Peter Tessier: So who do you Protect? Now that 2 big deals are compete who exactly do the Jets protect for the 2017 expansion draft.

I will go with option 2!

Option two is the best alternative right now as this team sits.

Question though: why is copp able to be exposed? He signed late in the year from college to burn a year of this contract, but only played in a single game. For a year of service, shouldn't he have yo play more than one game?

Who cares, every team is getting screwed (well the fans are) the owners pocketbooks will enjoy the $500 million.

Every team is going to lose a valuable asset. I already hate Las Vegas LOL.

Because Copp signed after his 20th birthday, his 1 game played counted as a year of service. A mistake many NHL GM's have made pre expansion draft. They should have waited until the season was over to sign Copp. Even if he had only played in the AHL for 1 game same scenario. Sign under ELC 20 & you can play all year in the minors & as long you play no more than 9 NHL games your contract can slide until your 20th year.

This isn't even a discussion today. Unless things change Winnipeg is protecting 8 skaters.

You can add Burmistrov to the list of available players.

Winnipeg is very well positioned pre & post expansion 1 of the best in the NHL.

Unless Enstrom is willing to waive his NMC, I can't see Vegas taking him @ 5Mil+ for one Year, then the Jets have to go the 8 skater route. The upcoming season will dictate the skater we lose. Who knows, maybe Armia regresses, Plus there will tonnes of trades after the season with teams trying to get something for players they might lose in the expansion draft. There are some teams right now where I look at their roster and it's hard to find enough players to protect that are worth protecting.

Somehow I think the list in this post will be different than the list in June next Year.

Sorry me reply feature doesn't work.

Sell My Monkey.

I couldn't disagree with you more. Any idea what a bunch of NHL teams did following the previous rounds of expansion with their share of the expansion revenue? Most spent it on players, some helped plug the bleeding as the majority of NHL teams barely turn a profit, even after the last lock out but numerous teams like Dallas & Nashville started building hockey arenas all over their markets to help build their own fan bases & help grow the NHL game.

Go look at how many hockey arenas exist in the US today since the last round of expansion 15 years ago. You will be shocked. More players in the last 2 years annually have signed up to play hockey in the state of California than all of Canada annually & that's just California. The NHL is being rewarded for it's foresight.

The players aren't being screwed either. 50 new players will be signed to NHL contracts. Teams are allowed 50 players under contract at any 1 time. No more than 23 can be active NHL players, the remainder play else where but mostly in the AHL.

You should wake up & smell the roses. This years stud 1st round selection; Matthews, came from Arizona, his parents traveled so he could play. We have kids in the US today that are built like inside linebackers choosing to play hockey over football as there is less chance of injury & they prefer the game. The US now has 1 of the best if not the best hockey development programs in the world & the rewards of those efforts are just happening.

There is enough talent available to stock well over 31 teams in the NHL.

How far in advance of the expansion draft do the protected lists have to be made?

Because Copp signed after his 20th birthday, his 1 game played counted as a year of service. A mistake many NHL GM's have made pre expansion draft. They should have waited until the season was over to sign Copp. Even if he had only played in the AHL for 1 game same scenario. Sign under ELC 20 & you can play all year in the minors & as long you play no more than 9 NHL games your contract can slide until your 20th year.

This isn't even a discussion today. Unless things change Winnipeg is protecting 8 skaters.

You can add Burmistrov to the list of available players.

Winnipeg is very well positioned pre & post expansion 1 of the best in the NHL.
- striker777

Thanks for that explanation.

I think it's great that the Vegas team will be ok right out of the gate and not a doormat for 15 years.....

It's better for the league

I think it's great that the Vegas team will be ok right out of the gate and not a doormat for 15 years.....

It's better for the league
- jjonah

Totally agree.
And just think, put a 2nd team anywhere in Ontario and they're instantly better than the Leafs!

Totally agree.
And just think, put a 2nd team anywhere in Ontario and they're instantly better than the Leafs!
- dbot

i love the hard on canucks' fans have over the leafs

Can you post the protection links here? They're all broken in the blog.

If anyone goes, hopefully it's Armia or Lowry. Dano and Copp are solid NHLers already, I love Lowry but his ceiling isn't as high as those two. Armia is a total wild card at this point, so I'd be less extremely uncomfortable losing him over the previous three.

i love the hard on canucks' fans have over the leafs
- MikeBabcock

If you think that's a hard on...I feel bad for you son.

It's way too early to speculate on this, because so much can happen to change things, but right now it is the 8-1 option.

We cannot afford to lose a defenceman.
Have to keep the big 4.

If we lose any of Dano/Armia/Lowry/Copp....we will survive. Lots of forward prospects.

Is there any incentive that the Jets could offer Enstrom to waive his NMC. Given his age, cap hit, short contract live and diminished ability, I would find it hard to believe that there would not be 6-8 better defencemen available for Vegas to chose from. Even if he is exposed, he would not be moving. Shame the Jets have to waste a protection spot on him

Is there any incentive that the Jets could offer Enstrom to waive his NMC. Given his age, cap hit, short contract live and diminished ability, I would find it hard to believe that there would not be 6-8 better defencemen available for Vegas to chose from. Even if he is exposed, he would not be moving. Shame the Jets have to waste a protection spot on him
- NormPeterson

Keep in mind Vegas will also have to get to the cap floor, so they will have to grab a few over priced vets to help that happen.

Keep in mind Vegas will also have to get to the cap floor, so they will have to grab a few over priced vets to help that happen.
- Ross77

Good point.

I don't think that there will be a shortage of over-priced vets for Vegas to choose from....

To NormPeterson

A replacement for Enstrom would likely cost more than current Enstrom. I'm not sure they wouldn't protect him anyway if he didn't have a NMC. Can't afford to lose any of the top 4 guys with such a steep drop off after them.

I don't think that there will be a shortage of over-priced vets for Vegas to choose from....
- bennythehat

agreed but the ones with 2 years or less left on a contract and those who can actually still play will absolutely be snapped up. If he waived his no move and was left unprotected Enstrom would fit this mold, in my opinion.

but I also agree that we still need him until some of our younger D prospects prove otherwise

I think the Jets right now will go 8 skaters- 1 goalie

Scheifele-Wheeler-Perreault-Little

Buff-Trouba-Myers-Enstrom

Hellebuyck

I admit that it would suck for the Jets to lose a young player (Lowry, Dano, Armia) however they have the draft right after and many prospects that will grow into a replacement for whoever they lose in the draft. Plus now the Lowry and Armia have a 2 year deal whose to say (especially Lowry) wont sign with Wpg if chosen after the 2 years as a UFA.