Kevin Wickersham

38 Articles

NHL Expansion Draft: St. Louis Blues Primer

Forward Decisions The bulk of St. Louis’ front line production comes from six established forwards that will be protect, and they have some solid prospects, who are expansion ineligible. Coming off another stellar year with 39 goals and 36 assists, Vladimir Tarasenko…

Kevin Wickersham

NHL Expansion Draft: Dallas Stars Primer

On the heels of a disappointing season and infirmary of injuries Dallas is well-positioned for the expansion draft. They’ll likely protect all their key pieces while exposing mid-range young players who haven’t significantly impressed, or veterans not counted on highly…

Kevin Wickersham

NHL Expansion Draft: Colorado Avalanche Primer

Colorado, with a historically bad season in their rearview mirror faces a dilemma regarding Francois Beauchemin that critically impacts their strategy. Buying out the declining defenseman, or convincing him to waive his no movement clause, would count Beauchemin as exposed…

Kevin Wickersham

NHL Expansion Draft: Nashville Predators Primer

After a rousing and surprising postseason run Nashville’s expansion strategy is clear – protect that blue line. The Predators’ top-four defensive core may be the best in the game, and they’ll need to adopt the eight skaters/one goalie protection plan…

Kevin Wickersham

NHL Expansion Draft: Minnesota Wild Primer

The Wild are just too deep to make this simple. Unless they’re crafty they’ll end up exposing at least one valuable forward as well as a quality defenseman, and they’re understandably the target of much trade talk as the expansion…

Kevin Wickersham

NHL Expansion Draft: Chicago Blackhawks Primer

With four no-movement clauses among their forwards, three on defense and one at goalie, Chicago has most of their protected slots spoken for. Then again, I doubt they’d leave any of the eight unprotected. Forward Decisions Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews,…

Kevin Wickersham

NHL Expansion Draft – Winnipeg Jets Primer

Veteran blueliner Toby Enstrom holds all the cards. If he’s willing to waive his no movement clause the Jets can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie. If not, unless they are willing to forgo $4.2M-plus in cap space…

Kevin Wickersham

NHL Expansion Draft Strategy: Arizona Coyotes and the Los Angeles Kings

In the upcoming expansion draft NHL teams can protect either seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie or eight skaters (in reality four forwards and four defensemen) and one goalie. The latter option seems less popular, as it permits teams…

Kevin Wickersham

NHL Expansion Draft Strategy: Anaheim Ducks and the Colorado Avalanche

In the upcoming NHL Expansion Draft, teams can protect either seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie or eight skaters (in reality four forwards and four defensemen) and one goalie. The latter option seems less popular, as it permits teams…

Kevin Wickersham

Expansion Draft Strategy: Nashville, New Jersey, Pittsburgh and Winnipeg

In the upcoming expansion draft NHL teams can protect either seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie or eight skaters (in reality four forwards and four defensemen) and one goalie. The latter option seems the less popular, as it permits…

Kevin Wickersham

Buyout Candidates: Pacific Division

We’re less than a month away from the NHL buyout window opening (the later of June 15 or 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final), and as we know the incoming 31st team in Vegas will alter the buyout landscape…

Kevin Wickersham

Buyout Candidates: Central Division

We’re less than a month away from the NHL buyout window opening (the later of June 15 or 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final), and as we know the incoming 31st team in Vegas will alter the buyout landscape…

Kevin Wickersham