Jeff Paul: Making the Case for Three Free Agent Returnees The Vegas Golden Knights have a few contracts expiring at the end of the 2019-20 season. Three players in particular, must return.

I'm curious. What if the Knights sign Lehner and then expose Fleury in the expansion draft (for the new Seattle franchise)? Seattle might not want to take a 35 year old goalie with a salary of $7mil locked up for two years. Or, is Fleury not eligible to go on the list because of a limited no-trade clause?

My understanding is that NMC's are not exposable at all.

Fluery is not going anywhere I think. Lehner, to me, was insurance for a cup run this year. He will easily get his money in the offseason. Rumor is Chicago was going to pay the $$, but not the term. I think Lehner will be over $7m, and be looking for a #1 position only.

An NMC can be exposed if the player waives it. No different than a trade scenario. Did Fleury have a limited NTC on his last deal?

The Golden Knights are exempt from the Seattle expansion draft.

^Bingo^

They are very lucky to be exempt from the expansion. By now, they're well integrated and should have had time to plan. Maybe it's confirmation bias since they panned out quite well.