The Expansion Draft is Just Three Days Away, And With All 30 Teams Releasing Their Protection Lists, Puck Prose Brings to You Another Mock for the Vegas Golden Knights.
All thirty teams have released their protection lists, and one that caught me by surprise was the Islanders, they chose to protect only three forwards in order to protect most of their defensive crop. Now, this is a semi-smart move, and the reason I say this is because now the Isles have a ton of talent up front left for the picking and someone extremely skilled is going to go to the Vegas Golden Knights.
vegas golden knights
May 31, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA: General overall view of the T-Mobile Arena exterior and Toshiba Plaza on Las Vegas Blvd. on the Las Vegas strip. The facility will be the home of the NHL expansion franchise Vegas Golden Knights which will begin play during the 2017-18 season. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The rest of the teams followed the basic 7-3-1, and 4-4-1 plans, so here is all teams listed on who they have protected come the expansion draft. At the very bottom, I will have my picks as well as a potential depth chart.
All 30 Protection Lists are Via TheScore.com
Legend:
F – Forward
D – Defense
G – Goalie
NMC – No Movement Clause
Anaheim Ducks
Andrew Cogliano (F)
Ryan Getzlaf (F) (NMC)
Ryan Kesler (F) (NMC)
Corey Perry (F) (NMC)
Rickard Rakell (F)
Jakob Silfverberg (F)
Antoine Vermette (F)
Kevin Bieksa (D) (NMC)
Cam Fowler (D)
Hampus Lindholm (D)
John Gibson (G)
Arizona Coyotes
Nick Cousins (F)
Anthony Duclair (F)
Jordan Martinook (F)
Tobias Rieder (F)
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (D)
Alex Goligoski (D) (NMC)
Connor Murphy (D)
Luke Schenn (D)
Chad Johnson (G)
Boston Bruins
David Backes (F) (NMC)
Patrice Bergeron (F) (NMC)
David Krejci (F) (NMC)
Brad Marchand (F)
Riley Nash (F)
David Pastrnak (F)
Ryan Spooner (F)
Zdeno Chara (D) (NMC)
Torey Krug (D)
Kevan Miller (D)
Tuukka Rask G)
sabres
Puck Prose 1 dBuffalo Sabres Have Acquired Nathan Beaulieu from Montreal
More headlines around FanSided:
3d - Buffalo Sabres Hire Phil Housley as Head Coach4d - Buffalo Sabres: Club Announces the Signing of Linus Ullmark1 w - NHL Daily: Panthers Add Six, Sabres Want Housley and More1 w - Buffalo Sabres Waiting on Phil Housley2w - Buffalo Sabres Free Agency Plan: DefenceMore News at Sabre Noise
Buffalo Sabres
Tyler Ennis (F)
Marcus Foligno (F)
Zemgus Girgensons (F)
Evander Kane (F)
Johan Larsson (F)
Ryan O'Reilly (F)
Kyle Okposo (F) (NMC)
Nathan Beaulieu (D)
Jake McCabe (D)
Rasmus Ristolainen (D)
Robin Lehner (G)
Calgary Flames
Mikael Backlund (F)
Sam Bennett (F)
Micheal Ferland (F)
Michael Frolik (F)
Johnny Gaudreau (F)
Curtis Lazar (F)
Sean Monahan (F)
T.J. Brodie (D)
Mark Giordano (D)
Dougie Hamilton (D)
Mike Smith (G)
vegas golden knights
Apr 8, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) in the second period of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Carolina Hurricanes
Phillip Di Giuseppe (F)
Elias Lindholm (F)
Brock McGinn (F)
Victor Rask (F)
Jeff Skinner (F)
Jordan Staal (F) (NMC)
Teuvo Teravainen (F)
Trevor Carrick (D)
Justin Faulk (D)
Ryan Murphy (D)
Scott Darling (G)
Chicago Blackhawks
Artem Anisimov (F) (NMC)
Ryan Hartman (F)
Marian Hossa (F) (NMC)
Tomas Jurco (F)
Patrick Kane (F) (NMC)
Richard Panik (F)
Jonathan Toews (F) (NMC)
Niklas Hjalmarsson (D) (NMC)
Duncan Keith (D) (NMC)
Brent Seabrook (D) (NMC)
Corey Crawford (G) (NMC)
blackhawks
Blackhawk Up 1 dChicago Blackhawks Need To Follow Pittsburgh's Retooling Footsteps
More headlines around FanSided:
1 d - Chicago Blackhawks Rumors: Patrick Sharp Will Not Return2d - Pittsburgh Penguins: Best Salary Cap Era Belongs to Penguins2d - Chicago Blackhawks Rumors: Montreal's Galchenyuk Could Be On Move2d - Hurricanes Expansion Draft Partners2d - Chicago Blackhawks Morning Links- Rumor TimeMore News at Blackhawk Up
Colorado Avalanche
Sven Andrighetto (F)
Blake Comeau (F)
Matt Duchene (F)
Rocco Grimaldi (F)
Gabriel Landeskog (F)
Nathan MacKinnon (F)
Matthew Nieto (F)
Tyson Barrie (D)
Erik Johnson (D) (NMC)
Nikita Zadorov (D)
Semyon Varlamov (G)
Columbus Blue Jackets
Cam Atkinson (F)
Brandon Dubinsky (F) (NMC)
Nick Foligno (F) (NMC)
Scott Hartnell (F) (NMC)
Boone Jenner (F)
Brandon Saad (F)
Alexander Wennberg (F)
Seth Jones (D)
Ryan Murray (D)
David Savard (D)
Sergei Bobrovsky (G) (NMC)
Dallas Stars
Jamie Benn (F) (NMC)
Radek Faksa (F)
Valeri Nichushkin (F)
Brett Ritchie (F)
Antoine Roussel (F)
Tyler Seguin (F)
Jason Spezza (F) (NMC)
Stephen Johns (D)
John Klingberg (D)
Esa Lindell (D)
Ben Bishop (G) (NMC)
vegas golden knights
May 5, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) looks on against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period in game five of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Red Wings
Justin Abdelkader (F)
Andreas Athanasiou (F)
Anthony Mantha (F)
Frans Nielsen (F) (NMC)
Gustav Nyquist (F)
Tomas Tatar (F)
Henrik Zetterberg (F)
Danny DeKeyser (D)
Mike Green (D)
Nick Jensen (D)
Jimmy Howard (G)
Edmonton Oilers
Leon Draisaitl (F)
Jordan Eberle (F)
Zack Kassian (F)
Mark Letestu (F)
Milan Lucic (F) (NMC)
Patrick Maroon (F)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (F)
Oscar Klefbom (D)
Adam Larsson (D)
Andrej Sekera (D) (NMC)
Cam Talbot (G) (NMC)
oilers
Oil On Whyte 1 dEdmonton Oilers: Hockey Societies Honor Joey Moss
More headlines around FanSided:
1 d - Edmonton Oilers Stay Quiet Ahead of Expansion Draft2d - Edmonton Oilers Re-Sign Jujhar Khaira Prior to Expansion2d - Edmonton Oilers Rumors: Eberle Gone Before Expansion?3d - Edmonton Oilers: Matt Hendricks Says Return Not Likely3d - Edmonton Oilers Rumors: Two Teams Top List for EberleMore News at Oil On Whyte
Florida Panthers
Aleksander Barkov (F)
Nick Bjugstad (F)
Jonathan Huberdeau (F)
Vincent Trocheck (F)
Aaron Ekblad (D)
Alex Petrovic (D)
Mark Pysyk (D)
Keith Yandle (D) (NMC)
James Reimer (G)
Los Angeles Kings
Jeff Carter (F)
Anze Kopitar (F) (NMC)
Tanner Pearson (F)
Tyler Toffoli (F)
Drew Doughty (D)
Derek Forbort (D)
Alec Martinez (D)
Jake Muzzin (D)
Jonathan Quick (G)
Minnesota Wild
Charlie Coyle (F)
Mikael Granlund (F)
Mikko Koivu (F) (NMC)
Nino Niederreiter (F)
Zach Parise (F) (NMC)
Jason Pominville (F) (NMC)
Jason Zucker (F)
Jonas Brodin (D)
Jared Spurgeon (D)
Ryan Suter (D) (NMC)
Devan Dubnyk (G)
vegas golden knights
Jun 8, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban (76) looks on against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period in game five of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final at PPG PAINTS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Montreal Canadiens
Paul Byron (F)
Phillip Danault (F)
Jonathan Drouin (F)
Alex Galchenyuk (F)
Brendan Gallagher (F)
Max Pacioretty (F)
Andrew Shaw (F)
Jordie Benn (D)
Jeff Petry (D) (NMC)
Shea Weber (D)
Carey Price (G) (NMC)
Nashville Predators
Viktor Arvidsson (F)
Filip Forsberg (F)
Calle Jarnkrok (F)
Ryan Johansen (F)
Mattias Ekholm (D)
Ryan Ellis (D)
Roman Josi (D)
P.K. Subban (D)
Pekka Rinne (G) (NMC)
devils
Puck Prose 1 dNew Jersey Acquires Defenseman Mirco Mueller from Sharks
More headlines around FanSided:
6d - Should New Jersey Devils Ask About Kris Letang?1 w - New Jersey Devils Basically Giving Up On Alexander Kerfoot1 w - New Jersey Devils Trade Partners For Ilya Kovalchuk: St. Louis Blues1 w - NHL Expansion Draft: New Jersey Devils Protection Strategy1 w - New Jersey Devils Trade Partners For Ilya Kovalchuk: Florida PanthersMore News at Pucks and Pitchforks
New Jersey Devils
Taylor Hall (F)
Adam Henrique (F)
Kyle Palmieri (F)
Travis Zajac (F)
Andy Greene (D)
John Moore (D)
Mirco Mueller (D)
Damon Severson (D)
Cory Schneider (G)
New York Islanders
Andrew Ladd (F) (NMC)
Anders Lee (F)
John Tavares (F) (NMC)
Johnny Boychuk (D) (NMC)
Travis Hamonic (D)
Nick Leddy (D)
Adam Pelech (D)
Ryan Pulock (D)
Thomas Greiss (G)
New York Rangers
Kevin Hayes (F)
Chris Kreider (F)
J.T. Miller (F)
Rick Nash (F) (NMC)
Derek Stepan (F)
Mika Zibanejad (F)
Mats Zuccarello (F)
Nick Holden (D)
Ryan McDonagh (D)
Marc Staal (D) (NMC)
Henrik Lundqvist (G) (NMC)
vegas golden knights
Jun 11, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) skates with the puck against the Nashville Predators during the third period in game six of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Ottawa Senators
Derick Brassard (F)
Ryan Dzingel (F)
Mike Hoffman (F)
Jean-Gabriel Pageau (F)
Zack Smith (F)
Mark Stone (F)
Kyle Turris (F)
Cody Ceci (D)
Erik Karlsson (D)
Dion Phaneuf (D) (NMC)
Craig Anderson (G)
Philadelphia Flyers
Sean Couturier (F)
Valtteri Filppula (F) (NMC)
Claude Giroux (F) (NMC)
Scott Laughton (F)
Brayden Schenn (F)
Wayne Simmonds (F)
Jakub Voracek (F)
Shayne Gostisbehere (D)
Radko Gudas (D)
Brandon Manning (D)
Anthony Stolarz (G)
flyers
Puck Prose 1 dArizona Coyotes Stay Young with Acquisition of Nick Cousins
More headlines around FanSided:
5d - NHL Expansion Draft: Philadelphia Flyers Protection Strategy1 w - NHL Daily: Flyers Extend Gostisbehere, Jackets Make Deals and More2w - NHL Entry Draft: All 31 Picks By Each Team's Biggest Need8w - NHL Daily: Boston Defense Hurting the Team, Zach Hyman, Carter Hart and More9w - Philadelphia Flyers Prospect: Carter Hart Joins Lehigh Valley PhantomsMore News at Broad Street Buzz
Pittsburgh Penguins
Sidney Crosby (F) (NMC)
Patric Hornqvist (F)
Phil Kessel (F) (NMC)
Evgeni Malkin (F) (NMC)
Brian Dumoulin (D)
Kris Letang (D) (NMC)
Olli Maatta (D)
Justin Schultz (D)
Matthew Murray (G)
San Jose Sharks
Ryan Carpenter (F)
Logan Couture (F)
Jannik Hansen (F)
Tomas Hertl (F)
Melker Karlsson (F)
Joe Pavelski (F)
Chris Tierney (F)
Justin Braun (D)
Brent Burns (D)
Marc-Edouard Vlasic (D)
Martin Jones (G)
St. Louis Blues
Patrik Berglund (F)
Ryan Reaves (F)
Jaden Schwartz (F)
Vladimir Sobotka (F)
Paul Stastny (F)
Alex Steen (F)
Vladimir Tarasenko (F)
Jay Bouwmeester (D)
Joel Edmundson (D)
Alex Pietrangelo (D)
Jake Allen (G)
vegas golden knights
Apr 23, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) skates with the puck against the Washington Capitals in game six of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Capitals beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Lightning
Ryan Callahan (F) (NMC)
Tyler Johnson (F)
Alex Killorn (F)
Nikita Kucherov (F)
Vladislav Namestnikov (F)
Ondrej Palat (F)
Steven Stamkos (F) (NMC)
Braydon Coburn (D)
Victor Hedman (D) (NMC)
Anton Stralman (D)
Andrei Vasilevskiy (G)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Tyler Bozak (F)
Connor Brown (F)
Nazem Kadri (F)
Leo Komarov (F)
Josh Leivo (F)
Matt Martin (F)
James van Riemsdyk (F)
Connor Carrick (D)
Jake Gardiner (D)
Morgan Rielly (D)
Frederik Andersen (G)
maple leafs
Editor In Leaf 1 dToronto Maple Leafs: Lack of Adidas Teaser Content
More headlines around FanSided:
1 d - NHL Expansion Draft: Toronto Maple Leafs Protection Strategy1 d - Toronto Maple Leafs: William Nylander's Next Contract1 d - Toronto Maple Leafs: Shanahan Has the Recipe for Success1 d - Toronto Maple Leafs: 1st Rounders Through the Years1 d - Toronto Maple Leafs Expansion Draft: Who's Out And Why?More News at Editor In Leaf
Vancouver Canucks
Sven Baertschi (F)
Loui Eriksson (F) (NMC)
Markus Granlund (F)
Bo Horvat (F)
Daniel Sedin (F) (NMC)
Henrik Sedin (F) (NMC)
Brandon Sutter (F)
Alexander Edler (D)
Erik Gudbranson (D)
Chris Tanev (D)
Jacob Markstrom (G)
Washington Capitals
Nicklas Backstrom (F)
Andre Burakovsky (F)
Lars Eller (F)
Marcus Johansson (F)
Evgeny Kuznetsov (F)
Alex Ovechkin (F)
Tom Wilson (F)
John Carlson (D)
Matt Niskanen (D)
Dmitry Orlov (D)
Braden Holtby (G)
Winnipeg Jets
Joel Armia (F)
Andrew Copp (F)
Bryan Little (F)
Adam Lowry (F)
Mathieu Perreault (F)
Mark Scheifele (F)
Blake Wheeler (F)
Dustin Byfuglien (D) (NMC)
Tyler Myers (D)
Jacob Trouba (D)
Connor Hellebuyck (G)
vegas golden knights
Feb 4, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; New Jersey Devils left wing Michael Cammalleri (13) looks to pass during the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
Projected Cap Hit: $65,954,166
Project Cap Space: $7,045,834
Players Under Contract: 30/20
Josh Manson (ANA), Brad Richardson (ARI), Colin Miller (BOS), Linus Ullmark (BUF), Lance Bouma (CGY), Eddie Lack (CAR), Marcus Kruger (CHI), Joe Colborne (COL), Lukas Sedlak (CBJ), Greg Pateryn (DAL), Jonathan Ericsson (DET), Benoit Pouliot (EDM), Reilly Smith (FLA), Kyle Clifford (LA), Mathew Dumba (MIN), Alexei Emelin (MTL), Colton Sissons (NSH), Mike Cammalleri (NJ), Ryan Strome (NYI), Matt Puempel (NYR), Chris Wideman (OTT), Michael Raffl (PHI), Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT), Aaron Dell (SJ), Dmitrij Jaskin (STL), Cedric Paquette (TB), Martin Marincin (TOR), Luca Sbisa (VAN), Jay Beagle (WSH), Marko Dano (WPG).
Now both Smith, Cammalleri, and Fleury give the Knights three players who make $5 million or more in the next few season, this definitely helps them reach the cap floor. With guys like Ericsson, Emelin, and Pouliot in the $4 million area provides a little more cushion as they make their way to the $73 million max cap hit allowed for next season. Cammalleri is the oldest at 35 years old while both Dumba and Dano are each 22 years old.
Mike Cammalleri – Marcus Kruger – Reilly Smith
Benoit Pouliot – Ryan Strome – Michael Raffl
Colton Sissons – Cedric Paquette – Dmitrij Jaskin
Kyle Clifford – Jay Beagle – Marko Dano
Jonathan Ericsson – Alexei Emelin
Mathew Dumba – Colin Miller
Josh Manson – Chris Wideman
Chicago Wolves:
Lance Bouma – Joe Colborne – Matt Puempel
Lukas Sedlak – Brad Richardson
Luca Sbisa – Greg Pateryn
Martin Marincin
Now if the Knights look anything like this or come close to this, they are going to be extremely competitive right out of the gate and should make for a very interesting year one in the NHL. Myself being a die hard Leafs fan, I'm super excited to see what this team will look like come June 21st, and especially the jerseys, because who doesn't love a beautiful looking sweater right?
More from Puck Prose
This article originally appeared on 
