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Carolina Hurricanes: A Look Ahead at the Seattle Expansion Draft

By Austin Isham

SEA ISLAND, GA - DECEMBER 04: (L to R) Adrian Hanauer, NHL Seattle franchise Vice-Chairman David Wright, Jay Deutsch, Jerry Bruckheimer, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Seattle franchise majority owner David Bonderman, Len Potter, and NHL Seattle franchise President and CEO Tod Leiweke pose for a photo during the NHL Board of Governors Meeting on December 4, 2018 in Sea Island, Georgia. The NHL Board of Governors approved expanding to Seattle, making the franchise the 32nd team in the league. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
SEA ISLAND, GA - DECEMBER 04: (L to R) Adrian Hanauer, NHL Seattle franchise Vice-Chairman David Wright, Jay Deutsch, Jerry Bruckheimer, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Seattle franchise majority owner David Bonderman, Len Potter, and NHL Seattle franchise President and CEO Tod Leiweke pose for a photo during the NHL Board of Governors Meeting on December 4, 2018 in Sea Island, Georgia. The NHL Board of Governors approved expanding to Seattle, making the franchise the 32nd team in the league. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 09: Lucas Wallmark #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes shoots the puck during the first period against the Boston Bruins in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 09, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 09: Lucas Wallmark #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes shoots the puck during the first period against the Boston Bruins in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 09, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Forwards

Jordan Staal has a no movement clause so he’ll have to be protected. Off the current Hurricanes roster, Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teräväinen, Nino Niederreiter, Andrei Svechnikov, Jordan Martinook, and Warren Foegele fill out the rest of the protected forwards. Martin Necas is exempt and will not have to be protected since he does not meet the games played requirement.

With the expansion draft a few years away, it is highly possible that the Canes elect to protect any of Morgan Geekie, Julien Gauthier, Janne Kuokkanen or Lucas Wallmark in place of Foegele and Martinook. Just basing our protected list on their current role with the team, we decided Foegele and Martinook’s contributions are far more important than what Wallmark will provide the team as a fourth line center next season.

Playing in 100 NHL games, Wallmark has tallied 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points, at times filling in for Jordan Staal last season in the top six. It is likely that Wallmark will center the fourth line this upcoming season due in part to the arrival of Erik Haula. Should Seattle decide to go forward, Lucas Wallmark would provide them with a depth player capable of playing on the penalty kill.

The 23 year old will be an RFA when the expansion draft rolls around. Should he be selected, Seattle would have to sign Lucas to a contract immediately in the offseason. There are several internal options that could be more than able to fill in as the team’s fourth line center going forward in his place.

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