After a heartbreaking Stanley Cup loss just a week ago, the Nashville Predators will face more challenges as the 2017 Expansion Draft begins.
With the NHL’s first expansion draft since 2000 set to begin today, all teams and fans are scrambling to make sure that their favorite players will be with them next season. On Sunday morning, all NHL teams released their protection lists to the public, after they had submitted them to the NHL and the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday Afternoon. The Nashville Predators list of protections came as no surprise as the team took the eight skaters and one goalie option: that forwards Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, Ryan Johansen, Calle Jarnkrok, defenseman P.K. Subban, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm, Roman Josi, and goaltender Pekka Rinne.
How the Expansion Draft Works
More from Predators News
- Joakim Kemell Flashes his Offense in Nashville Predators Loss to Tampa
- Nashville Predators 2023 Training Camp Spotlight: Luke Schenn
- Nashville Predators 2023 Training Camp Roster Officially Announced
- Nashville Predators Rookie Camp will Showcase Loaded Prospect Pool
- How Crazy Would Signing Phil Kessel be for the Nashville Predators?
Every NHL team is allowed to protect certain players from the draft. They can either protect seven forwards, three defenseman, and one goalie, OR eight skaters, and one goalie. Teams must protect players like Pekka Rinne who have no-movement clauses in their contracts, and must include those players in their protection count. All first and second year players, as well as unsigned draft choices, are automatically protected, but do NOT count towards the protection number.
Once teams have compiled their protection lists, they will submit them to the Vegas Golden Knights and the NHL. The Golden Knights will then have 3 days to select their team. Vegas must choose one player from each current NHL team.
Expansion Draft Timeline
- Saturday June 17th, at 4pm CT – every NHL team had to submit its Protection List to the NHL and the Vegas Golden Knights.
- Sunday June 18th, at 9am CT – Protection lists are distributed to all NHL teams and to the public.
- Sunday June 18th, 9am CT – Vegas can begin negotiations with unrestricted and restricted free agents available in the Expansion Draft.
- Wednesday June 21st, 9am CT – Vegas Golden Knights must submit their Expansion Draft selections to the NHL and NHLPA.
- Wednesday June 21st, 7pm CT – Golden Knights reveal their as a part of 2017 NHL Awards.
Who will the Nashville Predators protect?
It is no surprise the Nashville Predators choose the eight skater, one goalie option for their protection list. Although this only allows them to protect eight of a possible eleven players, this option works in the Predators’ favor. This gives GM David Poile the ability to protect his top four defenseman in Subban, Ellis, Josi, and Ekholm, who combined to be one of the most productive blue lines in the NHL this season.
Skaters Forsberg, Arvidsson, Johansen, and Jarnkrok lead an offense that was eleventh in the NHL in goals scored this season.
Who’s left unprotected?
Notable names that the Nashville Predators left unprotected, and who are available to the Golden Knights are forwards James Neal, Colton Sissons, Craig Smith, Colin Wilson, Cody McLeod, and Austin Watson. Defenseman Yannick Weber, Anthony Bitetto, and Matt Irwin, and goalie Marek Mazanec. Although GM’s can try to influence Vegas’ selections through certain trades, reports suggest that Predators GM David Poile has been unsuccessful in negotiations with Vegas GM George McPhee.
Doesn't sound like there is progress being made as Nashville tries to encourage Vegas from locking on to a player the Preds want to keep.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 17, 2017
There may be some degree of revenge is in McPhee’s mind when negotiating with Poile and the Nashville Predators. Why, you ask? McPhee was the GM of the Washington Capitals back when the Predators basically stole Forsberg from them, for a rundown Martin Erat.
What’s Next?
With the Golden Knights on the clock, Nashville Predators fans pray that their favorite players will remain on the team. The Predators will to the free agent market to try to replace any void left. They must to ensure another run at the Stanley Cup run in the 2017-2018 season.
Next: The Predators Need Mike Fisher Back
For now though, pray that Vegas has mercy on the GM and team that we have all grown to love.