Enlargement Plan: Projecting the Anaheim Geese’ safety listing for the 2021 enlargement draft

Welcome to the Enlargement Plan, our summer season collection projecting the protected lists for every of the NHL’s 31 franchises forward of the June 2021 Enlargement Draft.
Over the subsequent two seasons, groups can be planning for the arrival of the NHL’s 32nd franchise and Seattle GM Ron Francis will start to contemplate the choices for his inaugural roster. As such, over the course of the subsequent 31 days, we are going to profile one group, in alphabetical order, and forecast their potential listing of protections and exposures, in addition to handle every group’s enlargement technique, no-brainers, robust choices and what classes they realized from the 2017 enlargement course of.
This train requires some vital floor guidelines. The 2021 Enlargement Draft will observe the identical guidelines because the 2017 Enlargement Draft, however some assumptions are obligatory. These are the rules adopted:
No pre-draft trades
All no-movement clauses are honored
Gamers who will turn into restricted free brokers in 2020 or 2021 stay with present groups
Gamers who will turn into unrestricted free brokers in 2020 or 2021 both stay with present groups or are left off lists solely (eg. Nicklas Backstrom protected by the Washington Capitals, Tyson Barrie not protected by Toronto Maple Leafs or another group.)
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The Geese weren’t the group most shackled by no motion clauses on the 2017 enlargement draft – that was the eight-NMC Chicago Blackhawks – however Anaheim did must take care of some handcuffing of their very own creation. To wit, there have been 4 gamers with whom the Geese had been caught: Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa. That restricted who Anaheim was capable of shield, and when push got here to shove, the Geese determined delivery Shea Theodore to the Golden Knights to ensure that Vegas to pick Clayton Stoner was the perfect plan of action.
Fortunately, nonetheless, Anaheim gained’t want to fret a couple of related scenario in 2021. Actually, the roster, as at the moment constituted, doesn’t characteristic a single participant with an NMC. That stands to offer the Geese the form of flexibility they may have solely dreamed of on the Vegas enlargement draft. Including to the liberty Anaheim has, as properly, is that Getzlaf’s contract can be up and Kesler’s NMC will remodel into an exposable no-trade clause. (Although it’s possible he’ll be exempt from the draft given his harm standing.)
There’s additionally one fascinating and unintentional come-up for the Geese. As a result of Getzlaf’s contract can be expiring and he can be a pending UFA, there’s no want for Anaheim to guard him. Actually, the 2 sides may come to one thing of a handshake settlement which might see Getzlaf re-sign post-expansion draft. The Sharks took this tack with Joe Thornton, who re-signed on a one-year deal in July 2017.
PROTECTED (7F, 3D, 1G):Forwards:
Jakob Silfverberg
Rickard Rakell
Ondrej Kase
Troy Terry
Sam Metal
Isac Lundestrom
Max Jones
Defensemen:
Cam Fowler
Hampus Lindholm
Josh Manson
Goaltenders:
NOTABLE EXPOSURES: C, Adam Henrique; LW, Nick Ritchie
STRATEGY: For essentially the most half, it comes all the way down to youth up entrance and protecting the blueline intact. The highest finish of the protection corps is dependable sufficient and can stay viable by the point the enlargement draft rolls round, however offensively, will probably be time to cross the torch to the children who’re developing. By guaranteeing the up-and-comers similar to Terry, Metal, Lundestrom and Jones are protected, Anaheim retains its group of promising prospects collectively and maintains a sure degree of offensive upside. By leaving Henrique and Ritchie uncovered, too, the hope is that Seattle stays away from Maxime Comtois, who will be one other helpful piece shifting ahead.
As famous, the Geese can use the free company guidelines to their benefit to maintain Getzlaf, who can be ending up his pact, on the town. The veteran captain is a vital a part of the franchise and might shepherd alongside the younger gamers.
THE NO BRAINER: John Gibson has arguably cemented himself as one of many five-best goaltenders within the NHL and his efficiency final season would have been Vezina Trophy caliber if he had a greater roster round him. In two years’ time, he’ll stay the spine of the group’s defensive technique and proceed to supply the true final line of protection. And with none top-tier prospects on the way in which, there isn’t a lot that can be misplaced by exposing the opposite keepers on the roster.
THE TOUGH DECISION: The extra issues change, the extra they keep the identical. On the 2017 enlargement draft, one of many Geese’ largest considerations was exposing a defender. That may once more be a priority on the 2021 enlargement draft, as Anaheim can shield Fowler, Lindholm and Manson, however that leaves Jacob Larsson and Brendan Guhle vast open.
LESSON LEARNED: Don’t make the selection for Seattle, make Seattle make the selection. Transferring Theodore didn’t actually pay dividends for Anaheim, even when it meant getting Stoner’s contract off the books.
Up Subsequent: Arizona Coyotes
(All wage cap data by way of CapFriendly)
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Tags: anaheim geese, enlargement, seattleConnect: In regards to the AuthorJared ClintonJared Clinton is a author and internet editor with The Hockey Information. He is been with the group since 2014. He was born, raised and resides in Winnipeg, the place he will be discovered lacking the online on out of doors rinks throughout city.