Here's the total pool of forwards to potentially protect, assuming (safely, I believe) that they go the 7-3-1 method:

Eichel, Skinner, Reinhart, Olofsson, Girgensons, Mittelstadt, Asplund, Bjork, Thompson

That's 9 total.

Are Girgensons and Thompson the 2 that get left out?

Do they convince Skinner to waive his NMC for the expansion draft while comfortably assuring him that Seattle is not going to take him?

If they can get Skinner to waive, that means they only need to leave one of the 8 above unprotected.

Is Girgensons the easy or most likely choice to be the one left unprotected?

They've gone from barely having 5 forwards worth worrying about to having 9. It's a good problem to have.
- kingcong39

looks that way right now

yup...but i could see any coach wanting an inexpensive bottom-six forward who can play center or wing and who has the drive to do the dirty while being first in on the forecheck...it makes too much sense
- Michael Pachla

I agree, and gotta take into consideration how that line is growing together.

yup...but i could see any coach wanting an inexpensive bottom-six forward who can play center or wing and who has the drive to do the dirty while being first in on the forecheck...it makes too much sense
- Michael Pachla

My best effort at trying to simplify who to make available for the forwards:

- If Skinner waives his NMC, it's him and Girgensons
- If Skinner will not waive his NMC, it's Zemgus and Tage

A lot can and will happen between now and the end of the season that could change the above.

Here's the total pool of forwards to potentially protect, assuming (safely, I believe) that they go the 7-3-1 method:

Eichel, Skinner, Reinhart, Olofsson, Girgensons, Mittelstadt, Asplund, Bjork, Thompson

That's 9 total.

Are Girgensons and Thompson the 2 that get left out?

Do they convince Skinner to waive his NMC for the expansion draft while comfortably assuring him that Seattle is not going to take him?

If they can get Skinner to waive, that means they only need to leave one of the 8 above unprotected.

Is Girgensons the easy or most likely choice to be the one left unprotected?

They've gone from barely having 5 forwards worth worrying about to having 9. It's a good problem to have.
- kingcong39

A 5th got Vegas to take Carrier over Ullmark. If the Staal 5th can do the same to persuade Seattle to take Girgensons over Tall guy, I'd do it

looks that way right now
- Michael Pachla

I would have a serious talk with Skinner.

There's no way Seattle would take him, right?

A 5th got Vegas to take Carrier over Ullmark. If the Staal 5th can do the same to persuade Seattle to take Girgensons, I'd do it
- jcragcrumple

I saw one mock had Seattle taking Miller 😂😅😂😅😂

A 5th got Vegas to take Carrier over Ullmark. If the Staal 5th can do the same to persuade Seattle to take Girgensons, I'd do it
- jcragcrumple

Wouldn't be a bad idea, also depends if anyone is traded before the Expansion draft. Gonna be interesting.

My best effort at trying to simplify who to make available for the forwards:

- If Skinner waives his NMC, it's him and Girgensons
- If Skinner will not waive his NMC, it's Zemgus and Tage

A lot can and will happen between now and the end of the season that could change the above.
- kingcong39

gonna be a little tougher with the d...you know they're not going to expose risto and aren't, in all likelihood, going to trade him...

dahlin and joker are protected for sure, and i'd sure hate it if they exposed borgen...maybe a draft pick steers seattle towards a forward?

I would have a serious talk with Skinner.

There's no way Seattle would take him, right?
- kingcong39

when he waives a ntc, is it for the entirety of the contract or just that year?

gonna be a little tougher with the d...you know they're not going to expose risto and aren't, in all likelihood, going to trade him...

dahlin and joker are protected for sure, and i'd sure hate it if they exposed borgen...maybe a draft pick steers seattle towards a forward?
- Michael Pachla

If they're going fully into analytics, they'll expose (gross) Ristolainen, but I think we all believe the three they'll protect are Risto, Dahlin, and Jokiharju.

when he waives a ntc, is it for the entirety of the contract or just that year?
- Michael Pachla

I'm not sure but it may just be for the expansion draft.

I'm not sure but it may just be for the expansion draft.
- kingcong39

if that's the case, ask skinner if he's interested for that exclusive purpose...it's a bit of a gamble on his part as he wants to be close to home in so. ontario (or so i reed it)...but everything can be mitigated and worked through

When are teams allowed to start making deals with Seattle.

yup...but i could see any coach wanting an inexpensive bottom-six forward who can play center or wing and who has the drive to do the dirty while being first in on the forecheck...it makes too much sense
- Michael Pachla

give seattle a pick to take girgens or miller

When are teams allowed to start making deals with Seattle.
- Buff36

from the kraken nhl site:

With Monday's trade deadline past, the Kraken hockey operations group, including its cutting-edge analytics group, now has the most realistic rosters across the league to consider mock drafts. Teams that don't make the playoffs or get eliminated in the early rounds can still make trades angled at protecting certain players and/or trading others who might be exposed to the Kraken selection process. Yet the current rosters are likely to be predominantly similar to the ones submitted to the league office in July.

they plan on hiring a coach by the end of june

give seattle a pick to take girgens or miller
- homiedclown

When are teams allowed to start making deals with Seattle.
- Buff36

last time around the trades were official the day of the draft

https://www.nhltradetrack...am/Vegas_Golden_Knights/2

just leave risto exposed

it would appease half the crowd
- homiedclown

Problem there is that he potentially has too much worth to expose. I guess if he's exposed, you'll know how low his value is. I struggle to believe he's exposed though. I honestly think KA wants him here and I think you know that too.

gonna be interesting to see how this group of young sabres skates with a team like the pens who can match their skating and are highly skilled

A 5th got Vegas to take Carrier over Ullmark. If the Staal 5th can do the same to persuade Seattle to take Girgensons over Tall guy, I'd do it
- jcragcrumple

it was a 6th for carrier

last time around the trades were official the day of the draft

https://www.nhltradetrack...am/Vegas_Golden_Knights/2
- homiedclown

Until the Kraken's final expansion fee payment is official later this month, Francis and his braintrust can't make trades. What can occur is conversations and even "handshake" agreements that will focus on the Kraken receiving certain added value or assets (players, draft choices) if they do or don't select a certain player from a team. In all, 30 NHL franchises except Vegas (which doesn't share in the expansion fee) will lose one player each.

Problem there is that he potentially has too much worth to expose. I guess if he's exposed, you'll know how low his value is. I struggle to believe he's exposed though. I honestly think KA wants him here and I think you know that too.
- TheSabresTaco

I expect a risto extension this summer


miller, girgens or okposo plus a pick is what I expect for seattle

it was a 6th for carrier
- homiedclown

more to the point, to protect ullmark

from the kraken nhl site:

With Monday's trade deadline past, the Kraken hockey operations group, including its cutting-edge analytics group, now has the most realistic rosters across the league to consider mock drafts. Teams that don't make the playoffs or get eliminated in the early rounds can still make trades angled at protecting certain players and/or trading others who might be exposed to the Kraken selection process. Yet the current rosters are likely to be predominantly similar to the ones submitted to the league office in July.

they plan on hiring a coach by the end of june
- Michael Pachla

So after they pay there expansion fee at the end of the month, Buffalo can start setting things up with them, it just can't be announced until the draft.

Until the Kraken's final expansion fee payment is official later this month, Francis and his braintrust can't make trades. What can occur is conversations and even "handshake" agreements that will focus on the Kraken receiving certain added value or assets (players, draft choices) if they do or don't select a certain player from a team. In all, 30 NHL franchises except Vegas (which doesn't share in the expansion fee) will lose one player each.
- Michael Pachla

crazy, vegas is second on the league for points and exempt