Mock expansion keeper list: Pacific Division
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports / USA TODAY Sports
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Each day this week, we'll publish mock expansion keeper lists by division, and up next is the Pacific. On Friday, we'll publish our mock expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights roster.
Atlantic | Pacific | Metropolitan | Central
*NMC = No-movement clause
*All first- and second-year professionals, as well as all unsigned draft choices, will be exempt from selection (and will not be counted toward their club's applicable protection limits).
*Notable protected 2017 unrestricted free agents are kept based on an assumption they will re-sign with their respective teams before Las Vegas' window to negotiate with UFAs opens.
Anaheim Ducks
F | D | G |
---|---|---|
Corey Perry (NMC) | Hampus Lindholm | John Gibson |
Ryan Getzlaf (NMC) | Sami Vatanen | |
Ryan Kesler (NMC) | Cam Fowler | |
Rickard Rakell | Kevin Bieksa (NMC) |
- The Ducks' depth at defense appears to be a curse and as such will be forced to make Josh Manson available lest they swap out one of the defensemen above.
- That move will also guarantee Jakob Silfverberg's availability. The Ducks are sure to lose someone of significance to the Golden Knights.
Arizona Coyotes
F | D | G |
---|---|---|
Shane Doan | Oliver Ekman-Larsson | Mike Smith |
Tobias Rieder | Alex Goligoski (NMC) | |
Teemu Pulkkinen | Connor Murphy | |
Alexander Burmistrov | ||
Radim Vrbata | ||
Anthony Duclair | ||
Jordan Martinook |
- The blessing for the Coyotes is that few members of their future are eligible for the expansion draft, so the team is unlikely to lose anyone significant.
- Unfortunately, having to make available two players who are signed through 2017-18 means Brad Richardson gets exposed.
Calgary Flames
F | D | G |
---|---|---|
Johnny Gaudreau | Mark Giordano | Brian Elliott |
Sean Monahan | Dougie Hamilton | |
Troy Brouwer | T.J. Brodie | |
Mikael Frolik | ||
Mikael Backlund | ||
Sam Bennett | ||
Michael Ferland |
- The Flames should have no problem locking up all their heavy hitters. That said, new acquisitions Curtis Lazar and Michael Stone are sure to be exposed, while goaltender Chad Johnson - who's had stints as the club's starter this season - is also likely to be available.
Edmonton Oilers
F | D | G |
---|---|---|
Jordan Eberle | Andrej Sekera (NMC) | Cam Talbot |
Milan Lucic (NMC) | Oscar Klefbom | |
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Adam Larsson | |
Zack Kassian | ||
Patrick Maroon | ||
Anton Lander | ||
Leon Draisaitl |
- The Oilers' most notable moves heading into the expansion draft will be leaving a couple of veterans exposed.
- Players such as Matt Hendricks and Benoit Pouliot, who have produced very little, are likely to be exposed, while Anton Lander - who is producing 1.6 points per game in the AHL - could be protected in lieu of the men above.
- Once again, exposure requirements could leave utility player Mark Letestu available.
Los Angeles Kings
F | D | G |
---|---|---|
Anze Kopitar (NMC) | Drew Doughty | Jonathan Quick |
Dustin Brown | Alec Martinez | |
Jeff Carter | Jake Muzzin | |
Tyler Toffoli | ||
Trevor Lewis | ||
Tanner Pearson | ||
Marian Gaborik |
- The most intriguing decision for the Kings will be to almost certainly make Ben Bishop available.
- What could skew the above list is if the team decides to make players such as Marian Gaborik and Dustin Brown available. Both are under contract for the next four and five years, respectively, with a combined cap hit of $10.75 million.
- The Kings could decide to risk that Vegas won't want to add those contracts and in turn protect more depth forwards.
San Jose Sharks
F | D | G |
---|---|---|
Joe Thornton | Brent Burns | Martin Jones |
Jannik Hansen | Marc-Edouard Vlasic | |
Logan Couture | Justin Braun | |
Joe Pavelski | ||
Mikkel Boedker | ||
Tomas Hertl | ||
Melker Karlsson |
- The Sharks could be forced to expose some of their depth forwards and defensemen, but their strong core is safe.
- With Patrick Marleau among the team's pending unrestricted free agents, the team can allow him to remain unprotected and in turn protect the likes of Jannik Hansen.
Vancouver Canucks
F | D | G |
---|---|---|
Henrik Sedin (NMC) | Alexander Edler | Jacob Markstrom |
Daniel Sedin (NMC) | Christopher Tanev | |
Loui Eriksson (NMC) | Luca Sbisa | |
Brendan Gaunce | ||
Sven Baertschi | ||
Markus Granlund | ||
Bo Horvat |
- Given his age and contract, it's clear the Canucks will expose Ryan Miller.
- On defense, the most notable exposure is Erik Gudbranson, while the team is also expected to leave some depth prospects available.
- As for forwards, limited contracts leave Brandon Sutter as the Canucks' choice to be left exposed.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
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