The report cites an internal memo recently distributed to NHL clubs that outlines which players have no-movement clauses in their contracts, thus rendering them exempt from June’s expansion draft. Any player who possesses the NMC at the time of the draft must be protected by his team, unless the clause is waived. And though most of the names on the list were expected, a few might come as a disappointment for cash-strapped clubs hoping to unload a bad contract as Vegas attempts to reach its salary cap floor.
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As Sportsnet notes, the biggest surprise may be Rangers forward Rick Nash.
Nash’s exemption is related to language in his contract that states his no-movement clause, previously thought to have been waived, is still active. The 32-year-old carries a $7.8 million cap hit next season and would have been an attractive add for the Golden Knights, whose contracts need to reach at least 60 percent of next season’s salary cap.
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Some other players, such as Bruins goalie Tuuka Rask, who were expected to be protected, won’t be, the report said. Rask’s NMC expires just two days before the June 17 cutoff date for teams to submit their protected players. If it intends to keep Rask, which seems obvious, Boston will be unable to protect another of its goalies.
Below is the full list of players who are exempt:
Anaheim Ducks Kevin Bieksa Ryan Getzlaf Ryan Kesler Corey Perry
Arizona Coyotes Alex Goligoski
Boston Bruins David Backes Patrice Bergeron Zdeno Chara David Krejci
Buffalo Sabres Kyle Okposo
Carolina Hurricanes Jordan Staal
Columbus Blue Jackets Sergei Bobrovsky David Clarkson Brandon Dubinsky Nick Foligno Scott Hartnell
Chicago Blackhawks Artem Anisimov Corey Crawford Niklas Hjalmarsson Marian Hossa Patrick Kane Duncan Keith Brent Seabrook Jonathan Toews
Colorado Avalanche Francois Beauchemin Erik Johnson
Dallas Stars Jamie Benn Jason Spezza
Detroit Red Wings Frans Nielsen
Edmonton Oilers Milan Lucic Andrej Sekera Cam Talbot
Florida Panthers Keith Yandle
Los Angeles Kings Anze Kopitar
Minnesota Wild Mikko Koivu Zach Parise Jason Pominville Ryan Suter
Montreal Canadiens Jeff Petry Carey Price
Nashville Predators Pekka Rinne
New Jersey Devils Ryane Clowe
New York Islanders Johnny Boychuk Andrew Ladd John Tavares
New York Rangers Dan Girardi Henrik Lundqvist Rick Nash Marc Staal
Ottawa Senators Dion Phaneuf
Philadelphia Flyers Claude Giroux
Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby Marc-Andre Fleury Phil Kessel Kris Letang Evgeni Malkin
Tampa Bay Lightning Ryan Callahan Valtteri Filppula Victor Hedman Steven Stamkos
Toronto Maple Leafs Nathan Horton
Vancouver Canucks Loui Eriksson Daniel Sedin Henrik Sedin
Winnipeg Jets Dustin Byfuglien Tobias Enstrom
