An NHL-wide roster freeze is now in effect until Thursday as the Seattle Kraken prepare to begin the expansion process after the league approves the 30 protection lists, that were turned in yesterdayafternoon, this morning
Prior to the freeze, a flurry of trades occured as general managers of some of the existing teams, learning from the 2017 Expansion Draft, tried to make things a little more difficult for Seattle GM Ron Francis, while others just took the chance to reshuffle their rosters.
An interesting three-team deal saw the Philadelphia Flyers trade center Nolan Patrick and defenseman Philippe Myers to the Nashville Predators for defenseman Ryan Ellis. The Predators kept Myers, but sent Patrick west to the Vegas Golden Knights for center Cody Glass. Patrick was the second overall pick in 2017 while Glass was taken four spots later. (Broad Street Hockey) (On The Forecheck) (Knights On Ice)
The Golden Knights were also involved in another three-team trade, acquiring forward Brett Howden from the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Nick DeSimone and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Enrty Draft. The Rangers picked up the negotiating rights to Tampa Bay Lightning forward Barclay Goodrow for a seventh-round pick in 2022. (Blueshirt Banter) (Raw Charge)
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired former Florida Panthers forward Jared McCann from the Pittsburgh Penguins for prospect Filip Hallander and a seventh-round pick in the 2023 NHL entry draft. (Pension Plan Puppets) (PensBurgh)
The Dallas Stars traded forward Jason Dickinson to the Vancouver Canucks for a 2021 third-round pick, The move kept the club from losing the 26-year-old to the Kraken for nothing. (Defending Big D)
The Arizona Coyotes moved Adin Hill and a 2022 seventh-round pick to the Sharks for 23-year-old goalie Josef Korenar and a 2022 second-rounder. Arizona also acquired forward Andrew Ladd and three draft picks from the New York Islanders in a move that gives the Isles salary cap space and the Coyotes some much-needed draft capital. The picks were New York’s second round pick in the 2021 draft (60th overall), a conditional second-rounder in the 2022 and a conditional third round pick in 2023. (Five For Howling) (Fear The Fin) (LIghthouse Hockey)
In a calculated gamble by GM Marc Bergevin, the Montreal Canadiens got Carey Price to waive his NMC to help the Habs hold on to his backup, Jake Allen. Price is owed an $11 million bonus in September, so if Seattle wants him, they are going to back up the Brinks truck. (Eyes On The Prize)
As far as the Panthers go, Chris Driedger remains the rumored target of the Kraken.
All signs point to the Seattle Kraken signing and selecting pending UFA goalie Chris Driedger from the Florida Panthers as part of the expansion draft process, sources say. @TSNHockey @TheAthletic
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 17, 2021