Eeli Tolvanen claimed by Seattle Kraken, ending his career in Nashville
Former 1st round draft pick Eeli Tolvanen is officially no longer in the Nashville Predators organization. After learning yesterday that the Preds had waived Eeli Tolvanen, it's been a long 24 hour wait to find out his fate. Would he clear waivers and report to Milwaukee? Or would he get claimed? Well, today it has […]
Former 1st round draft pick Eeli Tolvanen is officially no longer in the Nashville Predators organization.
After learning yesterday that the Preds had waived Eeli Tolvanen, it's been a long 24 hour wait to find out his fate. Would he clear waivers and report to Milwaukee? Or would he get claimed?
Well, today it has been confirmed that the Seattle Kraken claimed Eeli Tolvanen off waivers. It should be noted that many teams passed on Tolvanen, including teams that could have used a good, young offensive player.
But Tolvanen is now a member of the Seattle Kraken, a team that has already shown it can produce offense and currently sits in 2nd place in the Pacific Division.
Tolvanen is owed $1.4 million this year and next, so the Kraken take on the rest of his contract. They only have around $1.6 million in cap space, so the fit is pretty tight for them money wise. But that shows perhaps how badly they want a guy like Tolvanen in their system.
For less than $3 million over the next two years, the Kraken are getting a player with high offensive potential, but a disappointing development path in Nashville. After leading the team in power play goals as a 21-year-old in 2020, Tolvanen saw his ice time shrink over the next two seasons. His defensive work improved, but his offensive production did not, leading to a lack of playing time under John Hynes in Nashville. This culminated in being healthy scratched for seven straight games this season, and then being waived on Sunday.
From a highly touted first round pick in 2017 to a waiver claim in 2022, the Eeli Tolvanen story in Nashville will leave all of us with more questions than answers.
— Featured image via Steve Roberts/USA TODAY Sports —
