If this team stays the same come expansion draft, I would go with: Tkachuk, Batherson, Dadonov, White, C. Brown, Tierney and Paul. L. Brown has been pretty underwhelming and I feel like they may just let him go. They have a lot of prospects coming up soon.

I would imagine the go with:
Tkachuk
Batherson
White
C.Brown
Dadonov
Paul
Tierney.

Unless I'm totally missing someone who needs to be protected, or they make a trade to add someone, they don't have to worry that much. Basically Logan Brown and Vitaly Abramov are the only notable forwards exposed.

The more interesting question to me isn't "which forwards do they expose", but "which Dmen do they protect". They've really only got Chabot who definitely needs to be protected. Beyond that it's Zaitsev who isn't worth protecting, and Josh Brown or Christian Wolanin neither of whom have done anything to warrant protecting. If I was in charge, I would look to see if there are any 4th D who would make sense as trade targets.

i think it's more likely one of tierney or L. brown (possibly white but most likely not him) gets dealt pre-expansion draft, possibly for a D worth protecting or just picks

Unless josh norris is exempt you forgot him

Thats exactly the forwards they should protect, now will they is the real question! I hope your right and they target a D from another team that they are going to need to expose. I think COL would be a perfect team to reach out to with their dearth of D they have (they will have to expose at least three of Johnson, Graves, Girard, Timmins, Toews). I think Seattle will pick a young goalie from OTT, They need to select three in the expansion draft and the Sens have some intriguing young talent for Seattle to pick from (Daccord, Hogberg, and Gustavsson). The other options from Ottawa arent great so why not fill a slot and get their minor goalie with some upside.

Pretty sure they don't have to protect him? Only a 2nd year pro, and won't have the NHL games played requirements to need to be exposed.

I think it will be Logan Brown if he hasn't been traded and he hasn't played his way onto the team (which could definitely happen, especially if he gets a chance if White is out long term). Besides that, I think they consider Abramov and Gustavsson and that's about it. As it stands right now, no way is Ottawa not protecting Joey Daccord. Matt Murray is one year into his deal and he's already looking like a buyout candidate, and Hogberg was no better when healthy. Losing Gus for nothing would sting, so maybe you send him out in a hypothetical trade for a Dman to protect.

You protect gus without hesitation tbh

Love Gus, and I know he's only 22, but no way you're taking him over Daccord. Only thing that has worked at all this season I'm net for Ottawa, and he's just been better than Gus.