Protection lists are in for NHL expansion draft

After backstopping the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup final, Carey Price has been left unprotected for the Seattle Kraken expansion draft.

Price could become the face of the NHL’s 32nd franchise if general manager Ron Francis and his staff decide to take on one of the biggest contracts in hockey. Price agreed to waive a clause in his contract to be exposed so Montreal could protect cheaper backup Jake Allen. Price’s goaltending ability, office marketability and ties to the Pacific Northwest could make him an attractive option even with a salary cap hit of $10.5 million US for five more years.

The 2015 MVP and Vezina Trophy winner is the biggest star left unprotected for the Kraken to select, but there’s plenty of other talent available.

St. Louis winger Vladimir

Tarasenko is an option two years removed from hoisting the Stanley Cup after asking the Blues for a trade. Calgary exposed captain and 2019 Norris Trophy-winning defenceman Mark Giordano.

The league released the protected lists of all 30 teams eligible for the expansion draft Sunday. Seattle will pick one player from everyone except Las Vegas — which just went through this process in 2017 — and announce those selections at the expansion draft on Wednesday.

Price is the most intriguing possible for Seattle, and the location likely helped convince the soon-to-be 34-year-old to waive his no-movement clause to be exposed. He played for the Western Hockey League’s Tri-City Americans a few hours drive away, and his wife, Angela, is from Kennewick, Washington.

The back-to-back champion

Lightning have easily the deepest pool of available players. Top-line winger Ondrej Palat, longtime forward Alex Killorn, third-line centre Yanni Gourde and young defenceman Cal Foote are all exposed. Squeezed by the cap that’s remaining flat at $81.5 million, they could also work out a side deal with the Kraken to take Spokane native Tyler Johnson and his $5 million price tag for three more seasons.