Quote:
Originally Posted by TheScorpion
Yup this is Phillips' third pro season, which makes him eligible. And Ruzicka is exempt.
Am I crazy for thinking the Flames could probably expose Backlund and not risk him being picked? I think Seattle probably would have very little interest in taking that contract.
If the Flames expose Backlund and get Lucic to waive, I seriously wonder if they use the seventh slot on Phillips.
Here are their other options (assuming 13, 19, 23, 28, 29, and 88 are protected):
Ryan (UFA), Leivo (UFA), Froese, Robinson (UFA), Kirkland, Rinaldo (UFA), Ritchie (UFA), Gawdin, Simon, Nordstrom (RFA)
I 100% protect Phillips over all those guys. I think Backlund's contract might protect itself... so why bother protecting it?
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Yea there is no chance of that happening.
I’m a proponent of trading Backlund but leaving him exposed would be pure madness. He has value throughout the league and Phillips is a complete unknown at the NHL level.
Even if we traded Backlund for futures I bet the Flames would just use the last slot on Lucic.
I think it would be pretty u likely for NHL teams to protect an AHL prospect over established NHLers unless they are blue chippers and/or they don’t have very good NHLers to protect.