Defending Stanley Cup champions reveal protection list for Wednesday's expansion draft

The 2020-21 Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning have released their protection list ahead of next week's Seattle Kraken expansion draft. Although there aren't any real big surprises, they were forced to leave several key players unprotected that the Kraken could select this coming Wednesday. The Lightning decided to go with the eight skaters and one goaltender route, so let's take a look at their list.

Forwards (4): Anthony Cirelli, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos.

Defencemen (4): Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, Ryan McDonagh, Erik Cernak.

Goaltender (1): Andrei Vasilevskiy.

The Lightning left Yanni Gourde, Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, Mathieu Joseph, and Jan Rutta exposed. Tampa is looking to shed salary before next season begins, so they're probably hoping that the Kraken will take a long look and potentially take Tyler Johnson off their hands.

Official #TBLightning protection list (4-4-1)

Protected: Cirelli, Kucherov, Point, Stamkos, Cernak, Hedman, McDonagh, Sergachev, Vasilevskiy.
Available: Gourde, Palat, Johnson, Killorn, Joseph, Rutta.— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 18, 2021

MUST READ

16 minutes ago  |  By Tom Banks Western Conference Team Reportedly Interested in Signing Future Hall-of-Famer Jonathan Toews

2 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Auston Matthews Calls Out Leafs Fans for Not Having Enough Energy

13 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery Kyle Dubas Comments on Shocking Trade Rumours Surrounding the Pittsburgh Penguins

16 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Rick Tocchet Rips His Team as Struggles Continue

18 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Officiating Bias for the Kansas City Chiefs Exposed by Texans Star: NFL Punishes Him Harshly

20 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Connor McDavid Finally Breaks the Silence on His Controversial Three-Game Suspension

22 hours ago  |  By Julien Trekker 6-Foot-4 Power Forward Unexpectedly Traded by the Anaheim Ducks

23 hours ago  |  By Julien Trekker Capitals Star Goalie Logan Thompson Furious With Officials After On-Ice Distraction Led to Goal

MORE STORIES