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Toronto Maple Leafs: Who They Should Protect and Expose in the Expansion Draft

By James Reeve

Jan 26, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock (R) looks on from behind the bench against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock (R) looks on from behind the bench against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
Feb 7, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) before the start of the game against the Dallas Stars at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Stars 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

MAPLE LEAFS EXEMPT LIST

Fans who are concerned the team could lose one, or more, of their top young talent need not worry.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are fortunate that their team is filled with rookies, as rookies are exempt from exposure in the expansion draft.

Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Nikita Zaitsev are all exempt from the expansion draft, which gives the team far more flexibility with their ability to protect some of their better veterans.

Full Exempt List

  • Auston Matthews
  • William Nylander
  • Mitch Marner
  • Nikita Zaitsev
  • Zach Hyman
  • Trevor Moore
  • Andrew Nielsen
  • Kasperi Kapanen
  • Sergei Kalinin
  • Travis Dermott
  • Frederik Gauthier
  • Nikita Soshnikov
  • Dmytro Timashov
  • Tobias Lindberg
  • Rinat Valiev
  • Kasimir Kaskisuo
  • Justin Holl
  • Stephane Robidas (INJ)
  • Nathan Horton (INJ)

Horton’s inclusion on this list, as well as Robidas’, is due to the fact they have long-term injuries – making them exempt but also not affecting the Leafs’ options for protecting players.

If Horton had been healthy, he would have affected the team’s options due to him having an NMC in his contract.

The long list of exempt players includes many current and future young talents for the Leafs and their exempt status will be a relief to fans and management alike.

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