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Toronto Maple Leafs: Protection List Projections

By Alan Downward

Feb 15, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matt Martin (15) against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matt Martin (15) against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into an off-season full of opportunity.

They will have chances to improve, whether it be through the draft, exploring the free agent market, or taking advantage of the frenzy prior to the expansion draft itself. The Toronto Maple Leafs off-season begins with the submitting of their expansion draft protection list. Who should they protect? How will these decisions affect the roster heading into next season? I outline all this and more below, in part one of the Toronto Maple Leafs off-season checklist.

Off-Season Checklist: Expansion Draft Protection List

While Toronto’s highly coveted rebuild has been evolving at a steady pace, there remains work to be done. Major events are set to take place in the hockey world, and like each team, the outcomes will affect how the Leafs enter next season.

The first event is scheduled for June 17. All 30 NHL teams (Vegas does not apply) will submit their protection lists prior to the expansion draft. Toronto has a considerable amount of forwards that need protection.

Protecting the most important pieces of the Leafs blue line is manageable. They are expected to protect only three defensemen. In retrospect, it also means that Toronto should seek out an additional quality defender.

For now, the Leafs need to review the players who are exposed; those who have not met the required amount of games played. Deciding which defensemen to protect won’t be a problem. Either Marincin or Carrick could be the third protected defensemen, joining Rielly and Gardiner.

Taking a page from James Tanner’s article on who the Toronto Maple Leafs protect in the expansion draft, I feel the following is most probable. By protecting Frederik Andersen and three defensemen, Toronto will be able to protect seven forwards and meet the leagues protection list requirements.

Projecting the Maple Leafs Protected Forwards

Toronto’s front office needs to consider which of their non-exempt forwards will be exposed. The first five forwards are a given:

  • Nazem Kadri
  • Tyler Bozak
  • James Van Riemsdyk
  • Leo Komorov
  • Connor Brown

There is speculation as to who will secure the final two spots. Here is a list of forwards from the depth chart that the Leafs are likely to choose from:

  • Matt Martin
  • Josh Leivo
  • Seth Griffith
  • Kerby Rychel
  • Brendan Leipsic

All things considered, Toronto has an opportunity to protect two out of their four exposed prospects. If Matt Martin is protected, three prospects would be exposed. Protecting Martin is not ideal, especially since there is no guarantee that Vegas would want to pick up him up. At the same time, it seems as if Matt Martin will earn himself one of the final spots on the Leafs protection list.

More from Editor In Leaf

A looming expansion draft poses unique issues for each team when producing a protection list. The Toronto Maple Leafs have until June 17 to submit the final product. Until then, we can only assume who will make the cut. Ultimately, numerous factors could come into play when Toronto’s head office makes their final decisions.

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