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Carolina Hurricanes: A Look Ahead at the Seattle Expansion Draft

By Austin Isham

SEA ISLAND, GA - DECEMBER 04: (L to R) Adrian Hanauer, NHL Seattle franchise Vice-Chairman David Wright, Jay Deutsch, Jerry Bruckheimer, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Seattle franchise majority owner David Bonderman, Len Potter, and NHL Seattle franchise President and CEO Tod Leiweke pose for a photo during the NHL Board of Governors Meeting on December 4, 2018 in Sea Island, Georgia. The NHL Board of Governors approved expanding to Seattle, making the franchise the 32nd team in the league. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
SEA ISLAND, GA - DECEMBER 04: (L to R) Adrian Hanauer, NHL Seattle franchise Vice-Chairman David Wright, Jay Deutsch, Jerry Bruckheimer, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Seattle franchise majority owner David Bonderman, Len Potter, and NHL Seattle franchise President and CEO Tod Leiweke pose for a photo during the NHL Board of Governors Meeting on December 4, 2018 in Sea Island, Georgia. The NHL Board of Governors approved expanding to Seattle, making the franchise the 32nd team in the league. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MAY 12: Carolina Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek (34) waits for the start of the third period during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 12, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 12: Carolina Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek (34) waits for the start of the third period during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on May 12, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Goalies

2019 second round draft selection Pyotr Kochetkov should be ready for a NHL role by 2021 resulting in the Hurricanes opting to protect the younger Alex Nedeljkovic over veterans Petr Mrázek and James Reimer.

In the 2021 offseason, the trio of goalies are all going to be in need of contracts and should Seattle opt to select any of the exposed goalies they would have a brief time period to negotiate before any other team. Peter would be almost 30 by the time the expansion draft rolls around giving Seattle a goalie with a fair amount of experience as a number one goalie.

With a tandem of Pyotr and Alex the Hurricanes should be in good hands if Seattle chooses to go this route. Although this would seem like a step back now, in two years time the reigning AHL Goalie of the Year, Nedeljkovic, should be more than capable of being the team’s starter, should he progress as planned.

By selecting Petr, Seattle would be in a similar situation as Vegas was when they were able to get Marc-Andre Fleury from Pittsburgh after they protected the younger Matt Murray. Providing a common influence in the room Mrázek would be a great vet for a team in their inaugural season.

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