Making the cut
With the goalies and defense all but set, all eyes will be on the forward group in Seattle. There are questions surrounding who will make the roster on opening night. General manager Ron Francis is on record saying Beniers is ready to be in the NHL, and coach Dave Hakstol has said Wright is an outstanding fit and will be given every opportunity to prove he belongs in the League.
If they are both in the lineup as the top two centers, who will take the remaining spots? Could Yanni Gourde be moved to the wing? And where will Ryan Donato, who signed for one year on July 27, fit in the retooled lineup that now includes Burakovsky and Bjorkstrand?
Most intriguing addition
NHL Central Scouting ranked Wright the No. 1 North American skater entering the draft, and many thought the Montreal Canadiens would select him No. 1. At least one fan wore a Wright No. 51 Canadiens jersey to the draft at Bell Centre; at least three wore T-shirts that said "WRIGHT CHOICE" with the "C" made of the Canadiens logo. But not only did the Canadiens pass on Wright, so did the New Jersey Devils at No. 2 and the Arizona Coyotes at No. 3. How does he respond?
Biggest potential surprise
Alex Wennberg, who was the No. 14 pick of the 2013 NHL Draft, had 59 points in 80 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016-17 and had 17 goals in 56 games with the Florida Panthers in 2020-21. But he had 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 80 games with the Kraken last season, and now all the attention is on Beniers and Wright. The 27-year-old center has the potential to be more of an impact player. The Kraken could use a surprise season from him.
Ready to break through
Beniers had 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) in 37 games at the University of Michigan last season and played for the United States at the IIHF World Junior Championship and the Beijing Olympics. When he arrived in the NHL, he didn't just get his feet wet. He made an impact. After all the hockey he played last season at different levels, he might have an easier transition to the grind of an 82-game schedule than most rookies coming straight out of college.
Fantasy sleeper
Vince Dunn, D (fantasy average draft position: 156.5) -- Last season, he had an NHL career high in points-per-game average (0.48; 35 in 73 games) and was second on Seattle in power-play points (11) behind forward Jared McCann (17). Dunn is a fantasy deep sleeper candidate who should play on the first power-play unit and benefit from new talent around him in wings Oliver Bjorkstrand and Andre Burakovsky and, should they make the roster out of training camp, rookie centers Matty Beniers and Shane Wright. -- Anna Dua
