Just don't give LGD an extension til after the draft, SEA might take him, but there's a decent chance he just walks to FA and immediately signs back in DET (i know nothing about his relationship with the team, guessing it's somewhat good though)

If Lindstrom shows he can play in the NHL maybe but more likely I hope we add a legit top 4 dman to the team in the offseason. Plus dekeyser having a strong season next year could effect things.

That is a good point. Also now thinking Seattle might not be keen to take a pending UFA anyway. Ehn could be the guy who's plucked, which I wouldn't lose sleep over.

I’m guessing there’s a move for a goalie worth protecting and possibly a dman and probably some forwards with some gambling that sea can only take one. Other teams will be in worst shape that yzerman will take advantage of

Not so sure Zadina will be exempt. He'll be close to over 2 years of professional hockey and might have to be protected

Instead of not being sure. Perhaps you should research and find out the answer. That he is exempt.

I'm sure Yzerman will be actively looking at teams who are in a position to lose valuable players for nothing, and will be looking to take advantage of these teams with trades to find valuable pieces for cheap.

Don't gotta be a dick about it. Do you have a source? Cause right now without looking I know he has to be under 2 professional seasons played (AHL and NHL). He's already at 115 games total. If he plays the rest of this season (31 games) plus all of next season (82 games), that puts him at 228 professional games. Making him have to be protected

Zadina is currently still on the 1st year of his entry level deal. As he only played 9 games last season, his first year carried over to this season. If he had of played 10 games last year it would have counted as his first year on his entry level deal. Zadina will still have 1 year left on his ELC when the draft occurs. Players on ELC are exempt from being drafted.

What's your source on that? From NHL.com I got this:

* Clubs will have two options for players they wish to protect in the Expansion Draft:

a) Seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender

b) Eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and one goaltender

* All players who have currently effective and continuing "No Movement" clauses at the time of the Expansion Draft (and who to decline to waive such clauses) must be protected (and will be counted toward their club's applicable protection limits).

* All first- and second-year professionals, as well as all unsigned draft choices, will be exempt from selection (and will not be counted toward their club's applicable protection limits).

But not once are players on ELC's mentioned in the rules. Curious where you're getting this information from.

@Banks can you confirm the bolded part of this quote?

It's literally right there. All first and second year NHL players are exempt. AHL years don't count. So this is Zadina's first year as a NHLer, next year will be his 2nd. Then the draft is that summer, 2021. At that time, Zadina will only have played two seasons in the NHL, therefor he is exempt. I believe the confusion is in "professionals", because technically professional starts when you play in the AHL. On NHL.com were you looking at the one from Vegas' draft? Cause the one I'm looking at was from dec. 4 2018 talking specifically about Seattle, and is identical except from this part:

* All first- and second-year NHL players, and all unsigned draft choices, will be exempt from selection (and will not be counted toward protection limits.

Key word now being "NHL players". He is exempt, I promise you.

AHL seasons do count towards years as a professional

If a player who is signed to an entry-level contract and is 18 or 19 years of age (as of September 15 of the signing year), does not play in a minimum of 10 NHL games (including both regular season and playoffs; AHL games do not count), their contract is considered to ‘slide’, or extend, by one year. When the Seattle expansion draft takes place, Zadina will have played a total of 3 professional years but only two of those years will count due to this CBA loophole. As wingss pointed out, All first- and second-year professionals, as well as all unsigned draft choices, will be exempt from selection. Hence, Zadina does NOT need to be protected.