Who the Toronto Maple Leafs Protect In Expansion Draft

Apr 17, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bozak (42) is embraced by forward Auston Matthews (34) after scoring the overtime winner in a 4-3 win over Washington Capitals in game three of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bozak (42) is embraced by forward Auston Matthews (34) after scoring the overtime winner in a 4-3 win over Washington Capitals in game three of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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Who do the Toronto Maple Leafs Protect?

Remember, you have to protect a goalie, and that’s obviously Andersen. That means that Garrett Sparks and Antoine Bibeau have to be exposed.

This the most clear decision the Leafs have, and it’s not really a decision at all.  Neither Bibeau or Sparks is worth anything in a trade, so it’s not like pre-draft moves have to be made here.   All they can do is hope there are better goalies available to Las Vegas.

Other than goalies, the NHL has given teams the options to protect either seven forwards and three defenseman, or a total of eight players. 

While I’d hate to lose Martin Marincin, there aren’t four defenseman worth protecting when you look at the forwards you’d lose if you did that.  Therefore, the Leafs will obviously have to protect seven forwards and three defenseman.

While it’d be nice to make sure you don’t lose Marincin – who is a very useful player massively underrated by the fans of this team – he’s not worth keeping over the likes of Leipsic or Leivo.