Eyes On Isles
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Islanders 3 takeaways from roster going into expansion roster freeze

ByMichel Anderson|
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders attends the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders attends the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 06: Scott Mayfield #24, Ryan Pulock #6 and Thomas Greiss #1 of the New York Islanders defend the net against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at the Barclays Center on February 06, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Islanders defeated the Kings 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 06: Scott Mayfield #24, Ryan Pulock #6 and Thomas Greiss #1 of the New York Islanders defend the net against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at the Barclays Center on February 06, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Islanders defeated the Kings 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Protected List

The Islanders are likely to go the 7-3-1 protect route for the expansion draft. Based on the current roster that means:

Forwards (7)

Mathew Barzal
Anders Lee
Jordan Eberle
Anthony Beauvillier
Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Josh Bailey
Brock Nelson

Defensemen (3)

Adam Pelech
Ryan Pulock
????

Goalie (1)

Semyon Varlamov

There isn’t much question who the New York Islanders will protect from their forward core. We can all agree on most of the names on this list. Perhaps Jordan Eberle is left exposed but it’s just as likely that Lou keeps the veteran winger.

Either way, there isn’t much debate or drama with the forwards or even with the goalie, they’ll protect. But there’s some drama when it comes to protecting defensemen because the Isles only have two here.

You might be thinking: “why not Scott Mayfield?” Well, based on exposure requirements the Islanders need to expose a defenseman with at least 27 NHL games in 20-21 or 54 NHL games between 19-20 and 20-21 and they have to be signed through the 21-22 season.

The Islanders only have two defensemen that meet that requirement after Nick Leddy was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. And that’s Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield.

It’s hard to believe that Lou Lamoriello will have traded Nick Leddy just to expose either Pulock or Mayfield and have one of them selected for free by Seattle.

Maybe he’s already signed a defenseman that meets the exposure requirements (like Andy Greene) and he can protect Pulock, Pelech, and Mayfield. Or perhaps he’s made a trade with the Kraken.

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