We now know which Vancouver Canucks will be up for grabs when the Seattle Kraken build out their new club in the 2021 NHL expansion draft.
Under the expansion draft rules, the Canucks were allowed to protect seven forwards, three defencemen and one goalie. First and second-year players and unsigned draft choices were automatically protected.
The list of protected players won’t surprise most fans, with the team’s top talent locked up and away from the potential division rival.
Captain Bo Horvat, along with Elias Petterson, Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller, Tanner Pearson, Tyler Motte, Nate Schmidt, Tyler Myers, Olli Juolevi and goalie Thatcher Demko were all put on the protected list.
Some Canucks veterans, however, could be on the chopping block, including Jay Beagle, Antoine Roussel, Loui Eriksson and Alex Edler — who confirmed this week he was pursuing free agency.
Goalie Braden Holtby is also unprotected, as are prospects Kole Lind and Lukas Jasek.
The expansion draft will take place Wednesday, July 21, starting at 8 p.m. E.T.
The Canucks and the Kraken will face off for the first time in an exhibition game in Spokane on Sept. 26.
Full list of Canucks unprotected in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft:
- Sven Baertschi (F)
- Justin Bailey (F)
- Jay Beagle (F)
- Travis Boyd (F)
- Loui Eriksson (F)
- Jonah Gadjovich (F)
- Tyler Graovac (F)
- Jayce Hawryluk (F)
- Matthew Highmore (F)
- Lukas Jasek (F)
- Kole Lind (F)
- Zack MacEwen (F)
- Petrus Palmu (F)
- Antoine Roussel (F)
- Brandon Sutter (F)
- Jimmy Vesey (F)
- Jake Virtanen (F)
- Madison Bowey (D)
- Guillaume Brisebois (D)
- Jalen Chatfield (D)
- Alexander Edler (D)
- Travis Hamonic (D)
- Brogan Rafferty (D)
- Ashton Sautner (D)
- Josh Teves (D)
- Braden Holtby (G)
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