Key Dates For The Kraken This Offseason

With the Florida Panthers taking down the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 to win the Stanley Cup, the offseason has officially begun and key dates are approaching quickly.

On June 27, the initial buyout window opens for every NHL team. It'll close on the 30th of June just before the beginning of free agency.

But before free agency, NHL general managers and scouts will get to select the future players on their team. On June 28, the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft will commence. The Kraken have the eighth overall pick and have been linked to a number of defenseman. Sam Dickinson, Zeev Buium and Zayne Parekh are three of the defencemen that many believe could end up in Seattle.

Related: Seattle Kraken #8 Pick Watch: THN Draft Issue Likes OHL Defenseman

Rounds 2-7 will commence the day after on June 29. On day 2, the Kraken will make eight picks. They'll make two selections in the second round, two in the third, one in the fourth, one in the sixth and another two in the seventh round. The additional picks the Kraken received are from the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames.

Related: The Kraken's Value Of Drafting Well In The Second And Third Rounds

Qualifying offers are due to RFA’s by June 30 to retain their rights. Matty Beniers, Kailer Yamamoto and Eeli Tolvanen are the NHL rostered players who are pending RFAs. Yamamoto and Tolvanen are both arbitration-eligible. .

Related: Kraken GM Francis Speaks On New Deal In Works For Matty Beniers

NHL free agency begins on July 1, but teams looking to re-sign a player to an eight-year deal must be do so by June 30. After the 30th, the maximum term a player can receive on a contract will be seven years. The three UFAs the Kraken have on their NHL roster are Tomas Tatar, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Justin Schultz.

Related: REPORT: Kraken UFA Tomas Tatar Could Play In Europe

The Kraken development camp will likely begin shortly after the start of free agency. Management and coaches will continue to build their roster for the rest of the offseason before training camp and preseason begin in September.

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