{"id":182291,"date":"2026-08-25T13:59:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T13:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/182291\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T13:59:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T13:59:26","slug":"projecting-who-the-calgary-flames-would-protect-in-an-expansion-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/182291\/","title":{"rendered":"Projecting who the Calgary Flames would protect in an expansion draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NHL hasn\u2019t held an expansion draft in five years; however, it appears expansion to 33, then 34, teams may be coming soon. Recent reports suggest the next expansion team could enter the league as soon as 2029-30<\/a>. While a hypothetical expansion draft likely won\u2019t be happening for another couple years, why not have some fun and look at a potential protection list for the 2026-27 Calgary Flames?<\/p>\n

With the Flames in the middle of a rebuild, who would the organization keep around if an expansion draft were held in the next calendar year? Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n

Expansion draft rules<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s assume the NHL keeps the expansion rules the same as in 2017 and 2021. Here\u2019s a high-level refresher on how it works.<\/p>\n

Roster protection list<\/p>\n

Each team has the option to protect two different combinations of players. Below are the two options:<\/p>\n

Seven forwards, three defencemen, and one goaltender<\/p>\n

Eight skaters\u2014forwards or defencemen\u2014and one goaltender.<\/p>\n

For obvious reasons, the seven forward and three defenceman combination has been the dominant selection, with the eight skaters\u2019 options being incredibly rare.<\/p>\n

Expansion draft eligibility<\/p>\n

Not every player in an organization is eligible to be selected, and therefore also doesn\u2019t need to be protected. Below are the guidelines on expansion draft eligibility from PuckPedia<\/a>:<\/p>\n

If a player has three or more years of professional experience as of the end of the 2025\u201326 season, they are expansion eligible. Professional experience is defined in accordance with Waivers (CBA Section 13.4) as:<\/p>\n

If player was 20 or older as of Dec 31 of a season, any season with 1+ NHL, AHL, or ECHL\u00a0GP counts as a year of professional experience.<\/p>\n

If player was less than 20 as of Dec 31 of a season, any season with 11+ NHL GP counts as a year of professional experience.<\/p>\n

Exposed players<\/p>\n

Based on the above guidelines, here are the most noteworthy players who would be eligible to be selected on the Flames roster if there were an expansion draft this summer:<\/p>\n

ForwardDefenceGoaltenderMatt CoronatoSimon NemecDustin WolfConnor ZaryZach WhitecloudDustin CooleyYegor SharangovichKevin BahlRyan StromeJoel HanleyMorgan FrostBrayden PachalMartin PospisilYan KuznetsovJoel FarabeeJacob MiddletonAdam KlapkaRory KerinsMaxim TsyplakovBrennan Othmann<\/p>\n

Unless the Flames asked them to waive their no-movement clauses as they did with Milan Lucic for the 2021 expansion draft, Jonathan Huberdeau and Mikael Backlund would both be protected by default due to their contracts. I can\u2019t see the Flames asking either player to waive their no-move clause. Given that the Flames just don\u2019t have many valuable players right now, there\u2019s no need to create an awkward situation by asking a vet to expose themselves to expansion.<\/p>\n

Given the current state of the roster, there are only a few players on the above list that would really hurt to lose.<\/p>\n

Exempt players<\/p>\n

Thankfully, the Flames do have a handful of exciting young players who, as of right now, would not be eligible for selection. Below are the most noteworthy names who have played pro hockey but would be protected due to a lack of experience. If the expansion draft were held, let\u2019s say, in 2028, things would get very interesting, as most of these players would no longer be exempt.<\/p>\n

ForwardDefenceGoaltenderSam HonzekZayne ParekhArseni SergeyevMatvei GridinHunter BrzustewiczAydar SunievAbram WiebeWilliam StromgrenAxel HurtigSam MortonTyson GrossJonathan CastagnaAndrew Basha<\/p>\n

If one or multiple of the above players needed to be protected, it could\u2019ve created some tough calls. For now, we won\u2019t need to worry.<\/p>\n

The protected list<\/p>\n

With the above requirements in place and the list of players needing protection, here\u2019s who I would protect if an expansion draft were to be held right now.<\/p>\n

ForwardDefenceGoaltenderJohnathan Huberdeau (NMC)Simon NemecDustin WolfMikael Backlund (NMC)Kevin BahlMatt CoronatoZach WhitecloudConnor ZaryMorgan FrostYegor SharangovichJoel Farabee<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t exactly a tough list to put together. As mentioned above, the Flames don\u2019t really have a ton of high-end talent in the NHL. In fact, I\u2019d argue they don\u2019t have any. This list was only difficult to put together because there were so few options to pick from. By the end, I was just plugging in names because I had to. Protect Joel Farabee? Sure, I guess.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get the obvious picks out of the way. Dustin Wolf is one of the most valuable young goaltenders in the NHL and the backbone of the Flames\u2019 future. It was either him or Devin Cooley up for the spot. Easy choice every day of the week.<\/p>\n

Defence<\/p>\n

On defence, the picks are similarly very easy. With young guys Brzustewicz and Parekh not yet eligible for selection, the Flames really only have three current defencemen worth protecting. Simon Nemec was the the most obvious pick. The Flames paid a fortune for him and he\u2019s still incredibly young. He\u2019s a lock. Kevin Bahl was also an incredibly easy selection given his age and role on the team.<\/p>\n

The final choice was the toughest. In the end, I went with Zach Whitecloud over Yan Kuznetsov. While Whitecloud is older, he\u2019s also a much, much better player. Kuznetsov\u2019s underlying results last season were dreadful, and I don\u2019t see him as more than a bottom-pairing defender at best. Whitecloud is still a very valuable player and trade chip.<\/p>\n

Forwards<\/p>\n

At forward, the picks were very easy to make as well. After the two veterans, Coronato and Zary are obvious picks. Both are mid-20s first-round picks. In Coronato\u2019s case, he\u2019s already one of the team\u2019s best forwards. Even if Zary has struggled of late and may want out, losing him for nothing would make zero sense.<\/p>\n

The last three spots at forward were also pretty straightforward. With no more young talent left to protect, I protected the next three youngest players and the strongest trade chips on the roster. Those players are Frost, Farabee and Sharangovich.<\/p>\n

In Sharangovich, the Flames have a late-20s forward on a rough contract, but with a history of 30-goal production. No one else in the remaining group has that upside. Frost and Farabee are both solid middle-six forwards and still hold some value around the league.<\/p>\n

Who is left exposed?<\/p>\n

With the above 11 players protected, here are the most noteworthy players who would be unprotected and up for grabs.<\/p>\n

ForwardDefenceGoaltenderAdam KlapkaYan KuznetsovDevin CooleyMartin PospisilJoel HanleyRyan StromeBrayden PachalMaxim TsyplakovJacob MiddletonBrennan OthmannRory Kerins<\/p>\n

If I\u2019m the made-up expansion team, I\u2019m not exactly excited with my options when it comes time to pick a Flame. There is not a lot of upside with these selections. You\u2019ve got a group of fringe NHL players, aging veterans, and a backup goalie.<\/p>\n

The only interesting names on this list if I\u2019m an expansion team are Martin Pospisil, Yan Kuznetsov, and Devin Cooley. Even then, there isn\u2019t a whole lot of talent there. Maybe Pospisil can find his health again and get back to being a solid bottom-six pest? Kuznetsov has very limited upside, although a mid-20\u2019s NHL defender with size could be a draw for a new franchise.<\/p>\n

In the end I think Cooley would be the pick. The 29 year old was exceptional last year, but will never earn a starting role over Wolf. He could be a perfect low cost starting goaltender for a new franchise, with the hopes he\u2019s able to replicate his 2025-26 results in a larger role.<\/p>\n

Nothing to lose, for now<\/p>\n

All said, it\u2019s pretty unfortunate that NHL expansion isn\u2019t happening this summer or next summer. With the Flames\u2019 current state, they have basically nothing of value to lose in an expansion draft right now. That will almost certainly not be the case in a couple of years, when they have a plethora of young talent that will need protection in an expansion draft.<\/p>\n

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