NHL Teams That Could Be Affected by an Expansion Draft

On March 16, NHL.com's Shawn P. Roarke reported a framework of rules for a potential expansion draft was presented to the league's general managers during their recent meetings. If approved, new teams would be added for the 2017-18 season. Some of the existing 30 franchises, such as the New York Rangers, could feel the effects of that draft more than others.

TSN's Frank Seravalli reported teams "under the current plan could protect seven forwards, three defenseman and a goaltender or eight skaters (of any position) and a goaltender."  First- and second-year pros would be exempt, along with unsigned draft choices.

Seravalli also reported teams must expose "at least 25 per cent of the previous season's salary cap." Meanwhile, league deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Roarke the status of players carrying no-trade and no-movement clauses still had to be worked out with the NHLPA.

Teams deep in talent, such as the Rangers, could risk losing a good roster player. Some clubs, however, could use the expansion draft as a way of shedding unwanted salaries. Here's a look at the potential effects of an expansion draft upon 10 NHL teams. Feel free to express your opinion in the comments section below.

Detroit Red Wings

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On March 11, Sportsnet's Luke Fox speculated about goaltender Jimmy Howard's future with the Detroit Red Wings. With Howard this season losing the starter's job to Petr Mrazek, Fox wondered whether the Wings need his $5.3 million annual cap hit for the next three seasons. That seems doubtful, as Mrazek is a restricted free agent in line for a significant raise.

The Wings could try trading Howard this summer, but finding takers for his full cap hit could be difficult. Perhaps a better option would be retaining the veteran goalie through next season. They could expose him in the expansion draft while protecting Mrazek.

If an expansion club selects Howard, it would remove his entire cap hit from the Wings' books. That would free up significant salary to put toward re-signing free-agent forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Tatar next summer. If no team selected Howard in the draft, the Wings could then either trade him or buy out the remainder of his contract. 

Nashville Predators

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Blue-line depth has long been a hallmark of the Nashville Predators. With Shea Weber, Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm, the Predators' defense corps seems set for years. An expansion draft, however, could bite into that depth.

On March 16, USA Today's Kevin Allen speculated Ellis or Ekholm could be exposed. Ekholm, 25, begins a six-year contract next season worth $3.75 million annually. Ellis, also 25, is signed through 2018-19 at an affordable annual cap hit of $2.5 million. Either would be an attractive draft option for an expansion club. 

The Predators could offer another player, a high draft pick or a top prospect via trade to an expansion team in return for a promise they wouldn't select Ellis or Ekholm in the draft. They could also trade one of them to another team for a return they can keep, such as draft picks, prospects or a first- or second-year pro.

Carolina Hurricanes

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By trading away long-time captain Eric Staal before this year's trade deadline, it appears the Carolina Hurricanes are engaged in a long-overdue roster rebuild. The expansion draft could provide them with an opportunity to shed some salary, including that of center (and Eric's brother) Jordan Staal.

As a two-way center with six 40-plus point seasons, Staal is earning far more ($6 million per season through 2022-23 with a full no-trade clause) than his actual value. Oft-injured left wing Jeff Skinner is signed through 2018-19 at an annual cap hit of $5.75 million. On Dec. 5, 2015, the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch claimed Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis was trying to trade Skinner. 

By leaving Staal or Skinner unprotected, one of them could be selected by an expansion club. That would free up salary for the Hurricanes to invest in re-signing key players or adding more cost-effective players via trade or free agency.

Minnesota Wild

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The Minnesota Wild carry several good defensemen on their roster. Depending upon how many new teams are added, they could lose one or two of those blueliners.  

On March 19, StarTribune.com's Michael Russo speculated Minnesota "would have to protect two among Jonas Brodin, Matt Dumba, Gustav Olofsson, Marco Scandella and Jared Spurgeon." He assumed Ryan Suter would be protected. As Mike Reilly will be a second-year pro, he should be exempt from the draft.  

Spurgeon signed a four-year extension earlier this season, so the Wild could protect him. Dumba and Olofsson have considerable potential, making them tempting draft targets. Brodin ($4.16 million annual cap hit) or Scandella ($4 million) could be exposed in the hopes their contracts are unpalatable to expansion clubs.

Anaheim Ducks

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The Anaheim Ducks possess considerable depth in blue-line talent. Depending on how many new teams are added, one or two of those defensemen could get scooped up in the expansion draft.

Veterans such as Kevin Bieksa and Clayton Stoner could be left unprotected. However, expansion teams might pursue younger defensemen such as Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen, Hampus Lindholm, Simon Despres and Josh Manson. Second-year pros Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour would be ineligible for the draft.

Ducks management could attempt to trade another player, a draft pick or a prospect to an expansion club in return for a guarantee not to select their exposed blueliners. Another option could be trading one of those defenders to an established NHL club for a draft-exempt return, such as a first- or second-year pro. 

Los Angeles Kings

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The Los Angeles Kings are carrying several players with expensive long-term contracts beyond 2016-17. That payroll could grow if they re-sign pending free agent Milan Lucic this summer. Those contracts will make it difficult to re-sign young forwards Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson next summer.

An expansion draft could provide the Kings with an opportunity to shed some salary. Two potential candidates are right wing and team captain Dustin Brown and right wing Marian Gaborik. Brown's annual cap hit is $5.875 million through 2021-22. Gaborik's is $4.875 million through 2020-21. Both are earning well above their skill levels. 

Exposing those players to the draft could result in an expansion club selecting one of them. That would free up some much-needed cap space to put toward re-signing Toffoli and Pearson. 

Pittsburgh Penguins

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For the past 11 seasons, Marc-Andre Fleury has served as the starting goalie for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Considered a core part of their roster, it seems certain the Penguins would protect him in an expansion draft. Doing so, however, could cost them promising young netminder Matthew Murray.

The 21-year-old Murray could be considered the heir apparent to the 31-year-old Fleury, whose contract is set to expire in 2019. On March 16, USA Today's Kevin Allen suggested the Penguins risk losing Murray unless they leave Fleury unprotected.

Fleury's no-movement clause, however, could further complicate things. If it is determined teams must protect players carrying those clauses, the Penguins would likely lose Murray. General manager Jim Rutherford might have to get creative, swinging a deal with an expansion team to ensure Murray isn't selected in the draft. 

New York Rangers

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Exposing 25 percent of salary-cap space in an expansion draft could leave the management of the New York Rangers facing some difficult choices. On March 19, the New York Post's Larry Brooks suggested it could have an effect upon roster moves this summer to ensure they have sufficient salary to expose in the draft.

If management has any plans to trade left wing Rick Nash and his $7.8 million cap hit, Brooks suggested it might have to retain him to put toward that 25 percent requirement. If players with no-movement clauses must be protected, he wondered whether they'd be forced to protect defenseman Dan Girardi, buy him out or expose him in the draft to meet that 25 percent rule.

Brooks also speculated "the Blueshirts might be forced to expose either Derek Stepan or Derick Brassard, presuming both are with the club next season." Meanwhile, defenseman Dylan McIlrath and forwards Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller are restricted free agents this summer. Their contract situations could also affect management's preparations for an expansion draft.

Tampa Bay Lightning

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On March 19, the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith reported an expansion draft next summer was "one more headache" for Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman. Faced with re-signing notable players such as Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Ben Bishop, Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat over the next two summers, Yzerman would also have to determine which players to protect from expansion.

Smith noted the Lightning carry two world-class goaltenders in Bishop and Andrei Vasilevskiy. He speculated Yzerman could be forced to trade one of them rather than risk losing them through expansion. USA Today's Kevin Allen suggested a forward such as Valtteri Filppula, Ryan Callahan or Vladislav Namestnikov could be left exposed in the draft. 

Yzerman's plans could hinge upon whether he re-signs Stamkos to a lucrative long-term deal. That would affect how much cap space he has for his remaining free agents, as well as the 25 percent of salary-cap space he must expose in an expansion draft.

Chicago Blackhawks

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On March 17, the Globe and Mail's James Mirtle noted teams wishing to protect their top-four defensemen in the expansion draft would have to leave their bottom eight or nine forwards unprotected. Teams like the Chicago Blackhawks, he observed, could be in a bind.

Under that scenario, Mirtle suggested notable forwards such as Marian Hossa, Andrew Ladd (if re-signed), Andrew Shaw and Artem Anisimov would be available. If the league expands by one or two teams, the Hawks would certainly lose one or two of those forwards. 

With the Blackhawks carrying over $66 million in payroll for next season, it's doubtful they could afford to re-sign Ladd. If the 37-year-old Hossa were plucked away in the expansion draft, it would free up $5.275 million in cap space through 2020-21. The greater concern is losing younger forwards such as Shaw and Anisimov, who would be highly prized by expansion clubs.

Players stats via NHL.com. Salary info via CapFriendly.