Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Which Devil gets plucked from Seattle? My protection list.

July 15, 2021, 2:08 PM ET [46 Comments]
Roger Mussa
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Over the last couple of days there has been much anticipation of Seattle's expansion draft.

Who to protect, or not, is the big question as every team will lose a player to the Kraken on July 21st.

So, the Burning Question is... who do the Devils protect? Or, better yet, who do they expose and possibly lose?

Here is my thinking...

Protecting either:
7 F, 3D and 1G or 8 Skaters and 1 G

The young studs who are exempt are Smith, Hughes and Boqvist. Take them off the decision list.

The goalie question is easy, so lets move on.

The big question for me was if we need to protect more than 3 D.
Severson is a no brainer. After that there are a few options, most notably is Subban and Butcher.
Subban, with his hefty cap hit and Butcher who is younger and more affordable but what player is he now? Do we give him another year before he hits UFA? I was concerned, more curious, not to see Butcher play more last season. Not a lot of talk about Butcher, so I thought there was something or he was simply not on Coach Ruff's list. (maybe dog house?)

Then there is recently acquired and signed Jonas Siegenthaler, is he worth a protection? Is he even someone the Kraken would be interested in taking?

Forwards gave me a hardest time. Who wouldn't want a Bastian or McLeod given how they played last year, their age and attractive salary (both re-signed recently). Is Merkley or Johnsson worth a spot?

*Sam Woo will have more on the McLeod signing)

I decided to go the 7 skaters, 3D and 1 goalie route. Here is who I would protect going into next week:

Hischier
Zacha
Bratt
Kuokkanen
Sharangovich
Wood
Johnsson (this last F spot was between McLeod, Bastian and Johnsson)

Severson
Subban
Siegenthaler (it was a toss up between Butcher and Sieg. Butcher's regression made the decision)

Blackwood

With the above list, the Kraken will have some interesting players exposed an expansion could use;
McLeod
Bastian (losing one of McLeod and Bastian will hurt, I chose to protect Johnsson as I am hoping he rebounds and becomes the offensive threat we hope. The Devils need his services more than losing of the two)
Merkley
Butcher (I am hoping Butcher attracts the Kraken, mainly because I believe he is easily replaceable vs McLeod and Bastian at their contracts).


Now, if I were the Kraken I would give a hard look at Butcher, Bastian and McLeod depending what the prior picks are and needs to fill. I would prefer Butcher be picked. But losing one of the forwards would make the most sense and of the two, I would rather McLeod remain a Devil.


So, with the Burning Question...
Do you agree with this list? Or is your list different?

Truly yours,
The Devils Advocate

Woo and the Advocate 2.0
Join the Discussion: » 46 Comments » Post New Comment