Habs News: NHL Seattle Expansion Draft, Montreal Canadiens Protection List, Carey Price, Shea Weber, Phillip Danault, Jonathan Drouin, Marc Bergevin

ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | LAVAL, QC. — The Canadiens put their fans through a rollercoaster of emotions throughout their playoff that brought them to an unexpected appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.

After the Habs announced it’s protection list for this Wednesday’s expansion draft, it’s safe to say that Habs fans will be stressed until Seattle’s selections are unveiled.

Montreal selected the format of protecting seven forwards, three defencemen, and one goalie, instead of protecting eight skaters, and one goalie which they had committed to just a short time ago.

The official list published on Sunday had two major differences compared to my final projection. Let’s try to make sense of it all.

Goalies

Protected: Jake Allen

Available: Carey Price, Michael McNiven, Charlie Lindgren (UFA)

The goaltending choice for protection was thought to be a no-brainer following Carey Price‘s performance in the post season, as the team’s best player. In addition, Price’s contract contains a no movement clause that requires the goaltender to waive for a transaction.

On Saturday, the Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli initially reported that there was discussions between the Canadiens and Price to waive his clause in order to make him available to the Kraken. My first reaction to that tweet was laughter, thinking that I was fooled from a parody account. I was shocked when I saw the blue checkmark on the profile. Other  reports confirmed that the news was real.

On Sunday, Seravalli reported that Price could miss a portion of the 2021-22 season with a hip injury that may require surgery. The Canadiens goaltender will visit a specialist and more information on the injury will be known after Seattle’s deadline to submit their selections. Seravalli also reported that a lingering knee issue may also require attention.

According to the report, sources have claimed that Price volunteered to waive his no movement clause. It is believed that Price did not want the Kraken to select Jake Allen, and leave the Canadiens in a bad position to begin the season.

Marc Bergevin is hoping that Price’s uncertain health status, in combination with his contract will be a deterrent from being selected. Regardless, it’s far from a slam dunk that Kraken general manager Ron Francis will pass up on this opportunity.

Angela Price posted on her social media, that the situation will make sense soon. Seravalli’s additional information provided on Sunday made things a little clearer than they were when the list was originally published.

Message from Angela Price on Instagram. @AllHabs @RocketSports #GoHabsGo https://t.co/5VeGfSMsjn

— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) July 18, 2021

Defencemen

Protected: Ben Chiarot, Jeff Petry, Joel Edmundson

Available: Shea Weber, Brett Kulak, Erik Gustafsson (UFA), Jon Merrill (UFA), Cale Fleury, Xavier Ouellet, Gustav Olofsson

The second major difference to my projected list was Shea Weber‘s name in the available column instead of protected. Weber had an important role in the Canadiens post season averaging 25:13 of time. He would consistently face the opposition’s best players, assigned on the team’s power play, and first penalty kill unit.

The difference in Weber’s situation is that the Canadiens made sure that the information was out in the public before Sunday’s list. If the captain’s cap hit of nearly $7.9 million for the next five seasons doesn’t turn off the Kraken, the uncertainty around his health and his future in hockey will make them look past his name.

The embraces teammates gave Weber on the ice as the Lightning celebrated the Cup victory takes on a different meaning. The players have said that Weber did not share any details of his injuries but they may have felt that their captain’s future was uncertain.

When Ben Chiarot was asked about the expansion draft on media day, he answered that he wasn’t worried about it. He knew that his general manager was intending to protect four defencemen using the eight players plus one goaltender option. That all changed when Marc Bergevin received Weber’s medical report last Wednesday.

My colleagues Joseph Whalen and Rick Stephens discussed the impact of Weber’s loss on and off the ice for Montreal during the Canadiens Connection podcast, that is linked at the end of the column.

If Seattle is looking to nab a defenceman from Montreal, Cale Fleury would be the best candidate. He played 22 games for the Rocket last year, after missing time due to injury. In 2019-20, Fleury played 41 games with the Canadiens and looked comfortable in the role of sixth defenceman.

Forwards

Protected: Joel Armia, Josh Anderson, Tyler Toffoli, Brendan Gallagher, Artturi Lehkonen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jake Evans

Available UFAs: Tomas Tatar, Philip Danault, Eric Staal, Michael Frolik, Corey Perry, Jordan Weal, Charles Hudon

Available: Jonathan Drouin, Paul Byron, Michael Pezzetta, Joseph Blandisi, Laurent Dauphin, Lukas Vejdemo, Brandon Baddock

There was no surprise in the protected forwards. Jonathan Drouin and Paul Byron had to be exposed in order to meet the minimum requirements regarding players exposed for selection in the draft.

As a result, Bergevin had to protect one unrestricted free agent (UFA). The final decision was to protect Joel Armia. In the playoffs, Armia collected five goals and eight points playing primarily with Eric Staal and Corey Perry.

My mock protection last week had Phillip Danault slotted instead of Armia. All indications are pointing that Danault will sign with another team during the off-season. He placed his home in the Greater Montreal for sale, and according to Journal de Montreal newspaper the centre is looking for a contract that will pay him $5.5-million annually for a five or six year term.

The list isn’t appealing if the Kraken are looking for a forward to select from Montreal. If Drouin is ready to return in October, and looking for a new beginning with another organization, Bergevin can entertain sending some assets to Francis to convince him to select the forward.

Canadiens Connection podcast

Current Habs topics were discussed on this week’s episode of the Canadiens Connection. Listen, share and subscribe!

By Chris G., Senior Writer
All Habs Hockey Magazine
Copyright © 2021 Rocket Sports

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