Buffalo Sabres
Protection list 7-3-1
Forwards 7
Jack Eichel
Sam Reinhart
Victor Olofsson
Anders Bjork
Casey Mittlestadt
Tage Thompson
Jeff Skinner (NMC)
Defensemen 3
Rasmus Ristolainen
Rasmus Dahlin
Henri Jokiharju
Goalie 1
Linus Ullmark (UFA)
Key Exposures
Forwards
Cody Eakin
Rasmus Asplund
Zemgus Girgensons
Tobias Reider (UFA)
Defensemen
Colin Miller
Will Borgen
Goalie
Carter Hutton (UFA)
It will be quite easy to figure out Buffalo’s protection list. Unless Eichel or Reinhart are traded before the expansion draft all seven forwards are locks except maybe if they decided to protect Asplund and leave Tage Thompson exposed. On Defence same as the Offensive side, if Rasmus Ristolainen has not been traded by the expansion draft then Ristolainen as well as Dahlin and Jokiharju and i don’t think there would be any question about that while even though Linus Ullmark is a pending UFA he will be protected. The Selection will probably come down to Veterans Colin Miller and Cody Eakin or youngster Asplund and I think the Kraken would take Colin Miller. Miller is a soild top 6 D-Men and would be a primary trade candidate for the Kraken with a year left before being a pending UFA at $3.86 Million dollars and had 4 Goals and 12 Points in 48 Games.
Selection
RD Colin Miller
New Jersey Devils
Protection list 7-3-1
Forwards 7
Nico Hischier
Jesper Bratt
Pavel Zacha
Yegor Sharangovich
Janne Kuokkanen
Miles Wood
Andreas Johnsson
Defensemen 3
Daemon Severson
Will Butcher
Jonas Siegenthaler
Goalie 1
Mackenzie Blackwood
Key Exposures
Forwards
Nathan Bastian
Michael McLeod
Marian Studenic
Defensemen
P.K Subban
Ryan Murray (UFA)
Goalie
Scott Wedgewood (UFA)
New Jersey’s protection list problem will be the young Forwards. Kuokkanen, Sharangovich, Zacha, Bratt and Hischier are all locks while Bastian, Johnsson, McLeod, and Wood are all in contention for the last two spots. With Johnsson being the most experienced of all Devil’s Forwards and Wood showing off impressive goal scoring ability I am protecting them over Bastian and McLeod. Severson is a lock and Siegenthaler is pretty likely to be protected too as the last spot will come down to Butcher or Subban but with Butcher having a cheaper cap hit they protect him instead of Subban and Blackwood is a no brainer to be protected in net. It would probably come down to McLeod, Bastian, and P.K Subban but after a very productive season I think that Bastian would prove most valuable to the Kraken. Bastian would be a soild middle 6 Forward and has 2 years at $.875 Thousand dollars before becoming a RFA and had 3 Goals and 10 Points in 41 Games.
Selection
RW,C Nathan Bastian
Philadelphia Flyers
Protection list 7-3-1
Forwards 7
Claude Giroux (NMC)
Sean Couturier
Kevin Hayes (NMC)
Travis Konecny
Scott Laughton
Oscar Lindblom
Nolan Patrick
Defensemen 3
Ivan Provorov
Travis Sanheim
Philippe Myers
Goalie 1
Carter Hart
Key Exposures
Forwards
Jacob Voracek
James Van Riemsdyk
Nicholas Aube-Kubel
Connor Bunnaman
Defensemen
Justin Braun
Robert Hagg
Shayne Gostisbehere
Goalie
Brian Elliott (UFA)
Philly will have a lot to do before the expansion draft. Giroux, Couturier, Hayes, Konecny and probably Laughton are all locks to be protected in the expansion draft with Patrick, Lindblom, Aube-Kubel, Voracek, ans Van Riemsdyk all in contention for the last two spots. There have been rumours about Philly trading Patrick but I think that the Flyers would protect him because of what they could get for him in a trade and Lindblom probably has more upside then Kubel and a cheaper contract than Voracek and Van Riemsdyk so I would protect Lindblom. Provorov, Myers, and Sanheim are all locks on the defensive side while also Hart is the lock in net. There are lots of options for Seattle as they could select one of Aube Kubel, Voracek, Van Riemsdyk, Goatisbehere, Braun, or Hagg but Philadelphia makes a trade sending their 2021 1RD pick (#13) and Tanner Laczynski for selecting James Van Riemsdyk. Van Riemsdyk can be a force in their Top 6 and has 2 years left before becoming a UFA at $7 Million and had 17 Goals and 43 Points in 56 games, they would get a high quality player with the 1RD pick and Laczynski can be a future top 9 Center.
Selection
LW James Van Riemsdyk
Trade attached
Philadelphia sends Seattle Tanner Laczynski and their 2021 1RD pick (#13) for expansion considerations
New York Rangers
Protection list 7-3-1
Forwards 7
Artemi Panarin (NMC)
Mika Zibanejad (NMC)
Chris Kreider (NMC)
Ryan Strome
Filip Chytil
Pavel Buchnevich
Brett Howden
Defensemen 3
Jacob Trouba (NMC)
Ryan Lindgren
Libor Hajek
Goalie 1
Alex Georgiev
Key Exposures
Forwards
Kevin Rooney
Colin Blackwell
Philip Di Giuseppe (UFA)
Julien Gauthier
Defensemen
Anthony Deangelo
Anthony Bitetto
Goalie
Keith Kinkaid
The Rangers will still have a couple of things to sort out before expansion draft. Everyone who I protected except for Brett Howden will likely be a lock to be protected as Howden, Rooney, and Blackwell would all be in contention to be protected but because Howden is a RFA and Blackwell and Rooney both meet the exposure requirements I think they would protect Howden. Trouba, Hajek, and Lindgren are all most likely going to be protected, DeAngelo would also be considered but after his incident with the Rangers organization he will be left unprotected and Alex Georgiev will be the protected in net. The Selection will most likely come down to Gauthier, Blackwell, and Rooney but after having a very productive season as a bottom six forward the Kraken choses Blackwell. Blackwell would be a productive bottom 6 forward for the Kraken and has 1 year left on his contract at $.725 Thousand before being a UFA and had 12 Goals and 22 Points in 47 games.
Selection
C,RW Colin Blackwell
Washington Capitals
Protection list 7-3-1
Forwards 7
Nicklas Backstrom (NMC)
Evgeny Kuznetsov
Anthony Mantha
Tom Wilson
Lars Eller
Daniel Sprong
T.J Oshie
Defensemen 3
John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov
Brendan Dillion
Goalie 1
Ilya Samsonov
Key Exposures
Forwards
Alex Ovechkin (UFA)
Connor Sheary
Carl Hagelin
Garnet Hathaway
Defensemen
Justin Schultz
Michael Kempny
Nick Jensen
Trevor Van Riemsdyk
Goalie
Vitek Vanacek
Phoenix Copley
Washington will still need to make important decision before the expansion draft. Eller Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Wilson, and Mantha are all locks to be protected while Sheary, Sprong, Ovechkin, and Oshie are all possibilities for the last two protection spots. If Ovechkin signs before the expansion draft than he will take a protection spot but with me not having him signed I think they would protect Oshie and Sprong and leave Sheary available. Carlson and Orlov are probably locks to be protected but the third protection spot is up for grabs. Dillion, Schultz and Kempny should all have a chance at the last spot but with the way Dillion has played since getting there I think he should be the one protected while even though Vanacek played great this season Samsonov should be the one protected. Vanacek is the player I am going with sheerly based on the fact that he may be the best goalie available in the expansion draft. Vanacek can be a 1b goalie for Seattle and would have one year left on his contract at $.717 Thousand before being a RFA after having a 0.908 SV% and a 2.69 GAA in 37 games.
Selection
G Vitek Vanacek
Pittsburgh Penguins
Protection list 7-3-1
Forwards 7
Sidney Crosby (NMC)
Evgeni Malkin (NMC)
Jake Guentzel
Bryan Rust
Kasperi Kapanen
Jared McCann
Jason Zucker
Defensemen 3
Kris Letang (NMC)
Marcus Pettersson
Brian Dumolin
Goalie 1
Tristan Jarry
Key Exposures
Forwards
Brandon Tanev
Jeff Carter
Teddy Blueger
Zach Aston Reese
Sam Lafferty
Defensemen
Mike Matheson
Mark Friedman
Chad Ruhwedel
Goalie
Casey DeSmith
Pittsburgh has to try to protect their best forwards. Everyone who I protected should be protected in the real expansion draft except maybe Zucker. Because of his contract and age the Penguins might leave Zucker exposed and instead protect one of Tanev or Blueger but because of how well he played I chose to protect Zucker. Everyone who I protected on Defense should actually be protected leaving high priced and good quality defensemen Mike Matheson and in net I don’t think there is any question that Tristan Jarry will be the goalie protected. It would come down to Desmith, Carter, Blueger, or Tanev but the Kraken go with leadership and experience and go with Carter. Jeff Carter 1 year left before turning into a UFA at $2.64 Million and had 17 Goals and 30 Points in 54 games with both the Penguins and Kings.
Selection
C,RW Jeff Carter
Boston Bruins
Protection list 7-3-1
Forwards 7
Patrice Bergeron (NMC)
Brad Marchand (NMC)
David Pastrnak
Charlie Coyle (NMC)
Craig Smith
Jake Debrusk
Trent Fredric
Defensemen 3
Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelyck
Brandon Carlo
Goalie 1
Dan Vladar
Key Exposures
Forwards
Taylor Hall (UFA)
David Krejci (UFA)
Ondrej Kase
Nick Ritchie
Curtis Lazar
Defensemen
Jeremy Lauzon
Connor Clifton
Jakob Zboril
Goalie
Tuukka Rask (UFA)
Jarslov Halak (UFA)
Boston will have to see if they resign any of there players. All seven forwards I protected should actually be protected unless Krejci and/or Hall sign before the expansion draft. If only one were to sign then Fredric would be exposed but if both sign then Fredric and DeBrusk would be unprotected but I don’t have any UFA’s signing so DeBrusk and Fredric both are protected. Carlo, McAvoy, and Grzelyck should all actually be protected leaving valuable D-Men Lauzon and Clifton exposed and unless Halak or Rask sign a extension Vladar should be the one to be protected. Lauzon, Clifton, Kase, or Ritchie would be the best choices for the Kraken and they take the Potential upside in Jeremy Lauzon. Lauzon can be a great 3rd pairing defender and has 1 year left on his contract before becoming a RFA at $.850 Thousand after having 1 Goal and 8 Points in 41 games.
Selection
LD,RD Jeremy Lauzon
New York I
Protection list 7-3-1
Forwards 7
Matthew Barzal
Jordan Eberle
Anthony Beauvillier
Anders Lee
Jean Gabriel Pageau
Brock Nelson
Josh Bailey
Defensemen 3
Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech
Nick Leddy
Goalie 1
Semyon Varlamov
Key Exposures
Forwards
Kyle Palmeri (UFA)
Casey Cizikas (UFA)
Kiefer Bellows
Cal Clutterbuck
Matt Martin
Defensemen
Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho
Thomas Hickey
Goalie
Cory Schneider (UFA)
New York I probably is one of the most predictable teams. All seven forwards I protected should be protected even if they sign Palmeri I don’t think they would change anything leaving all of their valuable fourth line members available in the expansion draft. Pulock and Pelech are locks to be protected but that third spot will be fought between Leddy, Mayfield, and Aho. Even though Mayfield and Aho are younger and have Cheaper contracts I think that they would protect Leddy because he is the best proven Defensemen and Varlamov is the easy choice in net. It will be between Mayfield, Aho, Clutterbuck, or Bellows but with the great play this past year from Mayfield he will be selected. Mayfield has the potential to be a top 4 defensemen and has 2 years remaining on his contract at $1.45 Million before heading to Free Agency and had 2 Goals and 15 Points in 56 games this year.
Selection
RD Scott Mayfield
East Expansion Picks
G Vitek Vanacek
RD Colin Miller
LD,RD Jeremy Lauzon
RD Scott Mayfield
C,RW Colin Blackwell
RW,C Nathan Bastian
C,RW Jeff Carter
LW James Van Riemsdyk
East Trade attachments
Philadelphia’s 2021 1RD Pick (#13) and Tanner Laczynski
Review
Vanacek will be a great backup who can play plenty of games for the Kraken as a 1b option. Lauzon can start as the seventh defensemen and play if there is injury, Miller would most likely be traded while Mayfield would round out the top 4 on defence. Blackwell would make a impact on the fourth line or maybe as a spare forward, Bastian would see time on the third line while veteran players Van Riemsdyk and Carter can produce in the top 6.
Final Starting Lineup Review
Van Riemsdyk-Johansen-Appleton
Robinson-Carter-Compher
Johnson-Dickinson-Fischer
Erne-Blackwell-Bastian
Giordano-Mayfield
Dermott-Burns
Larsson-Gudas
Allen
Vanacek
Spares
Watson-Lorentz-Lauzon-Benson-Mikkola-Clague-Subban-Rask-Miller-Holtby
Kesler-Oliver-Foote-Paschinuk-Laczynski
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