Has there been recent expansion news?Looks like Merilainen will be gone via expansion draft. Ullmark has a full NMC.
NHL told the NHLPA to expect it, but no timetable yet. Looks like it’s Houston and Atlanta. Atlanta hasn’t broken ground on their arena yet so that’s probably like 2-3 years away.Has there been recent expansion news?
depending on when the draft is we probably have to go 7-3-1Looks like Merilainen will be gone via expansion draft. Ullmark has a full NMC.
Would they not be able to make Sogaard available instead?Looks like Merilainen will be gone via expansion draft. Ullmark has a full NMC.
Last two expansion drafts you were only allowed to protect one goalie, and since Ullmark has a full NMC, presumably that forces us to protect him.Would they not be able to make Sogaard available instead?
depending on when the draft is we probably have to go 7-3-1
stutzle, tkachuk, pinto, grieg, zetterlund, cozens, batherson
sanderson-chabot-zub (yak should be exempt if its the same rules)
ullmark
merilainen and kleven are going to be available...
just great smh
yah .. i just read we have to expose one goalie but I guess that is at least one.Last two expansion drafts you were only allowed to protect one goalie, and since Ullmark has a full NMC, presumably that forces us to protect him.
There was talk about some NMC not having language that prevented a claim from the expansion draft last time around, Erik Johnson I think was one of themI wonder if any team has tried to add language to a player's NMC to say it doesn't apply to a transfer by way of expansion draft. Basically, a modified no-move, where it only applies to waivers, minors and trades.
Depends on when the expansion draft is because both Chabot and zub have protection clausesThe league doesn't give a crap how much the product is watered down if it means getting those sweet expansion fees.
Anything to boost league revenue they are in favour of. Soon there will be ads all over jerseys and equipment. Helmets are just the start.
Salary cap will keep going up and before long we'll be unable to spend right to the cap and compete with rich U.S teams.
Considering age and contract status, we'd likely protect Kleven over Zub or Chabot.
But Merilainen could be a goner if he continues his strong play.
M-NTCs are not NMCs and do not offer protection from being exposed to expansionDepends on when the expansion draft is because both Chabot and zub have protection clauses
There was talk about some NMC not having language that prevented a claim from the expansion draft last time around, Erik Johnson I think was one of them
Edit, that said I think the more likely scenario is player agents ensuring the NMC is air tight
If Ullman is such a team player, he should waive his NMC so we can protect Merilainen, and most likely with his contract he won't be picked up anyway. So we get to keep both.If the expansion team is in Houston, it wouldn't shock me if Ullmark would be willing to waive to keep the tandem together. All we would have to do is tell him that if we lose Merilainen, he might have to play more than 35 games, and he would rush to phone his agent.
His NMC would travel with him, so they wouldn't be able to flip him. They could only select him if they wanted to make him their Marc-Andre Fleury. There is also no guarantee he is selected. If it happens in the 2026 offseason, he will have 3 year remaining at 8.25M, and so far this season he has been up and down, partly due to injuries.
It is too early to say which D we would expose. There would be a lot of different factors, like how Kleven develops, how Chabot is playing, and whether Zub is expected to re-sign or if they want to cut bait due to how injury prone he seems to be. If expansion takes place the 2026 offseason, Yak will be exempt. Jensen will be a 37 year old UFA.
On forward, if there are rumblings about expansion, maybe that pushes a 1 year contract for Giroux instead of 2. A 2 year deal doesn't help anybody because either Giroux gets a NMC and it eats up a protection spot, or he doesn't get one and he risks getting selected if he is exposed. Even if that risk isn't high, it's still there. If Giroux doesn't need to be protected, we can be pretty comfortable with 7 protection spots at forward.
Ullmark (NMC - Protected)
Merilainen (Exposed)
*Unless Ullmark waives to keep the tandem together/possibly move to a no tax state.
Sanderson (Protected)
One of Chabot, Zub, or Kleven exposed.
Jensen UFA
Mantinpalo, whatever.
Yak, exempt.
Brady, Greig, Pinto, Stutzle, Batherson, Zetterlund, and Cozens protected.
Perron+Giroux UFAs
Amadio exposed.
In an optimal scenario, we'd have something like an injury prone Zub with 1 year left, Amadio with 1 year left, or Ullmark with a NMC and a large contract. Worst case is probably that we lose Merilainen.
Also it’s Houston over OttawaIf Ullman is such a team player, he should waive his NMC so we can protect Merilainen, and most likely with his contract he won't be picked up anyway. So we get to keep both.
I think this owner will trade players rather than lose them for nothing. We could trade Zub or Merilainen in a package to a team that can protect them, in exchange for a better F that team would lose. Then we just expose Zetterlund instead.depending on when the draft is we probably have to go 7-3-1
stutzle, tkachuk, pinto, grieg, zetterlund, cozens, batherson
sanderson-chabot-zub (yak should be exempt if its the same rules)
ullmark
merilainen and kleven are going to be available...
just great smh
If Ullman is such a team player, he should waive his NMC so we can protect Merilainen, and most likely with his contract he won't be picked up anyway. So we get to keep both.
I think this owner will trade players rather than lose them for nothing. We could trade Zub or Merilainen in a package to a team that can protect them, in exchange for a better F that team would lose. Then we just expose Zetterlund instead.
However, I suspect one of Chabot or Zub won't be here in 2 years either way.