Arizona Coyotes: Expansion Draft Protected Players

How The Projected Expansion Draft Will Affect Arizona Coyotes Roster

Since the NHL announced plans to expand, and accepted expansion applications from Las Vegas and Quebec, Howlin’ Hockey thought a hypothetical expansion draft would be fun to do. Evaluations of players on the roster at that time will determine who stays and who leaves to a new team.

Of course, it’s still a couple years away before the projected NHL expansion draft will need to take place, but let’s look into the crystal ball and see who the Arizona Coyotes would protect, or not protect.

Forwards:

Safe: Mikkel Boedker, Martin Hanzal, Brendan Perlini Tobias Rieder, Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Henrik Samuelsson

Borderline: Kyle Chipchura, Boyd Gordon, Joe Vitale

Gone: John Scott, Steve Downie, Antione Vermette

The possible candidates who are safe on this list will change by the time the expansion draft happens. The team really needs to protect the young gun prospects so they are not stripped from the roster. Players like Domi, Duclair, Perlini, Dauphin, Dvorak are the future of this team.

So, if Hanzal, Vermette, Boedker are gone these talented prolific prospects can step right in and take their place. The only one who will probable be gone by then will be Vermette, since he will be 36 years old, and may not be useful to the team any longer. Hanzal and Boedker may still be here, but may seek greener pastures depending on the Arizona Coyotes lease arrangement.

Defensemen:

Safe: Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Connor Murphy, Klas Dahlbeck, Michael Stone/Philip Samuelsson

Borderline: Nicklas Grossmann, Brandon Gormley

Gone: Zbynek Michalek

Of course, the ONE player who will have the SAFEST spot will be the All-Star defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. He proved the last couple seasons, especially last season that HE IS THE FRANCHISE. His offensive skills are exceptional, and he may need to tighten up his defense a bit, but if he has a defensive partner who is a stay-at-home style D-man he will be fine.

Connor Murphy is coming in to his own as a solid, big, hard-hitting blue-liner who can only improve with time. He may need to get into the offense a bit more, since his shot from the point is not half bad.

Klas Dahlbeck is in the same boat as Murphy, ready to show the NHL what he’s got, and in a couple years should mature enough to allow the Arizona Coyotes to think twice about not protecting him in the expansion draft.

Michael Stone and Philip Samuelsson are interchangeable, except that Stone is a right-hand shot. Samuelsson will develop into a decent defenseman with some offensive skills to add to this resume. Stone may be gone by then, but has been a reliable force alongside OEL.

Nicklas Grossmann will be on the bubble, unless he shows that he belongs for more than his size. If he uses his size to his advantage, and can increase his speed, he may be protected, otherwise he may be gone.

Brandon Gormley has been up and down so much from the AHL, that he may be able to cash in his frequent flyer miles soon. He needs to show the Arizona Coyotes why they selected him 13th overall in the 2010 Entry Draft. So far, that hasn’t happened, and if it doesn’t he will be a good candidate to be traded.

Zbynek Michalek, like Vermette will be about 35 by the expansion draft, and because he has suffered from head injuries lately, it is doubtful he will push his career much longer and risk a permanent injury. Good defenseman, but his time will be up in several years.

Dec 22, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Arizona Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith (41) enters the ice for the start of the first period against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Goalies:

Safe: Mike Smith

Borderline: Louis Domingue (if he re-signs), Aidin Hill

Gone: Mike Smith (if he has another horrible season)

The goalie situation has been as unpredictable as reasonably possible. Last season’s debacle cannot happen again. Granted the defense was horrible too, but Smitty was just not himself. What adds insult to injury is that Sean Burke is no longer the goalie coach, and so far no replacement has been named. It will be interesting to see if Smith is affected negatively without Burke there to guide him along.

Smith did improve in the IIHG Championships, and now we will all see if it is enough to bring him back to the level of play expected of him. If he fails, the Arizona Coyotes will fail. If he can play to his skill level, the team will show improvement.

The only question is… if he fails, what will the team do then about his status on the roster?

How The Projected Expansion Draft Will Affect Arizona Coyotes Roster

Forwards:

More from Howlin' Hockey