2017 NHL expansion draft: Tracking the top unprotected players

The NHL will release the protection lists Sunday morning. Until then, we’re seeing news drip in about who will be available to Vegas.

All 30 teams submitted their protection lists for the 2017 NHL expansion draft Saturday, setting the stage for the league to officially unveil them on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. ET.

Unsurprisingly, some of the information is beginning to leak early in reports, so we’re already starting to get an idea of which players will be available to the Vegas Golden Knights for their first roster.

Each team can protect up to 11 players from the Golden Knights, which were detailed in the lists submitted to the league Saturday. Those players, along with anyone who has two or fewer years of NHL/AHL experience, cannot be picked in the expansion draft.

The remaining options will be available to the Golden Knights, who will announce their picks Wednesday at the 2017 NHL Awards Show. It’s not a guarantee they take any of these players, or that the Golden Knights haven’t already made side deals with other teams NOT to take certain players. For example, the Capitals could send assets to the Golden Knights to take someone other than Nate Schmidt.

But with reports trickling in about who is being protected and who isn’t, here’s a running list of prominent players Vegas will be able to get its hands on this week if it wants.

Nate Schmidt, Capitals

Nobody is confirming that Schmidt went unprotected, but the Washington Post is reporting a protection list that doesn’t include him. The Capitals are going with the 7-3-1 format, which means they can only protect Matt Niskanen, John Carlson, and Dmitry Orlov on defense. Schmidt should look good in gold and black (or yield Vegas a nice return for leaving him alone).

Troy Brouwer, Flames

The Flames are already regretting the multi-year contract they signed Brouwer to last summer. It’s been reported that the team did not include him on its protection list, instead using spots on Micheal Ferland, Curtis Lazar, and Sam Bennett. Brouwer, who has a $4.5 million cap hit for the next three seasons, is an unlikely option for the Golden Knights, however.

Xavier Ouellet, Red Wings

Elliotte Friedman is reporting that Ouellet, a 24-year-old defenseman, is not on the Red Wings’ protection list. If the team went the 7-3-1 route, it likely protected veterans Mike Green, Danny DeKeyser, and Niklas Kronwall as its three blue liners. Ouellet was serviceable with three goals and nine assists in 66 games with Detroit in 2016-17.

Brendan Gaunce, Canucks

A 2012 first-round pick, Gaunce has struggled in the NHL with just one goal and five assists in 77 games. He reportedly isn’t being protected as a result, despite the pedigree and good numbers (38 points in 46 games) during his last extended AHL stint in 2015-16.

Toby Enstrom, Jets

It was reported Friday that Enstrom had agreed to waive his no-movement clause to be excluded from the Jets’ protection list. The favor by Enstrom allows Winnipeg to protect Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba and Tyler Myers on defense. Enstrom says he doesn’t want to go to Vegas, and it’s possible they don’t choose him if a good young forward like Marko Dano is available.