Gabe Vilardi Postgame The NHL is always considering expansion to new cities and markets, and one of the key tasks for existing teams like the Winnipeg Jets is to put together a list of protected players. This list is made up of seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goaltender, or eight skaters and one goaltender. Many different factors play into who should be kept under protection and who should be let go. We look to give our best estimate as to which players Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and the rest of management will decide to protect. Players with no-movement clauses must be protected unless they waive the clause and teams must expose at least one defenseman and two forwards under contract who have played a minimum number of games in recent seasons, and one goaltender under contract or who is a restricted free agent. First and second-year players, as well as unsigned draft choices, are also exempt from being unprotected. With all that in mind, here are eight skaters and one goaltender that should be kept by Cheveldayoff and management if an expansion draft was to happen. Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrisey, Connor Hellebuyck Three of the Jets' core four (excluding Kyle Connor) have outright no-move clauses which would leave them protected in the event of an expansion draft. Scheifele, Morrisey and Hellebuyck have all played a part in the Jets' recent run of success and would make them highly unlikely to be unprotected regardless of their no-move clause. Kyle Connor This one is a no-brainer as Connor is one of the Jets' best players in years and would be the team’s top priority to keep around. He’s been the team’s top leader in goals (176) and points (357) since the start of the 2019-20 season. He has a modified no-move clause that should also keep him on the team. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w9gxbGlhBA[/embed] Nikolaj Ehlers, Neal Pionk, Dylan DeMelo This trio doesn't have the luxury of a full move clause but they do all have modified no trade clauses that should keep them with the team in the case of an expansion draft. Ehlers is a high-valued asset for the team and would be better off traded for a solid returning package rather than leaving him available to be scooped up for free. Pionk and DeMelo should also be kept as the Jets organization has been one of the leagues best defensive teams for some time now and it starts with their top pairing of Morrisey and DeMelo. Pionk has also proven himself to be a more than useful second pairing option that gives the Jets a constant advantage on the backend. Gabriel Vilardi, Adam Lowry Vilardi has a high ceiling in terms of his potential as he is a young 24 years old and has continued to get better and better. The Kingston, ON native walks into next season with a favourable $3.44 cap hit and a projected first line placement alongside stars Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiInCFlT11g[/embed] He would be a priority for the team to keep protected as he is coming off a decent season, where he posted 22 goals and 14 assists for 36 points in only 47 games due to injury. Lowry is the one skater that could be exchanged for another forward like Nino Niederreiter or Mason Appleton but the Jets will most certainly be loyal to their new captain and keep him on the team to avoid more quarrels in the locker room. Lowry is also a decent point producer compared to other talked about forwards for the final skater spot and would make it a relatively easy choice as to not dispense your captain for almost the same quality of player.
