We have some salary to shed. If Gardiner is moved then Nino becomes the apparent expansion draft exposure.
F: Svech, Staal, Aho, Turbo, Foegele, Trocheck?, new top 6
D: Slavin, Pesce, Skjei
G: Ned?
Or do we go 4 and 4 and protect one of Fleury/ Bean and Foegele, Trocheck, etc are exposed?
Either way, our best best for improving the top 6 may be a guy with one year left on his deal or a 1 year UFA deal.
Goalie is a little more tenuous as they can be expensive and don’t always pan out (Bobrovsky). I think our goalie situation has a much to do with our system as it does the goalie talent level. Our system would require a top 5 goalie to steal games as we as si aggressive. Those aren’t typically available in UFA or trade.
- gocanes0506
I think for the expansion draft, it depends on what moves are made in the next year and it may too early to predict because I'd bet more moves will be made. If Carolina doesn't add another top-six forward, maybe they go the 4 and 4 route. Also matters if they re-sign Hamilton (which I imagine is a priority). If Hamilton wasn't back, I can't imagine them doing 4 and 4. If Hamilton is re-signed and a top-six forward isn't added, this would be mine:
F: Aho, Svechnikov, Teravainen, Trocheck
D: Hamilton, Slavin, Pesce, Skjei
G: Hopefully a new starter
I see them likely losing either Foegele, Fleury or Bean