Flat salary cap could be a huge bonus for the Seattle Kraken

The NHL having to keep a flat salary cap for the 2020-21 season has been a huge problem for many. Certain teams were forced to trade valuable players for well below market value in order to remain under the cap, while high profile free agents like Mike Hoffman remain unsigned as teams are unwilling to offer contracts that he and others would get in a regular offseason.

While it has affected most in the NHL in a negative way, one team it is likely beneficial for is the recently named Seattle Kraken. The Kraken will join the league for the 2021-22 season, and will have their expansion draft next summer. Their general manager, Ron Francis, believes the flat cap will provide his team some unique opportunities that would not have been possible had the cap went up as previously expected.

“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 NHL's pause in play, the salary cap is set at $81.5 million each season until the league's revenue reaches its pre-pandemic projections. As for the Kraken, their expansion draft rules will be the same as the Vegas Golden Knights were during their 2017 expansion draft. They must choose a minimum of 20 players under contract for the 2021-22 season.

While the Golden Knights are exempt from Seattle's draft, the remaining 30 teams can choose to protect either seven forwards, three defenceman, and one goalie, or eight skaters (forwards/defencemen) 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, who will hope to have the early success of the Golden Knights, will join the Pacific Division for the 2021-22 campaign.

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