My list of protected forward did not wield any major surprises. Unfortunately, my list of defensemen that will likely reside on St. Louis's expansion protection list will not shock any of you either. Of course, the goalie selection is obvious, so we won't really spend too much time diving into that.
The reality is that St. Louis's decision on who to protect lines up with their mentality towards the franchise's immediate future. Doug Armstrong & Co. have made it clear they feel the Blues Stanley Cup window is still open. For that reason, the organization will protect those assets that hold immediate and significant impact.
If the Blues embarked on a rebuild, you might see more of an attempt to shed an expensive and lengthy contract. However, with the team openly going the other direction, replacing those "big ticket" players comes with no guarantee.
Anyways, on to the list...
Colton Parayko
We might as well start with the most obvious member of this list. Yes, questions surround his health. Yes, back issues should not be taken lightly. Still, when healthy, Parayko is the best blueliner the Blues have. Protecting him is a complete no-brainer.
Torey Krug
Of the three defensemen protected, Krug is the one most likely to receive some backlash. It is understandable to take the stance of leaving him exposed. He underwhelmed in his first go-around with St. Louis and is still on the hook until Summer 2027 with a $6.5 million cap hit. Freeing up the salary does not sound like a bad idea on the surface.
Keep in mind, however, that one year does not make or break a player. Is Krug the Alex Petriangelo replacement many were expecting him to be? No, and he probably will never be. Still, he is a talented defenseman poised for a bounce-back campaign in 2021-22. Say St. Louis left him exposed to protect someone else, such as Vince Dunn or Niko Mikkola, and Seattle took him. Who is replacing Krug on the depth chart? Yes, the team could explore free agency and trades, but you never know how that will pan out.
Considering the direction of the organization, it makes little sense to run the risk of losing Krug. No matter how much an extra $6.5 million in cap space sounds.
Justin Faulk
Another defenseman with a hefty cap-hit some would be tempted to leave exposed. Maybe another year like his first season with the Blues would have led to that path. Luckily, year two was the complete opposite for Faulk. Protecting him is the only logical answer for Armstrong and St. Louis.
Jordan Binnington
I shocked you with my goalie pick, didn't I? The Blues protect Jordan Binnington, and there is no need to go any further with it.
Final Thoughts
The reality is that St. Louis runs the risk of losing a key member of its current blueline. My gut says that Seattle takes Vince Dunn as long as the Blues have not traded him by then. This, of course, will be an interesting wrinkle to watch. Dunn heading out of St. Louis is not something we are hearing for the first time. However, Armstrong would much rather lose him in a trade and receive something in return. He will have to work quickly and try to get something done before the expansion draft commences.