A look at the Winnipeg Jets protected list ahead of the Seattle Expansion Draft

The following Jets won’t be trading in the Canadian Prairies for the Pacific Northwest anytime soon (as a member of the newest NHL team at least) as it was revealed this morning that Winnipeg will be protecting the following 11 players from selection by the Kraken in the upcoming Expansion Draft.

Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)

Forwards (7):
Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, Adam Lowry, Pierre-Luc Dubois & Andrew Copp.

Defencemen (3):
Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk & Logan Stanley

Goalie (1):
Connor Hellebuyck.

This means the following players are available to be picked by the Kraken from the Jets:

Unprotected (under contract):
Mason Appleton, Jansen Harkins, Dominic Toninato, Dylan DeMelo, Sami Niku, Nathan Beaulieu, CJ Suess, Nelson Nogier, Arvid Holm & Mikhail Berdin

Unprotected RFAs:
Marko Dano, Skyler McKenzie, Cole Kehler.

Unprotected UFAs:
Nate Thompson, Mathieu Perreault, Trevor Lewis, Paul Stastny, Jordie Benn, Derek Forbort, Tucker Poolman, Luke Green, Laurent Brossoit & Eric Comrie.

Which begs the question is there a side deal between Winnipeg and Seattle to protect Dylan Demelo?  If not the Jets are going to be very weak on their right side of the blueline.

Reminder to join us on Wednesday, July 21st for a special edition of the Illegal Curve Hockey Show.