When it’s all said and done, the Toronto Maple Leafs ultimately won’t lose a key piece to their franchise.
They don’t even have to worry about exposing anyone too crucial either.
To reiterate some expansion rules from my last piece, teams have the choice to protect seven forwards, three defenseman and one goalie or eight total skaters and one goalie.
Exempt from Expansion Draft exposure, includes players with two years or less of professional experience, while players on no-movement clauses (NMCs) are automatically protected.
With zero Maple Leafs on NMCs (Nathan Horton’s was waived due to Long Term Injury) and seven rookies with NHL experience exempt by default, Toronto has it better than most.