NHL Expansion Draft, Protected Lists Released

[bakemeister52]

Fleury will be missed. Mrazek was the big surprise!

[canucksfan007]

Mrazek apparently did not get along with the coach and is a little "over confident" which is rubbing the organization the wrong way.

Why a team would potentially give up for free their starting goalie, going into his prime, who theyve already put a few years into ...... is just crazy. Want to keep Howard as well? There is no way Vegas takes a guy like Howard when Fleury is available.

When you look at it, Vegas has a very nice pool of goalies to pick from. Of course, the consensus started is Fleury .... but then you can choose any of these as back ups:

- Raanta
- Grubauer
- Lack
- Condon
- Mrazek
- Dominque
- Subban
- Pickard

Not to mention more "veteran" type guys:

- Ward
- Elliott
- Bernier
- Niemi
- Lehtonen
- Halak

Mrazek is the most expensive on the back up list there so that may deter Vegas. On the other hand, you could say he is the most proven of the group. I would bet Vegas takes Fleury along with 2 or 3 from the younger group. I feel they only take Mrazek if they have a trade lined up for him, as I doubt they want $10mil + in goalies. Looking at this list though, it shows you how many goalies are available out there.

A few names were surprising:

- E. Staal
- Strome
- Boedker

And a few names that most likely wernt protected because of their age / contact:

- Thornton
- Marleau
- Ryan
- Kronwall

As for guys like Oshie / Shattenkirk, they were simply left open by Washington, they are free agents and dont need to be protected. They can hear Vegas' offer and just wait 2 days to see what else is out there.

[doniceage]

Thanks for posting should be fun to see how this all plays out. I am not surprised the Wings let mrazek go. Last year Howard stats are better in almost every category. The biggest knock on Howard is that he can never stay healthy. Even with a awesome goalie the wings are in rebuild mode. So keeping Howard might be the better choice financially as well imo.

Don

[canucksfan007]

Thanks for posting should be fun to see how this all plays out. I am not surprised the Wings let mrazek go. Last year Howard stats are better in almost every category. The biggest knock on Howard is that he can never stay healthy. Even with a awesome goalie the wings are in rebuild mode. So keeping Howard might be the better choice financially as well imo.

Don

I believe Mrazek is less money, on a 2 year deal.

[Maggot]

In my opinion Jonathan Marchessault will be the biggest steal of the expansion picks. Dude is supremely talented and also young. No-brainer!

[30ranfordfan]

The Islanders protected 5 D?? That's the biggest surprise for me.

[RGM81]

Thanks for posting should be fun to see how this all plays out. I am not surprised the Wings let mrazek go. Last year Howard stats are better in almost every category. The biggest knock on Howard is that he can never stay healthy. Even with a awesome goalie the wings are in rebuild mode. So keeping Howard might be the better choice financially as well imo.

Don

Unless Vegas takes a flyer on Fleury, I can't see them taking Mrazek as well. That would tie up over $11M between the pipes. Remember, they haven't let him go; they just haven't protected him.

[30ranfordfan]

TSN has a cool app you draft your own team.....

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/assemble-the-k...raft-simulator


There's a contest running where you pick 10 players over in the Contests section... but here's my "full list". I'll hypothetically claim bragging rights if I'm right on the majority of these - but my guess is most will be wrong :)

Forwards:
Alex Burmistrov (ARI)
William Carrier (BUF)
Troy Brouwer (CGY)
Mikhail Grigorenko (COL)
William Karlsson (CBJ)
Darren Helm (DET)
Jonathan Marchessault (FLA)
Colton Sissons (NSH)
Beau Bennett (NJD)
Ryan Strom (NYI)
Matt Read (PHI)
Mikkel Boedker (SJS)
Nail Yakupov (STL)
Yanni Gourde (TBL)
Kery Rychel (TOR)
Marko Dano (WPG)

Defense:
Josh Manson (ANA)
Colin Miller (BOS)
Klas Dalbeck (CAR)
Trevor van Riemsdyk (CHI)
Jamie Oleksiak (DAL)
Griffin Reinhart (EDM)
Brayden McNabb (LAK)
Matt Dumba (MIN)
Brandon Davidson (MTL)
Marc Methot (OTT)
Luca Sbisa (VAN)

Goalies:
Antti Raanta (NYR)
Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT)
Philipp Grubauer (WSH)

[geschrocks33]

I'll play along too, here's my best (and probably completely wrong) stab at the Vegas roster based on my guesses/stuff I've heard:

Forwards:

Logan Shaw (ANA)
Alexander Burmistrov (ARI)
William Carrier (BUF)
Troy Brouwer (CGY)
Lee Stempniak (CAR)
Mikhail Grigorenko (COL)
William Karlsson (CBJ)
Curtis McKenzie (DAL)
Riley Sheahan (DET)
Jonathan Marchessault (FLA)
Charles Hudon (MTL)
James Neal (NSH)
Josh Bailey (NYI)
Michael Raffl (PHI)
David Perron (STL)
JT Brown (TB)
Marko Dano (WPG)


Defense:
Colin Miller (BOS)
Trevor van Riemsdyk (CHI)
Griffin Reinhart (EDM)
Brayden McNabb (LAK)
Matt Dumba (MIN)
Jon Merrill (NJD)
Marc Method (OTT)
Dylan DeMelo (SJS)
Alexey Marchenko (TOR)
Alex Biega (VAN)



Goalies:
Antti Raanta (NYR)
Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT)
Philipp Grubauer (WSH)

[Sharky94]

I don't why everyone is assuming Vegas is going to take Fleury. Why put that much money into a goalie with a lot of miles on him when you know you aren't competing for a couple years? Fleury will be gone long before Vegas is really ready to compete, and a younger goaltender will pay in the long run, while also getting better draft picks in the meantime. They would be much better off with Mrazek and Grubauer. Plus, by not taking Fleury, you keep the SC Champs in salary cap hell. Why would you do them a favor if you aren't getting something extra. The only way I would take Fleury is if they threw in a nice prospect or pick just to pick him.

If they take a #1 from ANA for not taking Vataanen, they are crazy. He's a top 2 Dman for them now, so why would they take a low 1st rounder to try to get a decent player later? He is the type of player you take to build your team around so you are ready to compete when he is reaching his prime.