You guys are both Class A Richards
- Victoro311

Conduct a poll Domer.

Im assuming pending UFAs won't be protected. Why would a team protect a player who they plan not to resign? On the other hand, I could see a lot of teams signing their free agents after June 20th.
- drummer829

I'm saying Kunitz has a nmc so as long as he is on the team on the date of June 21st he will be auto protected regardless of if he is gonna be a ufa one week later. There was nothing in the rules saying pending ufas dont qualify for auto protection.

Well, it definitely says 1st and 2nd year pros are exempt on the rules they released today. But there is a lot of confusing parts. Now that the rules are official, I hope someone explains all the finer details. But since he really can't make the team now, if Sprong would have to be protected he just shouldn't play in the AHL this year.
- Tojo.

After looking at the expansion draft rules, even the somewhat vague ones, you can't tell me Ottawa, Florida, TB and Anaheim are happy with this. LV is going to have a competitive team out of the gate under these rules. Same with Quebec City, if it enters the league soon after. Very curious as to where LV will be picking in the draft. Can't give them the first pick.

After looking at the expansion draft rules, even the somewhat vague ones, you can't tell me Ottawa, Florida, TB and Anaheim are happy with this. LV is going to have a competitive team out of the gate under these rules. Same with Quebec City, if it enters the league soon after. Very curious as to where LV will be picking in the draft. Can't give them the first pick.
- Oneonta Penguin

Didn't Bettman say a hypothetical expansion team would have the same lotto odds as the team with the third worst record a while back?

After looking at the expansion draft rules, even the somewhat vague ones, you can't tell me Ottawa, Florida, TB and Anaheim are happy with this. LV is going to have a competitive team out of the gate under these rules. Same with Quebec City, if it enters the league soon after. Very curious as to where LV will be picking in the draft. Can't give them the first pick.
- Oneonta Penguin

They get the same amount of ping pong balls as the team with the third fewest points and can't pick any later than 6th overall.

Conduct a poll Domer.
- Oneonta Penguin

I will not be reduced to such menial tasks! I am a scholar of repute! This is an outrage and an insult to my very person! I have a college degree, by Jove!

Pretty sure Kane and toews took almost 2.5 million per year less than Crosby did in order to win 3 cup thus putting the team first when they could have got more ...now they are being rewarded for being such good team guys
- Redmile247

Really can't compare their contracts now since Crosby was among the last to sign a super long, front loaded deal before they closed that option.

Those 6M 2nd deals for Kane and Toews were great bargains (as was Hossa at less than 6M) that gave the Hawks a huge advantage for years. Now that they lost it, will be interesting to see if they can get back to the top.

They get the same amount of ping pong balls as the team with the third fewest points and can't pick any later than 6th overall.
- tpcg402

Yep. So they get to fill out a pretty solid team at the expansion draft and potentially draft a face of the franchise super star a week later. Ottawa is crying Jordaning right now.

They get the same amount of ping pong balls as the team with the third fewest points and can't pick any later than 6th overall.
- tpcg402

It's somewhat funny because if the ping pong balls fall right and the expansion protected lists are what they are ... LV could be better out of the gate than three or four teams.

I'm saying Kunitz has a nmc so as long as he is on the team on the date of June 21st he will be auto protected regardless of if he is gonna be a ufa one week later. There was nothing in the rules saying pending ufas dont qualify for auto protection.
- Zac_O

Seems like stuff like that needs to be worked out. There are some big name UFAs next year. Brent Burns is a UFA, so SJ doesn't have to protect him, and even if Las Vegas picks him, he just signs back with the Sharks 10 days later

I'm saying Kunitz has a nmc so as long as he is on the team on the date of June 21st he will be auto protected regardless of if he is gonna be a ufa one week later. There was nothing in the rules saying pending ufas dont qualify for auto protection.
- Zac_O

Not completely sure, again rules aren't clear but supposedly they were going to only be for guys who had NMCs heading into next season. Here's the rule.

* All players who have currently effective and continuing “No Movement” clauses at the time of the Expansion Draft (and who to decline to waive such clauses) must be protected (and will be counted toward their club’s applicable protection limits).

Key word I believe is continuing. Would be a real pain to have to protect Kunitz, Dupuis, and Dailey.

After looking at the expansion draft rules, even the somewhat vague ones, you can't tell me Ottawa, Florida, TB and Anaheim are happy with this. LV is going to have a competitive team out of the gate under these rules. Same with Quebec City, if it enters the league soon after. Very curious as to where LV will be picking in the draft. Can't give them the first pick.
- Oneonta Penguin

Assuming we aren't forced to expose Murray, which is still possible if Fleury wants to force it, there are definitely teams killed worse than we are. It's going to be kind of funny if Despres gets drafted away. Would have been tough for us as well so maybe that trade ends up working out after all.

Really can't compare their contracts now since Crosby was among the last to sign a super long, front loaded deal before they closed that option.

Those 6M 2nd deals for Kane and Toews were great bargains (as was Hossa at less than 6M) that gave the Hawks a huge advantage for years. Now that they lost it, will be interesting to see if they can get back to the top.
- Tojo.

I think it will be tough for them with two 10.5 hits....maybe if the cap goes up again and the Hawks don't make any noise the look at trading one

Seems like stuff like that needs to be worked out. There are some big name UFAs next year. Brent Burns is a UFA, so SJ doesn't have to protect him, and even if Las Vegas picks him, he just signs back with the Sharks 10 days later
- drummer829

They really should have addressed that better, I'm sure some teams will use that loophole.

So all that bickering and moaning about Fleury NEEDING to go because of expansion draft was premature.

He's not auto protected. Keeping Fleury still a possible option. No panic trade move needed.

I think it will be tough for them with two 10.5 hits....maybe if the cap goes up again and the Hawks don't make any noise the look at trading one
- Redmile247

I think Kane is one PR blunder away from being shipped out, especially if the Hawks start struggling to maneuver around the cap. He'd bring back a ransom.

So all that bickering and moaning about Fleury NEEDING to go because of expansion draft was premature.

He's not auto protected. Keeping Fleury still a possible option. No panic trade move needed.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

How'd you come to this conclusion. THe rules said players with active NMCs are auto protected. He needs to be moved. You and Jaydogg can keep talking about keeping him, but know you're in the minority and your plan is extremely risky.

It's a dumb idea for the same reasons I have been talking about.

1. It's not just a second round pick we get in return for Fleury (if that is the return). On top of that, its the 5.1 million in savings we can go out shopping and get a top six winger. Not a hard concept to follow. So, its MAF for a second and top six forward. That in essence would be the deal.

- Oneonta Penguin

Not to be a Richard, but even if we get a cheap $1M goalie, who is the top 6 forward we are signing for under $4.75M?

I think it will be tough for them with two 10.5 hits....maybe if the cap goes up again and the Hawks don't make any noise the look at trading one
- Redmile247

That Hossa deal will just get worse as well and he's signed until he's 42 I believe. Well worth it for the 3 Cups he helped win, but they have a lot less room to add talent then they used to.

Not to be a Richard, but even if we get a cheap $1M goalie, who is the top 6 forward we are signing for under $4.75M?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

How are we going to get defensive depth with the 1.8 mil of cap space we'd have if we don't move Fleury is the far more pertinent question.

I think Kane is one PR blunder away from being shipped out, especially if the Hawks start struggling to maneuver around the cap. He'd bring back a ransom.
- Victoro311

We haven't heard his name in the offseason yet because he probably hasn't returned to Buffalo. Once that happens, the fun begins. Over under on when he gets arrested, I have at August 1.

How are we going to get defensive depth with the 1.8 mil of cap space we'd have if we don't move Fleury is the far more pertinent question.
- Victoro311

Defensive depth is a bigger issue. Agree

That Hossa deal will just get worse as well and he's signed until he's 42 I believe. Well worth it for the 3 Cups he helped win, but they have a lot less room to add talent then they used to.
- Tojo.

Artemi Panarin's don't just fall out of the sky, even if the Jimmy Vesey sweepstakes this year makes it look like a trend. I highly doubt there will be a nearly sure fire top 6 forward UFA that will only command a max ELC cap hit next year.

So all that bickering and moaning about Fleury NEEDING to go because of expansion draft was premature.

He's not auto protected. Keeping Fleury still a possible option. No panic trade move needed.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

He has to waive his right, to not be auto protected dude...

We haven't heard his name in the offseason yet because he probably hasn't returned to Buffalo. Once that happens, the fun begins. Over under on when he gets arrested, I have at August 1.
- Oneonta Penguin

If he doesn't just sit at home, and be quiet as (frank) this offseason, he doesn't deserve to be in the NHL.

Players can (frank) up, we all prefer them not to... but continuous (frank) ups make them Johnny Football.