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The Penguins might galaxy brain the expansion draft |
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The expansion protection lists are due by tomorrow and they will be released on Sunday. The rumors of the Penguins protection list are beginning to circulate.
OK, so the obvious issue here is Jared McCann is being left exposed. I think, if true, it is an asinine choice. The Penguins are entering the season with Evgeni Malkin on the injured reserve. Jared McCann is a capable enough center which provides the team some insurance in case Jeff Carter or Teddy Blueger were to go down with an injury. This is aside from the fact Jared McCann is a really good player for 2.9M! Good luck replacing him.
This is the player you want to lose for nothing? It is a really easy choice for Seattle. You’d really be doing them a favor. It makes no sense. Even if you don’t have any intention on giving McCann his next contract after this season you can’t just lose him like this. Could there be a side deal to protect McCann? Sure, but everything points to Ron Hextall not making a side deal.
Let’s talk about the fact Brandon Tanev is on this rumored list. The idea of protecting Brandon Tanev over Jared McCann is such a self-own. He is a very good fourth line player, but that's it. He is a fourth line player and an overpriced one at that. It is a real galaxy brain move to protect more fourth liners than third liners for an expansion draft. There is nothing to overthink. The Penguins have a really straight forward path to only losing a fourth line player. It is literally a best case scenario for any team heading into an expansion draft. Fourth line players are the absolute easiest position to replace on the roster. Don’t protect them!
This is a rumor as of right now so this might not even become an issue, but if it is true, yikes.
Thanks for reading!
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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