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The Anaheim Ducks’ expansion draft protected list has been revealed and is as follows:
FORWARDS (7): Nicolas Deslauriers, Isac Lundestrom, Max Jones, Rickard Rakell, Jakob Silfverberg, Sam Steel, Troy Terry
DEFENSE (3): Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson
GOALIE (1): John Gibson
This list was… interesting. For starters, rather than going with a 4-4-1 protection format, the Ducks went with a 7-3-1 format. This meant both Haydn Fleury and Josh Mahura were left exposed, with only Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson protected on the blue line.
If the Ducks had used the 4-4-1 format, they could’ve still protected Rickard Rakell, Troy Terry, Isac Lundestrom and Sam Steel up front, along with Haydn Fleury on the blue line. By protecting seven forwards, they also protected Max Jones, Jakob Silfverberg and... Nicolas Deslauriers.
I disagree with the decision to use a 7-3-1 format, as Fleury, or even Mahura, would likely be more valuable than the likes of Jones or Silfverberg long-term. But then to not only use the 7-3-1 format, but to use the last protection slot on Nicolas Deslauriers is just ridiculous.
This means the notable forwards exposed are Danton Heinen, Adam Henrique, Sonny Milano, Alexander Volkov, and Derek Grant, in addition to Fleury and Mahura on the back end. Other notable defenders exposed are Jacob Larsson and Kevin Shattenkirk.
Again, I think it was a poor decision for the Ducks to use a 7-3-1 protection format and the team is now at risk of losing Haydn Fleury, because they chose to protect Max Jones, Jakob Silfverberg and Nicolas Deslauriers instead.
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