Expansion Draft: New Jersey's Subban Open for Seattle's Taking

 

The Seattle Kraken have July 17 marked on their calendars.as the deadline looms for every team in the NHL to submit their protected list for the expansion draft. From there the fun begins and the Kraken will announce their roster on July 21. We dive into a couple of players who the New Jersey Devils could be leaving exposed. 

For educational purposes:

• Teams must submit their protected lists to the league by July 17
• Each team must submit a protected list of seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie OR eight skaters and one goalie
• Any player with a no-movement clause must be protected unless the player waives it
• Each team must expose two forwards, one defenseman, and one goalie who are under contract and played at least 40 games this past season or 70 combined games over the last two seasons
• Any player with a career-ending injury is exempt from selection
• All first- and second-year players, as well as unsigned draft picks, are exempt from selection

Devils Players to Watch:

P.K. Subban: The Devils are hoping the Kraken take the bait as Subban has one season left on his deal paying him $9 million. Considering the other options on the team, the fact the expansion team needs to reach the floor of the salary cap, and how Subban only has one year left, this could be a perfect storm. Last season the ESPN analyst recorded 19 points in 44 games. Seattle is going to look to create some buzz and have a personality to market the team, none better than Subban.

Michael McLeod: The former first-round pick was once a highly touted prospect out of the OHL and has never really found his stride with the Devils. He is coming off his best season, where he produced 15 points in 52 games. There's still a ton of potential in this 23-year-old, so if the Kraken don't want to add Subban to their mix, McLeod will be their guy!

Photo credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports