SOB for MVP Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 In the Dec. 17 magazine edition of THN, we decided to use growing rumors of NHL expansion – to Quebec City and southern Ontario/Markham – to have a little fun in the form of an expansion draft. Long-time hockey men Jacques Demers and Gord Stellick served as GMs for Quebec and Markham, respectively, and selected a 24-man roster comprised of three goalies, eight defensemen and 13 forwards. The results are guaranteed to provoke passionate discussion. To get a look at their expansion rosters, you’ll have to buy the issue. But in this column, we’ll look at the first part of the expansion draft process – deciding on protected lists for all 30 teams – which in and of itself serves as a great source of debate. That’s because we modelled those lists based on the requirements for the NHL’s 2000 expansion draft that stocked teams in Minnesota and Columbus. Back then, the league’s 28 teams were presented with a choice: protect one goalie, five defensemen and nine forwards or protect two goalies, three defensemen and seven forwards. And that’s where the first tough calls had to be made. Here are five teams we believed would face some serious dilemmas and the choices we believe they would make (full protected rosters for all teams are below): BUFFALO: The Sabres were the only team we saw protecting two goalies, because (a) current starter Ryan Miller will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2014; and (b ) backup Jhonas Enroth is just 24 and almost assuredly would have been one of the first (if not the first) netminders taken in an expansion draft. That meant leaving rugged veteran Robyn Regehr and puck-moving blueliner Andrej Sekera unprotected and taking a calculated gamble in exposing highly paid center Ville Leino. LOS ANGELES: Like the Sabres, the Kings currently have two capable goalies, but after the season Jonathan Quick just had – and the 10-year, $58-million contract extension the team rewarded him with – the writing was on the wall for 24-year-old Jonathan Bernier. Sure, L.A. could have protected both players, but that would have resulted in protecting just three members of a defense corps featuring Drew Doughty, Matt Greene, Alec Martinez, Rob Scuderi and Slava Voynov. In reality, Kings GM Dean Lombardi likely would trade Bernier before any expansion draft for an asset he could protect, but for the purposes of our fantasy expansion draft, Bernier had to be left unprotected. SAN JOSE: The Sharks have one of the league’s deepest defense corps, so there was never much doubt they’d protect just one goalie (Antti Niemi) and five d-men. However, we presumed the presence of solid veterans Brent Burns, Dan Boyle, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Brad Stuart and Douglas Murray on the blueline would leave GM Doug Wilson no choice but to leave youngsters Jason Demers and Justin Braun unprotected. This is another instance in which Wilson very likely would make a transaction or two that allowed him to retain the services of one or both Demers and Braun or landed him a prospect or draft pick. Absent that taking place, this is the way we see things shaking out. ST. LOUIS: Much of the Blues’ success last season stemmed from their powerful platoon of Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott between the pipes. But when faced with a choice of protecting them both – and having to safeguard just three blueliners – it didn’t make sense for GM Doug Armstrong to stay with his pair of veterans. Indeed, the Blues had so many valuable assets on defense – including Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk, Barret Jackman and Roman Polak – they had a tough decision to make between 23-year-old Ian Cole and 25-year-old Kris Russell. In the end, we thought Armstrong would protect the slightly more experienced Halak and the younger Cole. TORONTO: The Maple Leafs haven’t enjoyed much success since the 2004-05 lockout ended, but just because they haven’t made the playoffs in eight years doesn’t mean GM Brian Burke wouldn’t face some difficult expansion draft scenarios. On the one hand, Toronto’s lack of a veteran goalie made it easy to protect just one netminder. But when it came to their current collection of forwards, the answer wasn’t nearly so easy. The off-season acquisition of former Flyers James van Riemsdyk made that decision more difficult and it came down to these questions for the final couple spots: would you protect Nazem Kadri? Clarke MacArthur? Tyler Bozak? None of those players would necessarily be top-tier talent on other teams, yet there was an overwhelming sense among THN staffers all three of those players would be snapped up in an expansion draft. In the end, we felt the Buds would grit their teeth and leave 26-year-old winger Nikolai Kulemin (a 30-goal-scorer in 2010-11 who struggled mightily last season) unprotected. Protected lists: Anaheim Ducks (one goalie) Forwards: Bonino, Cogliano, Getzlaf, Koivu, Perry, Ryan, Selanne, Smith-Pelly, Winnik Defensemen: Allen, Beauchemin, Fowler, Sbisa, Souray Goalies: Hiller Boston Bruins (one goalie) Forwards: Bergeron, Campbell, Caron, Horton, Kelly, Krejci, Lucic, Marchand, Seguin Defensemen: Boychuk, Chara, Ference, McQuaid, Seidenberg, Goalies: Rask Buffalo Sabres (two goalies) Forwards: Ennis, Gerbe, Hodgson, Ott, Pominville, Stafford, Vanek Defensemen: Ehrhoff, Leopold, Myers Goalies: Enroth, Miller Calgary Flames (one goalie) Forwards: Backlund, Cammalleri, Glencross, Iginla, Hudler, Jackman, Jones, Stempniak, Tanguay Defensemen: Bouwmeester, Butler, Giordano, Smith, Wideman Goalies: Kiprusoff Carolina Hurricanes (one goalie) Forwards: Brent, Jokinen, LaRose, Ruutu, Semin, Skinner, E. Staal, J. Staal, Tlusty Defensemen: Faulk, Gleason, Harrison, McBain, Pitkanen Goalies: Ward Chicago Blackhawks (one goalie) Forwards: Bolland, Frolik, Hossa, Kane, Kruger, Sharp, Shaw, Stalberg, Toews Defensemen: Hjalmarsson, Keith, Leddy, Oduya, Seabrook Goalies: Crawford Colorado Avalanche (one goalie) Forwards: Downie, Duchene, Hejduk, Jones, Landeskog, McGinn, O’Reilly, Parenteau, Stastny, Defensemen: S. Elliott, Hejda, Johnson, Wilson, Zanon Goalies: Varlamov Columbus Blue Jackets (one goalie) Forwards: Anisimov, Atkinson, Brassard, Dorsett, Dubinsky, Foligno, Johansen, Prospal, Umberger Defensemen: Johnson, Moore, Nikitin, Tyutin, Wisniewski Goalies: Bobrovsky Dallas Stars (one goalie) Forwards: Benn, Eakin, Eriksson, Jagr, Morrow, Nystrom, Roy, Ryder, Whitney Defensemen: Daley, Fistric, Goligoski, Larsen, Robidas Goalies: Lehtonen Detroit Red Wings (one goalie) Forwards: Abdelkader, Bertuzzi, Datsyuk, Filppula, Franzen, Helm, Samuelsson, Tootoo, Zetterberg Defensemen: Ericsson, Kindl, Kronwall, Quincey, White, Goalies: Howard Edmonton Oilers (one goalie) Forwards: Belanger, Eberle, Gagner, Hall, Hemsky, Jones, Nugent-Hopkins, Paajarvi, Smyth Defensemen: Petry, Potter, Schultz, Smid, Whitney Goalies: Dubnyk Florida Panthers (one goalie) Forwards: Bergenheim, Fleischmann, Goc, Kopecky, Mueller, Parros, Upshall, Versteeg, Weiss Defensemen: Campbell, Ellerby, Gudbranson, Kuba, Kulikov Goalies: Theodore Los Angeles Kings (one goalie) Forwards: Brown, Carter, Clifford, King, Kopitar, Lewis, Richards, Stoll, Williams Defensemen: Doughty, Greene, Martinez, Scuderi, Voynov Goalies: Quick Minnesota Wild (one goalie) Forwards: Bouchard, Brodziak, Clutterbuck, M. Cullen, Parise, Heatley, Koivu, Torrey Mitchell, Setoguchi Defensemen: Gilbert, Prosser, Scandella, Spurgeon, Suter Goalies: Backstrom Montreal Canadiens (one goalie) Forwards: Cole, Desharnais, Eller, Gionta, Leblanc, Moen, Pacioretty, Plekanec, Prust Defensemen: Diaz, Emelin, Gorges, Markov, Subban Goalies: Price Nashville Predators (one goalie) Forwards: Bourque, Erat, Fisher, Gaustad, Hornqvist, Kostitsyn, Legwand, Smith, Wilson Defensemen: Ellis, Gill, Josi, Klein, Weber Goalies: Rinne New Jersey Devils (one goalie) Forwards: Bernier, Clarkson, Elias, Henrique, Josefson, Kovalchuk, Tedenby, Zajac, Zubrus, Defensemen: Fayne, Greene, Larsson, Salvador, Volchenkov Goalies: Brodeur New York Islanders (one goalie) Forwards: Bailey, Grabner, Tavares, Martin, Moulson, Niederreiter, Nielsen, Okposo, Ullstrom, Defensemen: Carkner, Hamonic, Streit, Visnovsky, Goalies: Nabokov New York Rangers (one goalie) Forwards: Boyle, Callahan, Nash, Gaborik, Hagelin, Richards, Pyatt, Rupp, Stepan, Defensemen: Del Zotto, Girardi, McDonagh, Staal, Stralman Goalies: Lundqvist Ottawa Senators (one goalie) Forwards: Alfredsson, Greening, Latendresse, Michalek, Neil, Regin, Smith, Spezza, Turris Defensemen: Cowen, Gonchar, Karlsson, Methot, Phillips Goalies: Anderson Philadelphia Flyers (one goalie) Forwards: Briere, Couturier, Giroux, Hartnell, Read, B. Schenn, Simmonds, Talbot, Voracek Defensemen: Coburn, Grossman, Meszaros, L. Schenn, Timonen Goalies: Bryzgalov Phoenix Coyotes (one goalie) Forwards: Boedker, Doan, Gordon, Hanzal, Korpikoski, Sullivan, Torres, Vermette, Vrbata Defensemen: Ekman-Larsson, Klesla, Michalek, Rundblad, Yandle Goalies: Smith Pittsburgh Penguins (one goalie) Forwards: Cooke, Crosby, Dupuis, Jeffrey, Kennedy, Kunitz, Malkin, Neal, Sutter Defensemen: Engelland, Letang, Martin, Niskanen, Orpik Goalies: Fleury San Jose Sharks (one goalie) Forwards: Burish, Clowe, Couture, Handzus, Havlat, Marleau, Pavelski, Thornton, Wingels Defensemen: Boyle, Burns, Murray, Stuart, Vlasic, Goalies: Niemi St. Louis Blues (one goalie) Forwards: Backes, Berglund, D’Agostini, McDonald, Oshie, Perron, Sobotka, Steen, Stewart Defensemen: Cole, Jackman, Pietrangelo, Polak, Shattenkirk, Goalies: Halak Tampa Bay Lightning (one goalie) Forwards: Connolly, Lecavalier, Malone, Pouliot, Purcell, Pyatt, St-Louis, Stamkos, Thompson Defensemen: Brewer, Carle, Hedman, Ohlund, Salo Goalies: Lindback Toronto Maple Leafs (one goalie) Forwards: Bozak, Frattin, Grabovski, Kadri, Kessel, Lupul, MacArthur, Van Riemsdyk, McClement Defensemen: Gardiner, Gunnarsson, Holzer, Liles, Phaneuf Goalies: Reimer Vancouver Canucks (one goalie) Forwards: Booth, Burrows, Hansen, Higgins, Kassian, Kesler, Raymond, D. Sedin, H. Sedin, Defensemen: Bieksa, Edler, Garrison, Hamhuis, Tanev Goalies: Schneider Washington Capitals (one goalie) Forwards: Backstrom, Brouwer, Chimera, Johansson, Laich, Ovechkin, Perreault Ribeiro, Ward Defensemen: Alzner, Carlson, Green, Orlov, Schultz Goalies: Holtby Winnipeg Jets (one goalie) Forwards: Antropov, Burmistrov, Jokinen, Kane, Ladd, Little, Slater, Wellwood, Wheeler Defensemen: Bogosian, Byfuglien, Enstrom, Hainsey, Stuart Goalies: Pavelec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyBoy44 Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 For the love of god please do not expand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashian Kassian Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Maybe keep Lappierre instead of Raymond. Other than that its good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Karlsson Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 ^^ I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pears Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Giving up Luongo for nothing would be a big mistake IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lillooet_Hillbilly Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 i hate the idea of another team comming into the league and stealing other players. they should collect free agents and let them have the top draft picks but dont let them steal guys from other teams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlayStation Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 First, we dont need another team in the league. Second Philly protecting Bryzgalov!? You dont need to worry about someone taking him, if they do, well thats even better! & We should protect Luongo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalie13 Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Giving up Luongo for nothing would be a big mistake IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nucks+Cup+♥ Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Raymond? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down by the River Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 So you would give up Schneider for nothing instead? Or would you leave two more forwards and two more D unprotected? Personally, I think it's a fair risk. Other teams may not take an unprotected Luongo because of the length of his contract and his NTC. Just because you leave him unprotected doesn't mean he will be taken for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzam Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 If someone has a NTC, could the actually be left unprotected, or would their NTC allow them to veto? Expansion would be a horrible idea. Just relocate the Coyotes already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift-4 Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Not sure I would want to protect Booth Maybe Lappy instead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xbox Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Why protect Raymond over Jensen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vv2 Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Maybe keep Lappierre instead of Raymond. Other than that its good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashian Kassian Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 So you would give up Schneider for nothing instead? Or would you leave two more forwards and two more D unprotected? Personally, I think it's a fair risk. Other teams may not take an unprotected Luongo because of the length of his contract and his NTC. Just because you leave him unprotected doesn't mean he will be taken for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashian Kassian Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Why protect Raymond over Jensen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashian Kassian Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 would rather keep Raymond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xbox Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 I'm pretty sure it is only players who have played in NHL games, or a certain amount of NHL games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashian Kassian Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 After re-reading the list I think you're right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watermelons Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 So you would give up Schneider for nothing instead? Or would you leave two more forwards and two more D unprotected? Personally, I think it's a fair risk. Other teams may not take an unprotected Luongo because of the length of his contract and his NTC. Just because you leave him unprotected doesn't mean he will be taken for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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