NHL Expansion Draft Strategy: Atlantic Division
By Trin Potratz
BUFFALO SABRES
The Buffalo Sabres will likely find themselves out of the playoff picture again this year, but they have a good foundation to take a run next year, and they won’t lose an important part of their group.
The Sabres will go with the 7-3-1 format and that should allow them to keep most of their good players. Up front I have the Sabres certainly protecting Ryan O’Reilly, Kyle Okposo, Evander Kane, Marcus Foligno and Tyler Ennis. William Carrier is young and has potential so he also gets protected. The final forward will come down to Zemgus Girgensons and Johan Larsson. Larsson has been a good two-way player so he has more value then Girgensons.
On the blueline, the only obvious protection is that of Rasmus Ristolainen. I have the Sabres also protecting the underrated Jake McCabe. The final protected d-man comes down to the overpriced Zach Bogosian, the struggling Josh Gorges and one of unrestricted Cody Franson and Dmitry Kulikov. Regardless of Bogosian’s price, he is the most likely to make an impact the next few seasons.
In net, the Sabres risk losing surprising backup Anders Nilsson and prospect Linus Ullmark in favour of starter Robin Lehner.
PROTECTED: Ryan O’Reilly, Kyle Okposo, Evander Kane, Marcus Foligno, Tyler Ennis, William Carrier, Johan Larsson, Rasmus Ristolainen, Zach Bogosian, Jake McCabe, Robin Lehner
NOTABLE EXPOSED: Matt Moulson, Zemgus Girgensons, Nicolas Deslauriers, Derek Grant, Dmitry Kulikov, Josh Gorges, Justin Falk, Anders Nilsson, Linus Ullmark