Grabner could end up in Vegas

THERE ARE no surprises on the Rangers' list of players protected from this week’s expansion draft for the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Blueshirts opted for the seven-forward, three-defenseman, one-goalie format, as opposed to the eight-skater, onegoalie format.

At forward, they protected Rick Nash (no move) Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, Mats Zuccarello, Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes.

On defense they protected Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal (no move) and Nick Holden. Henrik Lundqvist (no move) was also protected.

Players whose no-move clauses weren’t waived had to be protected. First-and-second-year pros are exempt from the draft, so Brady Skjei, Jimmy Vesey and Pavel Buchnevich did not need to be protected.

Vegas has until 10 a.m. Wednesday to make its selections, which will be revealed that evening. The prime candidates to be taken from the Rangers include Michael Grabner, Oscar Lindberg, Jesper Fast and Antti Raanta.

McPHEE CAN’T WAIT

Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee had difficulty containing his excitement in anticipation of the expansion draft list being released.

And that was before McPhee learned of the high-profile group of players he’ll have to choose from — limited to one from each of the 30 teams — in stocking the Golden Knights roster before submitting his list on Wednesday.

There’s a three-time Stanley Cup champion goalie in Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury available and several 20-plus-goalscorers in Nashville’s James Neal and Minnesota’s Eric Staal. And there are a number of top defensemen exposed such as Anaheim’s Sami Vatanen and Ottawa’s Marc Methot.

The Islanders were the only team that protected five defensemen — Johnny Boychuk, Nick Leddy, Travis Hamonic Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech — leaving forwards Josh Bailey, Brock Nelson and Ryan Strome and defensemen Calvin de Haan and Thomas Hickey available.

— With AP