NHL expansion team Seattle Kraken announces first signing
August 18, 2017; Seattle, WA, United States; General aerial view of the Space Needle and Key Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Seattle Kraken have agreed to terms with center Luke Henman, the first player to sign in 2021-22 expansion NHL club history.
The 21-year-old from Halifax, Nova Scotia has 43 points (16 goals, 27 assists) in 32 games this season as captain of the Armada Blainville-Boisbriand of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
“I’m super excited and honored,†Henman said in the team’s press release Wednesday. “I believe in my game. My main goal will be to work to improve myself. “
We are going to take #SeaKraken story for $ 1000, @ RonFrancis10.
Question: What is the name of the very first player to join the #SeaKraken?
Answer: who is @ lukehenman16 ? https://t.co/fQQ4VQk8Xa pic.twitter.com/vM8UQVbCD5
– Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) May 12, 2021
Henman is in his fifth season in the QMJHL and has 214 points (63 goals, 151 assists) in 225 games with the Armada.
“Luke put the numbers in the ‘Q’ and he’s the team captain,†said Kraken general manager Ron Francis. “He has a strong character. We think he needs to get stronger. We are delighted to sign him as our first player.
He was a fourth-round pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018, but the team chose not to sign him before the June 2020 deadline.
Henman’s bilateral contract is a standard three-year entry-level NHL contract with pre-determined salaries for the American Hockey League and the NHL based on his development.
– Field-level media