Apr 26, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; National Hockey League commissioner Garry Bettman speaks the media prior to the start of game six between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators in the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre. The Canadiens won 1-0 and take the series 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
With the NHL and Gary Bettman officially announcing an NHL expansion process, the NHL could expect a new team (or two) as early as the 2017-18 season. Of course, with expansion comes an expansion draft. Although rosters will shift heavily by then, a fun game to play is taking a look at the current roster and picking a protected list for each NHL team.
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First, some rules. We are going with the most recent expansion draft rules. Meaning, for protected lists, Ottawa is allowed to protect: one goaltender, five defencemen, and nine forwards OR two goaltenders, three defencemen and seven forwards.
As well, players who are on ELC contracts do not need to be protected. Players who are pending RFA’s need to be protected.
In general, any player whose rights are held by an NHL team and is not on an ELC is eligible to be selected in the expansion draft.
Ottawa’s list:
With two good goaltenders in the crease, and a log-jam at forward and defence, as Bryan Murray, I am going with the second option and choosing to protect both goalies, 7 forwards, and 3 defenders.
Following those rules listed above, the Senators have three NHL level players who are automatically protected. That list is Matt Puempel, Curtis Lazar, and Cody Ceci. All are ineligible to be chosen in an expansion draft as of July 2nd, 2015 due to their ELC status.
So, if the NHL expansion draft were to happen tomorrow, here’s how I see Ottawa’s protected lists working out: Page 2: Forwards
Next: Senators Expansion Protected List: Forwards