Devils don't need to clear cap space. They'll protect Subban who still is a top 4 dman and would help the Devils reach the cap floor

I can understand that who would you suggest they pick instead?

Switch Pavelski with Dickinson

Johnsson, Merkley, Butcher, Bastian

Based on the needs of this team I think they should take Butcher

Good job on the explanations for each pick

Fleury might be protected over Manson (who'll be UFA in one year)

Mittlestadt, Bean, Hagel, Patrick and Hertl aren't exposed for sure.

care to explain why?

Pavelski helps our odds to make the playoffs and he has more value if we were to trade him. Dickinson is basically just a 3 C/LW. We have multiple guys who're cheaper than him that can play in the same role.

Guys Like Bean and Patrick I'm not sure which players you would protect them over as Carolina has immense defensive depth and Phillie the same with fowards as I had guys like Voracek and JVR unprotected. I can understand where you're coming fromwith Hertl I just think San Jose needs to restart as a team and he may be a guy that go's. On the Case of Hagel i can see him getting protected if he were to my next pick would be Gaudette. Mittlestadt, I'm not too sure about being unprotected but if he isnt I can still see him finding his way to Seattle in one way or another

I understand where you're coming from I just think the Stars will value Dickinsons age and cheaper contract over a guy like Pavelski especially seeing he could be easily replaced in free agency this year for a cheaper younger option.

I can’t see Martin being taken. Leddy and Bellows/Eberle will be exposed, where Bellows and Eberle have a much higher value than Martin or Leddy.

Mittelstadt won't be exposed. Its fine, you aren't missing anything. The Sabres likely expose one of- asplund, bjork, or thompson- none are world beaters, asplund is the best one if he continues to produce on offense. The Sabres will expose miller- hes the guy I see most frequently picked in mocks, he's a vet right handed d, if nothing else you could move him at the deadline. The pickle for buffalo is protecting ristolainen over borgen, ristolainen should be the pick for Seattle if he's exposed, probably gets a better return at the deadline. Borgen is my pick if the Sabres are dumb enough to expose him- cost controlled defensive right handed d. As far as the eichel trade, if next years first is deferred, I'm assuming its a 23 first with no protection, thats what you had in mind, right?

Add Pavelski to that list

Mittlestadt is definitely being protected, they can select like Tage Thompson or something instead. Skjei will be exposed instead of Bean. Philly has no reason to expose Patrick at his age. San Jose will 100% protect Hertl, even if they want to reset (and they should) his deadline value is massive. Chicago can protect Hagel and Gaudette, that's not an issue for them