Expansion Draft: Which Detroit Red Wings Player will the Golden Knights Select?
By Daniel Garza
With the Expansion Draft looming for the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the Detroit Red Wings will soon have to part ways with one of their players. However, the possible selection is still up in the air.
By Saturday, the Red Wings will have listed the players they will protect for the Expansion Draft. They can protect one goaltender, three defensemen, and seven forwards. Additionally, first and second-year players are exempt from this list, which means Dylan Larkin is in no way in danger of being selected.
Here’s a rundown of who the Golden Knights could likely select.
Howard or Mrazek?
This will be an interesting part of the protected list to watch for. It’s no secret both goaltenders have struggled and neither has been able to solidify the starting job. Thus, Ken Holland probably has his toughest decision of which player he should protect.
If it’s Jimmy Howard, then there is a possibility the Golden Knights could take Petr Mrazek. At 25, Mrazek could be a valuable backup. He hasn’t had a terrible career and has had his moments of brilliance.
With one-year left on his contract at $4 million, Mrazek seems to be the likely choice out of the two to be protected. Howard has two years left at $5.3 million.
In hindsight, neither will likely be selected by the Golden Knights. But I still think there’s a minimal chance Mrazek could get selected.
A Forward Should Be Selected
As of right now, a forward will likely be the selection the Golden Knights go with. Riley Sheahan and Tomas Nosek are two players they may choose.
Sheahan has had some decent seasons with the Red Wings but his production fell last season. With 13 points in 80 appearances, the 25-year-old center struggled to put the puck in the net.
Darren Helm could very well be another player the Golden Knights pickup. Like Sheahan, Helm had a rough season with offensive production.
Nosek had a stellar playoff run with the Grand Rapids Griffins and has a lot of potential moving forward in the league. He should be a part of the Red Wings next season on a permanent basis. However, if he is exposed, I think there’s an outside chance the Golden Knights go for him. As well as, Martin Frk, if he is indeed not protected.
Holland not Paying Future Assets
In an interview with Sportsnet960, Holland made it clear he wouldn’t pay future assets to protect players on the team.
"“I’m not prepared to pay any future assets to protect players on our team,” the Red Wings GM told Boomer and Pinder on Sportsnet 960 Wednesday. “We’re submitting seven [forwards], three [defencemen] and one [goalie] and when we submit that list then [McPhee has] obviously the decision to make which player he’s going to take off our roster.”"
Basically, the Golden Knights are free to choose from the list of exposed players.
The Golden Knights selections will be announced on Wednesday, June 21.