WaFd Bank Weekly Warmup: July 12

The 2020-21 season is in the books and we are nine days from the Kraken picking players in the NHL Expansion Draft™. Seattle, you're on the clock.
Let's drop the first offseason
WaFd Bank
Weekly Warmup puck:

Kucherov's Week Goes Viral

There appeared to be no stopping Tampa Bay forward Nikita Kucherov in his second straight year as the leading scorer in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He scored eight goals and dished 24 assists in 32 games, which is a 1.39 points per game average and nine more points than second-highest scorer, TBL's Brayden Point.
Kucherov is the first NHLer since legendary Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux did the same as Kraken GM Ron Francis' teammate in back-to-back Cup seasons for Pittsburgh. Lemieux is currently owner of the Penguins.

For his part, Kucherov owns a more fun-loving reputation among many fans since his post-Game 5 clincher turn at the media podium. It was, let's call it, an unabashed five-plus minutes you won't see or hear too often across any sport.
The TBL star covered his admiration for teammate and playoffs MVP Andrei Vasilevskiy along with some words about Montreal fans' reaction to a Game 4 Canadiens win in the Cup Final.
Re: Conn Smythe winner Andrei Vasilevskiy: "Vasy was outstanding. MVP… I was telling him every day, 'Vasy MVP. You're the best player.' And they give it to whatever the guy in Vegas [Marc-Andre Fleury], the Vezina."
On Canadiens fans: "They acted, the fans in Montreal, like they won the Stanley Cup last game. Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?"

Kucherov's social media hits didn't stop there on title night. He made it a point to FaceTime three-time Cup winner and Detroit Red Wings great Igor Larionov, one of the famed "Russian Five" and obviously a hero to fellow countryman Kucherov.
Despite not recognizing the number, Larionov, who was having dinner with his son, answered the call.
"You're my idol!" Kucherov shouted on screen six times during the conversation with Larionov, beloved by the Lightning star for his play in the Russian hockey system of play. "Thank you!"
Larionov's son, Igor Larionov II, tweeted the exchange: "Coolest thing witnessed."

Case of St. Louis Blues?

While the Tampa Bay franchise celebrated the two consecutive Cup wins, 2019 Cup champ St. Louis navigated confirmed media reports that Blues star scorer Vladimir Tarasenko is seeking a trade.
The 29-year-old forward has two seasons remaining on an eight-year, $60 million contract that has a full no-trade clause. Tarasenko has 218 and 224 assists in 531 regular-season games with St. Louis. His salary cap hit is $7.5 million but he will actually be owed $9.5 million for the upcoming season.
The Athletic and ESPN reported the Blues are working the phones about a possible trade and that Tarasenko is unhappy about how three multiple shoulder surgeries (April 2018, October 2019, August 2020) were handled by the team.

Expansion Draft Countdown

Most Kraken fans don't have to be reminded the NHL Expansion Draft™ is July 21. Maybe less known is 30 NHL teams (Vegas is excluded but doesn't share in the $650 expansion fee) must provide their protected lists of players by 2 p.m Saturday and the Kraken front office receives the list at 7 a.m. Sunday.
To learn more about the expansion draft rules, check out
today's entry
in our Countdown series. The series started Sunday with a
deep dive into what has happened to the 30 players drafted by Vegas
in 2017 -- and how those picks and players were parlayed into trades for other NHL players and future draft choices.
The series continues every day until July 21, when the Kraken's selections will be announced during a 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
show aired by ESPN2
.

Montreal's Summer Looks Busy

The surprise Cup Final run by the Montreal Canadiens-the last and 16th team to qualify for the postseason-featured stellar performances by many players who will be free agents of sorts this summer.

Restricted free agents Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Artturi Lehkonen are reportedly going to be re-signed by GM Marc Bergevin. Both players can receive qualifying offers from other teams but Montreal can match terms to keep those players.
While Bergevin would like to keep veteran forwards Joel Armia and Philip Danault, that projects to be more difficult. Both were key contributors-Danault with two-way play and the most ice time of any Canadiens forward and Armia with a physical style and scoring big goal-but both are unrestricted free agents with the ability to sign with any team.
There are several more free agents who might draw interest from other teams while challenging Montreal's ability to repeat as Cup Finalist, including veteran Corey Perry (who says he wants to come back) and Eric Staal.

Calling All Local Hockey Players

The Kraken Community Iceplex in the Northgate neighborhood will be ready for not only the Kraken but all local hockey players, youth and adult. Registration is available and ongoing at
www.krakencommunityiceplex.com
for fall Learn to Skate and Learn to Play programs for both youth and adults, plus leagues for all ages and abilities.