Seattle Kraken's Important Dates and Process

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T. Tadi
July 14, 2021 (7:04 PM)

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The Seattle Kraken will officially become the 32nd active team in the NHL for the 2021-22 season. To build the organization, they will first go through the expansion draft, then the amateur draft and the free agent market to build a roster and some semblance of depth (picks and prospects).

Here is how the whole process will unfold:

Friday, July 16th (5pm)

Deadline for players who have a non-movement clause in their contract to exercise it and ultimately be made available for the expansion draft.

Any player with a non-movement clause is automatically protected by his team for the Seattle draft. However, NHL GMs are currently trying to convince some of them to lift their clause, making them unprotected and available for a possible selection by the Kraken organization.

Saturday, July 17th

- Trade freeze at 3:00 pm (no negotiation / transaction will be allowed)

- Deadline to submit the list of protected players for the expansion draft

Sunday, July 18th (10am)

All NHL clubs receive the list of protected players.

Seattle has been given the opportunity to talk to future free agents in advance.

This could allow the Kraken to negotiate informal deals in preparation for the opening of the free agent market. If they can convince some free agents to sign with them a few days later, it could change some of their picks in the expansion draft.

Wednesday, July 21

- Seattle Kraken submits its draft list (10 a.m.)

- Seattle Kraken picks announced (8pm)

Thursday, July 22nd

- Freeze lifted (deals can be made again)

Friday/Saturday, July 23 & 24

- 2021 NHL Amateur Draft

Wednesday, July 28th

- Free agent market opens