Among Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman’s tasks over the coming month is the act of finalizing which players are worth protecting.
The NHL’s 32nd team, the Seattle Kraken, will announce its selections from the expansion draft July 21. Rules are the same as when the Vegas Golden Knights joined the league in 2017, with the Kraken having to choose 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders.
In 2017, the Wings’ list of unprotected players included goaltender Petr Mrazek and forwards Luke Glendening, Darren Helm and Riley Sheahan. The Knights chose forward Tomas Nosek, a grinder who was never drafted and had just 17 NHL games to credit. Nosek was coming off a stand-out Calder Cup-winning season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, and he’s still playing for the Knights.
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Teams have two choices in preparing a list of protected players, which much be submitted July 17: seven forwards, three defenseman and one goaltender, or eight skaters (forwards or defensemen) and one goaltender. First- and second-year players are exempt, a group that for the Wings includes Filip Zadina, Joe Veleno and Moritz Seider, among others.
Every team except the Knights, who are exempt, has to meet minimum requirements in exposing one defenseman and two forwards who are under contract in 2021-22 and who have played at least 27 games in 2021 (prorated to the 56-game season from the usual 40-game requirement) and one goalie who is under contract in 2021-22. Defensemen Danny DeKeyser and Troy Stecher, forwards Richard Panik and Frans Nielsen, and goaltender Kaden Fulcher fulfill those requirements for the Wings.
The Wings are expected to choose to protect seven forwards, three defense and one goaltender. Here’s a breakdown of whom they should keep:
Forwards
Dylan Larkin: He’s a key rebuilding block and the captain.
Tyler Bertuzzi: He’s another key rebuilding block and the grittiest player on the team.
Jakub Vrana: His 11 points in 11 games after being acquired at the deadline show his place in the rebuild.
Robby Fabbri: Another guy who brings offense.
Adam Erne: He earned a spot with how well he played in 2021.
Michael Rasmussen: Has grown into a much stronger player, looks like a good complementary piece in rebuild.
Givani Smith: Brings size and energy and holds opponents who cheap-shot a teammate accountable.
In addition to Panik and Nielsen, that also leaves exposed Vladislav Namestnikov. Yzerman signed him last fall for two years, $4 million, and Namestnikov delivered 17 points and a minus-5 rating in 53 games. If he were to be protected, it would bump Smith off the list, and though Smith has played just 37 career games, he’s shown he can be asset.
Evgeny Svechnikov also will be exposed, but the 2015 first-round pick was on waivers twice this past season, making it clear the team doesn’t view him as part of the rebuild. Also exposed are pending unrestricted free agents including Glendening, Helm, Sam Gagner and Bobby Ryan.
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Defense
Filip Hronek: He’s a top-four anchor.
Dennis Cholowski: He’s an NHL-caliber skater and passer, but needs assertiveness.
Gustav Lindstrom: Solid third-pairing guy who makes smart plays with the puck.
This is where I think there’ll be the biggest debate among Yzerman and his inner circle. Do either of Cholowski, 23 years old, or Lindstrom, 22, get bumped in favor of protecting 27-year-old Troy Stecher? Stecher will help the Wings next season more than either of those two, but odds are that if Lindstrom or Cholowski is exposed, that’s who the Kraken will select.
Cholowski has shown in spurts just how good he can be. He might play 10 years. Stecher won’t. Lindstrom plays a safe, smart game. With Seider — who like Stecher shoots right — poised to join the lineup next season, I’d risk exposing Stecher.
Goaltender
Thomas Greiss: He’s under contract, and played really well down the stretch.
That will leave Jonathan Bernier exposed, but he’s unlikely to be selected, leaving Yzerman the option to re-sign him.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her book, The Big 50: The Detroit Red Wings is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.