Today we will tackle another North Division team with the Calgary Flames. Todd Cordell, Calgary Flames blogger has joined me today to provide me with a list.

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FLAMES PROTECTION LIST

FORWARDS

Johnny Gaudreau
Sean Monahan
Matthew Tkachuk
Mikael Backlund
Andrew Mangiapane
Dillon Dube
Elias Lindholm

DEFENSE

Rasmus Andersson
Chris Tanev
Noah Hanifin

GOALIES

Jacob Markstrom

EXPOSURE REQUIREMENTS - FORWARDS

Milan Lucic (agress to waive)
Sam Bennett
Josh Leivo

EXPOSURE REQUIREMENTS - DEFENSE

Mark Giordano

EXPOSURE REQUIREMENTS - GOALIE

David Rittich
Tyler Parsons

Up front it's pretty cut and dry. I think these are very clearly the seven best and/or most valuable forwards on the roster. Assuming Milan Lucic is willing to waive his NMC for the draft, I don't think the Flames have to lose sleep over any of their losses. In this scenario, I could see the Flames trading Sam Bennett for whatever value they can recoup rather than losing him for nothing.

I could see Mark Giordano's name opening eyes on defense but Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin have surprisingly been one of the better defense pairs in the NHL this season and Rasmus Andersson is a 24-year-old defensive ace signed long-term. I don't think the Flames will want to risk losing any of their top-4 defenders signed for the long haul so they can protect a 38-year-old declining Giordano with one year left. Again, I could see them moving Giordano in this case because Oliver Kylington and Nikita Nesterov will likely meet the expansion requirements.

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Thanks so much Todd for your input!

As the Kraken GM I certainly would have some interest in Sam Bennett and may be speaking with you further Todd to discuss a deal.

Right now I can inform Flames fans I have absolutely no interest in taking Milan Lucic unless the pot wants to be sweetened to ridiculous dentist disapproved levels. The young Oliver Kylington has his warts but is young and certainly worth having my scouts take a look at to decide what we think his ceiling is.

Perhaps the most notable and surprising name is Mark Giordano. If I was the Edmonton Oilers blogger I would likely scoff at the idea of adding Giordano to my team but luckily I am not that fellow.

It's true that Giordano is no where near the player he once was, with his play taking a notable drop off this season. That being said Giordano has one year remaining on his deal at 6.75 million dollars which would help this team reach the necessary cap floor, while not hamstringing the team for years to come.

What say you? Who would you select from the Calgary Flames?

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