Expansion draft simulator

[E.L.]

Has anyone tried Cap Friendly's expansion draft simulator yet? https://www.capfriendly.com/expansion-draft/seattle" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here's my most recent go-around:

Johnsson-Johansen-Kassian
Greenway-Kerfoot-Kase
Heinen-Johnson-Pitlick
Hathaway-Ryan-Appleton

Dal Colle, Smith, Lemieux, Paul

Skjei-Murphy
Matheson-Deangelo
Dunn-Graves

Gostisbehere, Simek, Kukan, Pilut, Kulak

Driedger, Khudobin, Holtby


As you can see, lots of quality NHLers. Lots of defencemen, they can do what Vegas did and load up, then deal the excess for picks/prospects. They'll get 3-4 decent goalies too.

As for the forwards, there are local options in Johnson, Gambrell, Ryan (and former Winterhawk Ryan Johansen). Oshie also a rumoured Washington State guy.

Lots of third line grinder types. They'll be tough to play against.

[Pokecheque]

If they take Graves I'll be forever thankful.

[Stinky]

Kulak? That's it?

[E.L.]

If they take Graves I'll be forever thankful.

I had them taking Kadri in an earlier mock. If they go 4 x 4:

Mikko, Nate, LOC, Bura
Makar, Girard, Toews, EJ?

[E.L.]

Kulak? That's it?

Everyone assumes Allen, but meh.

[Chris18]

If they take Dal Colle, I won't be happy to see him leave, but I'd prefer him over quite a few other guys.

[Pokecheque]

If they take Graves I'll be forever thankful.

I had them taking Kadri in an earlier mock. If they go 4 x 4:

Mikko, Nate, LOC, Bura
Makar, Girard, Toews, EJ?

They won’t go 4/4. Erik Johnson will have to waive his NMC or they’re going to buy him out. Dater is reporting that he has agreed to do so, don’t know how accurate that is. They’re going 7/3 and it’s obvious which defenders they’ll protect. Forwards, it’ll definitely be the top line and Kadri at least. Unless they’re trading for an upgrade they’ll protect Kadri. They have to—we saw how much they struggled with Jost/Compher as the center depth behind MacKinnon. And Newhook will need time to acclimate at the very least.

[E.L.]

If they take Dal Colle, I won't be happy to see him leave, but I'd prefer him over quite a few other guys.

I see him being a Carrier/Nosek type. Good fourth line chippy guy.

[E.L.]

So Graves makes total sense. Vegas took the max number of defencemen and flipped them for picks. Graves is perfect for that.

[Chris18]

If they take Dal Colle, I won't be happy to see him leave, but I'd prefer him over quite a few other guys.

I see him being a Carrier/Nosek type. Good fourth line chippy guy.

Except that he's not really chippy. He hits but not that hard. He barely ever shoots, and he was mainly such a high pick because he has a good shot. Or did at the junior level. He forechecks really well and causes turnovers, but that's really it. And he's had chances on several different lines.

[Pokecheque]

So Graves makes total sense. Vegas took the max number of defencemen and flipped them for picks. Graves is perfect for that.

So long as he and his inflated contract are out the door I'm quite all right with them getting something for him. Or even if they end up keeping him. He wouldn't be out of place on an expansion club...one would hope they're not quite as lucky as Vegas was. But it all depends on if other teams learned their lesson this go-around.