Francis: Flat salary cap should benefit Kraken's expansion draft

Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis is optimistic the NHL's flat salary cap will present some unique opportunities for his club when the expansion draft takes place next summer.

"Well, I think certainly, that's what we're hoping," Francis told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

"But I think there are pros and cons, right?" Francis continued. "Obviously, the cap being flat should be a benefit to us. But I think you saw a lot of teams doing some maneuvering this summer, whether it was buyouts, moving players for picks and stuff, to help alleviate some of their situations."

Due to the pause, the NHL's salary cap is set at $81.5 million each season until the league's revenue reaches it's pre-pandemic projections.

Seattle will adhere the same draft rules as the Vegas Golden Knights - the most recent expansion franchise - and must choose a minimum of 20 players under contract for the 2021-22 campaign.

Vegas famously made the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season after knocking their expansion draft out of the park, landing foundational pieces such as Shea Theodore, Jonathan Marchessault, and William Karlsson.

The Golden Knights are exempt from Seattle's draft, but the remaining 30 teams across the league can protect either seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and one goalie. Players with no-movement clauses are automatically protected unless they waive their agreement, and all first or second-year players are exempt from being chosen.

The Kraken are set to take the ice for the 2021-22 season, and will join the Pacific Division.

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