The NHL has released the official protected lists of all 30 member clubs, offering a final clue into what is to come on Wednesday evening when the Vegas Golden Knights roster is officially revealed.
The Columbus Blue Jackets list doesn't come with many surprises, but the sad reality is that every team - and the Jackets are no different - are liable to lose a player they'd rather not lose.
We've ranked the four players that Vegas may look to, and why:
JOSH ANDERSON
Let's get this out of the way first. It has been widely reported that there is a side deal in place to prevent Anderson going to the Golden Knights, so we're holding out hope there. Fingers crossed, right?
That said, Anderson is exactly the type of player that Vegas would like to build around. He's only 23, has restricted free agent (RFA) status, and will remain a relatively cheap option for the near future. In his first full year in the NHL, Anderson exceeded expectations, scoring 17 goals in 78 games.
He's a disruptive player with a knack for getting under the skin of opponents. With a heavy shot and better-than-average skating ability, Anderson would be an ideal pick for an expansion roster.
JACK JOHNSON
The 30-year-old veteran could be exactly the type of player Vegas wants to have on its roster. He's a steady defenseman, and had one of seasons this past year (if not his best). Vegas would benefit from having a minutes-eating defenseman on the roster, and he also could realistically be a captain of a young and largely inexperienced team.
Also, Johnson's contract has some appeal. He'll make upwards of $4.3M this season before becoming an unrestricted free agent (UFA). He is the type of player Vegas could select knowing that they could trade him at the deadline for a likely decent return. Overall, a player with his makeup, skill, and experience makes a lot of sense for an expansion roster.
WILLIAM KARLSSON
In many ways, the 24-year-old could make the most sense for Vegas. He's young, under contract for another year at a reasonable $1M cap hit before coming into RFA status. More importantly, he's a center, a position that Vegas will surely look to shore up.
Though the Blue Jackets appear to appraise Karlsson as a bottom-six center, he would likely be granted a larger role with an expansion roster, especially given his defensive prowess. "Wild Bill" endeared himself to Blue Jackets fans this year, as John Tortorella felt comfortable using the Swede in all situations. This past season, he posted a career high 25 points in 81 games.
MATT CALVERT
The longest tenured Blue Jacket, Matt Calvert is far from worst-case scenario for the Golden Knights. The 27-year-old is a tenacious forechecker, a solid penalty killer, and should prove to be a good veteran leader on an expansion roster. Vegas would be getting a player that would endear himself to the home fans with his honest style of play.
Worth noting, he's under contract through the upcoming season at $2.2M before becoming a UFA. Similar to Johnson, Vegas could select him with the expectation that could be flipped at the trade deadline as a rental player for additional assets.
