So, expansion draft...
Defenders and goalie seems pretty straightforward...they're in something of a bind with the forward group.
They can protect 7, and must expose 2. They only have 7 forwards under contract for next season and you probably want all 7 back. Seguin, Benn, Pavelski, Radulov, Faksa, Hintz, and Gurianov.
Cogliano, Comeau, Dickinson, Kero, and Dowling were all on this year's roster and would all be eligible if they were under contract next year. Only Dickinson is a restricted free agent.
Most straightforward, you resign Dickinson and expose him. Do you gamble and expose Pavelski with the worst case being you take that money to sign a good younger player? I think that would have been more of an option if the Stars bombed this season but they look like they're set up to compete next year. Do you expose Faksa even though he just got the extension? Try to resign one of the unrestricted free agents---Cogliano or Comeau, perhaps?)
What if they resign Dickinson and find another eligible free agent? Do you risk Pavelski in order to protect Dickinson? Some in the media have advocated for that under the assumption Seattle won't want 1 year of a 37 year old.
