Who the Buffalo Sabres Should Protect in the NHL Expansion Draft

This year’s NHL Expansion Draft in Vegas provides the Buffalo Sabres with additional decisions to resolve.

While many Buffalo Sabres fans continue to suffer from post NHL-Draft Lottery depression, the reality still exists. The Sabres have a unique draft to attend at T-Mobile arena this June.

What makes this June so unique is the type of draft teams will be participating in. With the incorporation of the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the NHL’s 31st franchise, an expansion draft will take place.

Rules and regulations for the expansion draft can become quite complex and difficult to understand at times. To keep it short and sweet, these general rules apply to player protection/exposure.

NHL teams have the option to protect:

Seven forwards, three defenseman, and one goaltender, or
Eight skaters and one goaltender

In addition, players with a No-Movement-Clause must be protected, unless they wave their clause. All unsigned draft picks, as well as all first and second-year professionals, will be exempt from the draft.

Given this, owner Terry Pegula and new GM Jason Botterill have their hands full with which players to protect.

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Perhaps the most intriguing decision will be made at goaltender. Robin Lehner, Anders Nilsson, and Linus Ullmark are on the Sabres roster. While Lehner may seem like the obvious choice, GM Jason Botterill may have other ideas.

We must remember that Lehner was Tim Murray’s guy. As GM of the Sabres, he surrendered a 1st-rounder to the Senators for the Swedish goaltender.

Most important of all is the fact Lehner is currently a Restricted-Free-Agent this upcoming season. In short, Buffalo has the right to offer and match-offers for him.

Whether or not they will is another story. Lehner made around 2.3 millon last season, so bringing him back on a one-year deal for around the same salary would be reasonable.

If the Sabres have plans to let him walk, exposing Lehner may just happen. Nilsson is a UFA, so Ullmark would be protected, given the situation.

As to Buffalo’s forwards and defenseman, decisions for management do not get any easier.

Ryan O’Reilly and Kyle Okposo are two no-brainers for the Sabres to protect. Okposo has a NMC, so Buffalo could not expose him even if they wanted to.

With both of these forwards protected, the Sabres have 5 or 6 left to protect, depending on what protection option they choose.

Evander Kane should also be protected. Given his size, speed, and goal-scoring ability, Buffalo needs to retaining his talents.

Let’s say management wanted Kane gone. The Sabres should use him as trade-bait this offseason, instead of taking the risk of exposing him to Vegas. With Evander protected, Buffalo is down to 4-5 forwards.

Matt Moulson and Tyler Ennis are next in line. Exposing both of these forwards this June should not surprise many.

Moulson improved during the 2016-2017 season compared to the previous year. However, Buffalo is liable for his hefty 5-million dollar cap hit this season. Refusing to protect the Toronto-native would deem wise.

As for Tyler Ennis, his fate is looking bitter-sweet. Watching the fan-favorite, hard-working forward leave would be difficult for fans, but the NHL is a business.

Concussions, groin injuries, and sickness have somewhat derailed Ennis’ career in the Queen City. Buffalo should not gamble with the chances of him finally becoming healthy.

His 4.6-million dollar cap hit does not help the case either. The Sabres should also expose him.

Marcus Foligno is definitely not his brother Nick, but the Sabres need him. His energy, toughness, and physical play is needed on the ice. Management should give the RFA an offer and protect him, leaving 2-3 forwards left.

Zemgus Girgensons and Johan Larsson deserve another year with the Sabres. While Girgensons struggled with Bylsma’s system, he may find clarity with what Buffalo’s next coach brings. Protect him.

When healthy, Johan is productive and financially cheap. Buffalo should make an offer to the young RFA and protect him.

With decisions on Girgensons and Larsson taken care of, the Sabres will have fulfilled their forward protection requirement. Chances are Buffalo will want to protect three defenseman.

Young talents Eichel, Reinhart, Fasching, Baptiste, Bailey, and Guhle are all exempt due to their first and second-year professional status. No need to worry fans.

As a result, Deslauriers, Carrier, and Grant will all be exposed. Losing Carrier is plausible, but there is no telling what Vegas will do. It is a gamble Buffalo must take.

With a goaltender and forwards protected, Buffalo can then shift its focus on which three defenseman to protect.

Ristolainen is out of the question, so the Sabres are down to two defenseman. Bogosian’s struggles and cap-hit are a double-negative, and he has not lived up to expectations since arriving from Winnipeg.

McCabe is blooming into a quality defenseman, and Buffalo cannot afford to lose him. Given he is also making pennies at 1.6 million per-year, the Sabres need to protect him.

Kulikov is a UFA, and there is no telling what GM Jason Botterill will do with him. Given his disappointing inaugural season with the Sabres, his value cannot get much lower.

Buffalo is not going to pay him another 4.3 million this season. If Botterill can re-sign him for next to nothing, yes, protect him and give him another year. If not, let him go.

Gorges is aging and losing his speed by the year. His leadership is hard to pass up on, but his 3.9 million-dollar cap hit this upcoming season is not. Barring a miracle year, odds are he will continue to decline. Buffalo should expose him.

Justin Falk continues to play the role of journeymen within the Sabres organization. Falk adds depth Buffalo desperately needs. However, he is not worth the trouble protecting. It is highly unlikely Vegas would scoop him up.

Seven forwards, three defenseman, and one goaltender will be protected this June. One player will be moving to Las Vegas. Regardless of who the Sabres lose, Buffalo must minimize risk, and maximize their assets heading into the offseason.

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