The Seattle Kraken have completed the first trade in franchise history, sending Tyler Pitlick to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2022 fourth-round pick. Pitlick was Seattle’s selection from the Arizona Coyotes last night, but he’ll end up just a footnote in the expansion saga, never playing for the team.
The 29-year-old forward scored 11 points in 38 games last season for the Coyotes but brings a ton of physicality and versatility to the table. Known more as a bottom-six option, he has moved up at times throughout his career and even has powerplay experience. Pitlick scored a career-high 14 goals and 27 points in the 2017-18 season with the Dallas Stars, and averaged more short-handed ice time than any other Arizona forward this year.
That versatility will be helpful in Calgary, though where Pitlick fits in is still to be determined. The Flames are going through a transition period after losing captain Mark Giordano last night and could be involved in several other transactions this summer. Adding Pitlick’s $1.75MM cap hit shouldn’t change much, but it does give the team a potential replacement for some of the other bottom-six options that are set to hit free agency. Derek Ryan, Josh Leivo, and Buddy Robinson are all pending UFAs.
For the Kraken, this is the first of what could be several moves to add draft capital after last night’s event. Like Vegas a few years ago, many of the names picked through expansion will never play for Seattle, instead quickly packing their bags and heading to another North American city to continue their career.
Seattle dropped the ball big time if this is the only pick they get from the expansion draft
They might have a few hush hush deals in place with some ufa’s, but are waiting so they could still acquire more assets. Ex, maybe they have an agreement with landeskog, but are keeping it on the down low so they could get donskoi as well,I stead of announcing the signing like they did with Larson and having that be their pick.
I agree. I hope they have a few tricks up their sleeve or a couple big UFA signings because many of their selections (and non-selections and lack of trades last night really make you scratch your head. They know a lot more than me, but even I could’ve drafted a more immediately competitive team last night. They must have a plan and clearly it’s different than Vagas’ was in 2017. Considering they went to the SCF in year 1, perhaps Seattle could’ve followed suit. Very (un)interesting picks IMO.
thank goodness Philly didnt bring him back
Tyler Pitlick, winner of this year’s Calvin Pickard award. “You *almost* made it to the expansion team for keeps.”