Kraken & Golden Knights A Contrast In Team-Building

Friday's NHL trade deadline provided the latest example of the differing management philosophies between the NHL's two newest franchises.

The Vegas Golden Knights jumped off the diving board, performing loud, splashy cannonballs. "We traded for Anthony Mantha!" "We traded for Tomas Hertl!" "We traded for Noah Hanifin!"

At the other end of the pool, the Seattle Kraken continued swimming in the lap lane, with precise and disciplined strokes which barely rippled the water. Alex Wennberg departed in exchange for stockpiling draft choices, and Jordan Eberle stayed because the price and term were reasonable.

Perhaps those dueling approaches reflect the teams' locales; one known as high-rolling "Sin City," the other a tech hub where exact placement of every coded "1" and "0" matters.

And in fairness, the two expansion franchises are in very different stages of their development. Vegas, which became the league's 31st member in 2017, is a seven year old prodigy. They made the Stanley Cup Final in their first season, and won the Cup last year. The Kraken, born into a pandemic as team #32 in 2021, won't finish their third season until next month.

Though the older expansion brother holds an 8-2-0 lead in the all-time series, younger brother is capable of surprises. Seattle's 3-0 big-stage shutout of Vegas at the Winter Classic on New Year's Day proves the Kraken can perform in the deep end of the NHL pool.

Counting the 2nd just acquired from the Rangers, the Kraken will have nine total selections in this year’s entry draft. In addition to owning six of their own seven picks, the Kraken also hold Toronto’s 3rd from the Mark Giordano trade, and Calgary’s 7th from the Calle Jarnkrok trade.

The 2024 NHL Draft will be held June 28 and 29 in - where else - Las Vegas.