Name: Seravalli: An early Canadian NHL Expansion Draft primer - TSN.ca
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Seravalli: An early Canadian NHL Expansion Draft primer - TSN.ca

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Odds byVirtanen, Kerfoot and Bennett, Getty ImagesTSN Senior Hockey ReporterWatching the Vegas Golden Knights nearly skate to their second Stanley Cup Final in three seasons of existence should have been a reminder to 31 other NHL teams that the Kraken are coming.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman unequivocally said on Saturday that the Seattle Kraken will debut in 2021-22 – one start date unfazed by the pandemic.The lesson is clear: The teams that waited until the last moment to get comfortable with their 2017 Expansion Draft protected list lot were leveraged by Vegas into unforced errors.That means there is work to be done as the NHL prepares for its final regular season as a 31-team league.Moves made over the next three weeks, trades ahead of the Oct. 6-7 Draft and free agents inked beginning with the Oct. 9 Free Agent Frenzy, will go a long way in determining those protected lists. The inverse is also true: With a few years to officially prepare, the current view of those protected lists will also determine in part the moves made.It is helpful, then, to take a cursory look at some of those protected lists. But first, a refresher on the rules:- Teams may protect either seven forwards, three defencemen and one goaltender - OR - eight skaters (regardless of position) and one goaltender.- Two forwards and one defenceman must be left exposed by each team who are both under contract for 2021-22 and meet the games played requirements for 2020-21. (Note: The games played requirements will likely be prorated if the season is shortened due to COVID-19.) Also, each team must expose a goaltender under contract in 2021-22 or who is an RFA.- All players who have accrued two or less pro seasons by the end of 2020-21, as well as unsigned draft picks, will be exempt from the Expansion Draft.- Players with no-move contracts MUST be protected unless the player waives his clause.Teams will have decisions to make with not just this year's pending free agents, but also with their own pending free agents for 2021. Free agents can be exposed, but will also be free to sign back with their previous team, even if they are selected by Seattle.Almost all of Canada’s seven clubs are well-positioned to escape from the Expansion Draft relatively unscathed. But the picture may not be as clear one month from now.With that, here is an early Canadian Expansion Draft primer, with projections&nbsp;based on the information available today ahead of the NHL&nbsp;off-season:&nbsp;CALGARY&nbsp;FLAMESProtection Scheme: 7/3/1Forwards&nbsp;(7)- NMC/Defence&nbsp;(3)Goaltender&nbsp;(1)/TBAPotentially Exposed PlayersFF Dillon DubéFDF (UFA 2021)Talking Points- A decision looms on captain . The face of the Flames franchise since left has done more than everything Calgary has asked of him. But the 2019 Norris Trophy winner will be 39 by the time 2021-22 starts and entering the final year of his deal. Protecting him will mean exposing a younger defenceman like Kylington.- The only silver lining to missing for the season with an ACL tear is that he is exempt from the Expansion Draft. Returning to play in the Edmonton bubble, nearly a year after surgery, would have made him eligible.- If is willing to waive his no-movement clause, the Flames can protect another forward.What To Watch For- GM Brad Treliving’s quest to find a new starting netminder will likely determine who will be protected in net, but would require a contract extension to meet the exposure eligibility.EDMONTON OILERSProtection Scheme: 8/1Skaters&nbsp;(8)DFDDFF (UFA 2021)DFGoaltender&nbsp;(1)/TBAPotentially Exposed PlayersFFFFDF (UFA 2021)D (UFA 2021)D (UFA 2021)Talking Points- The Oilers are potentially Canada’s only club to go with the 8/1 protection scheme.- , 22, would be Edmonton’s biggest exposure risk. The 2016 second-round pick was ranked as the Oilers’ No. 2 prospect by TSN director of scouting Craig Button in January.What To Watch For- The re-emergence of – or the forward the Oilers receive in return for 2016’s fourth-overall pick - could push Edmonton back toward the 7/3/1 scheme. But the elite athleticism of , who had underlying numbers that suggest he could be trending toward a No. 4 defenceman, will have something to say about that.&nbsp;MONTRÉAL CANADIENSProtection Scheme: 7/3/1Forwards&nbsp;(7)(UFA 2021)Defence&nbsp;(3)/(UFA 2021)Goaltender&nbsp;(1)- NMCPotentially Exposed PlayersFFD /DDDDG (UFA 2021)F (UFA 2021)F (UFA 2021)Talking Points- Will one of , or emerge into must-protect defencemen, forcing the Habs to consider the 8/1 protection scheme?- If not, which defenceman would garner the Habs’ last protected spot: or the newly signed ? Edmundson is younger and has a long deal; Chiarot was a key cog in the Canadiens’ wheel with a career-best nine goals and 21 points, averaging more than 23 minutes per night.- is one of just three goaltenders in the NHL who demands automatic protection via a no-movement clause, joining and .What To Watch For- In a frozen cap world, will Montreal have converted draft assets and cap space into protection-worthy players by the time the 2020-21 season rolls out? , and maybe even could be up for grabs on the trade market over these next weeks.&nbsp;OTTAWA SENATORSProtection Scheme: 7/3/1Forwards&nbsp;(7)Defence&nbsp;(3)Christian WolaninGoaltender&nbsp;(1)TBAPotentially Exposed PlayersFFFFFDDD Max LajoieF (UFA 2021)D (UFA 2021)Talking Points- Almost all of the significant pieces that GM Pierre Dorion has acquired to rebuild Ottawa’s roster will be exempt from the Expansion Draft: , , , Lassi Thomson, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Shane Pinto and all three of the Sens’ upcoming&nbsp; first-round picks.What To Watch For- The Sens will be scratching the bottom of the barrel to protect players, meaning Dorion might even have to acquire inexpensive players for exposure purposes.&nbsp;TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSProtection Scheme: 7/3/1Forwards&nbsp;(7)– NMC(UFA 2021)Mitch MarnerDefence&nbsp;(3)/TBAGoaltender&nbsp;(1)(UFA 2021)Potentially Exposed PlayersFF Alex KerfootFDD (UFA 2021)D (UFA 2021)Talking Points-&nbsp;The only surprise up front – as the Leafs are a no-doubter for the 7/3/1 scheme with their depth at forward – might be protecting instead of Alex Kerfoot for cap considerations.- may be a proxy for whomever the Leafs add to bolster their blueline this summer.- Would the Leafs find a home for , who has cost certainty on the backend, before potentially exposing him?What To Watch For- Is a placeholder for the different goaltender the Leafs will have in net next season? Toronto has been linked to a number of different netminders in recent weeks as they might look to shake things up. Andersen provides a real financial benefit to cash-strapped teams with just $1 million owed to him this season in real dollars.&nbsp;VANCOUVER CANUCKSProtection Scheme: 7/3/1Forwards&nbsp;(7)Defence&nbsp;(3)Goaltender&nbsp;(1)Potentially Exposed PlayersFFFFDF (UFA 2021)F (UFA 2021)D (UFA 2021)D Alex Edler (UFA 2021)Talking Points-&nbsp;GM Jim Benning said recently that the Canucks needed to make tough decisions on young players – and the Expansion Draft is just one of the reasons why. , coming off an 18-goal campaign, is probably No. 1 on that list. The restricted free agent will be due a raise, which the Canucks might not be able to afford, and also expansion protection. If Virtanen is still in the fold next season, he would bump either Lind or Motte to the exposed list.- Who would have predicted and make up two-thirds of Vancouver’s protected defenceman list? Both Edler and Benn will be pending UFAs, with Juolevi and Rafferty among the players Benning acknowledged will be knocking on the door for roster spots in training camp.- Re-signing pending UFA would add him to the protected list.What To Watch For- What every Canucks fan will be watching for this off-season: Vancouver’s goaltending tandem for 2020-21. If Benning can re-sign Markstrom, he says he is comfortable keeping both Markstrom and Demko into the season and figuring out which one to protect (or trade) later.&nbsp;WINNIPEG JETSProtection Scheme: 7/3/1Forwards&nbsp;(7)- NMCDefence&nbsp;(3)/Goaltender&nbsp;(1)Potentially Exposed PlayersFFF (LTIR)D /DF (UFA 2021)F (UFA 2021)Talking Points- Winnipeg’s biggest question at the moment involves which defenceman warrants protection among and ? Stanley is one of four first-round picks from 2016 who has yet to make his NHL debut; Poolman is older but has made the transition into an NHL regular.- Teams would be interested in giving and a change of scenery, but the Jets will also need to find players who meet the exposure games played requirements.What To Watch For- GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is big-game hunting this off-season in search of a top-pair defenceman and a second line centre. Will Trade Bait board member still be on the projected protected list?Contact Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @frank_seravalli

Odds byVirtanen, Kerfoot and Bennett, Getty ImagesTSN Senior Hockey ReporterWatching the Vegas Golden Knights nearly skate to their second Stanley Cup Final in three seasons of existence should have been a reminder to 31 other NHL teams that the Kraken are coming.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman unequivocally said on Saturday that the Seattle Kraken will debut in 2021-22 – one start date unfazed by the pandemic.The lesson is clear: The teams that waited until the last moment to get comfortable with their 2017 Expansion Draft protected list lot were leveraged by Vegas into unforced errors.That...

Seravalli: An early Canadian NHL Expansion Draft primer - TSN.ca

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