The NHL released the list of players who MUST be protected in the upcoming expansion draft due to no movement clauses in their contracts. As expected, there are four Rangers on the list:
Dan Girardi
Henrik Lundqvist
Rick Nash
Marc Staal
There had been some speculation about players with no movement clause and many had thought that Rick Nash would be expose-able due to his limited NMC. However, he has made the list and must be protected. Teams do not have to expose first and second year pros so that means the following players do no have to protected:
Pavel Buchnevich
Boo Nieves
Brady Skjei
Jimmy Vesey
Here are the players who could be exposed (forwards, then defense, then goalies):
Jesper Fast
Michael Grabner
Kevin Hayes
Josh Jooris (RFA)
Chris Kreider
Oscar Lindberg (RFA)
J.T. Miller
Brandon Pirri (RFA)
Matt Puempel (RFA)
Derek Stepan
Mika Zibanejad (RFA)
Mats Zuccarello
Adam Clendening (RFA)
Nick Holden
Kevin Klein
Ryan McDonagh
Antti Raanta
The following will be UFA's so they don't make any list:
Tanner Glass
Steven Kampfer
Chris Summers
The team will have the choice of protecting seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or they protect eight skaters and one goalie. The latter only makes sense if a t eam wants to protect four defensemen (not the Rangers). Here's the guesslist of protected players:
Forwards (7): Kevin Hayes, Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, Rick Nash, Derek Stepan, Mika Zibanejad, Mats Zuccarello
Defensemen (3): Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, Ryan McDonagh
Goalie (1): Henrik Lundqvist
The Rangers cannot lost more than one player in the expansion draft. So, which of these players do you think the Rangers will lose?
Fast, Grabner, Jooris, Lindberg, Pirri, Puempel. Clendening, Holden, Klein, Raanta?
Former Ranger forward and Washington G.M. George McPhee is the General Manager of the new Las Vegas Golden Knights. He has said that he will be looking for a youthful lineup. There are many teams in far worse shape than the Rangers so it will be hard to predict who the Rangers will lose. It will depend on the team that McPhee can construct. Based on their play this season, the players at risk are:
Nick Holden: Cheap top four defenseman who is raising his value every game.
Kevin Klein: Experienced top four defenseman.
Jesper Fast: Solid defensive forward with a decent offensive upside.
Michael Grabner: Older forward, but lightning fast and scoring this season.
Annti Raanta: There are a lot of other goalies out there, but Raanta is playing really well and by the end of the season, may be a better value than others available (Bishop, Fleury,Andersen), . There will be a LOT of trade action by the time the expansion draft rolls around.
Going into the season, my bet would have been either Fast or Klein, but the play of the others may alter that. Keep in mind that players can waive a no-movement clause, though the rules concerning that are a bit unclear. The full ist of players who must be protected is below (courtesy of Yahoo Sports):
Anaheim Ducks
Kevin Bieksa
Ryan Getzlaf
Ryan Kesler
Corey Perry
Kevin Bieksa
Ryan Getzlaf
Ryan Kesler
Corey Perry
Arizona Coyotes
Alex Goligoski
Alex Goligoski
Boston Bruins
David Backes
Patrice Bergeron
Zdeno Chara
David Krejci
David Backes
Patrice Bergeron
Zdeno Chara
David Krejci
Buffalo Sabres
Kyle Okposo
Kyle Okposo
Columbus Blue Jackets
Sergei Bobrovsky
David Clarkson
Brandon Dubinsky
Nick Foligno
Scott Hartnell
Sergei Bobrovsky
David Clarkson
Brandon Dubinsky
Nick Foligno
Scott Hartnell
Chicago Blackhawks
Artem Anisimov
Corey Crawford
Niklas Hjalmarsson
Marian Hossa
Patrick Kane
Duncan Keith
Brent Seabrook
Jonathan Toews
Artem Anisimov
Corey Crawford
Niklas Hjalmarsson
Marian Hossa
Patrick Kane
Duncan Keith
Brent Seabrook
Jonathan Toews
Colorado Avalanche
Francois Beauchemin
Erik Johnson
Francois Beauchemin
Erik Johnson
Dallas Stars
Jamie Benn
Jason Spezza
Jamie Benn
Jason Spezza
Detroit Red Wings
Frans Nielsen
Frans Nielsen
Edmonton Oilers
Milan Lucic
Andrej Sekera
Cam Talbot
Milan Lucic
Andrej Sekera
Cam Talbot
Florida Panthers
Keith Yandle
Keith Yandle
Los Angeles Kings
Anze Kopitar
Anze Kopitar
Minnesota Wild
Mikko Koivu
Zach Parise
Jason Pominville
Ryan Suter
Mikko Koivu
Zach Parise
Jason Pominville
Ryan Suter
Montreal Canadiens
Jeff Petry
Carey Price
Jeff Petry
Carey Price
Nashville Predators
Pekka Rinne
Pekka Rinne
New Jersey Devils
Ryane Clowe
Ryane Clowe
New York Islanders
Johnny Boychuk
Andrew Ladd
John Tavares
Johnny Boychuk
Andrew Ladd
John Tavares
New York Rangers
Dan Girardi
Henrik Lundqvist
Rick Nash
Marc Staal
Dan Girardi
Henrik Lundqvist
Rick Nash
Marc Staal
Ottawa Senators
Dion Phaneuf
Dion Phaneuf
Philadelphia Flyers
Claude Giroux
Claude Giroux
Pittsburgh Penguins
Sidney Crosby
Marc-Andre Fleury
Phil Kessel
Kris Letang
Evgeni Malkin
Sidney Crosby
Marc-Andre Fleury
Phil Kessel
Kris Letang
Evgeni Malkin
Tampa Bay Lightning
Ryan Callahan
Valtteri Filppula
Victor Hedman
Steven Stamkos
Ryan Callahan
Valtteri Filppula
Victor Hedman
Steven Stamkos
Toronto Maple Leafs
Nathan Horton
Nathan Horton
Vancouver Canucks
Loui Eriksson
Daniel Sedin
Henrik Sedin
Loui Eriksson
Daniel Sedin
Henrik Sedin
Winnipeg Jets
Dustin Byfuglien
Tobias Enstrom
Dustin Byfuglien
Tobias Enstrom