Quoting: sensibleguy
Hedman, Sergachev, Cernak, Foote, someone has to go, whether it's by trade, or during the expansion draft, because Seattle isn't picking a TBL forward. It's either Cernak or Foote that's gone, and Foote will be making less.
I think we're all agreed that TBL isn't protecting McDonagh, and Seattle isn't selecting his contract that runs through 25/26 for $6.75MM per.
No, if Tampa exposes McDonagh, they will likely protect Hedman, Serg, Cernak, Foote, Stamkos, Point, Kucherov, Cirelli and Vasilevskiy. They will then likely attempt to make a deal, like many teams will, to have Seattle not take specific players or Alternatively, take a specific player.