The National Hockey League is edging closer to a 33rd franchise, with Texas emerging as the most likely destination for the new club.
The Protection Puzzle
For the Montreal Canadiens, that prospect translates into a high‑stakes roster decision that will shape the next two seasons.
General manager Kent Hughes must choose between two protection models for the upcoming expansion draft: protecting seven forwards, three defencemen and a goaltender, or opting for a seven‑skater plus a goalie configuration.
The first model would let the team keep promising blueline prospects such as Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson, but it would also expose several other defencemen who meet the NHL’s exposure criteria.
Mike Matheson’s no‑movement clause guarantees his protection, forcing the Canadiens to allocate a spot for the veteran despite the crowded defence.
Automatic protections up front lock in the top line of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky, while the club will need to decide which four additional forwards join them on the list.
Recent contract talks with Phillip Danault and Josh Anderson could satisfy the exposure requirements for those players, adding another layer of complexity.
Alternatively, the eight‑skater, one‑goaltender route would give Hughes more flexibility on the blue line, but it would also mean leaving some promising defencemen unprotected.
Whatever path he takes, the decision will be described by many as gut‑wrenching, as the choices directly affect the future of a franchise built over years of careful planning.