Drouin unprotected in SEA exp-draft

Team: 2020-21 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 2, 2021

Published: Apr. 2, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I think it’s possible Bergy goes for the 8-1 option instead of the 7-3-1 option.

In the 8-1 option, I’d protect
Forwards: Gallagher, Anderson, Toffoli, Kotkaniemi
Defence: Weber, Petry, Edmundson, Chiarot
Goalie: Price

Available:
Forwards: Drouin, Byron, Evans
Defence: Kulak
Goalie: Allen

In the 7-3-1 scenario, he currently can’t make enough forwards available unless he protects RFA’s or UFA’s, and he’d expose Chiarot too.

I think it could be a game of poker, where Bergy leaves 2 yrs and 5.5M/yr of Drouin exposed in the draft thinking SEA wouldn’t touch that.

Regardless of the opinion, I don’t think the Habs lose a forward in the draft. I think Jake Allen could be the best goalie available in the draft, and I think Kulak could play himself into an opportunity in Seattle if he keeps playing well.

Drouin needs players to make plays for him, and I don’t think SEA will find players to make him look good. And should Drouin end up in SEA and not be able to perform, it would be a bad to have a 5.5M$ contract not producing points, and he wouldn’t be tradeable to another team should they wish to continue rebuilding by flipping assets for pros/picks.