Nate’s Protected List
Tyler Bertuzzi-F
Adam Erne-F
Robby Fabbri-F
Dylan Larkin-F
Michael Rasmussen-F
Givani Smith-F
Jakub Vrana-F
Dennis Cholowski-D
Filip Hronek-D
Gustav Lindstrom-D
Thomas Greiss-G
Nate’s Rationale
I think the game general manager Steve Yzerman will play with the expansion list is one that benefits the Red Wings as a whole. That’s exposing guys with salary and expiring contracts heading into the 2022-23 season. This opens opportunities to get even more cap room than they already have. This unfortunately includes Troy Stecher, who is one of my favorite players on the current roster.
Nate’s Unprotected List
Vladislav Namestnikov-F
Frans Nielsen-F
Richard Panik-F
Evgeny Svechnikov-F
Danny DeKeyser-D
Troy Stecher-D
Kaden Fulcher-G
Nate’s Rationale
I’m picking as Yzerman would and even after a strong showing in the World Championships, the fact that Stecher was a healthy scratch this past season–when in my opinion–he was far and away the best defenseman on the team–tells me no one is safe. After a week filled with Tyler Bertuzzi trade rumors, I’m actually becoming less and less convinced that the “core” that exists now will exist a few seasons from now.
I’ve read countless tweets about how people expect Bertuzzi to be a draft day deal. If that same feeling resonates with others, I can only believe that this Expansion Draft list serves as another way for Yzerman to use the Cap to his advantage and the future of the organization.
The other notable is Vladislav Namestnikov who again only has one season left. Leaving it open for him to be taken means it’s more salary off the ledger. This allows Yzerman to make some more side deals to help other teams out as a place to dump salary while including a sweetener.
He still has to ice a team, but the name of the game this summer will be acquiring more prospects, picks, and assets for the future. He’s picking his list not for right now, but for what will help later on.