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NHL Expansion Draft Potential Strategies for the Central Division

By Trin Potratz

Dec 20, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) makes a save during the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Avalanche 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) makes a save during the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Avalanche 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) makes a save during the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Avalanche 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) makes a save during the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Avalanche 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

COLORADO AVALANCHE

The Avalanche will be undergoing a facelift in the off season when they likely move out one of or both of Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog. Either way, the club will protect those players to ensure they get a quality return. With the Avalanche needing to protect Erik Johnson and veteran Francois Beauchemin due to their NMC’s, the Avalanche decide to protect in the 8-1 format so they can protect four defensemen.

Up front, Duchene and Landeskog are definitely protected as well as superstar centre Nate MacKinnon. The Avalanche will protect one of Matt Nieto, Felix Girard, Carl Soderberg or Sven Andrighetto. Considering Nieto’s play since being claimed on waivers, he is my pick. The Avs hope Vegas takes a big contract of their hands exposing Carl Soderberg, Joe Colborne, Blake Comeau and Mikhail Grigorenko.

On the blueline Erik Johnson and Francois Beauchemin are protected, and that attributes to the group protecting four defensemen. Tyson Barrie‘s offensive dominance keeps him on the protect list and the club also protects Nikita Zadorov.

The goalies will be an interesting decision and Calvin Pickard‘s potential is worth more to the Avalanche then the often injured Semyon Varlamov.

PROTECTED: Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog, Nate MacKinnon, Matt Nieto, Tyson Barrie, Erik Johnson, Francois Beauchemin, Nikita Zadorov, Calvin Pickard

NOTABLE EXPOSED: Carl Soderberg, Joe Colborne, Blake Comeau, Mikhaeil Grigorenko, Rocco Grimaldi, Sven Andrighetto, Felix Girard, Eric Gélinas, Duncan Siemens, Patrick Wiercioch, Semyon Varlamov

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