What happens when a Bruins fan faces off against two Maple Leafs fans? Intellectual discussion about all aspects of hockey, of course! Throwing Haymakers is a podcast started by Last Word on Sports writers Brandon Higley-Blair and Josh Erickson, as well as Mat Sheridan. Discussing everything from playoffs to predictions to pretty snipes, Throwing Haymakers provides a fresh, new view on the current state of hockey.
Throwing Haymakers Podcast Episode 22
In this week’s episode, Brandon, Josh, and Mat take another dive into a mock Seattle expansion draft. Focusing on the Metropolitan Division, controversial decisions spark outrage in a pick from Pittsburgh and Brandon manages to change Josh’s mind on a pair of picks.
Tough decisions loomed on teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, and New York Rangers. As a solid chunk of their talent is exempt from the expansion draft, options for the Kraken were few and far between. The situation is markedly different for the Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Philadelphia Flyers. They’re all likely to lose a talented player to Seattle, no matter who they protect.
Overall, though, the defensive talent available to Seattle from Metropolitan teams in this expansion draft can’t be ignored. Longtime stalwarts like Jake Gardiner, Justin Schultz, and Mike Matheson, and David Savard could be available. Kraken general manager Ron Francis will have no problem building a sound defence for their inaugural season. The Metropolitan Division is likely to provide them with a solid starting point.
However, what choices Francis actually makes remain to be seen. With the bevy of free agents still unsigned just for the 2020-21 season, there’s still a looming sense of uncertainty around who could actually be available for Seattle. Regardless, defence will be a theme in their Metropolitan Division selections.
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