Fans Lose It Over Buzz Oilers to Protect Kassian in NHL Expansion Draft

“If you even consider protecting Kassian at 3.2 million, you should never work in hockey again,” said one Twitter user. Another wrote, “Connor McDavid just completed his sixth season in the NHL and the Oilers are likely to protect Zack Kassian and Josh Archibald in the upcoming expansion draft. Good to see the franchise hasn’t pissed away multiple years with the best player on the planet on their roster.” These were a couple of the more tame responses to a tweet that got a number of Oilers fans riled up.

Needless to say, the consensus reaction to talk today that Edmonton might choose to protect forward Zack Kassian during the NHL Expansion Draft hasn’t gone over very well. And, there are a few good reasons for that.

Stauffer Projected Protected List:

(7-3-1)

McDavid
Draisaitl
RNH*
Puljujarvi
Yamamoto
Kassian
Archibald

Nurse
Larsson*
Bear

Skinner

*if signed by July 17th

— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) June 28, 2021

This all comes after news that among the forwards the Oilers will try and hang onto — which as a result, means likely losing a defenseman in the draft — Kassian is going to be among the names on the protected list. So is his two goals and five points that the Oilers just paid over $3 million for this past season.

Many of the arguments Monday are that the Oilers should almost hope Seattle picks up Kassian’s $3.2 million and that it would be crazy to expect that they will if given the opportunity. Holland would have an additional $3 million to spend and an overpriced contract off the books, while not having to worry about losing a d-man.

Is There Another Reason Edmonton Would Protect Him?

Jonathan Willis of The Athletic points out something interesting. He writes: “Given the number of teams around the NHL worried about bulking up for the playoffs and/or getting their show run by Tom Wilson, his [Kassian] trade value likely exceeds his recent on-ice contributions.” Is Willis hinting that the Oilers will protect the player to ensure they can trade the player and get a decent return versus losing him for nothing?

Again, it’s a gamble if the Oilers don’t already have a trade lined up. Then again, who knows what conversations Holland has had. The other argument here would then be for the Oilers to trade him and let someone else protect him. Get him off your books now, make him someone else’s draft problem and get your assets back before the draft, including a player you might want to actually protect.

Oilers Fan Base Could Be Ready to Explode

When you think back to the visceral reaction from Oilers Nation that came with the two-year contract Holland signed Devin Shore to, this speculation about Kassian isn’t going to go over well if it turns out to be true.

Next: Maple Leafs Close to Extending Forward Wayne Simmonds [Report]