OILERS EXPANSION DRAFT PROTECTED LIST (2016)
By Lowetide
8 years ago
I get a few requests each month to write (don’t worry, I get a lot requesting NOT writing too) on specfic subjects. The MOST requested item this summer? Expansion draft protected list. Why have I resisted? Well, it’s a pain in the pain in the ass. That said, I’ve made the list and the Oilers don’t have a lot to worry over. Honest.
FREE AGENTS
Assuming we’re discussing an expansion draft next summer (2016), free agents aren’t on any list. They aren’t available to expansion teams (unless they want to buy a window for free) and the Oilers have no need to protect them. The list:
- R Teddy Purcell
- R Rob Klinkhammer
- D Nikita Nikitin
- D Eric Gryba
- G Cam Talbot
- G Ben Scrivens
- R Andrew Miller
- L Ryan Hamilton
- D Brad Hunt
Edmonton is likely to sign a couple of these men during the year or before free agency next summer, so for our purposes let’s say Cam Talbot, Andrew Miller and Eric Gryba end up signed. Fair? I think so.
(Photo by Connor Mah)
INELIGIBLE PLAYERS
This includes all manner of players. Anyone from the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 drafts would be ineligible, save Nail Yakupov. Dillon Simpson from the 2011 draft would not be eligible for the expansion draft. This is my understanding of what the draft will look like, so let’s proceed from there. Griffin Reinhart would not be eligible for the draft, no Darnell Nurse or Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid.
PROTECTED LIST
I’m going to proceed with standard expansion rules, which state a team can protect 1G, 5D, 9F OR 2G, 3D and 7F.
- G Cam Talbot
- D Andrej Sekera
- D Mark Fayne
- D Oscar Klefbom
- D Justin Schultz
- D Andrew Ference*
- C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
- C Anton Lander
- C Mark Letestu
- L Taylor Hall
- L Benoit Pouliot
- L Lauri Korpikoski
- R Jordan Eberle
- R Nail Yakupov
- R Iiro Pakarinen or Andrew Miller
That’s my list, I think everyone on it would be expansion-draft eligible. The one question is Iiro Pakarinen and he’s last man standing so it’s not a major item—I’ll take Andrew Miller if there’s no need to protect Pakarinen. The list doesn’t look especially impressive, but remember the ineligible list includes all the bubbling under group.
*Edit to add: As several people mentioned in the comments section (hat tip) Andrew Ference and his no-movement deal mean he makes the list. I’ve placed Eric Gryba on the ‘available’ list.
EXPANSION LIST—AVAILABLE PLAYERS
- G Anders Nilsson
- G Laurent Brossoit
- D Eric Gryba
- D Brandon Davidson
- D David Musil
- D Martin Gernat
- L Matt Hendricks
- L Luke Gazdic
- R Tyler Pitlick
- R Andrew Miller
That’s the list as I see it, folks. If two teams are added, they probably grab one each from the available 30 teams. My guess? Oilers could lose two of Laurent Brossoit, Anders Nilsson, Brandon Davidson, David Musil, Matt Hendricks, Tyler Pitlick.
An expansion draft would NOT be a difficult process for the Oilers.
(Barons photos by Rob Ferguson, all rights reserved)
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