NHL Expansion Draft: New Jersey Devils Protection Strategy

In the upcoming NHL Expansion Draft, who do the New Jersey Devils protect? Will they use the 7-3-1 Strategy or go with Eight Skaters, including four defensemen?

The New Jersey Devils were one of the first teams out of the Eastern Conference playoffs last year. Still, the Devils are a very young team heading into the NHL expansion draft.

There's no NMCs, only six players are signed on offense, and the defense needs some work. That complicates things.

New Jersey Devils defenseman John Moore (2) (Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports)

So who do the Devils protect from Vegas? Surely there is a team there to protect?

And who does Vegas select? A young goaltender or a position player?

New Jersey Devils left wing Taylor Hall (9) skates with the puck during the second period at Prudential Center. (Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports)

NJ Is For Noisy Jugglers

Applicable Jersey Forwards: Taylor Hall, Travis Zajac, Mike Cammalleri, Kyle Palmieri, Adam Henrique, Devante Smith-Pelly, Luke Gazdic, Stefan Noesen, Jacob Josefson, Ben Thomson, Carter Camper, Beau Bennett, Petr Straka, Shane Harper.

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Guaranteed: Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmieri, Adam Henrique

It's weird saying guaranteed about anything related to the New Jersey Devils. Well, except that they're guaranteed to choose Nolan Patrick.

Taylor Hall tied for the lead in scoring his first year after a trade from Edmonton. Which also means something – Taylor Hall was acquired in a trade.

New Jersey's unlikely to leave open a guy who was recently traded for, especially when that trade involved one of the Devils best defensemen.

It also helps that Taylor Hall is just 25 and put up 53 points. His fifth season with at least 50. One was 80.

Kyle Palmieri was the other half of that scoring lead tie. He also doesn't become a UFA until 2021 and is making 4.65 million. That's not a bad contract for somebody who scored 53 points and 26 goals.

It's Palmieri's second season of fifty points. Which means he's good with or without teammates like Taylor Hall. Helps to keep him safe from the NHL Expansion Draft.

Henrique may be 27, but he's making 4 million and scored 40 points. He's not a UFA for two more years and also scored 50 points last year. He's also playing 18 minutes a night as a top 6 forward.

Henrique is guaranteed because of the contract, the age, and the ability to score any points on this roster. He's too valuable to expend in the NHL Expansion Draft.

Probably: Travis Zajac, Beau Bennett

Zajac is a top 6 center who scored 45 points last season. He played 19 minutes, scored 14 goals, including one shorthanded and one game-winning.

The reason I don't have him as guaranteed, Zajac is 32. That's rough for the Devils, who need to get younger. It's time to rebuild in New Jersey, and rebuilding necessitates de-aging.

Beau Bennett is 25, was ninth on the team in scoring, and had his best career season in terms of productivity.

Beau Bennett scored 19 points and 8 goals. He had his longest career year at just 65 games. And he can't stay healthy. He's still perhaps the most likely restricted free agent to be protected in the NHL Expansion Draft.

Maybe: Stefan Noesen, Jacob Josefson

Both are restricted free agents this offseason. Both are relatively young. But both only played 30-some games. Both scored 10 or fewer points.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Andy Greene (6) plays the puck while being defended by Minnesota Wild left wing Teemu Pulkkinen (17) (Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports)

D is for… Defense

Applicable Devils Defensemen: Andy Greene, Ben Lovejoy, John Moore, Dalton Prout, Jon Merrill, Viktor Loov, Damon Severson.

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Guaranteed: Andy Greene, Ben Lovejoy, Damon Severson

Andy Greene is the captain of the New Jersey Devils. Captains are likely to be safe in the NHL Expansion Draft.

He also had 4 goals and 13 points in 66 games, playing 21 minutes a night while he was healthy.

Ben Lovejoy was recently signed over from the Pittsburgh Penguins after helping them to a Cup.

I'd likely take Lovejoy over any of the defensemen on the Pittsburgh Penguins right now.

Lovejoy played 20 minutes a game and only makes 2 million through the next two years.

For a 33-year-old defenseman, that's a really good contract.

Damon Severson is a 22-year-old defenseman who posted 31 points and 20 minutes a game this season. If you think that's a common thing, you're wrong.

For a team that needs prospects at all positions, Severson is a pretty good start. He's probably the safest New Jersey Devil's defenseman. Maybe the safest Devil.

Probably: John Moore

Moore is a 26-year-old defenseman with 22 points including 12 goals. He's the best goal-scoring Devils defenseman, fifth highest Devil.

The reason that he's not guaranteed is that the Devils have the choice of protecting 7 forwards and 3 defensemen.

New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) makes a save during the first period of their game against the Winnipeg Jets at Prudential Center. (Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports)

CS Is For Crafty Savior

Applicable Devils goaltenders: Cory Schneider, Keith Kinkaid, Scott Wedgewood.

Guaranteed: Cory Schneider

Schneider might be 31. But he's posted great stats in the past, and had a 2.82 GAA and .908 SV% behind a leaky Devils defense. Last year, he was the only reason the Devils didn't get the first overall pick.

Which may not be a good thing. Still, if the Devils seek to trade Cory Schneider, he'll still be protected in the NHL Expansion Draft.

New Jersey Devils defenseman John Moore (2) scores a goal on Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) (Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports)

Vaporized Golden Knight

Available New Jersey Devils: Mike Cammalleri, Devante Smith-Pelley, Ben Thomson, Dalton Prout, Jon Merrill, John Moore, Viktor Loov, Scott Wedgewood.

John Moore is getting taken in the NHL Expansion Draft if he's not protected. Which is why the Devils are potentially using the 8 skater strategy.

Moore is a defenseman capable of playing top 4 minutes but also capable of scoring goals. That's not a combination found a lot in defensemen. Especially in 26-year-old available in the NHL Expansion Draft defensemen.

If Moore is protected, expect the Golden Knights to look at a player like Beau Bennett.