With the NHL Expansion Draft coming within the next week, Tampa Bay Lightning fans are wondering who the Bolts will protect from the Las Vegas Golden Knights and who will be left exposed.
Like every other team in the league, the Tampa Bay Lightning will have to decide who they want to protect in June 21’s NHL Expansion Draft, when the incoming Las Vegas Golden Knights will raid the cupboards of the league’s current 30 franchises. Each of those teams have to choose whom among their rosters to protect and who to risk losing.
The basics of the expansion draft are as such: each team can protect either seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender or eight skaters, regardless of position, and a goaltender. But there’s a catch.
"All players who have currently effective and continuing “No Movement” clauses at the time of the Expansion Draft (and who to decline to waive such clauses) must be protected (and will be counted toward their club’s applicable protection limits)."
On the assumption that Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman will be utilizing the 7-3-1 format, here’s our take on who the Bolts should protect, in order of “Well, of COURSE!” factor.