Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney Must Keep Defensive Players on Roster With The Expansion Draft Coming Up
The Boston Bruins are currently in a situation no sports team wants to fall under.
Every NHL team is currently waiting for the expansion draft on June 21 and the Bruins are at stake. They have a player that they cannot loose at all.
The General Manager of the Boston Bruins Don Sweeney, has focused on the defensive side of the Bruin’s roster.
Players like Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug must be protected because they are key assets towards the direction of the Bruins. The Las Vegas Golden Knights want to take one of Boston’s key players onto their side. All they have to do is select the unprotected player in the upcoming expansion draft.
Sweeney needs to try to keep the Bruins in good fashion as they have improved under his correlation of leadership. If the Bruins loose their key defense, then it could be another rebuild for the them as they head into next season.
Editors Note For Context:
Below is the rules for protecting players, player exposure requirements, and who Vegas can actually pick off of each NHL team. It is also worth noting that many teams are looking to make trades right now to keep Vegas from taking the players they couldn’t protect. For example the Bruins have been connected to Minnesota in a trade that would net Boston young defenseman Jonas Brodin who the Wild cannot protect based on their roster.
THE RULES FOR PROTECTING PLAYERS:
There are two options for protection:
- Seven Forwards, Three Defensemen and one goalie
- Eight Skaters (Forward/Defensemen) and one goaltender
Also all players who have a “No Movement” clause automatically have to be protected in the draft. Then all first and second-year pros, and all unsigned draft choices, will be exempt from selection.
PLAYER EXPOSURE REQUIREMENTS:
All teams must meet certain minimum requirements in regards to the players that can be exposed for selection.
- One defensemen who is a) under contract in 2017-18, b) played in 40 games or more NHL the prior or played in 70 or more NHL games in the prior two seasons
- Two forwards, same rule apply from above
- One goalie who is under contract in 17-18 or will be a restricted free agent at the exasperation of his current contract immediately prior to 2017-18. If the team elects to make a restricted free agent goalie available in order to meet this requirement, that goalie must have received his qualifying offer prior to the submission of the club’s protected list
Players with a potential career-ending injury or have missed more than the previous 60 consecutive games may not fall under the requirements and are exempt. Vegas will make their picks by 5 pm ET on the 20th and the results will be revealed on the 21st.
WHO VEGAS CAN PICK:
- Las Vegas must select one player from each team. 30 players in total.
- Vegas must pick 14 forwards, nine defensemen, and three goalies.
- 20 of those players have to be under contract for the 2017-18 season.
- The team cannot buyout any of the players selected in the Draft earlier than the summer following their first season.
All Teams must have their list of protected players submitted by 5:00 pm ET on Saturday, June 17, 2017.
