Quoting: AllCaps_BestTeam
Seattle options as of right now for goaltender: Jake Allen; Cam Talbot; Chris Driedger (UFA); Linus Ullmark (UFA); Holtby; Frederick Anderson; Anthon Khudobin; Adin Hill (who I have read has a very high ceiling). I am no hockey expert, but to me, I would think Schultz would be more enticing than Vanacek.
Great question: torn on this one. I think the final spot comes down to Dillon, Schultz, or Jensen (not likely). If it was a guarantee Seattle would take either Dillon or Schultz, I would say expose Dillon. But I think Schultz is more enticing (offensive puck moving RHD with great experience). So predicting Schultz.
"Nothing more than bottom-6 forwards" - that is a very odd statement. Sheary was a top 6 guy in Pitt (played with Crosby) and then was spent time on 1-3 lines for the Caps this year. Sprong took over first line duties when Ovi was out (and crushed it). Both Sheary and Sprong were on track for 20+ goals (in a regular 82-game season). Sheary - 21 goals ; Sprong - 25 goals.
Seattle HAS to take three goalies in the XD, so that removes UFAs Driedger, Ullmark and Andersen, and besides, there is no guarantee that Seattle will be able to sign any of them. That leaves Allen, Khudobin, and the Minnesota and Arizona duos on your list -- exactly the same guys I identified, and no more. And as I said before, Allen and Khudobin, while excellent backups, don't have the upside remaining to think that they will be future number ones. So I think Vanacek, who along with Hill is the only potentially available goalie who DOES have number one potential left, becomes Seattle's choice from the Caps by default.
I doubt that Dillon would appeal to Seattle more than Vanecek because if there's one thing this expansion-draft pool is full of, it's veteran LDs. I think Washington protects Schultz for just that reason.
I don't think Sheary or Sprong is likely to make anyone forget Marchsseault and Smith. They've both bounced around enough that I think they've reached their maximum level of development -- particularly 29-year-old Sheary.