Busy 1st summer for McPhee - May 28

Will be interesting to see how close I come to actual team.
Only assuming 2 major trades at this point:
- Anaheim moves Vatanen somewhere to protect 7 forwards
- Winnipeg moves Trouba somewhere to protect 7 forwards

Of course there will likely be many more trades before the expansion draft that could change protected players but it's almost impossible to foresee that

Tried to add a couple UFA's based on where they were weak (right wing), but that is also so hard to foresee

Surprised orpik isn't on this team, the caps and McPhee have a really good relationship and McPhee likes orpik, I think we already have a deal worked out to send him there

The Sabres are going to protect carrier.

Probably correct to assume Jets protect 7 forwards, but it would be because Enstrom waives. Regardless, Hutch from the Jets is a terrible pick. You'd take Dano or Copp (whichever isn't protected) all day long.

Halak is another bad pick. Even if the Islanders protect 5 D you'd take Nelson from them.

You can also safely assume that Bieksa will wave/be bought out so that Manson will be protected.

Really a number of head scrtcher picks to me:

- Jack Johnson - Maybe, but you could take Korpisalo and he's waiver exempt for one more season.
- Cracknell instead of Nichuskin from Dallas
- Sceviour instead of a D like Pysyk that you could easily trade
- Dowd instead of Forbort/McNabb from the Kings
- Wideman instead of Methot from the Sens

Just a couple things things I'd do differently.

It'll be interesting to see what Anaheim does now that Vatanen and Hampus are going to start the season on LTIR. Don't know how they're going to do it, but I don't see them letting Manson go and starting the seasons without 3 of their top 4 from this season. As much as I don't want to see him gone, I still see them losing Silfverberg over Manson. Hard to say though.