The Seattle Kraken claimed Nashville Predators forward Eeli Tolvanen off waivers Monday. Here’s what you need to know:

• The 23-year-old Tolvanen has two goals and two assists in 13 games played. He was a Predators first-round pick (No. 30) in 2017 and was highly regarded for his scoring ability.
• Last season, Tolvanen scored 11 goals in 75 games. The year before he scored 11 in 40 games for a 0.28 goals-per-game average — an 82-game pace of just under 23 goals.
• The Kraken are 16-8-3 and are in second place in the Pacific Division. The Predators are 12-11-2 and are in fifth place in the Central Division.
• Tolvanen’s contract, which carries a $1.45 million cap hit, runs through 2023-24.

Eeli Tolvanen hasn't really popped off at the NHL level yet, but claiming him was a good low-risk bet for the Kraken to take. Adds more forward depth for a team with so many different contributors.

— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) December 12, 2022

Scouting report

As a prospect, Tolvanen’s skill, hockey IQ and especially his shot were all excellent. Scouts considered him a premier goal scorer and power play asset.

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However, Tolvanen’s skating and his compete level have always been a concern with scouts. The fear was that Tolvanen’s offense wouldn’t translate to the NHL, despite being a good pro at other levels. — Pronman

Where does Tolvanen fit in the Kraken’s lineup?

Tolvanen likely starts somewhere in Seattle’s bottom-six, but could obviously move up if his play warrants it. Sometimes it’s tricky for a player to shine if they’re in that depth role, whether they’re weighed down by lesser teammates or simply don’t have enough ice time to make a difference.

That could be seen as the case in Nashville; at the NHL level, he has yet to average more than 14:48 minutes, and this year was about two minutes lower than that career high.

In Seattle, the ice time distribution is a lot more even for the top three lines. If Tolvanen plays above the fourth line, there may be more opportunity for him. What also helps is that the Kraken are a deeper team with their forward depth throughout the lineup. Having play drivers on the third line, if Tolvanen slots there, gives him a better chance to succeed considering the linemate support versus what he was accustomed to in Nashville where the team is pretty thin below their top forwards. — Goldman

GO DEEPER

Wheeler: NHL prospects I was wrong about, 2022 edition

(Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today)