What Would Brian Boitano Do? Seattle Kraken Expansion Edition
2024-07-04
What would Brian Boitano do
If he was here right now?
He'd make a plan, and he'd follow through
That's what Brian Boitano'd do!
We all know Brian Boitano beat up Kublai Khan and saved the human race from the evil robot king in the year 3010, but if he were the new Seattle Kraken GM in the MRFHL, what would Brian Boitano do? Lucky for us Brian is a hockey expert and I’ve managed to land this exclusive interview to get his obviously correct thoughts on this pressing matter.
Notes: I am ignoring any pre-expansion deals, ignoring Edmonton’s weirdo protection list, and assuming MIN would have protected Cirelli over Kunin without a deal in place. Goalie options are highlighted.
|
Selection |
#1 Backup |
#2 Backup |
Also Considered |
UFA's |
ANA |
Graves |
Steel |
Zadina |
Lee, Desharnais, Fast |
|
ARZ |
Samuelsson |
Matheson |
McCabe |
Andersen, Lundestrom |
Hartman |
BOS |
Zetterlund |
Tolvanen |
Pavelski |
Jenik |
|
BUF |
Huberdeau |
Sandin |
Malenstyn |
Martinook |
|
CAR |
Holmstrom |
Dumoulin |
Fischer |
TVR, T Johnson |
|
CBJ |
Mrazek |
Jensen |
Hathaway |
Stenlund, Danforth |
Mrazek |
CGY |
Kurashev |
McMann |
Poehling |
Addison, Varlamov |
Vejmelka |
CHI |
Hedman |
Dubois |
Wilson |
Wahlstrom, J Middleton, Samberg, Zamula |
Lowry, Lyon |
COL |
Lehkonen |
Kotkaniemi |
Monahan |
J Evans, Dillon, Allen |
Laughton, Arvidsson |
DAL |
Jeannot |
Nurse |
Gibson |
Dumba |
McNabb |
DET |
Colton |
Faulk |
Bjugstad |
Kovacevic, C Pickard, L O'Connor, Co Smith |
Talbot |
EDM |
Hofer |
Pesce |
Olivier |
Backlund |
|
FLA |
Mangiapane |
Hill |
Perron |
Eyssimont, Pachal, Acciari, Lizotte |
Pageau, Mikkola |
LAK |
Carcone |
Krug |
Sundqvist |
Klingberg, Bear, Gadjovich |
|
MIN |
Duclair |
Donato |
Greenway |
Vanecek, Severson, Barrie |
|
MTL |
Zuccarello |
Sissons |
M Barron |
Clifton, Samsonov, E Robinson, Dewar |
Zuccarello, Gudas |
NAS |
Bjornfot |
Hakanpaa |
Wennberg |
||
NYI |
Blueger |
Vesey |
Chatfield |
Kupari, Holl, Grundstrom |
Nedeljkovic |
NYR |
Brodin |
Noesen |
Kolesar |
Anderson-Dolan, Bryson |
Brodin |
NJD |
Woll |
Olofsson |
W Carrier |
Burroughs, M Jones, F Gaudreau, Kapanen |
Brossoit |
OTT |
Dickinson |
Lauzon |
Killorn |
Mantha, Dellandrea, Yamamoto, Entwistle |
Myers |
PHI |
N Foligno |
C Tanev |
Zucker |
Reilly, Kulikov |
|
PIT |
Milano |
Sherwood |
Martin |
Merzlikins, Bellemare, Dadonov, Merrill |
|
SJS |
Roslovic |
Blackwood |
Spurgeon |
D Raddysh |
|
STL |
DeMelo |
Henrique |
Kuemper |
Turcotte, Walman, Girard, Brannstrom, Kampf |
|
TBL |
Johansson |
Leddy |
Kahkonen |
Dermott |
|
TOR |
M Roy |
OEL |
Vaakanainen |
S Bolduc, Cizikas |
|
VAN |
Hague |
Burns |
Joshua |
B Tanev, Rittich, Fabbro, Harkins |
|
WAS |
Stolarz |
Copp |
Grzelcyk |
|
McDonagh, Drouin |
WPG |
Holtz |
Foegele |
Chytil |
Ceci, Cotter, Kulak, Janmark, Blais, Sturm |
Lankinen |
On the first pass through, Brian ended up with far too many defensemen so he ended up doing two Salchows and a triple Lutz while wearing a blindfold before flipping a few picks over to forwards instead. Even by doing that the team ends up with Graves, Samuelsson, Hedman, Bjornfot, Brodin, DeMelo, M Roy, and Hague – a pretty strong group of eight defensemen.
Brian also ends up taking four goalies in Mrazek, Woll, Stolarz, and Hofer. When I asked him why this way he said, “when I was in the Alps fighting Grizzly bears, I learned that it’s important to build from the net out.”
This team is set up pretty well for the future for an expansion team, and looks a hell of a lot better than what NHL Seattle was able to put together. One of the struggles this roster faces is a lack of top end offense, and the weakest position is clearly C. The wingers as a group are decent, but there are too many 3rd line guys and not enough top line guys, as you would expect for an expansion team,
One way to address this weakness and turn this team into a competitive team day 1 would be to hit the trade market in search of 1-3 top forwards. This team could also avoid making adds to contend and instead pivot into a seller quite easily, with a few extra players to spare at each position. Some stickhandling will have to be done with expiring contracts in the coming years as there will be many players expiring after both of the next two seasons, so this team is certain to be busy in the trade market regardless of which path they choose.
One thing is for sure though, the net result of this draft is a team that doesn’t take shit from anybody!
-Detroit Free Press, with notes from the great Brian Boitano
Lehkonen-Colton-Duclair
Zuccarello-N Foligno-Kurashev
Zetterlund-Dickinson-Mangiapane
Huberdeau-Blueger-Holmstrom
Extras: Roslovic, Milano, Holtz, Johansson, Carcone, Jeannot
Hedman-Brodin
DeMelo-M Roy
Samuelsson-Graves
Extras: Hague, Bjornfot
Mrazek
Stolarz
Woll
Hofer
Ive never seen a man eat so many chicken wings
What Would Brian Boitano Do? Seattle Kraken Expansion Edition
I’ve never seen a man draft so many top 4 defensemen!