NHL Expansion Draft, Protected Lists Released

[mikecole141]

https://www.nhl.com/news/protected-l...?tid=289242400

Golden Knights must take one player from each of the other 30 teams before Wednesday

The list of players protected by the 30 NHL teams in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft was unveiled on Sunday. Each team had the option to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or eight skaters and one goalie. All players with continuing and effective no-movement clauses had to be protected. All first- and second-year professionals are exempt from selection, as are unsigned draft choices.
Vegas has until 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday to submit its expansion draft selections. The Golden Knights must choose 30 players, one from each team and must take a minimum of 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies from the lists of unprotected players.

The Golden Knights' selections will be revealed at the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile on Wednesday, June 21 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The all-in-one event will be broadcast live in the United States on NBCSN and in Canada on Sportsnet at 8 p.m., ET/ 5 p.m. PT.

Doesn't seem to be to many surprises on there. The big thing is we can start suppositions on the projected expansion roster.

[Cunnuc]

Red Wings Protect Howard instead of Mrazek? Not happy about that at all. I have never liked Howard. Loved Mrazek since World Juniors.

yikes.

[piper1]

Red Wings Protect Howard instead of Mrazek? Not happy about that at all. I have never liked Howard. Loved Mrazek since World Juniors.

yikes.

I think that was the name that surprised me the most from the entire list.

[RGM81]

Yeah Mrazek was a surprise on there for sure. Maybe the Wings are (pardon the pun) rolling the dice that because Vegas is probably taking Fleury, they're not going to want to spend $10M+ on goalies. I would suspect the Knights will get themselves a more inexpensive backup and a couple prospects (Subban out of Boston?) to fill their organizational depth.

[RGM81]

No surprises on Montreal's list. A lot of folks in the MTL media are suggesting Habs will sweeten the pot a little bit for Vegas to select Plekanec. Otherwise, they may go with Hudon or Davidson.

[mikecole141]

Some talk about whether or not Anaheim has a side deal in place to protect Vatanen and possibly Manson, as Bieksa had a NMC as well as Vermette. The last I heard was Anaheim may be willing to move their First Round pick to secure this, and may of had it done before the rosters had to be submitted.

Columbus and the Islanders are also teams I am hearing are neck deep in doing this. With Columbus being almost a sure thing, and the Islanders talking about offering up their first as well.

Minnesota is still saying that they haven't made a deal, but with McPhee stating he will talk with all 30 teams before finalizing a selection I think we could still see something there between them and Minnesota.

As for the surprise of seeing Mrazek left available over Howard, in the end Jimmy has a modified NMC that lists the ten teams he can be moved to. As only Toby Enstrom and Marc-Andre Fleury were the only two players league wide to waive the clause, I'm guessing Vegas wasn't one of the ten teams Howard is willing to go to.

[Rraincock]

Pittsburgh protects Murray and not Fleury... I get that Murray had a good playoff run... but I wonder if M-A Fleury's time in Pittsburgh has come to an end.

[creasecollector]

Red Wings Protect Howard instead of Mrazek? Not happy about that at all. I have never liked Howard. Loved Mrazek since World Juniors.

yikes.

I'm surprised by this! This just jumped out at me.

[creasecollector]

Pittsburgh protects Murray and not Fleury... I get that Murray had a good playoff run... but I wonder if M-A Fleury's time in Pittsburgh has come to an end.

Fleury waived his NTC, so we knew this was going to happen. Still sad to see.

[SenatorCollector]

I realize there's only so much room to work with, and each team has to protect certain guys, AND risk losing quality talent, but I'm honestly shocked by some names unprotected! Oshie, Shattenkirk, Ryan, DOAN???