MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle hockey fans celebrate Kraken, NHL Expansion Draft

Jul 21, 2021, 2:03 PM | Updated: 4:15 pm

Fans watch the Seattle Kraken 2021 NHL expansion draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle. (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images) A boater cruises on Lake Union at the Seattle Kraken 2021 NHL expansion draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle. 
 (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images) Boaters drift on Lake Union at the Seattle Kraken 2021 NHL expansion draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle.  (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images) A general view of the Seattle Kraken picks during the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle.  (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) JT Brown catches a fish thrown by Dominic Moore during the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) Fans float nearby the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle . (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) Danielle Losinski and her daughter Cora Lorinski, 13, take a selfie while sitting on a blanket fans got for free at the Seattle Kraken 2021 NHL expansion draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle. (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images) Thousands watch the Seattle Kraken 2021 NHL expansion draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle. (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images) Fans celebrate at the Seattle Kraken 2021 NHL expansion draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle. 
 (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images) Boats drift on Lake Union at the Seattle Kraken 2021 NHL expansion draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle.  (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images) Fans attend the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) Six new draft picks take the stage at the Seattle Kraken 2021 NHL expansion draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle. (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images) Fans cheer during the Seattle Kraken 2021 NHL expansion draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle. 
 Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images) Shawn Kemp (L) and Gary Payton of the Seattle SuperSonics attend the Seattle Kraken 2021 NHL expansion draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle. (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images) Ryan Mitchell hands out blankets to fans at the Seattle Kraken 2021 NHL expansion draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle.  (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images) An inflated 'kraken' floats in towards the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) An inflated 'kraken' floats in towards the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) The stage is set for the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle.  (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) A young fan attends the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft with the Seattle Kracken team logo shaved into his haircut at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) Cameron from Spokane visits the Kraken team store in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood. (KIRO Radio, Katharine Federer) The Kraken team store in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood. (KIRO Radio, Katharine Federer) The Kraken team store in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood. (KIRO Radio, Katharine Federer) The Kraken team store in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood. (KIRO Radio, Katharine Federer)

Seattle hockey fans are celebrating this week with the NHL Expansion Draft on Wednesday and the NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday.

The Space Needle is flying a Kraken flag to mark the occasion. The Seattle Kraken’s first head coach Dave Hakstol raised the team flag Wednesday morning.

Just across Lake Union, fans are invited watch the Expansion Draft starting at 5 p.m.

The event listing read, “We encourage all boaters, canoers, paddle boarders, kayakers & more to take part in this historic day in Seattle. There will also be contest for the best decorated watercraft for chance to win tickets to the Kraken’s first regular season home-opener.”

710Sports.com will host coverage on 710 ESPN Seattle with hosts Bob Stelton and Mike Salk joined by NHL Network insider Jon Morosi, a frequent 710 guest, to provide analysis.

Seattle Kraken expansion draft tracker: Picks, trades, reports and more

Hockey fans also popped into the Kraken store on South Lake Union Wednesday morning.

“I wanted to check out the clothing and Kraken store. I’m here visiting in town from New York,” Byron Cage told KIRO Radio.

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Seattle hockey fans celebrate Kraken, NHL Expansion Draft