Seattle Kraken Should Target These 5 Players At The 2024 NHL Draft

The Seattle Kraken are scheduled to select eighth overall in the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft (at Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28th to 29th) following the results of the draft lottery last month. The franchise has picked second (2021), fourth (2022), and 20th overall (2023) in its three drafts since joining the NHL as an expansion franchise prior to the 2021-22 season.

The Kraken have clear organizational needs at defense and in goal and should address those positions with their first-round pick. Scouting expert Scott Wheeler of The Athletic ranked the Kraken 12th in his mid-season NHL prospect pool ranking. The team’s five-best prospects – and eight of the top 10 – were forwards and are led by Shane Wright, Carson Rehkopf, and Jagger Firkus.

Here are the latest publicly available prospect rankings and mock drafts from some of the scouting industry’s biggest names:

Sportsnet – Sam Cosentino / Jason Bukala
TSN – Bob McKenzie / Craig Button
The Athletic – Scott Wheeler / Corey Pronman
NHL Central Scouting
EliteProspects
The Hockey Writers

While teams should abide by the best-player-available principle at the draft, there is likely going to be a dynamic blueliner available to them at pick number eight. There isn’t much consensus beyond forward Macklin Celebrini going first-overall to the San Jose Sharks and defenseman Artyom Levshunov going second-overall to the Chicago Blackhawks, though there is some uncertainty around the latter.

Let’s dive into five defensemen who are widely projected to be selected within the three-to-15 range in the first round of this year’s draft, each of whom would immediately become the highest-rated blueliner in the organization’s prospect pool.

Sam Dickinson, London Knights

2023-24 Statistics: 68 Games Played – 18 Goals – 52 Assists – 70 Points

The first of the Kraken’s draft targets is Sam Dickinson of the OHL’s London Knights, losing finalists for the 2024 Memorial Cup. Dickinson is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound defenseman who leverages his size, athleticism, and powerful skating style to make an impact in all three zones and in all situations. His gap control is among the best in the class, and his physical traits help him and his team take and maintain possession of the puck for long stretches.

Dickinson was the lead defender on the Knights’ power play due to his puck-handling and strong shot, both of which are projected to at least a top-four level in the NHL. His playmaking and passing aren’t the same caliber as some of the top offensive defensemen in this draft class, but his all-around impact promises fewer holes in his game, and he still finished fourth in scoring among all OHL defenders.

For the Kraken, Dickinson’s allure is clear. He is arguably the most well-rounded blueliner in the class and, as such, can be paired with various partners with different offensive and defensive capabilities. He is a safe choice and I don’t mean that as a criticism, and general manager Ron Francis may opt for certainty as the Kraken’s defensive prospect depth is shallow.

Zeev Buium, University of Denver

2023-24 Statistics: 42 GP – 11 G – 39 A – 50 PTS

Buium led all NCAA Division I defensemen in assists and points and was a key figure on the University of Denver blue line as the Pioneers won their second national title in three seasons. His calling card is composure in high-pressure situations (he also helped the US win gold at the 2024 World Junior Championship) and on-ice awareness, allowing him to make difficult plays look easy.

Many in the scouting industry have highlighted how Buium already operates on the power play at an NHL level, and how his combination agile skating, decisive puck-carrying, and incisive passing make him a nightmare to defend and harry for opposing forecheckers. That type of toolkit should make him a difference-maker in all situations and a great fit in the modern NHL despite some minor weaknesses.

While Buium is a strong and mobile skater, he’s not as physically imposing as some of his draft peers. Instead, he has to rely on his edgework and positioning to deny and outduel oncoming attackers.

Most rankings have Buium going in the top five or six, so it’s unlikely that he will drop all the way to the Kraken on draft day. If he does, the front office should be doing backflips to the podium.

Anton Silayev, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod

2023-24 Statistics: 63 GP – 3 G – 8 A – 11 PTS

In a draft full of uncertainty outside of the first two picks, Silayev’s final positioning will affect the order of the rest of the top 10.

The Russian is a hulking 6-foot-7 but, despite his massive frame, does not play like the prototypical behemoth. Silayev had the most points (11; three goals, eight assists) by an under-18 player in the history of the KHL and pairs his size with a dependable outlet pass and surprising mobility as a strong skater for someone of his stature.

The KHL is notoriously difficult on young players, so it’s notable that Silyayev featured regularly in all situations, including on the power play. Not many 6-foot-7 defenders are deployed in such a way, and it’s made scouts and GMs around the league buy into the hype of potentially drafting the next Victor Hedman.

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As with many Russian prospects from the KHL, there is always a question about his contract situation and willingness to relocate to North America. His current deal with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod is set to expire after the 2025-26 season, meaning he is at least two years away from playing in the AHL, barring an unlikely early departure.

Teams on longer rebuilding timelines (like those picking at the top of the draft) may see the risk as more palatable given Silyayev’s incredible upside, but I don’t see Francis and company having him as high on their board with an eye towards more immediate contention.

Zayne Parekh, Saginaw Spirit

2023-24 Statistics: 66 GP – 33 G – 63 A – 96 PTS

Parekh led all OHL defensemen in goals and points and earned the honor of being named the Canadian Hockey League’s defenseman of the year. He also spearheaded the Saginaw Spirit’s Memorial Cup-winning effort and tied for third in scoring (five points in five games) at the tournament among all blueliners.

Scouts have touted his competitive drive and skill with the puck, though there are questions about his defensive impact and physicality at the top level. Corey Pronman of The Athletic offers the following analysis in his May rankings, which are linked above:

“The big issue with Parekh is his play away from the puck. He gives half-efforts at times defensively and doesn’t engage physically. I’ve seen worse defenders though. He picks off a lot of passes and makes stops but will likely never be a tough minutes defender. He projects as a top pair/PP1 type who may need to be deployed away from opponents’ top forwards.”

Parekh’s skating ability gives him the leeway to cheat on the defensive end or take additional risks in attack, as he can quickly accelerate and get back into the play.

When a prospect offers as much going forward as Parekh does, those are shortcomings you can live with if it means securing the services of a player who can develop into a legitimate difference-maker on the offensive end in the modern NHL.

Carter Yakemchuk, Calgary Hitmen

2023-24 Statistics: 66 GP – 30 G – 41 A – 71 PTS

At first glance, it’s easy to see why Yakemchuk has scaled up and down almost every draft rankings. He’s a physical specimen at 6-foot-3 and 202 pounds as an 18-year-old, is a right-handed shot, and has the skating chops of a much smaller and lighter defenseman.

Yakemchuk paced all WHL defensemen in goals (30) this season and finished fifth at his position in scoring with 71 points in 66 regular-season games, earning him a nod as a finalist for the 2024 WHL defenseman of the year.

Yakemchuk’s dynamism, puck-carrying, and one-on-one deking abilities packaged with an NHL-ready frame could rocket him up draft boards. His physical traits are mouth-watering, but they can sometimes paper over a poor defensive read or half-hearted play. Again, from Pronman:

“Yakemchuk has star potential and projects to be a major minutes player in the NHL with a lot of offensive upside.”

The Kraken can’t afford to be picky, but adding Yakemchuk to their system would be a boon. If the other four defensemen are somehow off the board by the time the team steps up to the podium, they could do much worse than a 6-foot-3 rearguard with tantalizing offensive potential.

Kraken Can Significantly Bolster Prospect Pool at 2024 NHL Draft

Assuming that they are on the board, selecting either Buium or Parekh at pick number eight would be a prudent move. Either of the pair carries a higher potential than any other defender in the organization’s prospect pool and could help the Kraken transition into adopting a more up-tempo style.

NHL teams have historically gone with a safer, more predictable pick in the top 10, but a player such as Parekh has incredible upside that not taking him higher is borderline indefensible. The blueliner’s elite game-breaking ability is something teams all teams covet but struggle to acquire outside of the draft.

Regardless of which direction general manager Ron Francis chooses to go, the Kraken will welcome a supremely talented defenseman who should excite the fanbase. They may not contribute right away, but they should form the foundation for what is hopefully a Stanley Cup contender in the near future. One can only hope, right?