At 10AM today the NHL announced the list of the protected and unprotected players that the Vegas Golden Knights will be able to pick.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have decided to protect the following players in an 8 skater + 1 goalie layout. (The alternative would have been 7 forwards + 3 defensemen + 1 goalie).
The choices of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and Letang were automatic, given their no movement clauses, but those guys were all slam dunks to be retained anyways, so no big deal there.
Going 8 skaters was smart, because it keeps the team's top 4 defensemen are all safe.