Rakell, Lundeström, Terry. The fourth one would probably be Steel or Jones. Steel didn't look too good this year, but I have a hard time seeing Jones ever be anything more than a bottom sixer. He does have size, though, and that's something this team does need.
I agree with the three forwards, but that fourth is pretty much up in the air. I don't think Steel is worth protecting. Then it comes down to Jones or Rico. Rico has a lot more value to any team seeing that he plays center and can score. On a team that cannot score, it would be prudent if we retained Rico. Of course, protecting Rico all depends on how the relationship between Rico, Eakins, and the front office concluded at the end of the season.
I watched Rico's exit interview. Most of the things he said sounds like a typical answer for a person in his situation, but one thing that did catch me off guard was that when he signed his five year extension that he knew he'd be a part of a rebuild. (He and Silf, since they both signed extensions in the same year.) Then he mentioned the problem with him was mental due and eventually cited COVID. Here's the odd thing, two seasons ago Rico was our top goal scorer (26) and notched the most points (43) on the team. Silf was the second highest goal scorer with 21 goals. Both of those players had down years last year, with Rico turning it around after getting waived. COVID did mess with the typical off-season and such. It may be possible that Rico just needed a wakeup call after all that COVID stuff. Each person reacts differently to COVID. Personally in my fam, it really got to one in a bad, bad way mentally. I think Rico can turn things around with the possibility of the schedule returning to the norm.
Who would have thought that we would be protecting 4 defenseman due to Fleury's blossoming in 12 games to put the team in an interesting situation. I watched The Hockey Guy on youtube and he went through 10 items that Seattle would like to replicate the Vegas success. The top two factors of success was 1. goalie (MA Fleury) and 2. D Shea Theodore. I don't know if Anaheim wants to lose yet another young defenseman with potential to be more again. We go from protecting 7F, 3D, and 1 goalie (10 skaters total) to 8 skaters and 1 goalie. We really don't have a lot of talented forwards to protect is blessing and a curse.
Who will be the fourth forward to protect? A part of me hopes GM Murray doesn't protect Silf, but Silf being an assistant captain might be the most important reason to GM Murray. Maybe we swing a deal where Seattle drafts D Shattenkirk and trade G Stolarz to them after the XD?