kraken%20After%20Inaugural%20Season" url="https://krakenchronicle.com/2022/05/02/whats-next-kraken-first-season/" /]

Kraken Chronicle

What Can the Kraken Do With the 4th Overall Draft Pick?

Trade for UFA/RFA Rights

Newsletter

Your Seattle Kraken.
Your Inbox. Every Day.