Looking at the NHL's own words, “
This doesn't include players whose contracts are expiring this summer, players with No Movement Clauses or players on their entry-level contracts.”
I interpret "players whose contracts are expiring this summer" to include summer of 2017 RFA's Fast and Lindberg and Zibanejad, Pirri, Puempel and Clendening, and *cough*, UFA Glass
Even if Vegas has the head-start option to negotiate with them before NYR, I am sure those players would want to wait to hear what NYR have to offer before accepting an offer from Vegas.
Also -- if they are 2017 RFA's -- does not Vegas have to provide some compensation for selecting an RFA versus an exposed player under a regular contract?
We all make mistakes and are fallible, I'm no hockey genius, so go easy on me, but if I'm wrong on the 2017 RFAs, please gently tell me why am I wrong? Thanks!
Otherwise, the way I see it we are in the following situation
WE CAN PROTECT
— Option 1: 7 forwards-3 defensemen-1 goalie
— Option 2: 8 skaters-1 goalie
NMC/NTC - MUST PROTECT
1. Nash, Rick M-NTCNMC
2. Staal, Marc NMC
3. Girardi, Dan NMC
4. McDonagh, Ryan M-NTC
G. Lundqvist, Henrik NMC
——————
USING OPTION #2 --
CAN KEEP 4 of the following and must expose the remainder, so question is which 4 do we expose.
I would tentatively guess all could agree on the first 3, but many would have a hard time over the Grabner/ Kreider decision, but for me kreider is a must keep.
*my suggestions for the remaining 4 skaters
5*. Miller, J.T.
6*. Zuccarello, Mats
7*. Kreider, Chris
8*. Hayes, Kevin, $2.6M
Grabner, Michael $1.65M
Stepan, Derek $6.5 M
Raanta, Antii $1.0M
Klein, Kevin $2.9M
Holden, Nick $1.65M
Kampfer, Steven $600k
------------
TO MY EYE, THE FOLLOWING FALL UNDER THE FOLLOWING PROTECTED CATEGORIES
ELC - PROTECTED:
Buchnevich, Pavel ELC
Vesey, Jimmy ELC
Skjei, Brady ELC
—————-
2017 EXPIRING CONTRACT PROTECTED
Zibanejad, Mika RFA
Smith, Brendan, RFA
Fast, Jesper RFA
Lindberg, RFA
Pirri, Brandon RFA
Puempel, Matt RFA
Clendening, Adam, RFA
Hellberg, Magnus RFA
Glass, Tanner UFA
————
https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/ne...ct/c-286578106