Jon Morosi’s picks for 1st Seattle Kraken draft pick, head coach hire

Matthew Beniers, 10, is a top draft candidate and could be the Seattle Kraken’s pick in second place. (Getty)

The next month is expected to be an exciting time for fans of the NHL’s newest team, the Seattle Kraken, as they get to grapple with a number of key moves.

Expansion Seattle Kraken is ranked No. 2 overall in the 2021 NHL Draft

The Seattle Kraken will have their expansion draft on July 21st, and just days later they’ll be competing in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, where they have the No. 2 overall pick. We learned that Seattle would be voting during the NHL Draft Lottery last week.

In addition to the fact that the Kraken is adding players not only to the main NHL roster, but also to its farm system, Seattle should be hiring the first head coach in franchise history very soon.

As we prepare for the NHL ice hockey in Seattle, Jon Morosi has some thoughts on what the Seattle Kraken should be doing in the coming weeks. Yes, you probably know Morosi from the MLB Network and as a guest on 710 ESPN Seattle to regularly discuss the Mariners, but Morosi also covers the NHL for the NHL Network.

After speaking about the Mariners with Wyman and Bob of 710 ESPN Seattle on Friday, Morosi was asked about the Seattle Kraken and who to pick as No. 2 overall in next month’s NHL Entry Draft.

“I’m going with Matty Beniers right now,” he said.

“Matty” Beniers is better known as Matthew Beniers, an 18-year-old University of Michigan forward who is also a member of Team USA.

In 24 games for the Wolverines in 2020-21, Beniers scored 24 points to earn an honorable mentioning selection of the All-Big Ten and a spot on the All-Freshman team of the Big Ten. He finished third in the conference in freshman scoring and fourth in the NCAA in freshman scoring.

“He’s been projected by a lot of different scouting services (which put him in second place,” said Morosi. “Of course I’ve seen him play a lot for Team USA at the Junior World Championships this year.”

As someone who’s seen Beniers up close lately, Morosi had a lot to say about the young design candidate.

“Tremendous engine. He brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm, ”he said. “… Great competitiveness, great integrity, great engine. (He has) a great shot and I think at some point he will be a goalscorer in this league. “

So if Benier’s Morosi’s pick is for the Kraken in the NHL Entry Draft, then who is his pick as the franchise’s first head coach?

“I think for Kraken fans out there you should be very careful,” he said. “Rod Brind’Amour, of course a longtime teammate of (Kraken General Manager) Ron Francis in Carolina.”

Brind’Amour, 50, was a center who played alongside Francis for the Hurricanes for four seasons. Brind’Amour was the head coach of the Hurricanes for the last three seasons, Carolina reached the playoffs in each of those three seasons. He has a record of 120-66-20 as the NHL head coach.

“He didn’t sign an extension to coach the Hurricanes and he’s what I would call a trailblazing coach in the NHL,” said Morosi. “If the Kraken hires Brind’Amour, oh my god, that would be a home run. So stay there. Brind’Amour is still a possibility for the Kraken. “

Listen to Morosi on Friday’s edition of Wyman and Bob at this link or in the player below.

Follow Brandon Gustafson on Twitter.

Salk: What kind of player should Kraken’s first NHL draft pick be?