I don't envy Ron Hextall this summer.
He has some difficult decisions to make, particularly when it comes to who the Penguins should have on their list of protected players for the expansion draft when lists are due on July 17.
Teams have two options when it comes to protecting skaters. They could either protect eight skaters total regardless of position, or a combination of seven forwards and three defenseman. Logistically, it makes the most sense for the Penguins to go with the latter option, and Hextall told Dave Molinari in the spring that he anticipates that being the option the Penguins choose.
Teams can also do what the Penguins and several other teams did prior to the 2017 expansion draft, which is make a trade with the Kraken for "expansion draft considerations," sending them draft picks or other assets in order to ensure that the Kraken take one player or stay away from another. Hextall said in his season-ending media availability though that he doesn't anticipate making any deals like that before the draft.
Anyone left unprotected will be up for grabs.
When it comes to building a list of seven forwards, one decision the Penguins will have to make would be whether to protect Jeff Carter.
When the Penguins acquired Carter just before this season's trade deadline, I don't think many would have anticipated that this would be a debate leading into the draft. Carter is 36, and in the back end of his career. But after the way Carter performed to finish the season -- nine goals, two assists in 14 regular season games plus four goals, one assist in six playoff games -- he's someone the Penguins would definitely want to hold onto for next season.
That's especially true with the flat salary cap next season. Carter has one year left on his deal at a cap hit of $2,636,364, with the Kings still retaining the other half of his $5,272,727 total cap hit.
With Evgeni Malkin expected to miss at least training camp, perhaps longer after his knee surgery, having someone who can step up and fill that second-line center role the way Carter did at times this season would be huge, especially at that price.
The Penguins could definitely use Carter next season. But what use would the Kraken have for a guy who turns 37 next season, who we aren't certain would even play beyond next season?
There are a couple of reasons why Carter would be appealing to the Kraken if exposed.
It's not uncommon for incoming expansion teams to draft older players nearing the end of their careers as a way to help establish the team's culture in that first season or first couple of seasons. Deryk Engelland was 35 years old when the Golden Knights picked him from the Flames in the expansion draft, and he was a big part of establishing that culture in the final years of his career.
The last expansion draft before the Golden Knights' draft was in 2000 when the Blue Jackets and Wild came into the league, and there were several examples of older veterans and leaders being chosen. Kevin Dineen was 37 years old for the start of the Blue Jackets' inaugural season after being chosen from Ottawa. Dineen had been a captain earlier in his career for the Flyers and later the Whalers/Hurricanes, and was a veteran presence in those early years of the Blue Jackets, even though he only played two full seasons before retiring. Lyle Odelein was another player on the older side, albeit only 32, when the Blue Jackets picked him from the Coyotes and named him captain.
Historically, the Penguins have lost a few players in other expansion drafts for teams doing just that. The best example is perhaps Troy Loney, whose 10-year tenure with the Penguins ended when the Mighty Ducks chose him in the 1993 expansion draft and named him the first captain in franchise history. Loney was only 30 at the time, so not quite as old as Engelland or Carter, but he was nearing the end of his career. He only spent one season in Anaheim, then one more in New York before retiring.
Carter had an 'A' on the front of his jersey for the last six years in Los Angeles, and for a couple years in Philadelphia earlier in his career, He could be one of those leaders while the Kraken look to establish a culture in the early years.
Carter also obviously effective on the ice this season, especially during his time in Pittsburgh. If the Kraken are looking to be a contender early on, Carter could prove to be valuable for them too, though a run in their inaugural season like that of the Golden Knights would seem unlikely. Even if the Kraken aren't looking to be a playoff team by the time of the trade deadline, he would be a valuable asset for the Kraken to move out to a contender in a trade, allowing them to perhaps acquire picks and prospects to help build up the prospect pool early.
Does it make sense though for the Penguins to protect Carter?
At this point, my seven forwards would be Sidney Crosby, Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Kasperi Kapanen, Brandon Tanev, and Teddy Blueger.
If I were to try to add Carter to the mix, it would likely be at the expense of Tanev or Blueger, which would be a tough trade-off. It'd be tough finding another player who could bring energy like Tanev does and play that role as well. The Penguins have also had a tough time finding effective bottom-six centers in the past, and at 26 years old, Blueger would be able to fill that role and do it well much longer than Carter would be able to.
If it were up to me, I'd take that gamble and leave Carter exposed, but it certainly isn't a given that Seattle would pass him by just because of his age.
