We’re expecting to learn Sunday which Detroit Red Wings players will be protected from selection in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft on Wednesday.
UPDATE: Here’s who Red Wings are protecting in Seattle expansion draft
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Here’s the updated Red Wings protection list released Sunday morning:
- F -- Dylan Larkin
- F -- Jakub Vrana
- F -- Tyler Bertuzzi
- F -- Robby Fabbri
- F -- Givani Smith
- F -- Michael Rasmussen
- F -- Adam Erne
- D -- Gustav Lindstrom
- D -- Filip Hronek
- D -- Nick Leddy
- G -- Thomas Greiss
Saturday evening was the deadline for NHL teams to submit their expansion draft protection lists, and then they are to announce them publicly on Sunday.
The deadline for the NHL to approve and distribute the protection lists is 10 a.m. Sunday. Once that is done, Seattle’s RFA/UFA interview period immediately begins for exposed players.
Here’s a quick review of what we might expect from the Red Wings. Reminder: Current NHL teams have two player protection options:
- Option 1: Protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie or
- Option 2: Protect eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and one goalie
A few weeks ago I wrote all about the rules for this expansion draft in my expansion draft primer -- read back here. That includes exemptions for players such as Moritz Seider, Joe Veleno, Lucas Raymond and Filip Zadina.
Assuming the Red Wings go with Option 1 (7 forwards, 3 defenseman, 1 goalie), here’s a guess at who they decide to protect in this expansion draft:
- F -- Dylan Larkin
- F -- Jakub Vrana (RFA status)
- F -- Tyler Bertuzzi (RFA status)
- F -- Robby Fabbri
- F -- Givani Smith
- F -- Michael Rasmussen (RFA status)
- F -- Adam Erne (RFA status)
- D -- Troy Stecher
- D -- Filip Hronek (RFA status)
- D -- Nick Leddy
- G -- Thomas Greiss
That’s my best guess. It’s never easy to project what Steve Yzerman and his staff will do. Never. But I think this list makes sense. Perhaps Vladislav Namestnikov is going to be a Kraken? Maybe Gustav Lindstrom?
UPDATE: Here’s who Red Wings are protecting in Seattle expansion draft
You can follow protection lists updates for all teams here.
Read more: Welcome, Nick Leddy; awaiting expansion protection list, busy week ahead