Defending Stanley Cup champions reveal protection list for Wednesday's expansion draft
The 2020-21 Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning have released their protection list ahead of next week's Seattle Kraken expansion draft. Although there aren't any real big surprises, they were forced to leave several key players unprotected that the Kraken could select this coming Wednesday. The Lightning decided to go with the eight skaters and one goaltender route, so let's take a look at their list.
Forwards (4): Anthony Cirelli, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos.
Defencemen (4): Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, Ryan McDonagh, Erik Cernak.
Goaltender (1): Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The Lightning left Yanni Gourde, Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, Mathieu Joseph, and Jan Rutta exposed. Tampa is looking to shed salary before next season begins, so they're probably hoping that the Kraken will take a long look and potentially take Tyler Johnson off their hands.
Official #TBLightning protection list (4-4-1)
Protected: Cirelli, Kucherov, Point, Stamkos, Cernak, Hedman, McDonagh, Sergachev, Vasilevskiy.
Available: Gourde, Palat, Johnson, Killorn, Joseph, Rutta.� Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 18, 2021
MUST READ
![Feb 12, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Mitch Marner (16) looks on against Team Sweden in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531990.webp "Feb 12, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Mitch Marner (16) looks on against Team Sweden in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
TRENDING NOW
