The Expansion Draft results will be announced on June 21, but already rumors of trades to protect certain players are popping up...Because of the way this works there are some VERY good players at risk of being exposed...and here are ten that i am tracking. To be clear, I would assume that these teams would move these players in some sort of deal if they can't protect them...but if they don't these Knights won't be half bad.
These are not in any particular order
1: Matt Murray. Penguins
Ok, so here's the situation (your parents went away on a week's vacation, and they left the keys to the brand new Porshe...)
BUT seriously...Marc Andre Fleury and his forgiving agent Allan Walsh hold the cards here...If Fleury wants to remain a Penguin, the Pens would have to protect him...and if Matt Murray is available he would be the Knights first pick. (Unless the Penguins find a way to trade him or Fleury first) You would have to think they could move Murray and get something instead of nothing for him, but where? I have heard Calgary connected to both Penguins goalies.
2. Jason Zucker. Wild
Hard to imagine a player like Zucker could be available, but when you do the numbers and the players the Wild HAVE to protect it is about 50/50 that Zucker is left unprotected.
3. Tyler Myers. Winnipeg
The Jets like Myers a lot but also have several players to protect and there are scenarios that could see Myers available...
4. Cam Fowler. Anaheim
Remember the Ducks had to trade Fowler last summer or this could happen...Well despite the fact that Cam has played outstanding he is still up against it when it comes to depth and players the Ducks would like to protect.
5. Nail Yakupov. St Louis.
I know he has shown moments of brilliance and at other times has vanished, but you'd have to think a first overall pick, still this young would be very tempting...
And that is only 5 players...I am tracking about 20...in my next blog I will address five more....
What's the buzz?
If you are another NHL GM what do you offer for these players (knowing they are vulnerable)?
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