Seattle Kraken assistant general manager Jason Botterill has spent a lot of time in the PPG Paints Arena press box this season as a scout, surely preparing for this summer's NHL expansion draft.
The Penguins have some difficult decisions when it comes to who they protect. Teams must protect only one goaltender, and can choose one of two options for protecting skaters. Teams can protect seven forwards and three defensemen for a total of 10 skaters, or teams can protect any combination of eight skaters. First-year and second-year players are exempt and don't have to be protected.
This is surely subject to change after any moves the Penguins make leading up to the trade deadline and early in the offseason, but these would be my current picks for who the Penguins should protect, as the roster is currently constructed:
Forwards (7): Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Kasperi Kapanen, Teddy Blueger, Brandon Tanev
Defensemen (3): Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin, Cody Ceci
Goaltender (1): Tristan Jarry
The Penguins have it pretty easy on defense. P.O Joseph and John Marino are both exempt here. Protecting the top pair is a no-brainer (Letang has a no-movement clause and must be protected anyway). I opted for Ceci as the third because Joseph's rise makes Marcus Pettersson more expendable on the left side, and Mike Matheson's contract makes him unlikely to be selected.
The forwards are where things get tricky. The first five players listed above are sure to be protected. With the two spots remaining, there are some good players who will have to be exposed. I opted to take a gamble and expose Jason Zucker, with the idea that Seattle might be turned off by his $5.5 million cap hit. With the picks I made, I think Jared McCann and Zach Aston-Reese would be the two likeliest candidates to be chosen.
YOUR TURN: Who would you protect, and who do you think ultimately ends up being part of the Kraken next season?
