Sask. NHLers headline Seattle Kraken expansion draft picks
Forward Jordan Eberle headlines a group of Saskatchewan-born NHL players selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft.
Regina-born Eberle, Carlyle’s Haydn and Cale Fleury and Kole Lind from Swift Current officially became a part of the Kraken’s inaugural roster on Wednesday night.
Eberle and Fleury were on hand at the draft event in Seattle, showcasing the Kraken’s white away jerseys.
"You don't get many opportunities to be part of a new franchise," Eberle said. "Any time you get that opportunity to bring the Cup to a city that's never had it before, it's pretty special."
The Regina Pats alumni spent his past four NHL seasons as a member of the New York Islanders.
An 11-year NHL veteran, Eberle has recorded 241 goals and 310 assists throughout his career with the Islanders and Edmonton Oilers.
Curtis Hunt, who coached Eberle during his time with the Pats and currently serves as the general manager of the Prince Albert Raiders, said he anticipates the 31-year-old to step into a prominent role on the team.
"He’s a gifted goalscorer, he’s got tremendous hockey sense, he’s got tremendous skill. He’ll run the power play, he’ll probably play on their top line," Hunt said. "I think Jordan can be the guy there and be the carrier and hopefully they get an opportunity to get into the postseason in that first year."
Haydn Fleury, a 25-year-old defenceman, heads to Seattle from the Anaheim Ducks, after being traded by the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this season. The 2014 first round draft pick has played in 179 games since joining the league in 2017.
Haydn’s brother Cale, a third round pick in 2017, has 41 NHL games under his belt and has spent the past two seasons with Montreal’s farm team the Laval Rocket.
Lind played in his first seven NHL games late in 2020-21. The 22-year-old right wing was originally drafted by the Canucks in the second round of the 2017 rookie draft.
The Kraken will play their first home opener against the Canucks on Oct. 23.
With files from the Associated Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.