Expansion Draft Lists A-Plenty

Today's the day that all NHL teams submitted their lists to the NHL for who would stay and who potentially would get a one-way ticket to Las Vegas in the NHL's Expansion Draft on Wednesday. There are certainly some surprises on these lists as I read over who was left unprotected by their teams, but there were also some realizations that players who are older probably aren't on Vegas' radar when it comes to building a team. If one was truly inclined, though, one could make a very good team out of the veterans that have been left unprotected. Today, I tackle that task!

I'll admit that this team might only have a few years of maximum effort. The ages of some of these players means they're in the twilight of their careers, but that doesn't mean they don't have a few serviceable years left. I'll take one player from every team, and I'll fill out my roster with three goaltenders, sixteen forwards, and eleven defencemen.

ANA: Sami Vatanen - defence
ARI: Radim Vrbata - forward
BOS: Adam McQuaid - defence
BUF: Matt Moulson - forward
CAL: Dennis Wideman - defence
CAR: Lee Stempniak - forward
CHI: Brian Campbell - defence
COL: Calvin Pickard - goaltender
CBJ: William Karlsson - forward
DAL: Cody Eakin - forward
DET: Petr Mrazek - goaltender
EDM: Kris Russell - defence
FLA: Reilly Smith - forward
LAK: Teddy Purcell - forward
MIN: Eric Staal - forward
MTL: Charles Hudon - forward
NAS: James Neal - forward
NJD: Mike Cammalleri - forward
NYI: Casey Cizikas - forward
NYR: Michael Grabner - forward
OTT: Fredrik Claesson - defence
PHI: Michael Del Zotto - defence
PIT: Ian Cole - defence
SJS: Brenden Dillon - defence
STL: David Perron - forward
TBL: Slater Koekkoek - defence
TOR: Brendan Leipsic - forward
VAN: Derek Dorsett - forward
WAS: Philipp Grubauer - goaltender
WPG: Toby Enstrom - defence

if you're doing the math, I'm probably pretty close, if not over, the ceiling of the $75 million salary cap set for next season in the NHL. I feel like this team will score, but defence may be a bit of an issue while goaltending features Mrazek, Grubauer, and Pickard - three young netminders who may be the Achilles' heel of this team. I like the scoring depth, but there aren't a lot of players who seem to break out of their one-dimensional style of play.

On Wednesday, we'll see who the Golden Knights choose for their team, and I have a feeling there will be a number of younger players taken so that the Knights grow as they move forward. There will be trades made as some teams will want to protect those they couldn't fit under the protected roster, so I imagine there will be multiple picks sent to Vegas to give them an incredible draft class this year.

George McPhee's going to have a big night on Wednesday.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!