NHL Expansion Draft: Nashville Predators Protection Strategy

Before the Vegas Golden Knights' NHL Expansion Draft on June 21st, we're breaking down all of the teams' individual plans. Here is Nashville's 7-3-1 plan to protect their roster.

The Nashville Predators celebrate an empty net goal (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

How do the Nashville Predators protect their players? Well, one of the ways is to protect 7 forwards and 3 defensemen.

But under this system, how do the Predators decide? Who are the most important players on this team?

Which defenseman gets left out here? Which forwards get left out? Who is exempt from the NHL Expansion Draft?

Lastly, who would Vegas select? How does that affect Nashville next year?

Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen (92) (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

N is for Net Front Scoring

Applicable Nashville forwards: Filip Forsberg, James Neal, Craig Smith, Colin Wilson, Calle Jarnkrok, Cody McLeod, Colton Sissons, Cody Bass, Miikka Salomaki, Trevor Smith, Ryan Johansen, Austin Watson, Pontus Aberg, Viktor Arvidsson.

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Guaranteed: Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson

Ryan Johansen is the number one center for the Nashville Predators.

While they made it two rounds without him, he was still a valuable part of the team throughout the regular season.

He tied for the lead in points on the team with 61 and had the most assists. That shows how valuable Johansen is

That shows how valuable Johansen is as a playmaker, but he needs to step up his goal scoring. He only had 14.

Johansen has to be paid, as an RFA coming off a 4 million dollar contract, but he's well worth it for the Predators. He's also very young, being just 24, and has a bright future in Nashville.

Viktor Arvidsson is also 24 and also a restricted free agent. He also played on the first line this year. And Arvidsson also tied for the team lead in points, posting 31 goals. Not bad for a guy who stands 5'9″.

Arvidsson also has 13 points in 20 games in the playoffs, including 3 goals. His Corsi numbers were ridiculous in the regular season as well.

Forsberg is the last member of that top line. Forsberg was 3 points behind the lead but tied with Arvidsson in goals at 31. He also had great possession numbers and has nine goals in the playoffs.

Overall, this top line is unexpendable. Especially heading towards the NHL expansion draft.

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Highly Likely: James Neal, Calle Jarnkrok

James Neal, despite being one of the older members of the Nashville Predators, is also still just 29.

Neal had 41 points and 23 goals in the regular season. In the playoffs, he has 6 goals in 21 games.

Neal had 58 points last season, so he still has the capabilities of getting near 60.

Again, amazing possession numbers. That's gotta be a theme amongst Nashville players.

Calle Jarnkrok is young (25), fast, and not a free agent until 2022. That's something Nashville needs.

He's also been great in the playoffs, posting 7 points including 2 goals.

Ehhh…: Pontus Aberg, Colin Wilson

Aberg is 23, a restricted free agent, and only played 15 games in the regular season. He's actually 11 games away from qualifying for the NHL Expansion Draft. So why do I believe he's going to stick around?

His playoff performance, for one thing. He's only played 15 games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but he's produced 5 points, including a game-winning goal, in that time.

He's been playing middle 6 minutes and has been incredibly important in that role. Aberg has shown the capability to develop into something nice for Nashville, who needs offense.

The last spot for me comes down to Colin Wilson versus Craig Smith. Both start with the letter C, are 27 and play center. Wilson, however, is cheaper, put up more points in the regular season, and has played more games in the playoffs.

Weirdly, neither of the two has played a full playoff season. But both could be selected in the NHL Expansion Draft.

Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins (Don Wright-USA TODAY Sports)

P is for Protection

Applicable Predators defensemen: P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis, Andrew O'Brien, Matt Irwin, Anthony Bitetto, Petter Granberg, Jaynen Rissling.

Guaranteed: P.K. Subban, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm

While the A on Josi's jersey makes it seem like he'll be protected, there's no assurance he'll even be on the Predators roster come June 21st. If that's the case, this is the strategy the Predators will go with.

Here's why Josi is the expendable one: P.K. Subban is the Predators' number one defenseman. Don't get it twisted, when Shea Weber and P.K. Subban were traded, it was a first d-man exchange.

While Josi has played the same number of minutes a night in these playoffs as Subban, Subban's been playing in both zones all year. In the regular season, 52.8% of Subban's shifts started in the defensive zone, while Josi's defensive shifts were his minority percentage.

Josi's a great offensive defenseman, but so is Ryan Ellis. Josi has just one goal more than Ellis in these playoffs. But they have the same amount of game-winning goal(s). Ellis costs 1.5 million less.

When it comes to re-signing various restricted free agents this season, that makes a difference. Plus, there may never be another shot to get a great return for Josi.

P.K. has his role – all around defenseman. Ekholm has his role – best defensive defenseman. And Ellis is taking Josi's, plus is better defensively. Josi, despite the A, may be on his way out. Probably not in the NHL Expansion Draft, but still.

Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) defends the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

PR Is for Paint Ruffian

Applicable goaltenders: Pekka Rinne, Marek Mazanec

You know what, maybe the Predators protect Mazanec.

NMC: Pekka Rinne

Never mind. Pekka Rinne helped lead the Predators to the Stanley Cup Final. While his journey once there has been rough – look no further than game 5 – he's still the one most responsible for this playoff drive.

Pekka has been a Vezina finalist three times. He's doing his hardest to win the games for the Predators, and they're just two wins away. While he's been having down seasons of late, that should pick up after this year's playoffs.

He's not going anywhere in the NHL Expansion Draft.

Nashville Predators center Colton Sissons (10) skates with the puck (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)

Visible Golden Knight

Available Nashville Predators: Craig Smith, Cody McLeod, Colton Sissons, Cody Bass, Miikka Salomaki, Trevor Smith, Austin Watson, Andrew O'Brien, Matt Irwin, Anthony Bitetto, Petter Granberg, Jaynen Rissling, Marek Mazanec.

Vegas is going to take Colton Sissons. He's 23, a young center, and has a playoff hat trick already. That's a tasty prospect in the NHL Expansion Draft, especially when Sissons put up 8 goals in the season this year.

He's got room to develop, but those 8 goals are a good starting point. He added 6 in the playoffs, as well as 6 more assists. 12 points in 21 games. He's one of the very few players to play all games for the Predators.

Sissons is also on a 625K contract until 2019, and then will be a restricted free agent. For a team that will possibly look to go cheap, that's too good to pass up in the NHL expansion draft.