Brandon Tanev was in Seattle yesterday as the NHL’s newest team, the Kraken, selected him from the Penguins’ roster in the expansion draft.
The popular winger would have been entering the third year of a six-year contract with Pittsburgh. In 100 games with the Penguins, the speedy, rugged Tanev scored 18 goals with 23 assists. He also led the team in hits, with 283, more than 150 more than any of his teammates.
The loss of Tanev and his salary gives the Penguins some financial flexibility, with close to $7.5 million of salary cap space. GM Ron Hextall has said the Pens need to become bigger and tougher next season.
Seattle GM Ron Francis picked 30 players from 30 of the league’s teams, including Calgary defenseman and captain Mark Giordano, Tampa Bay center Yanni Gourde and Florida goalie Chris Driedger.
One interesting name for Penguins fans…forward Jared McCann, who was traded to Toronto by the Pens over the weekend, was chosen by Seattle in the draft. Seattle also signed former Penguins’ defenseman Jamie Oleksiak to a five-year contract worth four-point-six million dollars per year.
The NHL will release its 2021-22 schedule today.
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