This is the Expansion preview. Rosters as of Dec 20^th, 2016^th.  Keep in mind that I didn’t go into depth on prospects that are playing in the AHL this year.  This is MOSTLY based off the big prospects and roster players.  Also keep in mind I am not a mind reader and don’t know what you are thinking.

First Division to look at will be the Pacific

Anaheim – Anaheim really doesn’t have much in terms of talent.  So you can expect them to have some expansion protection slots open.

Forwards – William Nylander, Anthony Mantha, Michael Dal Colle, Kevin Labanc, Sergey Tolchinsky, and Joseph Blandisi.

Defense – Shea Theodore, Damon Severson, Trevor Carrick, and Ludwig Bystrom

Goal – John Gibson

Most noticeable unprotected is Bobby Ryan, but it has been widely speculated that Anaheim will buy him out before the expansion.

Calgary – Calgary was one of the harder teams to predict, as they are loaded on the farm.

Forwards – Sam Bennett, Robby Fabbri, Andre Burakovsky, Sean Monahan, Aleksander Barkov, Markus Granlund, Johnny Gaudreau, Phil Di Giuseppe, Justin Bailey

Defense – Dougie Hamilton, Ryan Murray, Brady Skjei, Chris Birgras

Goal – Andrei Vasilevsky

Calgary is one team that will get 5 selected from, but the flames are in great shape for the future even if they lose the max.

Edmonton – Edmonton should not have any protection slots left open unless of course some trades happen.

Forwards – Henrik Zetterberg, Colin Wilson, Lars Eller, Jared McCann, Jacob Josefson, Nicklas Backstrom, Brett Connolly, Teemu Pulkkinen, Nick Schmaltz

Defense – Dmitry Orlov, Nathan Beaulieu, Sam Morin, Mackenzie Weegar

Goal – Scott Wedgewood

Edmonton should end up protecting Wedgewood over Halak due to Halak being in limbo in the NHL.

San Jose   

Forwards – Alexander Burmistrov, Zach Hyman, Lance Bouma, Andrew Copp, Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin, Ryan Getzlaf

Defense – Dan Hamhuis, Klas Dahlbeck, Nick Ebert, Luca Sbisa

Goal – Craig Anderson

Vancouver – The Canucks know they need to rebuild, but keep finding a way to win in poor man’s land in the Pacific.

Forwards – Brendan Gallagher, Cole Cassels, Svan Baertschi, Brock Nelson, Mats Zuccarello, Derick Brassard, Micheal Grabner

Defense – Nikita Tryamkin, Joel Edmundson, Jack Johnson, Christopher Tanev

Goal – Ben Bishop

Canucks currently in a playoff spot but in

Kings – Not really sure the direction of this team.

Forwards – Teuvo Teravainen, Mikhail Grigorenko, Tyler Seguin, Evgeny Kuzentsov, Ryan Spooner, Anton Blidgh, Hunter Smith, Matej Stransky

Defense – Oscar Klefbom, Jake McCabe, Seth Jones, Ben Hutton

Goal – Sergei Bobrovsky

Coyotes

Forwards – Valdislav Namestinkov, Steven Stamkos, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Leo Komarov, Tom Wilson, Patric Horqvist, Micheal Stone, Devante Smith-Pelly

Defense – Dmitry Kulikov, Mike Green, Jonas Brodin, Tyson Barrie

Goal – Carey Price

 

Most noticeable left off is Shane Doan as I believe he will retire before expansion.