Quoting: villenash
Who would you be protecting over those forwards other than Crosby/Malkin? That is 7 forwards right there, and PIT would be poised to go 7-3-1. I don't see the issue. Marino and POJ are exempt, so only Letang, Dumoulin, and another D would need protection.
Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel, Zucker, Forsberg, Kapanen, Rust, Blueger, McCann, ZAR, Tanev are all protectable. Although, as the pens are now, I think it’s gonna be Crosby, Malkin, Zucker, Guentzel, Kapanen, Rust, and Blueger. I think they leave McCann exposed as bait to stay away from ZAR and Tanev (although I think his contract my do that itself). I know they would not want to expose Blueger because of lack of center depth and the year he has had. That buzzsaw line is insanely good and underrated.