Photo: NHL.com
According to TSN’s Frank Seravalli, the Seattle Kraken signed unrestricted free agent defensemen Adam Larsson (right-handed) to a four-year contract that carries a $4 million cap hit and Jamie Oleksiak (left), who signed a five-year contract with a cap hit of $4.6 million.
Larsson will count as the Kraken’s pick from the Edmonton Oilers and Oleksiak will from the Dallas Stars in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft.
Early word is #SeaKraken are closing in on contracts with two UFA defensemen: Adam Larsson (EDM) and Jamie Oleksiak (DAL).
Not finalized. But barring any last minute change, the expectation is those players will be the selections from #Oilers and #GoStars.@DFOHockey
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 21, 2021
Larsson, 28, recorded four goals, 10 points, a +2 rating, a 46% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, a 48.12% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and a 45.53% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 56 regular-season games and two assists and a -4 rating in four Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Oilers last season.
In 603 career games with the Oilers and New Jersey Devils, Larsson has posted 25 goals, 137 points, and a +18 rating. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. In 24 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, Larsson has recorded three goals, nine points, and a -6 rating.
Good work @Frank_seravalli. Larsson has signed a 4 year deal with the Kraken. $4 mil aav. https://t.co/TwIO0VWNP7
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 21, 2021
The best season of Larsson’s career came in 2014-15 with the Devils where he set career-highs in assists (21) and points (24) and tallied a +2 rating.
Adam Larsson, signed 4x$4M by SEA, is a second-pair defensive defenceman who finally put up the types of elite defensive results that the Oilers originally acquired him for this past season. #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/qNFPWhhJD7
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 21, 2021
Larsson’s new contract projects extremely well, which might be pushing it but it’s at least a perfectly fair deal. pic.twitter.com/x3AC5kLSG5
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 21, 2021
Larsson averaged 19:39 per game last season, including 2:18 on the penalty kill.
Oleksiak, also 28, posted six goals, 14 points, a -3 rating, a 52.56% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, a 54.11% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and a 55.8% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 56 regular-season games with the Stars last season. He averaged 20:29 per game, including 1:30 with a man down.
In 369 career NHL games with the Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins, Oleksiak, the 14th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, has recorded 24 goals, 72 points, and a -14 rating. Oleksiak has posted six goals, 10 points, and a +8 rating in 43 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, including five goals, nine points, and a +11 rating in 27 games during the Stars’ run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.
The best season of his career occurred in 2017-18 where he tied his career-high in goals (five), set one in points (17), and plus-minus (+7).
The Kraken add some size to their backend with Oleksiak, who is listed as 6’7″, and Larsson (6’3″).
The Kraken and unrestricted free agent goaltender Chris Driedger have reportedly agreed to a three-year contract that carries a $3.5 million cap hit. The 27-year-old will count as the Kraken’s expansion pick from the Florida Panthers.
They will announce their 2021 NHL Expansion Draft Picks at 8 PM ET on ESPN2 on Wednesday night.
By Harrison Brown
