Expansion draft Duck thoughts

Now that the Anaheim Ducks have been eliminated by the Nashville Predators(sadly, again).  It is time to look to the future and more precisely next season.  With the upcoming Vegas expansion draft I expect the Ducks to protect  7 forwards, 3 defensemen and 1 goaltender(John Gibson).

Lets start with the defense because 5 off them are in play even though its really only two.

First off Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm automaticcally fill 2 of the 3 spots.  They are 1A and 1B two  offensive minded puck moving dman.

Next they have to get  an aging Bieska to waive his no trade clause.  Without it both Josh Manson and Sami Vatanen are left unprotected

Now if that is done I would choose to protect Manson  his physical style is vastly different from the 3 other young dmen.  Besides Vatanen offensive abilities can easily be made up with Shea Theodore or Brandon Montour.

Now would you trade Vatanen for another forward , before the expansion draft,  or let him go to Vegas.  This appears to be catch 22.  It could fill the final forward spot or free up money for free agency,

Right now the forwards protected would include Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Corey Perry, Rickard Rakell, Jakob Silfverberg and Andrew Cogliano.  A 7th right now on the roster would be Antonie Vermette or Nick Ritchie.  Personally I don't know if Ritchie qualifies in order to need to be protected

I expect Vatanen to be gone either way and I hope in free agency they can find a way to keep Patrick Eaves and her doesn't go the way of David Perron and Jamie McGinn.

I expect Rakell and Silfverberg to take over the offensive load from Getzlaf and Perry to become the new core.