Report: Seattle will select Kole Lind in the Expansion Draft

The Seattle Kraken officially submitted their list of 30 players who will join the team in the expansion draft to the NHL at 7:00 am PST this morning.

Since then, many of the names are spilling out in the media.

Despite reports that the Kraken were interested in acquiring Braden Holtby from the Vancouver Canucks, multiple outlets are now reporting that Kole Lind will be selected instead.

This choice always seemed to make more sense than a Holtby selection. With multiple younger, more talented goaltenders available, it seemed hard to envision a scenario where the Kraken would select Holtby.

For the Canucks, the suggestion of flipping a second-round pick to shed Holtby’s salary always seemed a little far-fetched. Wouldn’t the Canucks just be better off buying out Holtby, and using that second-round pick to improve their roster via a trade? Or, you know, just use the pick to build up a rapidly dwindling prospect pool?

For the record, here are the goalies that the Kraken appear to be rolling with, according to Frank Seravalli from Daily Faceoff.

As for the Kole Lind selection, it makes a lot of sense for the Kraken, based on the options that the Canucks had available. Lind is a low-cost player who could play a big role with the Kraken’s new AHL franchise in Palm Springs.

Lind would have been protected as well, if it weren't for the acquisition of Jason Dickinson. And, if the Canucks really wanted him back, there’s a good that Lind ends up on the waiver wire prior to the start of the season.

Again, this report isn’t confirmed, but it seems realistic that Lind ends up as the Kraken’s selection from the Canucks later today.