If the Jets still have Trouba, Buff, Myers and Enstrom come the expansion draft, they will have to go 8-1. Helle is probably a no-brainer as is Scheif, Wheeler and Little.
The 4th player protected will probably be largely decided by how the players play this year. This makes for even more competition among the players.
The Jets will lose one of Armia, MP, Dano, Lowry or Copp. It will hurt but not THAT much. Any one of those will be replaced from within without too much of a drop off.
Can Lowry become consistent enough to sway their minds towards him?
Can Armia stay healthy upon his return and impress enough in the time he will have?
Will they move MP back to LW and let him shine?
Do they want to lose a sparkplug like Dano that can put the puck in the net and loves the front of the net?
I think if these players are available, no way do they take Copp. If they go 7-3-1, Copp will probably be chosen providing they aren't taking a D man.
My deal of the day...Vegas picks Stuart and we make a trade with them...we get a 6th rounder and they get a 2nd and a 4th. Stu only gets 1.75m but his AAV is 2.625m. This helps Vegas make the cap floor more easily. They waive Stu and he is the captain of their AHL team. They are picking 30 players and can only hold on to 23. The rest go down do they not?
Just thinking of some of the deals that might be made in those 3? days Vegas has to submit their list.....for instance, Chevy makes a deal where Vegas drafts a player (D man?) Chevy wants and Chevy makes sure a player is available for them to pick.