Canucks leave Sbisa, Gaunce exposed for Vegas in expansion draft

Jun 18 2017, 12:09 pm

The lists have finally been revealed!

After months of speculation, the protected lists from 30 NHL teams have been announced. Players left exposed (players with two years of pro hockey experience or less are exempt) are available for the Vegas Golden Knights to take in the expansion draft on Wednesday (5 pm PT, during the NHL Awards).

Most teams chose to protect seven forwards, three defencemen, and one goalie. Other teams chose the secondary option of protecting eight skaters (forwards/defencemen) and one goalie. Players with no-movement clauses had to be protected unless the player chose to waive it.

The Golden Knights must take one player from every team, and must take at least 14 forwards, nine defencemen, and three goalies. Of their 30 players, a minimum of 20 of them must be under contract next season.

The Canucks did the expected, which included protecting Brandon Sutter and his $4.375 million cap hit. That also means that (among others), Luca Sbisa and Brendan Gaunce were left exposed.

Protected:

  • Henrik Sedin (F)
  • Daniel Sedin (F)
  • Loui Eriksson (F)
  • Bo Horvat (F)
  • Sven Baertschi (F)
  • Markus Granlund (F)
  • Brandon Sutter (F)
  • Chris Tanev (D)
  • Alex Edler (D)
  • Erik Gudbranson (D)
  • Jacob Markstrom (G)

Exposed:

  • Brendan Gaunce (F)
  • Derek Dorsett (F)
  • Jayson Megna (F)
  • Reid Boucher (F)
  • Michael Chaput (F)
  • Joseph Cramarossa (F)
  • Drew Shore (F)
  • Michael Zalewski (F)
  • Philip Larsen (D)
  • Tom Nilsson (D)
  • Luca Sbisa (D)
  • Alex Biega (D)
  • Andrey Pedan (D)
  • Richard Bachman (G)

The Golden Knights will also have until Wednesday to sign any pending unrestricted free agents to a contract. Should they choose to do that, it will count as an expansion draft selection.

Unrestricted free agents:

  • Anton Rodin (F)
  • Jack Skille (F)
  • Alexandre Grenier (F)
  • Borna Rendulic (F)
  • Ryan Miller (G)

Now that the lists have been released, let the speculation intensify. Who will Vegas take?

It looks like the smart money is on either forward Brendan Gaunce or defenceman Luca Sbisa to be Vegas-bound.

Gaunce, given his age (23) and pedigree (a former first round pick) should interest Golden Knights GM George McPhee. He’s a restricted free agent though, and McPhee is only allowed to select 10 RFAs. He also has the distinction of scoring zero goals in 2016-17.

Luca Sbisa is also a possibility. The most accomplished player left exposed by GM Jim Benning, Sbisa (27) has one year left on a contract that carries a $3.6 million cap hit.

Other long shot possibilities for Vegas include selecting Derek Dorsett or Reid Boucher, or signing Ryan Miller to a contract.

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