The Tampa Bay Lightning have two options when approaching an expansion draft. They can either protect eight skaters total, or seven forwards and three defensemen. It seems the best option for the Bolts is to protect seven forwards and three defensemen. This strategy allows them to protect ten skaters total and protect more of their talented offense while still providing for decent coverage of their defenders.
Three is just about the maximum number of defenders that could be reasonably protected either way as if the eight skater option is chosen and four defenders are covered then only four forwards would be able to be protected which would put too much of the Lightning’s core scorers and play makers on the market.