PROTECT 20 - who do you protect? who do you expose?

[regehr]

You can protect 20 (18 skaters + 2 goalies). 82.5M cap for 25 players (max 2 keeper goalies). G = 2 pts, A = 1 pt. GA = -1pt. Head to head. Start 6F 4D 1G.
Who do you protect? Who do you leave exposed?

FORWARDS
1 N.Kucherov 9M (28 yrs)
2 N.Backstrom 8M (33 yrs)
3 C.McDavid 7.5M (24 yrs)
4 N.MacKinnon 7M (26 yrs)
5 A.Panarin 6M (29 yrs)
6 D.Pastrnak 5.5M (25 yrs)
7 A.Matthews 5.5M (23 yrs)
8 J.Huberdeau 5M (28 yrs)
9 J.Guentzel 4.5M (26 yrs)
10 J.Eichel 4M (24 yrs)
11 M.Scheifele 3.5M (28 yrs)
12 B.Point 2.5M (25 yrs)
13 R.O'Reilly 2.5M (30 yrs)
14 J.Gaudreau 2M (28 yrs)
15 K.Hayes 2M (29 yrs)
16 S.Aho 1.5M (24 yrs)
17 A.DeBrincat 1M (23 yrs)
18 D.Brown 1M (36 yrs)
19 R.Dzingel 0.5M (29 yrs)

DEFENSE
1 J.Carlson 6M (31 yrs)
2 K.Letang 6M (34 yrs)
3 D.Hamilton 4.5M (28 yrs)
4 Z.Werenski 3.5M (24 yrs)
5 T.Krug 3M (30 yrs)
6 R.Josi 2M (31 yrs)
7 I.Provorov 2M (24 yrs)
8 T.Barrie 1.5M (30 yrs)
9 C.Makar 1.5M (22 yrs)
10 A.Alexeyev 1M (21 yrs)
11 C.Soucy 0.5M (26 yrs)
12 A.Zub 0.5M (25 yrs)

GOALIES
1 NY Islanders 7M (33 yrs / Varlamov)
2 Montreal 5M (34 yrs / Price)
3 Washington 2M (24 yrs / Samsonov)

Bold = likely protects
blue - maybe protect
red = definite not protect

> age is as of Sep 15, 2021
> bolded players adds to 85M for 20 players (i.e. 2.5M over cap with 5 players left to sign)
> possible solution: trade Kucherov, protect Werenski(?)
> this would mean 79.5M with 5 left to sign (min 0.5M = 2.5M) = 82M total

[Feenom]

I wouldn't deal Kucherov just to protect Werenski. Maybe deal a Panarin instead. Barrie on EDM is a keep but any where else is a ? IF you deal Kucherov I would protect Gaudreau/Krug instead.
So:

Trade possiblities: Kucherov, Panarin, Scheifle (D core of Josi, Makar, Hamilton and Carlson is top notch)

Also assuming Isles goalie does not include Sorokin? If it does I'd def protect them instead of Mtl. Good luck

[Bubba55]

I think you have your protected list right. BTW, this team is absolutely stacked up front and your D is not far behind. In most cases I would not recommend trading Kucherov but with your forward group you could afford to do that. The only issue with your team is in net IMO. I would look at turning Kuch into a better option for you in net. I don't mind the Werenski option either, that could save you some CAP and get you a bit younger as you have 3 D over 30 years although that is not the end of the world by any means. Bottom line, try and move a high end asset up front for an upgrade between the pipes.

[Bass56]

I’d move Guentzel and Hamilton and sign Werenski. Then take that extra 5.5 and split it for your 5 last players to sign.